Big Bad Wolf by Michelle Marquis

territory for both our packs.”
    Eleana studied Gregor nervously. She hadn’t known the alpha shifter that long, but she could sense his apprehension and knew he was up to something. She just didn’t know what. But if this truce between their packs was going to work, she would need to get a handle on this dominant male before he did something stupid to ruin their fragile peace. “Okay. I’ll meet you there in about twenty minutes.”
    Steven hung up and Eleana turned her attention to Gregor. “He’s agreed to meet us at the state park and he probably won’t be alone.” She dismounted Boris’ bike and gave the shifter a sober look. “Can you leave Gregor and me alone for a moment?”
    Boris turned off his bike and strolled out of earshot.
    “Are you armed?” Eleana asked her grim faced leader.
    Gregor met her gaze with cool blue eyes. “I usually am.”
    “Are you planning to do something with that gun?”
    Gregor didn’t answer and Eleana felt a frosty terror grip her heart. He’s going to kill Steven, I just know it. “If you do anything to ruin this meeting I will never forgive you and I will refuse to be a part of this pack. I won’t have you going all vigilante on me. I understand there is a lot of pain in your past but this has to end now. We must have peace with the werewolves if we are to have a future.”
    “Am I just supposed to sit by like a simpleton while they slaughter you?”
    “They are not going to slaughter me. If they wanted to do that they would have a long time ago,” she said.
    “But you weren’t a threat to them back then. You couldn’t even shift. Now things are different,” he replied and she could see how honestly worried he was. If she hadn’t been so pissed at him she would have been flattered.
    “Yes, but I’ve known them all my life. I would think that changes things too. Listen, if this meeting goes wrong and all hell breaks loose I can’t tell you what to do, but until then, I want you to keep your cool. What I mean is, please don’t be the first one to start anything. Okay, Gregor?”
    The Dire Wolf male pulled her into his arms and squeezed her. He smelled good, like fresh soap, and there was a comfort to his massive strength. “I think you’re taking a big risk,” he said grimly. “But we’ll do this your way. For now.”
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
    The meeting place was a picnic pavilion located near the main entrance to the park. Eleana dismounted Gregor’s bike trying not to look as nervous as she felt. She really needed this meeting to go well, for all their sakes. Steven sat alone on the old picnic bench, his handsome face pale with worry. She squeezed Gregor’s arm to reassure him and approached the bench alone.
    “Hi,” she said. There was plenty of room for her to sit down but she decided to remain standing for now.
    Steven glanced back at Gregor. “Hi.”
    This was proving to be much harder than she thought. “Listen,” Eleana said, trying to cut through the tension. “I know about what happened in the past and I don’t care. What I care about is the future, both the werewolves’ future and the Dire Wolf shifters. All I want to hear from you, Steven, is that you’re willing to work with me.”
    Steven rubbed his face. “If we let the Dire Wolves grow in strength again, what’s to say they won’t start killing us off? You’ve seen them in their wolf form. We’re no match for them. How am I going to keep my people safe?”
    “I was one of your people once,” Eleana said, feeling lost and distant.
    “No, Eleana, you were never one of us. You were always the threat we had to manage.”
    “So what are you saying?” she said, feeling her throat tighten. “That you never loved me or cared about me? I’m sorry, Steven, I just don’t believe that.”
    “You’re one of those things now.”
    Eleana took a seat next to her brother and was relieved he didn’t jump up to get away from her. “I understand you’re hurt and you