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less-than-in-control grin.
    “Sorry about that. Ignore them.”
    “Do you get this much attention from women all the time?”
    “Well…”
    His bravado was back, his expression changing as she stared at him, and the kiss they’d shared returned in vivid detail.She flushed. “I mean, not that I don’t think you’re attractive. You are, very, but…” The tension between them dissipated as they both laughed. Evan winked. “Why, thank you. But yeah, it’s part of the hardship of having a high-ranked position and no partner.” Gem considered his dilemma. “What would they have done if we had turned out to be mates?” He paused in the middle of lifting his glass to his mouth. “How good are you at arm-wrestling?” She smiled. “Is that a northern euphemism for displays of power?” Evan nodded.
    Interesting . Back home they all knew their place. There was little movement up or down the ranks in the pack, and everything stayed very dignified and orderly. Getting asked to show how strong she was—
    that hadn’t happened in a long time.
    She rested her fingers on the back of his hand. “Excuse me if I break any rules—this isn’t a common situation for me.”
    His sexy grin flashed. “Trust me, darling, there’s not much you could do to surprise me.” She shrugged. Wolf hierarchy games had never thrilled her. She opened the mystical part of herself and let a smidgen sneak out. Just a tiny bit, like she had back at the airport.
    Well, that was the intention. Maybe she was more tired now, or the confusion of the strange scent had affected her ability to maintain control. This time her power didn’t sneak, it ripped through the pub like a low-level sonic boom. All faces whipped in their direction. A few wolves fell to their feet. Chairs tipped as bodies scrambled back, eyes wide with…fear?
    Oops .
    “I have no idea why—” Sheer embarrassment heated her face, again. It seemed she was going to spend her entire time in the Yukon either aroused or embarrassed. Or both.
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    Evan stared slack-jawed for a minute before breaking out into a deep, strong laugh that shook the room harder than her momentary loss of control. He rose to his feet, turning with his palms open, his confidence streaming out like a calming balm.
    “Relax, it’s okay. Everything is fine.”
    The pack members dipped their heads, then turned back to their activities, music resuming. The overall tone in the pub remained subdued for a few minutes, with an awful lot of questioning glances tossed their direction.
    The receptionist from the front desk, Caroline, popped in the doorway and glared at Evan. She rolled her eyes before making her way to a table occupied by a human couple. Gem overheard her commenting to them about music systems and overload feedback.
    Great. She’d made the Takhini pack have to do damage control around humans. She was toast. She was going to be sent home on the first plane south, without a chance to complete her research.
    “I stand corrected. That was not what I expected.” Evan’s tone was light, but a tad more respectful than before. Maybe.
    She struggled to apologize enough to make up for her blunder. “I’m so sorry. I had no intention of making a public display that loud.”
    He shrugged. “I’ve always been told it was the quiet ones to watch for, and in your case, that’s true.
    You pack a pretty punch there, sweetheart. Not quite as powerful as me though…” Evan polished his fingernails against his shirt, before tossing her an outrageous wink.
    Forgiven? That easily? “I’m not in trouble?”
    He pushed her empty water glass away to make room for the arriving plates of food. “No. No trouble.
    And thank you—all the women who have been hounding us should give me a bit of a reprieve, at least until you’re out of town. They aren’t going to mess with you, darling. Just in case, you know.” The rest of dinner passed in a blur. She didn’t taste a thing,