Dawn was really settling in to her life in this small frontier town. Her baked goods were a big hit and she had plenty enough orders to keep her busy.

She was just pulling three loaves of bread from one of her wood burning ovens when the bell chiming above her door signaled someone entering. Quickly she sat the hot pans on the stone counter, wiped her hands on her apron and then walked into the entry room of her bakery, where she had cookies, cakes, pies and breads on display in glass cases that had been here when Dawn had inspected the building.

Grange had informed her that the cases were here because the man that had owned the building before had sold weapons and kept the nicest ones in these cases.

She saw Grange looking at the cases and rubbing his stomach. She shook her head when she heard his stomach growling from where she stood nearly twenty feet away. The man always seemed to be hungry, though she had no idea where he put it all seeing as how he didn’t have an ounce of extra meat on his entire body that she could see.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Michaels.” she said with a warm smile. She really liked Grange. There were days when he would laugh and joke and tease and then there were days when he was moody, distant and indifferent. But he had been her biggest fan and biggest help since she’d come to town. It was because of him that all the work had gotten done so quickly on the building and her upstairs apartment, and it was because of him raving about her cooking skills that so many people had already begun to order from her and give her business.

“My name is Grange.” he grumbled. Dawn sighed. It was going to be one of those days.

“Grange, are you hungry?” she asked patiently. Dawn had never had much in the way of patience but something inside of her was different when it came to Grange Michaels. She was able to overlook and even accept his moodiness most of the time.

She was drawn to Grange. And it was more than just his physical appearance. Dawn had never been the type to want a man as either a husband or a lover. She had always had bigger hopes, bigger dreams. But Grange?

Grange tempted her.

There was something in his presence that gave her peace while at the same time exciting and tempting her. His mere presence made her feel safe, protected, cared for. And there were times, when he didn’t expect to be caught, that she would turn to look at him and find those piercing blue eyes on her.

It took her breath every time. The way they would stare at her as if she was a treasure. As if she was beautiful. As if she was the single most tempting thing he had ever seen.

Dawn had never been looked at that way before.

“Of course I’m hungry.” Grange replied to her earlier question with a grunt. “I’m always hungry.” he added.

“I have some sugar cookies in the back that I just frosted, would you like some of those?” she asked. She knew he liked the ones with fresh soft frosting better than the ones that had been sitting for a day or two. Grange nodded and Dawn walked back into the kitchen.

She put several cookies into a cloth lined, woven basket that she had made herself and as she was covering them she heard the bell chime again.

Quickly she put the handle of the basket on her arm and stepped back into the main room, only to find another man standing inside her store. This man was young, probably only around twenty. He was handsome enough, though too boyish and very much a child compared to Grange.

Dawn was about to greet him when she heard that strange animalistic growling coming from Grange that she had heard several times over the last month or so. He was standing with his back to her, almost as if shielding her from the newcomer and he was tense. Every muscle in his body was rigid beneath his black tunic and buckskin pants. His fists were clenched at his sides.

The other man was just smiling, almost dumbly, as he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around at both Grange and Dawn.

“Afternoon, ma’am.” he said. Grange nearly took a step forward and Dawn quickly grabbed his arm. What was wrong with him!? She wondered if maybe there was bad blood between the two of them. She didn’t recognize the younger man but perhaps he was someone that Grange knew.

She felt Grange’s arm tremble beneath her touch and he turned to look down at her. The intensity and the possessiveness in those blue eyes took her breath and had her clutching at her pounding heart.

“Uh… Um.. Here’s your cookies.” she stammered as she held up the basket. Grange nodded as he took it, letting his fingers dance across hers as he grabbed the handle and slid it off her hand. Dawn nearly burst into flames and melted into a puddle at his feet at the contact.

While she had been in town nearly a month, this was the first time Grange had actually touched her. Whatever defense she still had raised, fell almost immediately. She wanted this man.

She saw his blue eyes darken and she would swear those were golden flecks seeming to grow and burn inside of them right in front of her. She felt her throat get tight, her thighs tremble and her knees shake when he lowered his face toward hers and kissed her cheek, letting his face slide across her neck as he pulled away.

Grange pulled away and took a step back. The wolf in him was going crazy. It wanted to mark the mate. Leave his scent clinging to her so this wolf standing by the door would know she belonged to him.

The man in him was just as jealous. Just as territorial. Just as overheated and aroused at the contact that had just passed between them.

He had only wanted to ensure that his scent would be strong on her. Only a warning for the intruder on his territory but instead he was afraid he had crossed a line that he might not be able to come back over.

Grange saw the color in Dawn’s cheeks and the way her chest was rising and falling quickly. She was staring at him with shock, confusion and wonder. Grange forced himself to turn his back on her, knowing if he didn’t get away from her scent he was going to lose control of the wolf and of the man inside of him and that was not something he needed to do right here in the middle of the day…. Especially when Dawn did not know what he was.

He walked past the young wolf, knowing that he and the pup would be having a long talk once the sun went down. He made eye contact and nearly bit the pups head off when he had the nerve to grin.

Grange threw open the door and was about to step out when he heard the pup take a deep breath.

“You smell awful nice, ma’am.” he said with a chuckle. Grange lost control then. That careful control he had worked so hard to maintain for years completely slipped away.

He let out a growl, that was truly more of a roar, and stormed back into the bakery. He heard Dawn let out a cry of shock as he wrapped one big hand around the pups neck and drug him back outside.

He heard Dawn come out onto the steps but he was already leading the pup out of town and into the woods at a nearly breakneck speed, unattainable by most humans. He was thankful that the bakery was on the outskirts of town and the pup was coming quietly, therefore no attention was spared in their direction.

Grange did not stop until they were nearly a mile from town. Only then did he release his hold on the back of the pups neck and toss him forward. The pup fell to his knees and was about to rise when Grange growled low and he decided to stay down.

“Who are you?” the pup asked as he swallowed hard.

“My name is Grange. This is my town and it has been for years. What are you doing here? You’re not part of a pack.”

“How can you tell?” the pup asked.

“I smell no other wolves on you. Now answer the question.”

“My name is Trig.” the pup replied, keeping his eyes on the leaves at Grange’s feet. “I was just passing through. I meant no disrespect.” Grange breathed deep several times in an attempt to calm his temper and then he nodded.

“Get up.” Trig jumped to his feet and began to rub at his bruised neck. “So you’re passing through? Might as well just keep on going.” he warned. Trig shook his head.

“I like it here. I’d like to stay awhile. I’ve been constantly on the move for a decade since I got changed.”

“There are plenty of other towns.” Grange reminded him.

“Yes but you’re not in them…. You are different.” Grange growled and began to pace.

“I am just a lone wolf.” he shot back before ramming his fingers through his thick hair. Trig shook his head, still maintaining a submissive posture with his neck bent.

“No you’re not. I can smell the power running through your blood. You were created by an Alpha. Why?” Grange growled as his pace quickened.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. Alpha’s don’t create competition. You were a slave weren’t you? A ‘pet’? And you rebelled. You got away. You escaped. Did you fight your way out? I escaped as well but I had to sneak. I’m not much of a fighter myself…..” Trig’s words were suddenly cut short when Grange shot forward and wrapped his hand around the front of his throat. Trig clutched at Grange’s hand as the bigger, older wolf lifted him off the ground.

“Will your trouble follow you here?” he demanded and Trig tried to speak but couldn’t. Grange loosened his hold, just a little, and Trig managed to gasp the word ‘no’.

Grange tossed Trig away and went back to pacing. The basket of sugar cookies Dawn had given him, swinging with every step he took. He could feel the wolf rising. Already Grange’s muscles were tight and bulging, his teeth were sharpened to points and he knew his eyes would be burning gold like liquid fire.

“No trouble. If you start trouble or trouble follows you, I will kill you.” Grange warned the pup and Trig nodded quickly. “No killing the humans. They are my pack.” Trig stuck his tongue out and made a face of disgust.

“Humans are a bit too rich for my tastes.” he assured Grange. The wolf in Grange was soothed a little by the other wolves submissiveness. The wolf in Grange liked knowing it was the Alpha.

Grange shook his head roughly to clear that thought. He was no Alpha! He was a lone wolf and that’s how he liked it.

“Any more rules?” Trig asked as Grange turned to walk away.

“Like what?” Grange demanded, keeping his back to Trig just to show how unafraid he was.

“The woman. The one you rubbed your scent all over. Is she off limits?” Grange’s fists clenched and he felt pain fill him as his bones attempted to shift and he fought it back. A thin layer of sweat coated his brow when he turned to face Trig.

“Yes.” he snapped.

“Why haven’t you changed her? Marked her? Any creature could show up here and take her as their own until you do.” Grange snarled, revealing his sharpened teeth and Trig whimpered and took a step back, slumping his shoulders and lowering his head in submission.

“You will stay away from her. Do not overstay your welcome in my territory.” With that Grange walked away from the pup and pulled a cookie from the basket. He took a bite and tried to calm himself. He had to find a place to hide his clothes and make the change. The wolf in him had to be let out, before it just showed up without an invitation.

***

Curiosity killed the cat and Dawn figured it would one day be what killed her as well. She knew they were supposed to be under curfew but there hadn’t been any killings since the preacher man and the girl and Dawn was like the rest of the town. They all were beginning to believe that whatever had done those horrible killings was long gone.

So that is what had led to her bribing the livery hand to saddle a horse for her. That is what had led to her getting on said horse and sneaking away from town and into the woods as darkness began to settle.

She had the moonlight and a kerosene lamp for light as she followed the road that she had been told would lead her to Grange’s cabin.

She wanted, needed, to talk to that man. She needed to let him know that advances, such as the ones he had made today in front of her customer, would not be tolerated. At least not unless Grange was willing to give her more…. Dawn felt herself tremble at the thought of more and she shook her head to clear it.

Neither Grange nor the newcomer had shown their faces again all day and if Dawn were being honest, she would admit that she was worried about Grange.

She wanted to see him, hear his deep, rough voice and know that he was okay. Something in her was drawn to the man and she didn’t even have to think about where she was going as she took her horse off the main road and onto a dusty, nearly overgrown trail.

Grange was this way. She could feel it deep inside of her. The oppressive darkness gathering in the forest seemed to press against her, closing in and causing fear and doubts to nibble at her spine. Maybe she shouldn’t have come out here alone after dark…..

She had been traveling for what had to be miles when she heard water ahead. The forest suddenly split apart and the trees cleared, revealing a large lake, being fed by several trickling streams. The moonlight shown off the dark, still water. It was beautiful.

Dawn was appreciating the beauty of the place when suddenly her horse spooked. Dawn barely had time to tighten her grip before the horse took off underneath her.

Dawn screamed with fear and then the scream turned to one of sheer terror when something huge and black began to run beside her panicking horse. Dawn could hardly believe her eyes when she realized it was a wolf, but it was bigger than any wolf she had ever seen or heard about. It’s head was nearly level with her horses back!

Where was Grange? What if this wolf had gotten him? What if Grange was the newest victim?

The wolf snarled and nipped at the horses legs as they made it back to the main dirt road toward town. The horse seemed to recognize where it was and took off at a breakneck pace toward town. Dawn turned to see the wolf just standing in the middle of the road watching her go. She was still scared nearly to death but very relieved that the beast wasn’t going to follow her.

She turned just in time to see another wolf, this one tawny in color and smaller than the first wolf but still much bigger than what a normal wolf should be, run out in front of her. Her horse reared, Dawn fell off its back and struck her head sharply against the ground.

The kerosene lantern crashed into the dirt, shattering and going out, leaving her with nothing but moonlight to see by.

She was faintly aware of the sound of snarling, a terrible growl and pain filled yelps before silence filled the air. Her horses hooves faded into the distance and Dawn knew she was going to die.

She lay on her back and turned her head to see the big black wolf stalking toward her. His eyes were piercing and golden. She let out one last scream of fear and then lost consciousness as everything went dark.