Free Loving Her (Keeping Her) by Kelly Lucille Page B

sureness.  “Hugo said when I was big enough to be meaty, they
would eat me.  Clide told Caty that if she ate cookies like her, her ass
wouldn’t fit through the door.”  She looked miserable.  “I ate cookies…like
lots.”  She spread her hands as far as her little arms would stretch.
    “Who the f…”  Demon cleared
his throat.  “Who’s Hugo?”
    “One of the wolves.”  She
leaned in again.  “He pinches and smells like fish.”
    “You saw him here?”
    “No.  But I was hiding from
Cleo and they were doin’ the calls.”
    “Calls?”
    “Bird calls, like for huntin',
over the big wall, that way,” she said pointing to the north across the
property.  “So I did what Es said and hid.”  Then her big eyes got sad.  “I
forgot to tell Cleo.”
    “You did good runt.  Just
what you should.  Let’s get you home to Clytie now.”
    “And ‘leo?”
    “Yeah.”
    “And Caty and Es?”
    “Sure.”
    “And you’ll pound Hugo and
he won’t eat me?”  Her little eyes were narrowed on his face.  He stopped mid
step and pulled her all the way up so that he was looking her right in the
eyes.
    “No one’s gonna eat you,
kid.  I promise to pound anyone who tries.”
    Then she smiled big and
hugged him around his neck as hard as her little arms could.  “’Cause you’re
the biggest and scariest best wolf ever,” she declared loudly.
    “Shh,” he admonished,
clearing his suddenly raw throat.  “Let’s get you to Clytie before I have to start
pounding.” 
    Shawn in hawk form flew
down for his check in and cawed when he saw Roxanne. 
    “Yeah, she’s fine, but we
may have wolves on the north side behind the walls.  I’m thinking they’ll wait
until dark and then try to come over.  Let everyone know I’m taking Roxanne to
the vault and then heading that way.  See what you can see from above after you
warn the others.  Then find me.
    ***
    “They’re staying out of
sensor range, well past the gates.  Roxanne must have killer ears because if I
hadn’t been looking, they would have stayed undetected until they approached
the wall.” 
    “She’s used to hiding from
them, near as I can figure.  Recognized the hunting calls they use.”  Demon
looked grim.  “Tiny little thing was taught to hide from her own pack.  The
fuckers.”
    Shawn went on with his
summary while both Lucas and Eli joined them.  Mac and Ben were keeping an eye
on the encroachers from the north wall since they were the best at remaining
undetected.  If they didn’t want you to see them, you didn’t see them, period. 
Logan was sticking close to the house just in case.  “The men Bidel hired are
good; we’ll have to take them out first.”
      “Demon,” Logan said, his
serious eyes on Demon’s.  “I know why you sent the men back alive the first
time when you killed Clancy, and you were right to try mercy when there was a
chance of stopping a feud before it started.”  His voice went utterly cold. 
“This time, they had their warning.  If we don’t utterly annihilate them,
others will see it as a weakness and we’ll be facing more challenges.”
    “No,” Demon growled.  “We
end them tonight.  For whatever fucked up reason, Bidel has decided I’m his
enemy.  He wants to make war with me and mine; we’ll exterminate the fuckers
and salt his mother fuckin’ earth.”
         ***
    As soon as it was dark, the
wolves started climbing over the walls.  In the vault control room, everyone
was huddled around the monitors but Roxanne and Essie, who had both
inexplicably fallen asleep in the spare room across the hall, without any
apparent trouble.
    Cassie doubted she would sleep
for a week she was so keyed up.  Ian was eating and Cleo was pacing, but her
and Clytie were sitting like veg heads with their eyes glued to the screen
waiting for something to happen.
    “Are you sure these
monitors are working right.”
    “Yes, once again,” Ian
sighed dramatically.  “I am