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that,” Cara said.
    “You don’t have to. I’ve decided.” Bess rose from her chair. “Now, I’m going to go play with my grandchildren.”
    * * *
    In the chaos of her life in the outside world, Cara had forgotten the sense of peace that could settle over her on a warm evening as she sat on her cottage’s small porch and stared out into the redwoods. The serenity wasn’t complete this evening, though, despite the glass of cabernet in her hand. Tonight, she shared the space with Gray, and later, she’d share the smallish bed she used to occupy alone.
    He sat in the chair next to hers, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He took to her clan’s traditional clothing as if born to it, although her brother’s robes didn’t quite reach to his ankles as they did on Joe. Imagine that. His size overpowered even that of her big brother. She could hardly have imagined a more magnificent male if she’d tried.
    He inhaled deeply and then let the breath out on a sigh. “I don’t know how you could leave this place.”
    “You haven’t been here long enough.”
    “These woods are stunning. Your family’s welcoming, under the circumstances.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “We will need to make the cabin bigger, though.”
    “We’re not staying here.”
    “That’s wrong, and you know it,” he said. “We belong with your… our pack.”
    She took a sip of her wine and let it sit on her tongue for a while. In the normal course of things, Gray would be right. Sometimes, she longed for this place and these people/wolves so much she dreamed about running with them. But, every time she visited in hopes she’d fit in, the more her inadequacies became obvious. At first, it had only been her mother’s and sister’s power. Then, Ruth had married Joe, and an outsider fit in better than she did. Then, the grandchildren had come.
    “I’ve only just been born or whatever it is I’ve done,” Gray went on. “But, I can feel it. The need to belong. To be part of something bigger.”
    “You’re different,” she said.
    “How?” he asked. “Talk to me, Cara. I’m your mate.”
    That feeling washed over her again -- the one dangerously close to self-pity. Revolting emotion, really. Why should she feel sorry for herself? She had the perfect family and the perfect job. Now, she’d manufactured the perfect mate. “You have to understand my pack. The females all have gifts. Even the ones who marry into the family have to have a special ability.”
    “Ilse’s sight?” he said.
    “Ruth, Joe’s wife, is a healer. Mom can start fires with her mind.” Cara snapped her fingers. “Poof. Flame.”
    “What about the men?”
    “All dominant. Prime males,” she answered. “You fit in here better than I do.”
    “They all love you. You can see it in their eyes.”
    “Even Joe?”
    “Especially Joe,” he said. “That’s why he disapproves of me so much.”
    “Maybe you’re right, but that doesn’t help.” She set her glass aside, got up, and walked to the railing, gripping it in both fists. The long shadows had turned darker now, creating an early night under the redwoods. It was always cool under the huge trees, and now the breeze raised goose bumps on her skin as the rich scents of the forest floated to her.
    Gray came up behind her and rested his hands on her upper arms. The warmth of his body seeped into her back. Tempting, oh so tempting. She could turn and rest against the expanse of his chest. Let him make love to her until she forgot even her own name. In fact, she would later, but her reality would be waiting to confront her in the morning. She couldn’t stay here without knowing every day that, among her pack, she was a charity case.
    “You made me,” he said. “Maybe that’s your gift.”
    “Engineering. I learned it in college.”
    “Has anyone else in your lab ever created something close to my mechanical self?” he asked.
    “I’m really good at my job.”
    “I’m