Allister, J. Rose - Discarded Cowboys [Lone Wolves of Shay Falls 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by J. Rose Allister

there—one of them, at least.
    Why was the woman so intent on Russell’s destruction? Was it true that he hadn’t deserved it?
    A sound pierced the night, a keening howl that stood her hair on end. Other wolves roamed these woods, likely with other dangers awaiting her. Not the least of which was the fact that she was rapidly becoming a danger to herself.
    Her feet moved of their own accord until she was back in front of the cage. The men had shifted again into wolf form and were pacing restlessly. They paused at her approach, their majestic stares landing on her briefly.
    “Don’t either of you say a word,” she said to the wolves. “Or a bark, rather. And don’t get any ideas. I just figured maybe your scent will scare off some other animals, is all.”
    She lay down on the hard dirt, suddenly exhausted. The curse had taken an immediate toll on her energy reserves. Despite her exhaustion, even the normally welcome sounds of crickets and night breezes failed to lull her. The men respected her wish and left her alone with her thoughts, which carried her through several hours until she gave into a deep, though by no means peaceful, sleep.

Chapter Three

    Dinner was left for Talaitha along the perimeter of the clearing just as breakfast and lunch had been, with one important difference. Dinner was accompanied by a message. She had been summoned at her father’s behest.
    Frowning, Talaitha took the plate of goulash and slid it through the gap in the cage bars designed to aid handlers in feeding.
    “Why aren’t you goin’ to eat that?” Russell asked as she quickly deposited the plate.
    She backed away as though one of them might make a grab for her, which she wasn’t entirely certain wouldn’t happen, and then returned to the spot to refold the blanket she’d sat on throughout parts of the day. “It’s ridiculous that they only fed you once today, like the other…” she trailed off and shot him a look.
    “You can say it,” Drew said. He sat with his back against the cage and one leg drawn up, much the way Russell had done the night before. He was lounging casually, as though being locked up was the most natural thing in the world. “They’re feedin’ us like the other animals.”
    “I didn’t mean it like that.”
    He cocked his head. “That’s exactly how you mean it. We are animals, after all. You said so yourself.”
    “That doesn’t mean you should be tossed a few scraps of food once a day. You need to eat.”
    “So do you.”
    “I’m not a grown man. I’m not even particularly tall. I can get by on far less.”
    The truth was, she didn’t have much of an appetite at present, and what little was left had been snuffed out by the note. Whatever her father’s reason for wanting to see her, it wasn’t likely to express paternal concern for her well-being. Still, it would be best to go and get it over with.
    “I was thinkin’ about what you said you did last night,” Russell said. “To the huntress. She really can’t hurt a werewolf?”
    She eyed him, but didn’t answer.
    “Not unless she figures out she’s cursed and finds a way to break it,” Drew said, leaning forward to take a whiff of her unwanted meal.
    “That’s highly unlikely,” Talaitha said. “Gadjes don’t understand our ways, and they don’t believe in magic.” She eyed Drew pointedly. “Most gadjes, anyway.”
    Russell grunted. “Why keep her from harmin’ weres if you hate them?”
    A flash of irritation shot through her. “It wasn’t like I had it planned out. I was in a hurry, and that’s what I came up with.”
    “Why help Drew and me at all, then?”
    “I’ll answer that if you tell me why she is hunting down your pack.”
    “I honestly don’t know. Blaise did a lot of things to a lot of people. I was grateful when someone finally sent him to hell, until the new alpha banished the rest of us in revenge.” Drew offered him the bowl of stew, but Russell shook his head. “What about you? What’s