Page 19 of The Strongest Wolf

I lean toward her. “No. There’s only one thing I plan to do, and that’s—”

A piercing scream obliterates the silence, making me flinch as the sound punctures my eardrums.

“How can a baby be that loud?” Sierra winces as she casts a glance toward the packhouse.

Since it’s looking less and less likely that we’re going to be having sex against this tree, or anywhere else, this morning, I sigh as I set Sierra down. “What I can’t understand is why they would call her Angel. A scream like that is the very opposite of angelic.”

With the baby screaming so loudly, we can barely hear each other, but my words draw a bright smile from Sierra. One that makes something inside me soften, because it’s a smile I don’t see enough of. It’s not as rusty as it appeared before. But away from the Stones, she’s smiling more and more every day.

“If Dayne or Talis heard you say that…” Lifting a hand, she draws a finger across her throat. “Game over, Galen Hunt. Game over.”

Grinning, I reach for my phone. “Heard me? With all our ears bleeding? No one is doing any hearing.” I draw her toward me and kiss her on the lips before releasing her. “You go on ahead while I speak with Dom.”

She hesitates, her eyes going to the phone in my hand. “It’s nothing serious, is it?”

If Dom is calling this early, it’s going to be serious.

I shrug. “Doubt it. There isn’t much Dom can’t handle.”

“I know. If he has to deal with you on the daily…”

Growling, I lunge at her.

She takes off laughing, just dodging my grab. “Tell him I say hi.”

Smiling, I watch her go. Dressed in jean shorts and a tank top that emphasizes her petite but curvy figure, her feet bare as she strides easily through the forest, I can’t take my eyes off her.

Mine.

My wolf rumbles happily.

Ours.

Sierra might not like to admit it, but she knows it too.

Now to get her to admit that during the day, instead of only when we’re making love.

I’m still smiling when I answer the phone. “Dom?”

“It’s before nine in the morning and you’re not snarling,” Dom says, nothing in his dry tone reflecting his surprise. “The end of the world must have come sooner than I’d expected.”

I snort in amusement. “If you must know, no one has given me a reason to snarl. Yet.”

“Areason?” Dom sounds like he’s smiling. “Since when did you need a reason?”

“Fuck off.” I’m smiling too as I stroll toward the pack house as Angel’s screaming decreases enough in volume that I can hear myself think.

“So, you have a reason to smile?”

My mind flashes back to sharing a far-too short shower with Sierra. The peachy scent of her skin, and the soft curve of her belly as we took turns cleaning each other between kisses and caresses. But more than that, the happiness in her eyes. How could I not have a reason to smile?

“I might. What’s wrong?”

“Strangers.”

I tighten my hand on the cell phone. “What strangers?”

Dom doesn’t answer at once, which is nothing new. I’ve never been able to rush Dom into speaking sooner than he wants to. “I haven’t seen them, but others have. Mostly they stick close to the town.”

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