Wolfsfoot (Kingdom of Wolves #1)

“She’s been this way, andrecently, the scent is fresh. Alpha said we couldn’t go past this point, but ifTatiana has, then he’s going to appeal to the council that she’s returnedwhenever she’s found.”

“That’s what I mean. He’s nota good Alpha. We all know she’s been treated like shit, and most in the packwere compelled by him using his Alpha command. Others are just disgustingpeople anyway, so they easily followed with the poor treatment.”

“Here are some footprints,but they are not that old, probably an hour. We can’t go much further, so whydon’t we turn around and walk back to the pack? I don’t like being out of ourpack land. We could get jumped by rogues at any time.”

“Okay, we’ll walk backslowly, then run the last bit, so we look like we’ve traveled far. But Gabe, Iagree with you, and I hope she gets away and can stay away. From what I heard,she has an inheritance that the Alpha wants, and that’s the only reason Connellwould mate her. But what do you think they’d do when her usefulness has gone?”

Now I know it’s Gabriel whogave me the dollars. Everyone calls him Gabe. He’s a good male and one I wouldhave welcomed as a mate, but I’ll never know now as I have no intention of evercoming back.

“We know what he’ll do, ortry to, but I’ll tell you know I couldn’t stand by and watch them kill her. Myhonor as a male shifter wouldn’t ever allow that, and my wolf certainlywouldn’t.”

I listen to them get furtheraway as they talk back and forth to each other and I climb down to the fork inthe tree once more. Taking the straddled seat and resting against my backpack.Just a little longer, then I’m going to start walking. I know there is a townprobably an hour away and if I can get there, then I can find somewhere tosleep and, thanks to Gabe, I have some money to buy something to eat.

Taking a deep breath, I climbdown and start the walk toward the town that I know is called Wolfsfoot. I’veonly been to it once, and that was a long time ago when Dahlia needed someoneto lift and carry things she purchased for a party the Alpha held in honor ofthe pack’s young coming of age.

I remember people speakingnicely to each other, smiling, and it surprised me they were all so friendly.They didn’t seem to like Dahlia, mind you, but then again, who does?

Patting my clothes and hairto make sure I don’t have twigs and dirt sticking to me, I enter the edge oftown and slowly walk up the main street. Like all shifter towns there is a mainstreet that runs through and the side streets are only to houses. Shops andservices are always on main street, so I’m looking for a diner or coffee shopto have something to eat and drink.

Walking into a quaint diner Iam noticed immediately as someone new in town. It’s always the same in shiftertowns. Everyone knows everyone, and anyone new is under suspicion.

Taking a seat, I look aroundand give weak smiles to anyone that looks me in the eye. I’m surprised when mysmiles are returned, but it puts me at ease.

“What can I get you?” thelady asks as she steps over to my table with a pad and pen in her hand.

“I’d like a cold glass ofmilk if you have one, and do you have waffles or pancakes?” I can feel my mouthwatering and do my best to swallow it down as I look up at her.

“I have waffles and pancakesor I can do a combination of both, with fruit and syrup if that suits you?” Thewoman is giving me a smile and waits patiently for me to reply.

“I’ll have the combination,please.” Taking out some of the money that Gabe gave me to pay the lady.

“No, you pay when you’veeaten before you leave. Then if you want anything else, we just add it to thebill.”

“Oh, of course, sorry, Iwasn’t thinking.” I blush, as I’m embarrassed now at how stupid that was. Butit has been forever since I was ever in a place like this and I’d been made tosit in a corner on my own, and given whatever scraps were left by the otherpack members.

When breakfast comes, I sitfor a few moments looking at how wonderful it looks on the plate, steaming andso very welcome. The milk is sitting in the glass and the condensation on theglass shows how cold it is, and I slowly reach out and pick it up, bringing itto my lips. I take a slow sip, savoring the taste before I allow it to slidedown my throat.

I take as long as I can,eating the breakfast and if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m in this place withpeople that keeping looking over at me, I would have licked the plate clean.Finishing the milk, I rub my stomach and feel full for the first time inforever.

Paying for the meal I walkoutside and head down main street. I can see there is a mixture of humans andshifters. I don’t know if the humans know they are walking and talking toshifters, and I really don’t care. As long as nobody bothers me, I don’t careand don’t want to get involved.

Walking out the other side oftown, I keep walking along the side of the road, keeping my eyes open forsomewhere to sleep. I don’t want to be out in the open and found sleeping, butI’ve got to rest soon as I’m exhausted.

The bed-and-breakfast Ipassed as I left Wolfsfoot would have used too much of the money I have, andI’m not wasting the little I have because it’s got to last me a long time.

Seeing a farm in thedistance, I smile because it would be lovely to live somewhere like that,peaceful, although I imagine there is a lot to be done every day. But hard workis something I’m not shy of, and if I had been, I’m sure it wouldn’t havemattered.

A barn is sitting halfwaybetween the farmhouse and the road. Stopping I look around and with no one insight I decide that will be a good place for me to rest and once I’ve slept awhile I’ll have to decide what to do next because I need a place to live and ajob of some kind.

I’m thankful that shiftersare classed as old enough to work at sixteen, so that’ll help me as soon as mybirthday has passed. Five more days and I’ll be free to look for work, but whatto do until then is the problem.

Once Ebony wakes on mybirthday, we can hunt if necessary and that’ll mean I don’t have to mix withpeople just to eat. I can wash in the streams as we pass them, and thankfully,in this part of the country, we have plenty of streams coming down from themountain. Cold but clean, and that’s what I’ll need if I’m going to be livingin the wild.

Still seeing no one, I reachthe barn and pull the door open when I don’t hear any voices or movement.Slipping inside, I close it quietly behind me and although dim inside, I cansee enough that there is a loft area, and an attached ladder.

Climbing the ladder, I walkover to the stacks of hay and drop my backpack. Throwing myself down, I lay myhead on the backpack as though it’s a pillow. Untying the blanket, which Ithrow over myself and tuck under my chin. It only takes a few minutes beforeI’m asleep.

“Hey, are you okay? What areyou doing sleeping in here?” I shoot to a sitting position and panic when anolder man is standing in the loft near the ladder.