Page 41 of Rogue Wolf

“Not seeing the humor, then?”

He growled louder. Ash put her head down, returning to her research on the laptop.

“You know, Tamaska, everything I’ve done has been to protect you,” said Kodiak.

“I know.”

“Then we understand each other better now,” said Kodiak.

“We do.”

If Tamaska had wolf shifter genes, everything would make more sense. What excited him more than anything was that he’d no longer be bringing a human into the pack.

Her ancestry would give her the right to be there, and she’d be more likely survive the change.

Things were starting to look brighter for the pack. But how long would that last?

CHAPTER 10

Tamaska

Night wrapped around the car as they continued driving along the highway. The odd flashes of headlights and red taillights made Tamaska feel more alone than if they were the only ones out here.

Like normalcy could now only be experienced through a window.

An uneasy silence settled over the car after her altercation with Kodiak. But Tamaska hoped things would improve now they’d made their mutual promises. And he was right, this was huge for them. So many changes and losses it hurt thinking about it.

Her heart ached for him. For the burden that lay on him, not just with her and keeping her safe but with the pack, with taking on leadership.

She rubbed her aching head. The pain seemed to get worse, not better and she put it down to the stress of everything.

Because understanding the heaviness of his burdens, of pack structure as much as she could, it was still difficult for her to accept, her being shoved into a passive role.

It was hard not to make suggestions and take the lead. She was so used to running a team herself from her job organizing marketing events that being bossed around was new.

Though that wasn’t entirely true. She’s had bosses to answer to. She’d worked well enough with them, but she’d had a team to command, responsibilities and if she was brutally honest, her goal had never been to sit on her laurels.

She’d planned on being her own boss. Not part of some shifter commune. Again, not fair, but that’s how it felt. And she felt…utterly useless. A burden herself.

Somehow, she needed to change her ways. She had to get used to being told what to do and become part of a team in a very different way than she was used to.

I can do this.

At least she was still in the car with Kodiak, and he hadn’t pushed her away like she’d done to him. He certainly had every right to, after the huge mistakes she’d made.

Pushing him away wasn’t her goal. It never had been since she accepted him for what he was. And yet that’s what she did.

And Kodiak? Under all the hard edges and uncompromising air he had a softness for her she loved.

Even if he didn’t he was a decent man. He’s never abandon her to the vampires because she hadn’t followed his orders.

No, but he just might lock her away somewhere.

The thought made her almost smile and she would have except her head hurt.

She looked up and her heart lurched. For the thousandth time, she caught his fleeting glance in the rearview mirror before looking away.

Tamaska didn’t trust herself to hold his stare for long because of the desires it stirred within her. They needed a lot of time to talk and to, well, fuck.

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