Spirit of the Wolf by Vonna Harper Read Free Book Online

research material, he’d soaked up everything he could about them. Back then he hadn’t seen his fascination for what it was—escape from the real world. He did now, not that self-analysis had lessened his interest. Wolves were unique, intelligent and deadly, complex and, in their own way, loving. As pack animals, each member had a well-defined role. They relied on each other, raising pups as a group, watching each other’s backs, hunting and killing together.
    If wolves and wolves alone had been out there, he could live with that. He’d contact the authorities and spread the warning through his fellow ranchers. He’d even speak to the media, because that was what a responsible man did.
    However, that last paw print had turned everything on end. Maybe short-circuited his mind.
    To his disbelief, he no longer felt comfortable in his own skin.
    “A pack’s moved into the area, hasn’t it,” Cat said. “I wonder how many there are.”
    “Hard to say.”
    “Matt, I have a right to know something. Are you considering not telling Fish and Wildlife?”
    “Hmm.”
    “Don’t.” She touched his arm only to jerk her hand back and hug her side of the cab. “I hate it when you give me a nonanswer. Telling us not to say anything—I don’t understand your thinking.”
    Me either. “This is my call. Let it be.”
    “The hell I will. I can’t.”
    Although he didn’t look at her, her glare bore into him. Even with her waiting for his response, he couldn’t give it. Damn it, she was right. A responsible man would have already dialed 911. Let people swarm over his land.
    Maybe that’s what it all came down to. His land. Not wanting anyone on it. Leaving the wolves—and the other thing—alone.
    Maybe.
    If only he could pull his thoughts together.
    The truck and trailer filled him with movement and sound. The woman beside him . . . Hell, he didn’t know what to think of her, so he buried himself in the act of driving through land that had become his parents and family, his life, his soul.
    One mile became another and then a third until he spotted the ranch and outbuildings. The horses whinnied, obviously looking forward to getting out. Usually he felt the same way, because being confined in a vehicle made him more than a little claustrophobic. Today he didn’t know what he wanted.
    Fighting the urge he didn’t have a name for, he pulled Cat’s truck close to the wooden corral and turned off the engine. Faced her. She sat with her head resting on the seat back and looking at him.
    “I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what happened and the way you’re acting,” she said, “but maybe it’s a fool’s mission.” Sighing, she straightened. “You turn me on like I’ve never been turned on. I’m not telling you something you don’t know.” Another sigh. “I tell myself you feel the same way and we’re riding this whatever-it-is for all it’s worth, but this is crazy—you know it is.”
    Her words were a song, sounds brushing over grass. His attention was drawn to her neck and throat. And her breasts. She was female, he was male. Heat speaking to heat.
    She continued. “I’m going to take a break from us. Get my feet back under me. Figure out who I am because I sure as hell can’t figure you out.”
    Now the words came at him one at a time and disjointed, meaningless. In a wolf pack, only the alpha pair mated. They were the strongest, the leaders, and passed on superior genetics. Unlike humans, who hooked up for countless and often meaningless reasons, wolves did what they did for one reason: to maximize the creatures’ chance of survival.
    He was strong and healthy. So was Cat.
    Something primal had brought them together.
    Even with the windows down, the air inside the cab started heating. Sweat bloomed on Cat’s temples.
    “I give up,” she said, and reached for her handle. “There’s no talking to you today. If—”
    His hand, which no longer felt as if it belonged to him, snaked out and