Sam thought of their first sexual encounter and shivered.

Dinner was barbecued chicken, so tender it fell off the bone. Sam took two extra helpings of greens and only a tiny portion of meat, trying not to notice the questioning looks of Kara and Ryder. The couple introduced them to the rest of the pack, all couples, some with young children.

Now, sitting at the picnic table by the river, she allowed the tranquility of the forest and the rushing river to soothe her fractured spirit. About 120 of Ryder's pack were here, the rest remaining in Colorado to run the ranch.

"They all came here, dropped everything, for you?" Sam stretched out her legs and stared at the river. "Ryder and Kara must care a great deal for you, Darius."

"They came here for you, Sam. They came here because I asked them to." Darius sipped his beer. "That's the loyalty of pack, something no Skin friends can provide. It's not the loyalty of friendship, but blood. Speaking of which, it's time to pay the piper," he added, seeing Ryder approach with Marcus, a Lupine earlier introduced as Ryder's lieutenant.

Alarm filled her. Marcus carried a First Aid kit. On top of the kit rested a blue velvet pillow bearing a sharp dagger. She suddenly sensed that "paying the piper" would mean a solemn ritual involving bloodshed.

Noticing her expression, Darius touched her hand. "It's okay."

Ryder beckoned to Darius, who stood solemnly before him.

"Darius Bryant, do you swear by blood and bone to be part of this pack, to obey your alpha and never bring dishonor to our people while you remain here with us, before you return to Aiden's pack?"

"Yes," Darius said quietly.

Ryder picked up the dagger. "Stretch out your right hand."

Darius held out his hand, and Ryder slashed the palm. Sam winced at the thin crimson line.

"Other hand."

When he slashed that one too, she felt ill. Darius let the blood drip onto the earth, then Ryder bound the wounds with the white bandages.

"One time for myself, and one for you. I did not want you shedding blood in the ritual of sworn loyalty to his pack. Ryder binds the wounds, as a symbolic promise that as alpha, he will care for me if I am injured." Darius gave her a level look and murmured, "You already shed enough blood for me at the beach house."

Heat suffused her face as she remembered how they'd tangled together in hot passion. He'd been sweet and tender, and then had turned into a savage wolf.

Ryder nodded, wiped the dagger with a cloth and returned it to the pillow. He and Marcus walked away, giving them privacy.

"It seems brutal," she said, touching a bandaged hand.

"It may. But it's our way, Sam. Pack life has rituals and rites for a reason. By willingly subjecting myself to shedding a few droplets of blood, I demonstrate to Ryder my loyalty more than mere words can. I show him I willingly abide by his pack laws and will not go back on my word to follow his leadership instead of Aiden's. Even if it means abandoning Aiden if he needs me."

Such fierce loyalty. "There is little forgiveness or leniency."

"It's what keeps savage wolves disciplined. It keeps us in line when our animal nature wants to take over and the strongest-willed Lupine feels the turbulent need to go feral. Being Lupine is a constant battle of wills. We may live mostly in Skin, but beneath our flesh is the heart of a wolf who exists solely on instinct to survive."

Darius picked up her hands and kissed them, his lips warm. In the gathering darkness, she saw his gaze soften and wondered if her Lupine senses were already sharpening.

"You're everything to me, Sam. And if it means I have to shed blood, fight my strong-willed nature and be subordinate to him, so be it. Your safety comes first."

She stared at him, this noble wolf who stated his feelings with simplicity, not poetic words nor flowery professions, but direct honesty. Warmth filled her and suddenly her skin felt stretched too tight, her clothing far too restrictive.

Jon rushed up with a soccer ball. "Darius, c'mon! You promised a game after dinner."

Grinning, he threw her an apologetic glance.

Sam smiled. "Go on. I'll cheer from the sides."

She sat on a nearby bench, watching the game unfold in the adjacent field.

Ryder joined her. "You ready for the first step into our pack?"

She swallowed hard. If Darius could shed blood for her, she could do this-whatever it was. "Yes."

"Good. Follow me."

She trailed behind him on the pathway leading to the river, and a small footbridge that crossed it. On the other side, Ryder kept walking into the forest.

When they'd gone about half a mile, he stopped and squatted down, beckoning to her. "Like wild wolves, Lupines are highly social creatures. Our young learn not only from their parents, but every pack member. You'll be doing the same, working hard to learn from every pack member, including Darius. Your listening skills will be most important over the next two weeks."

He pointed to leaves and disturbed soil. "What do you scent?"

Nervous, but fascinated, she inhaled. "Rabbit. It's very strong." Sam's stomach pitched and roiled. "And blood."

Her gorge rose, and she tried to control her nausea.

"Yes. I killed it earlier today, in fact." Ryder's strong white teeth gleamed in the twilight. "Elk, moose and rabbits are our normal diet in wolf-skin. It takes teamwork to bring down an adult elk or a moose. A single Lupine, of course, can dispatch a rabbit. That's what we typically hunt when we enjoy solo hunts through the forest. But while you are here, you'll only hunt in pack. Only in pack, never by yourself. Understand? I need a verbal acknowledgement."

"Yes, I understand." She frowned.

Ryder stood and dusted off his hands. "What is it?"

"There's something else besides the rabbit. Something not wolf. But light...woodsy and fresh like rainwater. I've smelled this before."

Ryder's mouth pulled down. "Elf. We share this territory with them and have an understanding. Sometimes they come onto my turf to investigate the forest, see if anything needs tending. Trees with disease, stuff like that."

Dread curled in her stomach. Elves. "The Glen Dire clan?"

"Glen Aldena. Glen Dire is home to the Fae King of the north. It's to the west and covers the coast."

Good to know. Ken and his ilk wouldn't come here. Still, she felt uneasy, knowing Elves frequented these woods. "I don't like Elves."

"Me either." Ryder grinned. "They're sly and cunning, and dislike our kind because we're carnivores. They're also extremely powerful. They can cast spells on anything that has touched nature, even once. Anything, like paper made from trees, is vulnerable to their magick. On the positive side, they're damned good caretakers of the woods when we're not around and they'll fight to the death to preserve the environment."

"Or whore out their employees," she muttered.

Ryder cocked his head. She sighed and pushed a hand through her hair. "It's nothing."

They returned to the ball field, Ryder folding his arms across this chest as he watched the game.

"Did Darius mention to you about discipline?"

She nodded. "Not specifics."

"He told me you've been living as a human and neglected all aspects of Lupine life. You're a babe in the woods. You picked up the scent of rabbit and Elf, but you missed the old elk scat near the tree."

"You didn't ask me about it."

"A good Lupine, eager to learn, would have pointed it out. Would have told me, the alpha, how old the scent is, how big the prey, and if it were in a herd, so we could hunt later."

A good Lupine? His condescending tone made her bristle. "I've taken good care of myself."

"In the human world. This is different."

He turned and gave her a look filled with male disdain. "It's not going to be easy for you or for Darius. He's a natural alpha. I figure he got along so well with Aiden as his alpha because they're friends and Aiden treats him more like a partner instead of a beta. But here, he's like the others. And if I call for disciplining you, his animal instincts will urge him to protect you, his mate. I don't like punishing females any more than I enjoy punishing my sons when they misbehave. So do him and me a favor. Don't fuck up."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't plan on it. And you do me a favor. Don't assume I'm going to fuck up just because I've been living in Skin and I failed to mention a goddamn elk turd. In case you're wondering, as we stand here, I also smell dead flowers, a rotting fish on the bank, and some really bad BO from an Elf who waded into the river. Guess he forgot to wash."

Ryder stared at her and for a minute she feared she'd pushed the alpha too far. Then he threw back his head and laughed. Relief made her knees weak.

He squeezed her shoulder and the annoying condescension was gone. "Elf, huh? Even I didn't catch that. Good for you. You'll fit in just fine here."

"You mean there are other smart asses in your pack you tolerate?"

Ryder's laughter died. "Smart asses? Yes. Hell, I like them. They're the ones who will pull us out of the mire when things get rough. Like your mate. I'd fight with one arm tied behind my back with Darius at my side. Aiden, too. They're strong bloods. Cocky and arrogant, but strong."

They sat watching the game for a while, and then Kara came over with Wendy. Sam smiled at the little girl, who chattered about the new bike she'd gotten for her birthday. Sitting next to Kara, Ryder caressed his mate's back, running a hand lightly down her spine. Kara sighed and glanced at her.

"Sam, can you watch Wendy for a minute?"

"Sure."

Ryder and Kara vanished.

A few minutes later, the players took a break. Darius jogged over, chugging a bottle of water. Sweat dripped down his face and molded his shirt to his muscled chest. Sam's toes curled inside her sneakers.

He dropped beside her at the picnic table where she'd settled. "Looks like we're babysitting for a while." He wiped his forehead with the back of a hand. "Happens sometimes."

Sam shot him a questioning glance. "She asked me to watch Wendy for a minute."

"Uh huh." Darius watched the little girl kick the soccer ball to her older brothers. "What they're doing will require more than a minute, even for the fastest male."

Sam flushed. "I didn't even think..."

"It happens. Advantage of pack. Built-in babysitters to give Mom and Dad private time to make more babies. Everyone pitches in as they can, when they're needed. Loyalty to the alpha pair, which is why the pack didn't hesitate when Ryder asked them to come here as a favor to me. And a favor to you, because you needed help."

It was sweet and thoughtful, a side of Lupine life she'd never seen. She felt deeply touched they would do this for a stranger.

She touched his hand, feeling tensile strength. "Thank you for going to all this trouble for me and asking Ryder for refuge. It can't be easy, for you to swear temporary allegiance to him when you're already loyal to Aiden."

Darius blinked in surprise. "You're my mate, sweetheart. It's my job to protect you and make you comfortable in your wolf-skin."

A loud shriek drew their attention to the field. They jumped off the table, Darius beating her to the soccer field. Jon sat on the ground, crying, holding his knee. Through the tear in his jeans, blood and dirt showed.

"I went down hard, and it hurts," he whimpered.

Darius' jaw tightened. "I'll get the First Aid kit."

"No! Not the stingy stuff!" Jon wailed louder.

As Darius raced back to their townhouse, Sam gathered the little boy into her arms. "Don't cry, sweetie. How about I sing you a song? Would you like that?"

His eyes filled with fresh tears, but Jon nodded.

Stroking back his hair, Sam sang, the notes sweet and pure, the one song she'd remembered from childhood. The other children, who had resumed their play, stopped and listened. When Darius returned with the small plastic box, she kissed Jon's brow.

He beamed at her. "It doesn't hurt anymore! I don't need the stingy stuff."

"Brave boy," Darius murmured, opening the kit.

Sam peered down at Jon's leg. "He's right. Look. It's healed."

Frowning, Darius touched the unmarked skin. "Not even a bruise." He winked at Jon and ruffled his hair. "You're the son of a powerful alpha. Happens this young sometimes. You gain your Lupine abilities early."

"Can I go play now?"

Darius nodded. He and Sam sat on the ground to watch the game resume.

"Odd," he mused. "Lupine children usually never gain their healing abilities earlier than twelve."

"Maybe Jon healed because he is the son of an alpha," she suggested.

"Perhaps," he said softly.

But as they watched the children chase the soccer ball, her mind drifted. Jon had healed after she'd sung to him.

And Ryder, with all his alpha powers and sense of smell, hadn't detected the scent of pure Elf.

But she had.

Sam wondered about that.

Chapter 14.

The bathroom had gleaming black marble tile walls and floors, and stainless double sinks. Two sprays of white orchids in tall glass vases filled with black stones flanked the wide mirror. Sam splashed water on her face and stared at her reflection.

Darius came behind her, gently squeezing her shoulders. "Hey, beautiful. You okay? You haven't said more than two words since Ryder and Kara returned."