Grange’s mind was not on the men around him. They were carrying on about monsters that murdered innocent girls. Grange was used to the blame. They would never believe that the creature that had done that to the girl had been a man just like them. A holy man. A preacher man. It was easier for them to believe that a dark creature of the night had done this than to come to terms with the fact that men were the biggest monsters of all.

This was why he wasn’t focused on the trail they were following on the muddy, leaf strewn forest floor. Instead he was thinking of that woman in town. Dawn.

Grange was a lone wolf and a lone man. Never had he had any interest in a wife or a mate. But clearly his wolf had other ideas. His wolf had already decided that he wanted the feisty golden haired woman. It recognized something within her, something about her scent, that excited the wolf and drew him to her.

Grange himself wasn’t quite so convinced. He liked being alone. The only time he took a woman was when his body needed release and that was only at the brothel in a town two hours away. He liked darker women. Tall with dark hair, dark eyes and with a mysterious air. Dawn was short, barely over five feet, her body was fuller and softer than what he liked and she was pale, light and innocent in appearance. Too soft and weak for being mated to a man like him. A lone wolf who had to fight and scrap just to stay alive.

Grange was pulled from his thoughts when a yell broke out.

“Another body!”

Grange’s nostrils flared as the scent of the dead man filled his nose. He felt that rage coming back as he remembered coming up on this man slaughtering that poor innocent girl.

“The tracks are all around him, sheriff.” A man called out. Grange stayed away from the body, pacing the perimeter and working hard to hold the wolf down.

“This is that preacher man.”

“The monster killed him!”

“Calm down, men.” The sheriff’s voice called out. “We need to figure out where this wolf went.” Grange knew they wouldn’t. The rage he had been feeling had made him careless while chasing the dead man but he had been more careful after killing him. He hadn’t left a trail.

“What do you make of all of this, Grange?” Henry asked as he walked up to him. Grange shrugged one broad shoulder as he stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m thinking that people need to be smarter and not wander in the woods at night.”

“Do you think there’s a monster?” Henry asked, with a just a bit of nervousness in his old voice. Grange snorted and shook his head.

“Of course not. It’s just a big wolf.”

“Wolves run in packs. Where’s the rest of the tracks?” Henry asked skeptically. Grange scratched as his thick black hair and shrugged.

“Not all wolves run in packs.”

“You mean a lone wolf? Aren’t they usually weak and sick?” Henry asked with a frown. A younger man from town, whom Grange knew was named Peter, walked over, nodding.

“Yeah they are. My dad had to shoot one once. It was skin and bones, its pack had abandoned it and it was desperate for food and trying to eat our chickens. One quick bullet to the head took care of the problem. That man up there lying dead is a big man and his throat has been ripped clean out but it didn’t eat him. That wasn’t no sick, starving wolf that done that. That was a big wolf. A strong wolf. Dangerous and deadly. One that just wanted to kill for sport.”

Grange couldn’t help but grin as he rolled his shoulders. It was all he could do to refrain from saying thank-you for the compliments.

“The tracks end here, sheriff.” A middle aged man said with defeat and sheriff Bishop nodded.

“When we get back to town, I’m implementing a curfew. I don’t want anyone out after dark from here on out. Not until we kill whatever killed these two.”

“I’m getting back to town then.” the middle aged man stated. “I don’t like being away from my wife and the children right now.”

“Alright,” the sheriff said with a sigh. “Let’s get out of these woods, men, but stay alert. We don’t know for sure that whatever this is only hunts at night.”

Everyone began the long walk back to town as the sheriff and deputy lifted the man’s body together to carry him back to the undertakers.

“So, Grange, did that woman find you this morning before all this broke out?” Henry asked.

“How did you know about Dawn?” Grange replied and the old man smiled.

“Already learned her name, did ya?” he teased and Grange nodded as he lifted a thorny twig and let Henry walk under it.

“I’m good with names.”

“I’m sure that’s it.” Henry stated with a grin. “And I’m the one that sent Dawn to you. Didn’t she mention me? I told her to.” Grange shook his head.

“No she didn’t.”

“Are you going to let her use the building?” Henry asked.

“Yes.”

“Yes?!” Henry demanded with shock. “That quickly? That doesn’t sound like the anti-social Grange Michaels that I know.”

“I’m not anti-social.” Grange grumbled. “I just don’t like most people.” Henry raised his brow.

“But you liked her?” he questioned suggestively.

Grange shook his head while the wolf inside of him basically wagged with happiness and agreement.

“I like pie. She wants to open a bakery. It works for me.” Grange replied matter of factly. Henry laughed loudly and patted him on the back.

“You need to settle down, Grange, maybe Dawn’ll help you do that.” Grange just growled under his breath and quickened his pace, knowing the old man wouldn’t be able to keep up.

Settling down wasn’t for a lone wolf. He had been lucky to maintain his territory and keep himself alive this long. He had been turned at the age of twenty, found this town at the age of thirty and had lived here for the last twenty years.

He knew he wouldn’t be able to stay here much longer. Already there were whispers about how he did not seem to age. While he could pass himself off as being thirty or thirty-five years old, there was no way he could pass himself off as a man in his fifties. While no one ever inquired about his age, he knew they wondered.

Taking a mate would simply complicate his already dangerous existence. Taking a mate would be like waving a red flag to every other established pack in the country that a lone wolf was starting up a pack of his own and that was something they wouldn’t allow.

At that thought the wolf in him rebelled and Grange found himself struggling to hold him at bay. The wolf didn’t understand things such as ‘could be’ and ‘what if’. The wolf only knew basic instincts and what it wanted in the here and now, and the wolf wanted Dawn. It wanted a mate. Wolves weren’t meant to be alone.

***

Dawn was sore and tired. Dusk was nearing and she had a long list made of all she would need for her bakery. It was going to be expensive but getting and using the building for free meant she had plenty of money.

She finished sweeping dirt and grime out the back door and then leaned the broom against the wall and swiped her work gloved hand across her brow.

Her clothes were filthy thanks to the dust and dirt that had been in this seemingly long abandoned building. She had a tear in her brown skirt and her white blouse was probably ruined but she didn’t care. She was proud of the work she had done. Proud of what she was going to have.

Dawn left the building, shutting and locking the door behind her, before slipping her key in the pocket of her skirt and heading down the road. She was starving but first she needed to go back to her room at the hotel, get cleaned up and change her clothes.

She was lost in daydreams about her bakery when she became aware of footsteps close behind her. She stopped suddenly and turned to find Grange staring at her. His clothes were dirty and torn in places from tramping through the woods all day. His hair was a mess and he had dirt streaked across his cheekbone. She saw his nostrils flare again as he took a breath and she frowned.

“Are you sniffing me?” she asked and that lopsided grin appeared on his face again.

“Of course not.” he replied. “That would be odd.” He fell into step beside Dawn when she started walking again. “Did you write that list?” he asked.

Dawn pulled out the piece of paper and handed it to him. Grange looked it over and nodded.

“We’ll have to order the extra ovens.” he informed her.

“I know.” she replied. “There are already two in there and they are fairly large. The counter space is really nice and the closet in that kitchen is nearly as large as the kitchen itself!”

“I’m glad you like it.” Grange said with a tip of his head. “The mercantile and the dry goods store will have most of what you need for the baking. You’ll have to go tomorrow since they are closed now.”

“Did you all find whatever got that girl?” Dawn asked quietly and Grange shook his head.

“No.” he replied. “Whatever it was is gone. But the sheriff has implemented a curfew which means you need to be getting off the streets before it’s dark.”

“I have to eat first.” Dawn replied and Grange nodded.

“Just make sure you don’t leave town after dark. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”

“And why is that, Mr. Michaels?” Dawn asked, wishing he wouldn’t walk quite so closely. The man made her feel exposed somehow.

“Because you’re the town baker and I want a pie soon.” he replied with what Dawn was sure was teasing in his rough voice. Before she could reply Grange broke away from her and walked away.

Dawn shook her head. Henry had been telling the truth this morning. Grange was odd.

***

Grange stripped out of his clothes and folded them neatly before hiding them under the rock by his favorite pool of water. He stood naked in the half moon light and breathed in deep, taking in the scents of the surrounding forest.

Somehow, even though town was miles away, he smelled her scent over all the others. His mate.

Grange growled as he began to pace the bank of the mountain lake. The wolf in him would not stop with this obsession.

Nearly two weeks. Nearly two weeks, this woman had been in town and his wolf had been relentlessly craving her. Grange had always had good control. He had never been one to slip but lately he’d been having to fight harder and harder to keep the wolf at bay.

Whenever he was near Dawn and her scent filled his senses the wolf inside of him wanted to come out, wanted to take her into his arms, wanted to mark her as his and let her mark him as well……….

Grange shook his head roughly. He was a lone wolf. He did not want a mate. He did not want a pack. He had never wanted to be part of a pack since he tended to find it impossible to bend to authority.

He would simply have to get used to Dawn being around. Her bakery was now up and running, the extra ovens would arrive soon and she had everything cleaned, polished, painted and shining. She had even hired men to help fix the upstairs and she’d been using it as her home instead of staying at the hotel.

Grange had spent a lot of time with her, though he tried to keep a barrier between them. Never allowing her to get too close or their talks to grow too long. He had helped her every step of the way simply because the wolf in him had insisted on it. Mates did not abandon one another. If his mate needed help then she would have it. That was simply the way it was.

But now the work was winding down, she would no longer need him and Grange was relieved. Maybe if he was able to keep his distance then his wolf would change his mind and forget about Dawn Patten.

Grange closed his eyes and welcomed the wolf. Welcomed the change. He felt his body shift quickly, the pain only momentary and then he shook out his thick black fur and stretched the lean toned muscles of his legs.

A run. He needed a good long run. After letting out a long howl, he took off through the trees, relishing the release that came whenever a wolf ran free.