Free Summit of the Wolf by Tera Shanley

back.
    Logan grunted, and Morgan shot him a warning look.
    Sarah grinned at Lana in Brent’s lap. “And I remember you, little one.”
    “That’s also what she would say to Brent’s d—”
    Morgan launched a hash brown at Logan’s face, effectively shutting him up as Dean pointed a fork full of eggs at him and told him to cut it out.
    “So, Michigan pack, huh?” Brent asked. “Is there only one in the state?”
    “Yeah, I think there are only one or two packs per northern state if there are any at all. It gets pretty cold and uncomfortable up there. My Wolf loves the cold winters, but when I’m in my human skin and trapped inside for long stretches of time, I get restless. I think it’s like that for the other packs too. I have four other pack mates and they get stir crazy like I do.”
    Morgan gulped down the last bite of her biscuit like an anaconda. “Well, if you ever need a vacation from the winters up there, you are more than welcome to come visit us. Our winters stay pretty fair, and it would be nice to get to see you again before next Summit.”
    “I would like that,” Sarah said, eyes sliding to Brent and then glancing away.
    The usual pack racket picked up after that. Logan and Jason got into a loud argument over who would win in a fight between Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Morgan took the opportunity to excuse herself with the pretext of getting seconds on food.
    “Smooth,” Grey mouthed.
    By the time she came back with another heaping plate of sustenance, Sarah had scooted down the bench seat beside Brent. Lana handed her fistfuls of cheerios, and Sarah cooed at what a good sharer she was.
    “What time do we need to meet out front for the scavenger hunt?” Logan asked as they finished up.
    “I think the itinerary said nine-thirty,” a dark-haired girl named Margaret said, blushing deeply and then looking down at her plate.
    Dean glanced at the clock on the wall. “Okay, that leaves us about ten minutes. We should go ahead and clean up our trays and head on out there.”
    Just outside the door, Grey tugged gently on her hand. “What’s wrong? You’ve been distant this morning, and I can’t feel you very well through our bond.”
    She pulled him to an empty picnic table as the others disappeared around the corner of the pavilion. The worn wood of the table was rough against the back of her legs but the contrast of his strong hands against the thin cotton over her hips was delicious. She glared at a lone fern near a path leading to the woods, as if it held the secrets of the world. If she looked at his glorious face and gave in to her physical attraction, she wouldn’t be able to say what she needed.
    The deepest parts of her clenched warmly as he leaned forward, and the pads of his thumbs found their way under the hem of her shirt.
    She shook her head in an attempt to focus on anything other than his consuming touch. “That wolf last night? It bothers me that he broke into our room.”
    His fingers stopped their advance. “I know, but I took care of him, didn’t I? You don’t have to worry. I told you I would keep you safe.”
    “But you didn’t even ask me how I felt about it this morning. You acted as if nothing happened. I need more from you, Grey. I understand our wolves are different, but I need you to be there for me, too. To talk to me, not just to protect me.”
    “Come on guys. They are about to hand out the lists,” Marissa called out, toting Lana.
    “Be there in a sec,” Grey said in an irritated tone. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Look, I’m doing my best here. This isn’t an ideal situation for us to be in, and my job is to keep you guys safe.”
    Morgan stared into his unflinching golden eyes for a moment more before she responded. “I’m not your job, Grey. I’m your wife.”
    She hopped off the table, and when he didn’t give way, she ducked under his arm.
    His arm snaked out and caught her hand. “Morgan, wait—”
    A hot