Chapter 1

Jacob moved through the small town as quickly and as quietly as he could. He carefully 

checked around corners and kept his back to the walls as much as he could as he made his 

way toward the woods. He knew where he could find her. She’d go right to their special 

place if she was ever in danger. 

There had been days when she just been a little bit down and that’s where he’d found her 

then as well. Luckily it wasn’t very far from their little town, but Jacob hoped and prayed 

that it was far enough out of the way that the humans hadn’t managed to find it. At least not 

yet, he hoped.

He heard a lot of noises as he came close to the small clearing in the mountains. Jacob 

slowed his pace and hunched down, lifting his ears in hopes of getting a better idea of what 

was going on. A woman crying, hushed whispering. A child crying.

He caught the scent he’d been looking for and he hurried through the trees, still careful just 

in case the others gathered there were not friendly. When he came through the trees, three 

wolves immediately turned and growled until they saw that he was a wolf as well. He lifted 

his head and issued a challenging growl in return. Two of the wolves immediately backed 

down, lowering their heads and showing their throats. The third kept his head held high.

Jacob stepped forward and lifted his head higher, letting loose a deep and warning growl. 

Then moved forward suddenly and snapped onto the other wolf’s ear hard enough to hurt 

without actually doing any damage. He let loose another warning growl and shoved with 

his upper body, trying to force the other wolf down.

After a few moments of struggling back and forth, the other wolf finally relented and 

lowered his head and tucked his tail between his legs.

 

Jacob let go of him and touched his nose to the other wolf’s neck for just a moment before 

turning and shifting with ease back into his human form. The battle for dominance was 

forgotten immediately as he moved over and hugged Cara tight. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

Cara smiled and leaned up, kissing his lips softly. It was the first time they’d ever kissed in 

front of others and for a moment, Jacob forgot where they were and what was going on 

around them until he felt something nudge at his hip, trying to push him away from Cara. 

He pulled back and looked down to find a boy of about ten or so glaring at him. Jacob 

grinned and reached out, ruffling the boy’s hair. “Sorry kid. This one is taken. You’ll have to 

find your own.”

The boy actually growled at him

Jacob heard one of the wolves behind him give a snort and he turned and walked over to 

him. It was the same one that had challenged him just a moment before. He grabbed the 

wolf by the scruff and lifted him up to stare into his eyes. “That’s enough from you. Now is 

not the time. Our people are dying and you want to challenge me right now?” He snarled 

and dropped the other wolf, making sure to put just enough force into the gesture to ensure 

that the other wolf rolled a couple of times before halting.

When he turned back, he found Cara watching him and she gave him a knowing little halfsmile. He just lifted his shoulders slightly and shook his head. He didn’t care if she knew that he’d gauged that little toss specifically so that the other wolf would land without being injured.