Free Moon Shine (Takhini Wolves) by Vivian Arend Page A

and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Admiring the sharp features of his jawline, a hint of silver beginning to show in the black hair at his temples. Her wolf nudged her and again confirmed its interest in taking this man as a mate.
    He turned to her. “I’m an idiot.”
    Amy’s lips twitched. “No argument from me.”
    He leaned his elbows on the railing, his long muscular body stretched out facing her and highlighted by the fading colours of sunset glow. His eyes gleamed, a hint there of both his amusement and his continued caution. “So. When did you intend on letting me know that you’re the Alpha of the Miles Canyon pack?”
    Busted.
    He was pleased to see she didn’t look guilty at getting caught, but instead tilted her chin upward and for the first time offered him a grin.
    “Well, I did try to tell you. More than once.”
    Evan thought back, nodding slowly as he considered. “You did. Thus my admission I was an idiot.”
    Amy lifted her feet into the chair and wrapped her arms around her shins. “I suppose this starts a new conversation.”
    “I know we’re not done answering your concerns, but what the hell?” If Evan had thought his world had become twisted before, this only made it worse. What the fuck was going on? “First question—all the rumours I’ve heard said Sam runs Canyon. Your name is Amy. Which is right?”
    She sighed. “Both. My name is Samantha Amy Ryba, but for many reasons it seemed better to go by Sam when I took over Canyon. A masculine-sounding name stops a lot of bother before it even starts. Unfortunately.”
    “But you used Amy as your code name?”
    “It’s the name I used in college, and it hid my identity from your pack when I made contact with Takhini.”
    Hidden in plain sight. “Congrats, it worked. But why have you been sharing pack secrets when you’re the Alpha?”
    When she didn’t answer him, instead staring at a spot over his shoulder, Evan’s respect for her went up and his sense of oh-shit grew exponentially.
    “You were pulling a fast one,” he guessed.
    “I was gathering intelligence,” Amy suggested. “I didn’t share anything about the Canyon pack that wasn’t common knowledge.”
    Evan grinned as another thought occurred. “Oh man, I don’t believe it. Perfect, efficient Caroline made a mistake. You duped her into taking you under her wing! I’m going to razz her like crazy when she gets back.”
    Her eyes darkened. “I thought she was moving away.”
    Oops. He exercised a little more caution. “She’s not living full-time in Whitehorse, no, but she will be around every now and then. Her sister Shelley is part-time with the pack. But again, you have nothing to worry about. She’s just a good friend, and she’s thoroughly married. She’ll be thrilled to meet you in person.”
    Amy shook her head, the motion somehow very wolf-like. “Don’t mind me, I feel as if I’m jacked up on Red Bull and caffeine tablets like during exams week at college. I have no beef with Caroline.”
    Evan looked her over carefully. He understood her hesitation, but there was no reason they shouldn’t move to the next part of their relationship. To the part where they could trust each other and work together.
    Not to mention all the lovely physical interactions he was longing to bring to the table.
    “You realize my number-one goal for the past year has been to merge the Takhini and Canyon packs. There is no need for more than one pack in Whitehorse.”
    “That’s what I believe as well,” Amy agreed. “I’m pretty sure I said that to Caroline, in fact.”
    Hope flared brightly. “Then at least one fact is pretty simple. Now that we know we’re mates, we join the packs. Done. One united pack under Takhini.”
    Her response wasn’t as enthusiastic as he’d hoped. In fact, she faced away, her body tightening. She paused for a moment before turning back.
    “I told you before you’re making assumptions. Let’s see how smart you really are.”