A Handful of Wolf by Sofia Grey

wheels he now had use of for the day. He could get back to Megan’s, if nothing else, to pick up his clothes. He’d left them underneath a dry bush and run home in wolf form, with his cell phone and wallet between his teeth. Her mansion sat atop a crest of land that overlooked the city and getting home had been easy, once Sasha oriented himself. It wasn’t so easy controlling his wolf’s urge to run back to Megan.
    Dion settled himself at the tiny kitchen table. “So. Where are you going?” He gave Sasha an appraising look. “Don’t tell me you scored a date with her.”
    He grinned in reply. “I didn’t.” He hadn’t. Not yet. “Where’s the gig?” Dion played bass in a local rock band and if Sasha went along to help with the kit, he usually got a few free beers. He also usually scored with the chicks from the audience, but he didn’t care about that tonight.
    “It’s a big one.” Dion rubbed his hands together. “Mighty Mike’s, down by Cuba Street. As much beer as even you can swill, my friend.” Sasha’s phone finally burst into life with a raucous guitar solo and he grabbed it. Jake .
    “Thanks, Dee. Call you later.” He ushered his friend out, closed the door and sank into one of the wooden chairs, then accepted the Facetime invitation. Jake’s face appeared moments later.
    “Little cousin. How was the meet with the kiwi wolves?” Sasha couldn’t tell from his Alpha’s expression if he was angry or pleased.
    “Yeah, the meet. Not so good. They gave me crap about you mating with a non-shifter and it kinda went downhill from there. I had a girl with me though, and that didn’t help, so I’m waiting for them to arrange another meet.”
    “Yeah, I heard.”
    Sasha cringed inwardly. “You talked to Connor?”
    “Yeah.” There was a long silence and Sasha tried to think of something intelligent to say. He settled for honesty.
    “I fucked it up.” He could feel the weight of Jake’s disappointment and his stomach cramped.
    “Don’t beat yourself up. I think Connor is a naturally suspicious bastard, and that’s not a bad thing. He wasn’t impressed with your timekeeping, but he liked your girl and you earned some respect from looking after her.” Jake gave him a half-smile. “What’s the story there? You arrived late, spattered with fresh blood—human—and it put them on edge.”
    “It’s a long story, can I tell you another time? I’m supposed to be going out soon and there’s something I wanted to ask you about first.”
    Sasha outlined his concerns about the shifters at the club, their wild behavior in front of humans, and Lou’s story of wolves being seen in the mountains. As he predicted, Jake took him seriously.
    “You’re being careful where you run, I hope?”
    “Of course. It’s not easy finding wild spaces here without hunters. This damn country is full of people shooting the wildlife. You name it, if it moves, they friggin’ shoot it.”
    “Weird. So much free space, and yet so little to roam in.”
    “Yeah, at least in this part of the country. Maybe that’s why they go wild at the club, to let off steam?”
    “Maybe.” Jake frowned and scratched his chin. “I’m half tempted to ask you to go back there, talk to a few wolves and see what they know. With a pack so large, Connor might be stretching himself too far.”
    “Sure. I’m going back there tonight anyway.” Sasha gave his Alpha a confident grin. “Listening to gossip in a crowded bar? I can do that.”
    *
    To Megan’s surprise, Hugh gave her Sasha’s phone number as she stormed back to the sanctuary of her room. “I’m not saying you should see him again, but he’s got balls. I liked that.” He recounted her arrival the night before and then winked. “If he fucks you about, we’ll break his legs. It’s that simple.”
    Should she call him? What would she say? Sorry I passed out on you last night and by the way, I apologize for my brothers threatening you. Nope, she didn’t like