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line. She held perfectly still
as a very large wolf stepped out into the clearing. The fire didn’t seem to
make him the least bit nervous, which she found strange. As a general rule,
wild animals were afraid of it.
    This wolf had no fear. It stepped closer. It had black fur as the
other one had, but it wasn’t the same animal. Tori had studied wolves long
enough to easily pick up different characteristics of each member of a pack,
and quickly.
    It was another male. He seemed to focus on her as he slowly walked
toward Tori. She had the feeling he did it so he wouldn’t spook her, not the
other way around. Once he was within reaching distance, he sat on his haunches
and gazed at her, as if he waited to see what she’d do.
    “Hi there,” she said softly.
    The wolf continued to look at her. She met his gaze, and swore there
was more intelligence in him than the average of animal. He surprised her again
by standing and slowly stepping closer. He stopped once he was right beside
her. He went down on his belly and met her gaze once more.
    “I’m going to pet you. Just don’t bite me, okay?”
    As if he understood, he put his head on her lap. Tori kept her hands
raised, taken a bit off guard. She hadn’t expected he’d do that. This was
supposed to be a wild wolf, not a domesticated dog.
    She slowly lowered a hand to the top of his head and then carefully
ran it down his neck to his back. Tori was prepared to snap it away if he all
of a sudden decided to bite, but he lay perfectly still.
    Tori smiled. This was the first time she’d ever touched a wolf that
lived out in the wild. If all the wolves in his pack were like this, she’d have
a hard time making herself leave Canyon Creek. She’d want to learn everything
about them, especially the reason they had no fear of man. She had to wonder if
it had to do with Memphis and his family. She continued to pet him. He seemed
quite content to stay where he was, his head resting on her lap as she ran her
hand through his fur.
    The fire had burned down, and it was getting late enough for Tori to
go to bed. And still the wolf remained where he lay. She wasn’t going to sit
there all night. For one thing, her ass was starting to fall asleep from
sitting on the hard ground.
    Tori gave him a final pat. “Okay, buddy. This has been nice and all,
but it’s time I went to bed. There’s no way I’m going to sit here all night so
you can use me as your pillow.”
    The wolf pulled away and sat beside her. Again it hit her that he
seemed to understand what she said.
    Tori stood. She wiped off the back of her jeans. The fire was low
enough it’d soon burn itself out. She turned her gaze on the wolf. He didn’t
look as if he were ready to leave any time soon.
    “I guess I’ll go to bed now.” She turned and headed for the tent.
She squatted and unzipped the flap. She looked over her shoulder at the wolf.
He’d remained by the fire. “Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe with the
rest of your pack.”
    She ducked inside the tent, turned on the lantern, then closed
herself in. As she took off her shoes and then climbed into her sleeping bag,
she couldn’t help but smile. Tomorrow she planned to spend most of the day in
the woods. If she were really lucky, she’d find a den. She turned off the light,
looking forward to exploring the area.
     
    * * * *
     
    Memphis waited until the lantern turned off before he padded over to
the tent. He picked what seemed like a comfortable spot, then lay down. He
sniffed the air and looked around the clearing. There weren’t any cougar,
bobcat or bear scents in the air. His mate wouldn’t be in any danger.
    He lowered his lupine head onto his outstretched front legs. It’d
been a while since he’d slept outdoors in the woods. He and his brothers used
to do it a lot during the summer months when they’d been teenagers. That was
before they’d had cabins of their own. Now that three of his siblings were mated,
the sleep-outs were a thing