Starr, Ellen - Wolf's Passion [The Joined] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Ellen Starr Page A

aware Rafe watched from the doorway.
    “Softly,” Wolf heard Rafe whisper. Wolf knew Dale would understand.

    * * * *

    Cora saw Rafe along with a young man she guessed was Dale standing in the doorway. Her face heated. From things Wolf said the night before she knew these men were his lovers. She met Rafe’s gaze, refusing to look away. Wolf walked over to the table. He kept hold of her hand until the distance got to be too much before letting her hand slip free. He stood beside a chair. Something was happening between the men she didn’t understand, some sort of dominance thing. Rafe lowered his eyes in deference, a slight smile gracing his lips. The young man with him was quick to bow his head when she looked at them. Dale followed Rafe to the table, both men waiting to sit until Wolf did. Cora picked up the dishes, occupying herself with bringing breakfast to the table. Maybe someone would explain what had just taken place.
    “I’ve found out some of what’s going on,” Rafe said as Cora joined them at the table.
    “Good, let’s start with why those monsters were chasing Cora.” Wolf reached over, covering her hand with his.
    “Well, seems like Cora ran into some visitors up from Mexico,” Rafe informed Wolf as he looked at Cora. He waited for a long moment before he continued. “Dolores, rot her hide, is dealing with the council down there. She can’t control her Pack, much less the Mexican Werewolves.
    “Shit. Cora, I’m sorry you got pulled into all this.” Wolf sounded truly distressed.
    She shook her head, mystified. “I don’t understand what is going on here. Why would they chase me?”
    “We’re what you would call Werewolves, Cora. The Pack is ruled by an Alpha. The Alpha is ruled by a chienne . Dolores is chienne to the Pack that runs out of Jimson Weed. It’s a town a few miles north of us. She’s been harassing us for years. She wants me.” Wolf gave her an apologetic smile.
    “You have the aura of a chienne .” Rafe looked embarrassed.
    Cora looked from Rafe to Wolf then back to Rafe. “I have the aura of a chienne ?”
    Rafe nodded once. “I knew it the second I saw you out in the desert. You can bet the Pack from Mexico and Dolores saw it right away.”
    Cora made an odd moaning noise, covering her mouth with one hand. Oh no, this is not happening to me . What will Jean-Paul say? She took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. “Do I have a choice in this?”
    “No, please.” The anguish in Wolf’s barely audible voice startled Cora.
    “Of course you do. We would never force you into anything. You can leave at any time. I parked your car beside the truck.” Rafe shot Wolf a glare as he reached across the table and covered her hand with his.
    Cora’s insides jolted as if she grabbed a live electrical wire. His touch jangled every nerve in her body. “I don’t know what to say. Until yesterday you, creatures like you, were myths, stories to scare people.” She stood, pulling her hand away.
    “I’m sorry. You do have a choice. Always. I hope you won’t leave us, though. I need you…We need you so much,” Wolf said. He sounded subdued.
    She went to the door, opening it as she looked back at them. “I need to think.”
    Rafe nodded. Cora looked at Wolf for a long moment. He sat there with his head bowed. Dale simply waited, looking from one to the other of his friends. No , she corrected herself, his Pack . With a sigh, she stepped outside into the bright sunshine. She looked around herself at the place Wolf called a ranch. The little canyon was beautiful. The red of the canyon walls contrasting with the green of the pine and the blue of the summer sky looked like a post card. She walked toward the trees.
    How did she deal with this? She didn’t deny the attraction she felt for Wolf, Rafe, or Dale. She had only met Dale that morning yet something about him pulled her as strongly as the other men did. Cora found the creek Wolf mentioned. She could hear birds singing