New Territory Read Online Free PDF Page B

nodded. Keva glanced at Kara. What do you mean, “too?” Kara shook her head slightly, so Keva resolved to ask her later about Cian’s strange reaction.
     

 
     
    That night, Cian met Keva in the wolf dream yet again. The perpetual soft twilight made his golden eye sparkle as he walked up to her where she was sitting by a placid lake, staring into the water at her reflection.  He looked down at the water, and was surprised to see her human face looking back at them. “I can see my human face,” she said sadly, “but I cannot change form.” Cian licked her cheek reassuringly, trying to comfort her. “It will take time,” he said. “The wolf dream is showing you what you want to be.” Keva looked up from the dark water and met Cian’s deep gaze. A shiver went through her, followed by a familiar warm, giddy feeling. She sighed deeply, and licked his cheek gently. “I feel so strange,” she said quietly. He waited for her to elaborate. She was silent for a moment, but then said, “I think the humans call this feeling love. I saw love between my sister and her mate, but I never realized that love was so… powerful.” Cian’s heart leaped in his chest at her confession. “Love is powerful,” he agreed. “I think it’s powerful enough to help you change form…God knows I would follow you to the ends of the earth, even if my elders cast you out of this pack. We would start our own pack, go wherever we wished.” Keva sighed happily at the thought, and laid her head on her paws. “I feel the same way, Cian.” He gave her a wolfish grin, then moved closer and laid his head on hers protectively. The warmth of his fur and the comfort of his closeness quickly sent her off into a deeper sleep, and when she woke in the early morning, she was in Kara’s cabin yet again.
     

Unlike Kara, the rest of the pack did not warm up to Keva very quickly. Elder Garr was particularly tight-lipped. Keva took it in stride, knowing the pack was still unsure if she really was a lycan . Elder Garr stayed in his cabin for the most part, so she rarely saw him except at meals. Even at meals, he did not even deign to greet her. He watched her, though. His yellowish eyes followed her every move, particularly when she was with Kara. When Kara burst out laughing at seemingly nothing while eating with the silent white wolf, his eyes narrowed.
     
    It rained on Keva’s fourth day in the werewolves’camp. Rather than having to seek shelter as she would in the forest, she discovered just how useful it was to have a roof over her head and a warm fireplace to enjoy. She and Kara spent the day talking and discussing the lycan lifestyle. Soon, the topic of lifemates came up, since Keva was extraordinarily curious about her unusual attachment to Cian. “Werewolf lore says that most lifemates never meet,” Kara explained. “And for Cian to have randomly found the only lycan living among the wolves who was also his lifemate, is really strange. The Council tries to keep packs spread out over the country so that we don’t fight amongst ourselves. God knows the males posture and squabble enough as it is.” Kara chuckled to herself as she added, “Some of the males are worse than others.”
     
    Just as Kara was saying something else insightful about the male ego, Cian walked in. He grinned at their current topic of conversation and Kara’s suddenly red face. “Sister dear,” he said jokingly, “I’m offended that you would lump all males into one category.” Kara laughed loudly. “Oh, be quiet, Cian. You know you’re one of the worst.” Cian held up his hands and shrugged. “Hey, I’m an alpha. I was born with an inflated ego,” he said with a wink. Kara shook her head in exasperation, and Keva snorted. Cian turned to stare at the white wolf. “Was that a wolf laugh that I just head?” Keva shook her head in denial and grinned at him. He chuckled and shook his head. “Kara, the reason I barged in is because of the Council