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property. Even in the wide open pastures he led her from one area of concealment to another, until they reached the fence defining the back end of Hawk’s Run Ranch. She followed him as he gracefully leapt over the barrier and into a stand of oak trees. She knew from the discussion at the table that this was the furthest corner of the ranch owned by Bo Sheridan, a ranch five times the size of Drew’s. Like the other areas being scoped out tonight, it had enough heavily wooded areas in additional to the pastures, to create an illegal game preserve and keep it well hidden.
    ANIMAL INSTINCTS
    Desiree Holt
    33
     
    Once they were over the fence and into the trees, Drew stopped, waiting until Ann Marie padded up along side of him. He turned his head, his amber eyes staring into hers. She knew he was sending her a message.
    Remember what we discussed in the meeting. Stay close to me, and keep your ears tuned for animal sounds.
    Believe me, I know what to listen for. I’ve heard them, remember?
    He brushed his snout against hers as if reassuring her, then turned and moved slowly through the trees and undergrowth. Because they didn’t dare move too fast, just in case humans were on the area, it took a long time for them to cover the Sheridan ranch. Ann Marie calculated it was at least one in the morning when they reached the far side of the property and dropped into a small clearing to rest.
    They hadn’t been lying there for more than a minute when they heard a high keening sound followed by shots. Immediately after that, came the screaming wails of animals in pain. Both wolves leapt to a standing position, ears perked and straining for sound. In seconds, they heard it again, only weaker. Ann Marie nudged Drew to look at her. Now she was the one sending the message.
    Shift so we can talk.
    In seconds, they were standing in the woods stark naked, staring at each other.
    “That noise came from the other side of this fence,” she pointed out. “It’s the sound of wounded animals.”
    “I know.” Drew bit off the words.
    “Whose property is that?”
    Drew shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m trying to remember who shared perimeters with Sheridan but I don’t think it’s anyone I know.” He looked around. “We’re way the hell away from everything here.”
    “I thought you knew who owned every piece of property around her?”
    “I know the big spreads and those about the size of mine,” he told her. He pointed to some No Trespassing signs, “See those? Everyone around here buys theirs at Weston Hardware, and they all look alike. Same size lettering. Same black background. Same reflecting paint. But not those.”
    ANIMAL INSTINCTS
    Desiree Holt
    34
     
    Ann Marie looked at them. “Those letters are very big,” she agreed. There’s almost no blank space on the signs. And they hit you right in the face.”
    “I need to find out who the owner is,” Drew said.
    “We need to go in there and find John,” she protested.
    Jake pointed at the fence. “Do you see that? Watch this.” He picked up a piece of dead wood lying at his feet and tossed it at the fence. Immediately sparks flew, and the wood hissed as it ignited. “Electrified. With razor wire. We’d fry ourselves. We need to be smart about this.”
    She blinked away the tears in her eyes. “But—”
    “We can’t help your brother if we get killed ourselves, right?”
    Ann Marie scrubbed at her face. “I know, but—”
    Drew cupped her cheeks and gave her a hard, brief kiss. “We need to get the hell out of here. We’re stark naked, and we sure don’t want anyone to catch us this way. Nor do we want them to see us shift.”
    “You’re right,” she agreed with reluctance.
    “Let’s go back and report this to the others. Brian can do his computer magic and see who the owner is. Come on.”
    Back in wolf form, they raced across the rear perimeter of the Sheridan ranch until they reached the common fence with Hawk’s Run. Clearing the fence