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noticed Durlach, and he really seemed to notice me.
I hope this will be more than one date.”
    “I won’t wreck your date on you. Only promise me you won’t
hurry into anything. Take your time to get to know Durlach well before you
agree to anything permanent.”
    “I promise. And if things do work out between Durlach and I,
promise me you’ll make an effort to be friendly. I don’t want to have to kick
your butt because you chased him off with your grumpiness.”
    Taylor laughed. “I’d like to see you try to do that. So now
I’m grumpy as well as lacking people skills. You’re painting a great picture of
me.”
    “But I still love you anyway. Now, not to be rude, get out.
I have work to do.”
    “I love you too, like a sister, of course. And I’m leaving.
Remember to pay attention to the time or you’ll miss Durlach.”
    “I will. Now get lost.”
    Meadow watched Taylor walk outside and close the door behind
him. She shook her head. She’d dated a couple of guys since Taylor had come to
work for her, but this was the first time he’d actually acted all protective of
her when it came to her dating. Why he’d suddenly taken on the big-brother role
when it came to her seeing Durlach, she didn’t know.
    * * * * *
    Durlach arrived at the house before Capac and went inside.
He headed up to his bedroom, which he shared with Ryder. Their new shaman
actually made a great roommate. Ryder had fit into their pack with ease, even
though he wasn’t a werewolf. A mortal, he was twenty-four years old, though
when you looked into his eyes it seemed as if a much older soul peered back.
And out of all the descendants of their first shaman, only Ryder had inherited
his ancestor’s powers.
    Ryder sat on his twin bed, writing in a notebook when
Durlach arrived in the room. The shaman looked up and smiled. “How did it go?
Did Carson’s plan work?”
    Durlach nodded and crossed the room to sit on his
queen-sized bed. “It went well. I have a date with Meadow. I’m going to make
her dinner at her place this evening. I was going to ask Jaren and Kajakti to
take me to the store so I can buy some ingredients I need, but as I came up
here I noticed their bedroom door was shut. I doubt I’ll be able to get them
out of there anytime soon.”
    Ryder chuckled. “Probably not. I can take you if you want.”
    “That would be great. I’m sure Kajakti would try to bite my
head off if I knocked on their door to ask.”
    “Yeah, I doubt that would go over well. If you already know
what you need, we can go now.”
    “I do, and thanks, that would be all right.”
    “Okay. I’ll grab my car keys then we can leave.”
    Ryder walked over to his dresser and picked up his key ring.
Durlach followed the other man out of the room, down the stairs and out to
Ryder’s black four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicle. Once Ryder unlocked the
doors Durlach got into the passenger side.
    “So when are you going to learn how to drive?” Ryder asked
after they were on the road.
    “I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”
    “Soon Ketah won’t be the only one out of you ice age wolf
brothers to have a license once Edensaw takes his driver’s test next week. I
would think if your alpha can do it you would want to as well.”
    “It’s not that big of a deal to me. I feel more comfortable
traveling on four paws. You know my wolf is closer to the surface than with the
others.”
    “Yes, but you’re living in the modern world now. All of you
have adapted to it well. But you need to take that next step and learn how to
drive.” Ryder shot Durlach a quick look with a crooked grin. “All real men
can.”
    “That’s a low blow, taking a jab at my masculinity.”
    “All right, how about this? You found your mate. She may
like it if you’re able to drive. She might not want to play the chauffer all
the time.”
    “I’ll have to ask her. Besides, Meadow lives on the property
next to ours. I can walk to her place all the