The Shadow Wolf. Bonnie Vanak

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      Deeply troubled, he thumbed off the phone. He hedged moving Megan and the twins until he felt certain they would be safe. Each Friend, a guide who would help an escaped Shadow Wolf to the next safe house, was known just to one link in the chain. Only Gabriel knew all of them. And the fact that he’d called all the others and got no answers from them, either, worried the hell out of him.

      Someone had infiltrated their network. He had to stay deep undercover. If anyone discovered his secret …

      Muscles on his back contracted, as if his skin anticipated the twenty lashes the Council of Draicon would order. Next they’d ensure his gene pool was permanently drained.

      The back door banged. He’d trip-alarmed the property to prevent Megan from leaving and he’d sabotaged the boats. Nostrils flared, he picked out the scent and relaxed.

      “Mr. Gabriel? I finished cleaning the downstairs and I’m headed out now.”

      “Thanks, Jean. I left an extra something in your envelope for all your hard work. Won’t need you for a few days.”

      Flushing with pride, she shook her head. “You’re too good to me, Mr. Gabriel. You’d better leave soon. Storm’s coming in, will be here by tonight, they say.”

      “We’ll be fine,” he assured.

      The middle-aged woman looked worried. “There’s something about that woman, Miss Megan. She reminds me of the war refugees who came to my home country years ago. That one has been hurt, badly.”

      She has. A fierce protective need rose to keep Megan from ever being hurt again. Gabriel made a mental note to find the sonofabitch who had beat her, and let him know the raw power of his raging wolf. “Don’t worry, they’re in good hands.”

      He watched her head for her ancient Lincoln, heard the engine start with a smooth purr. Gabriel had personally fine-tuned it for her. When the car reached the main road and hit one of the lasers, a small alarm went off. Gabriel knew Jean was safely off the island.

      Gabriel also knew Megan hid something important. Yet he hesitated using his magick on her. He admired her resolute courage and love for the twins. Yanking information from her mind felt like a violation of her stubborn spirit. What would it feel like to be so demonstrative, to give and receive love without fear? To have someone know your true self so intimately?

      A hollow ache settled in his chest. Hell if he’d ever know. No one would ever get that close. They wouldn’t like his dark side.

      Suddenly the prickling sensation returned. Gabriel called his housekeeper, asked if she’d noticed anything odd as she’d left the island. She hadn’t.

      “I’m on the mainland and almost home. Do you need me to return?”

      “No. Everything’s fine. If you don’t hear from me the next couple of weeks don’t worry, Jean.” He hung up. The feeling grew stronger.

      Gabriel bolted to his feet. Wolf senses picked out a strange scent. Though faint, this was darker, the foul stench of something that enjoyed twisting the limbs off screaming victims. Not Morph. Morphs, former Draicon who killed a relative to gain greater power, couldn’t access the island because of its protective magick shield.

      Vaulting over the railing, he landed on the ground fifteen feet below. Sand kicked up beneath his heels as he ran. As he hooked a hard right, an explosion ka-powed on the bayside.

      No longer could he hold back the beast. Tipping back his head, he released a long, low howl.

      One minute man, the next beast. Digging his paws into the soft sand, he ran toward the bay.

      “Hit the ground!”

      Water splashed over them as shrapnel flew through the air and landed in the bay. The twins fell on the boat dock and Megan threw herself over them, shielding their bodies with her outstretched arms. Pressure on her sensitive eardrums sent pain rippling through her. She pressed her face into the wood.

      When she felt sure the danger had passed, Megan raised her head.

      Clouds of smoke and dust clogged the air. Twisted bits of metal hung where the nearby swing bridge once stood. Coughing, she got to her feet, brushing off the girls, examining them for injuries.

      Jillian’s eyes grew wide as she pointed at Megan’s right hand. “You cut yourself.”

      Blood dripped from a gash on the back of her right hand. She’d barely noticed. Megan forced a tremulous smile.

      “It’s okay, sweetie. Just a little ouch.”

      A large gray wolf bounded toward the dock, skidded to a halt. It stood motionless, its nostrils twitching. Amber eyes filled with menace, the wolf silently regarded her. Megan involuntarily took a step back, even though she knew the wolf’s identity.

      This wolf was large and impressive in his powerful bulk. Not like a Normal. More like another type of Draicon, but they were extremely rare and nearly as despised as Shadow Wolves.

      Impossible. Gabriel came from a powerful Cajun family whose influence extended far into the Council of Draicon ruling over Shadow Wolf Island.

      Gabriel shifted back into a man and waved a hand, clothing his naked body.

      “Take them into the house. I’m going to investigate.” After growling the order, he ran in the direction of the bridge.

      In her upstairs bedroom, Megan helped the twins strip off their clothing as she examined them for stray shrapnel. Acid churned in her stomach as they dressed. If they had been hurt …

      Both girls dogged her footsteps as she found a towel in the bathroom to rub dry her dampened hair. The girls looked up in fear as footsteps sounded, but they relaxed when Gabriel poked his head inside.

      “Everyone okay?”

      “Fine. What happened?” Hiding her distress, Megan put the damp towel on the rack. He must not know what they’d planned.

      When they’d reached the boat dock earlier, Megan had found water and a hole in the little rowboat. Desperate, she’d decided to hot-wire the other boats, but upon checking the engines, she found someone had yanked out the batteries.

      Gabriel came inside, flashed a reassuring smile. Megan couldn’t read his expression as he glanced out the bathroom window. “Whoever blew up the bridge wanted to keep us here. The storm will be here by tonight.”

      “Someone’s trying to trap us here, and there’s a hurricane coming? Shouldn’t we try to find some way to leave?”

      If Gabriel got them off the island, she and the twins could make a break for it.

      “Whoever did this didn’t breach my defenses. He blew the bridge by rigging it with C-4 on the pilings.” Gabriel’s voice was hard, but laced with respect. “He can’t get on the island.”

      “And we can’t get off!”

      “We can.”

      He seemed too calm.

      “You have a magic carpet that’ll fly us out?”

      A rueful smile touched his mouth. “Something almost as good. Inflatable boats. But the bay’s too choppy.” He flicked his gaze to the girls. “Can they swim?”

      Her heart sinking, Megan shook her head.

      “Then I’m not risking it. Our chances are better riding it out here. You’re safe for now. The storm is barely a hurricane and we’ll not take the full brunt. Just some high winds and rain, and the houses are on concrete stilts to protect against tidal surges. We have propane generators and food.”

      Oh, this was so not what she wanted to hear. They needed to leave. But he was right. It would have to wait until the storm passed.

      He frowned at her bleeding hand. “That needs cleaning.”

      Gabriel led Megan over to the sink. From