Wolf Lover: Konochur (New Scotia Pack Book 2) Read Free

Council meeting, seven wolves emerged where verdant forest met barren stone near the top of the Lost Sky mountain range. The rapidity with which the fortress was taking shape was impressive. It was also daunting and clearly meant to be intimidating. It sent a message. The dragons intended to claim the mountain as their own.
    Ken’s group was met by several large men whom they presumed to be shifters. The wolves quickly changed to human form and greeted the newcomers cordially. SilverRuff had named Ken leader partly because it was his idea, but she’d also learned to respect his keen intellect and even temper. She knew that, if a cool head became necessary, Liulf’s younger brother was a good bet.
    Ken stepped forward and motioned to the other wolves. “We’ve noticed that we have new neighbors. ‘Tis quite a structure ye’ve begun.” Ken glanced upward to indicate the rock face outcropping. The men stared at Ken and the other wolves in silence, without perceivable expression. “I’m sure ‘tis a spectacular view.”
    One of the men murmured something to the one standing in the forefront. The leader-apparent raised his chin and said, “Is that Scot we hear?”
    “Aye. Like ye, I’m no’ a native. I’m Cinaed, New Scotia Pack.”
    “We don’t like Scots.”
    Ken could have taken offense, but chose to give diplomacy a chance. He chuckled, but didn’t look away. “Well, I’m sure ye have yer reasons. Perhaps Scots do no’ care for ye either?” Ken let that thought sit for a moment before proceeding. “’Tis a reason why we’ve climbed so high this mornin’. The alphas of the three tribes that have settled here before ye wish to extend an invitation to meet.”
    The apparent leader smirked at that while the men with him engaged in a mix of laughter and sneering.
    The wolves had heard plenty of stories about dragon shifters before, but none had ever been close to one in the flesh. It seemed that, when the dragons shifted to two leg form, they retained surprising aspects of their animal’s nature.
    First, they had vertical pupils, which was unsettling, particularly so on a two legged creature. Second, when they opened their mouths to laugh, they revealed teeth that came to sharp points.
    Ken could see it wasn’t going to go as they’d hoped.
    “Shall we take that to mean ye have no interest in our hospitality? Would ye at least care to give a name?”
    “Why would we want to become friendly with food?”
    Ken suspected that he was unable to keep the look of shock from his face. He heard the changes in breathing of the wolves who stood behind him and knew that they had been baited, as a group, by that outrageously provocative statement.
    A suggestion that shifters, even those of different species, might eat one another was so abhorrent, it was simply unthinkable.
    “’ Tis how you want to be leavin’ thin’s between us?”
    “Tell you what. If you and the mongrels with you, can reach the bottom of the mountain before we catch you, we might decide to be good sports and choose something else for dinner. ”
    The other dragon shifters laughed at that.
    With nothing left to be said, Ken shifted to wolf form. Determined to leave with dignity intact, he turned and trotted unhurriedly back to the safety of forest, with the others in the small contingent following. When they reached the bottom of the mountain, Ken shifted to human form so that he could speak.
    “Just in case they were no’ playin’ games, we’re waitin’ here in the trees for cover of darkness. If we start across the open areas when ‘tis still light, they could take us and there’d be nothin’ we could do about it. The moon is new. ‘Tis still dark when the sun sets and the dragons will no’ hunt then. They can no’ see as well as we can in darkness. Then we go to our respective tribes and tell our alphas what we’ve seen and heard.”
    “Tell your alphas that I requested that each of you attend the Council meeting, just in