Dane entered the alpha’s home and rubbed the back of his neck while he walked toward the kitchen. The aroma made his stomach growl, but his mind wasn’t in it. Olivia and Cole were a thick presence and had taken up residency in his head ever since he’d left The Deuce.
The thought of leaving them alone at the bar didn’t settle well with him or his panther, but he couldn’t deny his alpha’s order to return to the pride. The female wolf had confessed to the healer that she had to shift after dark, and because she was uncertain about the area, Talon needed several Guardians to escort her during the night.
“You look agitated,” Ranger observed as he fell in line next to him at the table where the food was set out for them. Dane’s chest rumbled from the irritation he was feeling coming from his panther. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” Dane paused, taking a deep breath. He set the spoon back in the mashed potatoes and looked at his best friend. “I don’t know, honestly.”
“Is it a female?” Ranger asked, his voice so low only Dane could detect it. The panthers had enhanced hearing, and Dane was certain he didn’t want to spill his thoughts in the alpha’s home for everyone to hear.
“Can we discuss this later?” he asked, cutting his eyes toward the dining room where everyone was eating.
“Come by the house in the morning,” Ranger ordered.
“Will do.” Dane nodded and walked away. He found an empty chair at the other end of the table and took a seat. He didn’t even notice who was sitting next to him; he just dug into his food and kept his head down.
A hand landed on his forearm and he jerked his head to the left. Talon was sitting next to him at the head of the table, and the look on his alpha’s face was one of concern. “I’ve called your name twice.”
“I’m sorry,” Dane swallowed, “I must’ve not heard you.” Talon gave a nod, understanding that Dane’s ability to hear out of his left ear was impaired. He’d lived with the disability for as long as he could remember. Most of the time, he didn’t have any issues with the hearing loss. Except when his mind was preoccupied.
“Are you okay to go out with Noah and Booth to protect the female, Luna?” Talon took a drink of water and set his glass down. The alpha’s eyes flickered to his mate before settling back on Dane.
“Yes,” Dane nodded. “I’m ready whenever she is.”
“We are just waiting for her to let us know when.” Talon nodded toward the other end of the table. The alpha looked concerned, but he didn’t speak of his worry and finished eating.
The female wolf was picking at her food. Her eyes looked around the room with a bit of unease in her gaze. Dane noticed when she would look at Harold, the tension around her eyes would ease.
“Maybe Harold should go with us,” Dane suggested. “I think the female trusts him more than anyone else.”
“Harold refuses.” Talon sighed and shook his head. He forked a piece of steak and popped it in his mouth. “Just protect the female. We will deal with whatever that is later.”
“Sure thing,” Dane smirked. He liked a good challenge with the other males and he had a feeling the healer wouldn’t like what he had planned to do with the pretty wolf lady.
Luna felt the stirrings of the full moon. Her beast paced anxiously in her mind as she dumped the remaining food off her plate. When she sat it in the sink, her hands were still shaking. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the healer in the other room, but he wasn’t watching her. She sighed and dropped her gaze to the floor…only to see a pair of black boots approach. She jerked her head up quickly and saw the handsome blond male who’d been on the island. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met.”
“My name is Dane.” His blue eyes sparkled when he smiled, but Luna could already tell he was nothing more than a lady’s man. “I’ve been asked to run with you this evening. My fellow Guardians and I will protect you on our land, but I will be the one by your side until you are ready to return to the house.”
“Thank you,” she replied and nodded toward her hands. “It’s getting close to time. My wolf is starting to stir.”
“We should go outside and get undressed.” He winked, holding his hand out for her to go first.
She didn’t reply to his comment and found her way to the door. Two more males were waiting for her when she stepped out on the back porch. “Hello.”
“Luna, my name is Booth, and this is our alpha’s brother, Noah,” the dark-haired male announced as she approached.
“So, you are all going to hunt with me tonight?”
“Yes, our alpha has asked that we run with you,” Noah said.
“Thank you.” Luna looked toward the sky. The moon was just starting to crest over the horizon. “Has anyone told you about my shift?”
“Is it different from ours?” Dane asked.
“When my wolf takes over, I have almost no memories of my shift.” Luna worried, nibbling on her bottom lip. “I’ve never hunted anywhere else than on my land. I’m very nervous about what will happen tonight.”
“Nervous, how?” Noah pressed. The male’s eyes flickered to amber as they narrowed.
“Your healer explained to me the only wolves he’d ever dealt with were feral,” she answered, squeezing her fists at her side. The light was fading in the west, and it was almost time. “I don’t want to be like them, and I’m afraid I may hurt you if my wolf is like your enemies.”
“We won’t let you do anything that could hurt yourself or others,” Booth promised. The large, dark-haired male came closer to her and stood with a protective gait.
“I hope that I don’t,” she whispered, looking over her shoulder one last time for the healer, but she couldn’t see him through the windows.
“You’re safe here, Luna,” Noah, the alpha’s brother, vowed.
“Thank you,” she sighed, and walked out into a clearing. There was a spot there for a firepit but it looked as if it hadn’t been used in a while. The males were talking behind her, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying because her beast was howling for release.
“Guys?” she stammered, clearing her throat. The pull of change was upon her. “Guys?”
“What is it?” Dane gasped as she wrapped her arms around her stomach.
“I…I must shift,” she cried out when her wolf howled. The males stepped back when she tore her shirt over her head and stood on shaky legs to remove her jeans.
“Shift, Luna,” Noah called out, removing his own shirt. “We will shift and watch over you.”
“Thank…” Her voice was no longer human when the beast took over. She released her hold on whatever humanity she had left and fell to her knees, allowing the beast to reign. The last thing she saw before turning for the woods was the healer standing on the porch, his eyes glowing in the growing darkness as the human side of her faded with the darkness of the night.