Grayslake: Never Kiss a Wolf (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

about a wild bear running through their town, they would take to the woods for sure and then every bear shifter in Grayslake would be in danger.
    That horrible thought spurred her to run faster despite her heaving chest and inability to catch her breath. When she finally reached the woods, Lily came to a dead stop. As much as she wanted to collapse on her back and roll around on the grass, she had to walk around to get her heart rate down without getting a cramp in her stomach.
    Her bear chuffed. Clearly it disagreed with her. Now that she was free, she wanted to play and that included a dip in the nearby lake.
    Really? You're already wet from the rain.
    Although she had to admit that just dipping her paws in the cool water sounded like a really good idea. Tired and still in full out denial over the idiotic fool she'd made of herself at the diner, she lumbered farther into the wilderness in the direction of the beckoning lake.
    Opening her mind to the bear's world, she began letting her senses take control. It had been a really long time since her last shift and she'd forgotten how soothing nature could be. Between the slick, wet grass under the pads of her paws and the rustle of the wind through her hair nurturing her frazzled nerves, she gave the bear full control to continue.
    As much as she loved her home state of Alaska, the warmth of Georgia and the people of Grayslake made her feel at home in a whole different way. Yes, the modern conveniences had a lot to do with that. It gave her no pain to leave the world of homesteading behind.
    If only her family didn't see it as an act of betrayal. The bear snorted, again pulling her into the present and out of her mind. She'd arrived at the lake on autopilot apparently.
    She swatted at the water with her paw. This was her problem. The constant state of worry and fear she lived in made simple joys like nature virtually impossible. Obviously the bear needed this, but more and more she was beginning to realize so did she. Her insistence on denial only delayed the inevitable. Not only could her past not be ignored forever, but also neither could her bear.
    A twig snapping behind her brought Lily up short. She swiveled her head and sucked in a gasp at the really large wolf standing a few yards away.
    One sniff of the air and she knew who it was. The man from the diner. The one with the burning touch that kept her from cracking her head open in the midst of yet another clumsy episode.
    She sniffed the air. He did smell like wolf, but there was something else there that seemed familiar. He was more than just a wolf. Unfortunately, the men standing behind him masked whatever else he was.
    Shit.
    He had the other stranger with him as well as the Sheriff and one of his Deputies. Not any old deputy though. Apparently, her freak out at the diner had drawn more attention than she needed in this lifetime. Both the Itan and the Enforcer had accompanied the two men sent to collect her.
    It was the Itan who stepped forward first. "You need to shift so we can have a talk," he said.
    Lily wanted to ignore the request. Her attention remained solely on the large, dark furred wolf. He was a lot bigger than other wolves she'd seen and his coloring intrigued her.
    Unfortunately, a command from the powerful leader of the bear clan came with the urge to do as told. Immediately and practically against her will, her bones began to pop and fur gave way to skin as her body transformed.
    "Van." The Itan nodded at his enforcer, who then held up a bag stuffed with clothes. They apparently came prepared. Good thing since her clothes were in the parking lot of the diner, shredded into pieces from her shift.
    She stepped behind a tree and quickly donned the sweat pants and sweat shirt they had offered. She didn't need to hide her body because it was fluffier than the average bear's, but out of respect for the human rules they lived by here in Grayslake.
    "Care to explain what happened back there? You are aware of