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He hadn’t forgotten about sending the vaccination paperwork. It’d taken up residence in the forefront of his mind, eating at him until it’d all but consumed his peace.
Riaz didn’t want to give his people false hope, nor a sense of invincibility. The vaccine was—at best—sixty-four percent effective, with the high variability attributed to age, strength, and genealogy. Seth had been working to improve the ratio, but even his brilliant medical mind was no match for supernatural nature.
Admittedly, something was far greater than nothing.
In a few days’ time, the shipments would arrive, and he’d have the unenviable task of distributing them. And with it, he would have to choose who would receive protection, and who did not.
Chapter Five
Howls whispered on the wind. Each unique voice was the embodiment of those left untamed, a tribute to the primal side of their nature. She would never cease being affected by the beauty of their song.
Chills raced up Cortana’s spine as she reveled in the sounds of the wilderness around the den. Though she’d only stepped a few feet outside the den doors, the difference was night and day.
It struck her every time how different this was from her regimented existence in New York. She’d left the safe shelter she built for herself out of rules and muted tones, and came here to find life, vibrant and intense, waiting for her to rejoin its flow. Closing her eyes, she savored the sounds that caressed her ears. The playful cries of the pack, a hooting owl in search of its next meal, the lulling melody of cicadas.
Twigs snapped in the brush before her, in a way that sounded almost deliberate. Jolting, her eyes flashed open, and her heart caught in her throat.
Before her stood a magnificent mahogany wolf, his coat rippling in the rich colors of ebony, carob, and hickory. Blazing orange eyes settled on her with utter fascination, the color a stark contrast to the darkness of his fur. A whisper of memory said she’d seen the exact shade before, but her attention was dragged back to the present before she could pinpoint it.
The wolf stepped forward.
His massive paws would’ve spanned the width of her palm, if not larger, the sheer strength of him apparent in the defined muscles under his gleaming coat. Every inch of the creature before her was majestic, a predator built for the hunt.
Releasing a slow exhale to steel herself against a shiver, Cortana studied the animal. She was unsure if this wolf was wild or simply a packmate who’d come out to stroll in the darkness. Regardless, she held eye contact with the beast, predator to predator, even as it took another step toward her.
“Don’t bite me, Mr. Wolf.”
One blink, two. Then, the wolf cocked his head to the side and his tongue lolled out like he hadn’t a care in the world. A chuffing whine sounded, almost as though he was laughing at her.
Obviously one of my hosts, then, Cortana thought with a roll of her eyes.
Before she could chastise him, more wolves swarmed around the mahogany specimen before her. Each one brushed up against him, licking his chin and nuzzling his neck in a clear showing of affection. Though he acknowledged each friendly touch, his focus remained on her.
Cortana, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear, delighting in the wolf pack that’d unrepentantly swarmed her now that she’d been deemed approachable. Velvet snouts and happy whines marked her first interactions, the feeling of silky fur rubbing up against her bare arms.
Each wolf was unique, the varied coloring in rich shades of brown, red, grey, and white. They darted around her playfully, never lingering too long, with the exception of the initial wolf and one newcomer.
The reddish-brown wolf was smaller than the first mahogany beast and spread an enthusiastic joy she couldn’t help but react to. Instead of bumping his head on her thigh as the others had done, his wet tongue traced up the side of her cheek.
Startling a laugh from her, her hands dove into the scruff of his neck to appreciate the smooth red coat. Shades of tawny crimson and copper glistened under the starlight, fading to a light gold near his stomach.
Caught up in her caress, she didn’t notice the mahogany wolf drawing near. A primitive growl sounded, low and caustic. Cortana froze at the aggression, the hair on the back of her neck rising.
A twinge of adrenaline pumped through her veins as she caught sight of the mahogany wolf, his teeth bared. Beside her, Ava shifted to her human form, laughing as the red wolf tucked tail and slinked away.
Cortana did her best not to pout, but the least she could do was voice her displeasure. “You’ve driven him away.”
The mahogany wolf barely glanced at her, the animal still glaring at her former cuddle partner, now whimpering and crawling forward to dramatically flop himself to the ground. Tawny fur went belly-up before the larger wolf in a show of submission.
“Who is the red wolf?” Cortana asked.
Ava grinned. “You were fondling Gadriel.”
Another low growl from the mahogany wolf, who’d advanced on Cortana’s position to stand sentinel in front of her. Unimpressed, she reached out and lightly curled her fingers around his velvet muzzle, cutting off the sound.
“Hush puppy, the adults are talking.”
Ava, and a recently shifted Gadriel, broke out in a riot of laughter. Looking down at the wolf she still held captive, the blazing orange eyes now drilling to hers were suddenly entirely too familiar.
