His heart thudded with his race, blood roared through his ears, the sunny sky blinding him as he reached the scraggy peak. Ghost continued to run, his body flowing over rocks and snow, the wind cutting through his thick gray coat in random gusts. Kane was an anchor, a touchstone, and was always with him. Kane sent back a wordless mental caress of affection, receding from Ghost’s higher mind, their bond still intact in the recesses of his brain. Kane had called after him, but thankfully his mate did not follow him. He had left without a word, stripping his human clothing and running for the door, shredding frustrations as he shed his human form in a rush of silver-white energy. *I am well, my mate,* Ghost whispered to Kane, his alpha’s worry a slight sting upon his conscience. The scents of other wolfkin faded away and the trees thinned out the higher he climbed. Ghost headed up the mountain, away from the cabins and park center.

Barring illness, animals truly did not care. Each creature to its own nature, and none to say, or even think, that one way was not the right way, or that another was wrong. There was a type of faith, but it was less defined, with no rules attached except that all creatures must eat, and some will be eaten. Laws did not exist religion did not exist. There was dominance to determine in packs, but such events were about willpower and strength, and wolves settled in naturally and with no resentments once the hierarchy was determined. No arguments and veiled frustrations, no seething resentments and fractured trust.

Having manners was another thing he wasn’t used to at all.īeing a wolfkin man was harder than he thought it would be…being a wolf was easy. He was still not used to having conversations and talking to others, no matter the species, and his habit of getting up and leaving when he was bored was rude, or so said Cat and Glen. All night long, and for most of the morning, the alphas bickered, plotted, and conjectured, driving Ghost to lose what tolerance he had for endless what-ifs and maybes.

Kane was back in the cabin, still talking to Caius. The sun was bright, the sky cloudless, the mountain air was harsh, clean, and searing, and his blood felt electrified. Paws sank in the fresh snow cover when he landed, puffs of flakes kicking up behind him as he ran through the trees. G host left the cabin, leaping from the front stoop.

Wolf of the Northern Star by S.J. Himes