Changeling Dawn (13 page)
Authors: Dani Harper
Instead, a large and lanky wolf yawned and stretched where the vet had been standing only a split second before, a few stray blue sparks of static still crackling in his silver fur.
“Wow,” breathed Josh. “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever cg Iin seen.”
“You haven’t seen him Change before?” asked Kenzie.
He shook his head. “Totally amazing and so damn
fast
. I guess I expected a more gradual process or something. Hell, I thought you at least had to get naked first. And look at you, Stanton, you’re bigger than any wolf has a right to be. You’re like an
uber wolf
.”
fast
. I guess I expected a more gradual process or something. Hell, I thought you at least had to get naked first. And look at you, Stanton, you’re bigger than any wolf has a right to be. You’re like an
uber wolf
.”
Stanton chuffed at him as if laughing, then rolled on his back and began wriggling like a puppy. A moment later, Anya stopped playing with the feathers and crept over to see what was going on. The silver wolf made whining sounds in his throat and remained on his back. He glanced at the cub, then at Kenzie and winked. Anya hunched down in the grass, eyeing Stanton’s long bushy tail. Slowly, the tip of it began to twitch....
She pounced. Stanton flinched once and Kenzie had to cover her mouth to stifle a laugh—the cub’s teeth might be small but Kenzie knew well how sharp they were. To his credit, the old wolf managed to hold his position, but it wasn’t long before Anya attacked a hind foot and all-out wrestling commenced. Stanton lifted his head once and yipped at the couple watching them, before he was forced to defend an ear.
“I guess that’s our cue to get lost,” said Josh.
“I don’t know whether to worry about Anya or worry about Stanton. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“You heard him. Stanton and his wife raised six kids. All of them Changelings by the way. He’ll survive.” Josh led the way to the trucks. “I’m thinking this might even be good for him. He doesn’t shapeshift very often, not since Edie passed on.”
“Wolves aren’t designed to be alone. It must be hard for him.”
“It must be hard for you too. I’ll bet you’re away from your family a lot in your line of work.”
She was
so
not going there and changed the subject. “You’re still determined to go shopping with me?”
so
not going there and changed the subject. “You’re still determined to go shopping with me?”
“You bet. You’re going to need some fresh clothes before we go out tomorrow night, and you’d probably like something a little dressy for dancing. Unless you’d rather go bowling, in which case jeans will work just fine.”
She narrowed her eyes at him as he held the door of her truck open for her. “You can tag along shopping with me if you want but I’m not going on a date with you.”
“Why not? We already kissed, which is what we would have done at the end of the evening. Why not enjoy everything that would have led up to that? By the way, I have to take my truck back to the office, so you can follow me there and then we’ll drive your rig to the city.”
“We shouldn’t have done that. It was a mistake.”
“Kissing? Why the hell would that be a mistake?”
“Because you’re human. I can’t have a relationship with a human, so there’s no point in starting one.”
“Can’t or won’t? Are Changelings physically incapable of pairing with humans or is this a form of prejudice?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again.
“I thought so. Now about our date, would you rather dance first or eat first?”
“I’m
not
going out
with you. And if you don’t drop it, I’m shopping alone too.”
not
going out
with you. And if you don’t drop it, I’m shopping alone too.”
He just smiled. “I’ll meet you at my office.” He gave her directions, got into his truck, and left.
Chapter Ten
J
osh parked outside his little office in Glennallen, a stone’s throw from the tee-intersection that connected the Old Richardson and the Glenn highways. It was late in the afternoon, still hot, and the sun would be up for a long time yet. He’d left all the windows open, but it hadn’t helped much. He switched on the two fans—the last of the hardware store’s stock of them—planted himself at his desk by the window, and waited for his quarry to appear. Like the Spartans at the passage of Thermopylae, Josh had an all-important advantage. There was no route Kenzie Macleod could take that wouldn’t bring her right past him.
osh parked outside his little office in Glennallen, a stone’s throw from the tee-intersection that connected the Old Richardson and the Glenn highways. It was late in the afternoon, still hot, and the sun would be up for a long time yet. He’d left all the windows open, but it hadn’t helped much. He switched on the two fans—the last of the hardware store’s stock of them—planted himself at his desk by the window, and waited for his quarry to appear. Like the Spartans at the passage of Thermopylae, Josh had an all-important advantage. There was no route Kenzie Macleod could take that wouldn’t bring her right past him.
Unless, of course, she decided to stay in camp.
Josh supposed she could rough it there for as long as she pleased, hunting for deer and sleeping under the sky. Would probably enjoy it for a while too—hell, he sure would. Sooner or later, though, she’d resent how much time it took away from her dig. And she would want to continue to coax Anya to shift to human form—tough to be persuasive on that point if she wasn’t on two legs herself.
Josh supposed she could rough it there for as long as she pleased, hunting for deer and sleeping under the sky. Would probably enjoy it for a while too—hell, he sure would. Sooner or later, though, she’d resent how much time it took away from her dig. And she would want to continue to coax Anya to shift to human form—tough to be persuasive on that point if she wasn’t on two legs herself.
He snorted at Kenzie’s anti-human bias. Most people were unaware they had any prejudices and he was certain she didn’t think of her feelings that way. He knew that most prejudice sprang from fear of the unfamiliar, yet Kenzie lived her life among humans, even studied them, and spent at least half of her life in human form. He experienced discrimination rarely as a Tahltan in Alaska, perhaps because anyone who lived in this last frontier knew he might have to someday depend on his neighbor and be depended upon in return. The fury of nature was a great leveler. War was too—in Afghanistan, nobody gave a damn what color you were as long as you had their back.
If Kenzie rejected him because of his
ethnicity
—that was the ten-dollar word for it these days—he’d be disappointed in her but he could deal. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect he’d be written off because of his
species
. Under normal circumstances, he’d find it hilarious, except that he was already in over his head with this woman.
ethnicity
—that was the ten-dollar word for it these days—he’d be disappointed in her but he could deal. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect he’d be written off because of his
species
. Under normal circumstances, he’d find it hilarious, except that he was already in over his head with this woman.
What made Kenzie so determined not to build relationships with humans? He supposed there was the age thing. He had no idea how old she really was. He did know that Doc Stanton was older than dirt, yet the vet didn’t exhibit any animosity toward humans—unless of course they didn’t treat their animals well. That brought up the point that not all humans were sterling examples of their species. As a shapeshifter, maybe Kenzie’d been on the receiving end of some poor treatment, perhaps even prejudice, herself.
That thought made him crazy. Every protective instinct he had rushed to the forefront, willing to take on all comers to defend a woman he’d known for less than a month. He laughed at himself and the aggression eased off, like a lion settling reluctantly for its handler yet remaining watchful.
Kenzie’s pickup appeared and pulled in beside his. She didn’t get out right away, and when she did, he could easily see the reluctance and the conflict in her body language. She was fighting with herself again. Part of her was interested in Josh and the other part was ... he wasn’t sure but he’d put his money on
afraid.
And that fed was a paradox in itself because she didn’t strike him as a woman who feared much of anything. There’d be no talking her out of her fear either, as he would a newbie in a firefight. In fact, getting Kenzie Macleod to accept him wasn’t so different from coaxing an injured wild animal to allow him to help it. In the short term, he’d probably be bitten for his efforts, and likely more than once. The long term, he sensed, just might be worth it.
afraid.
And that fed was a paradox in itself because she didn’t strike him as a woman who feared much of anything. There’d be no talking her out of her fear either, as he would a newbie in a firefight. In fact, getting Kenzie Macleod to accept him wasn’t so different from coaxing an injured wild animal to allow him to help it. In the short term, he’d probably be bitten for his efforts, and likely more than once. The long term, he sensed, just might be worth it.
He decided to remain at his desk and allow her to come to him. He smiled as the door opened.
“Josh?”
“Right here, buried in paperwork.”
She eyed the enormous moose head that dominated the cramped entry and came in. There was a grizzly pelt on the wall and several mounted raptors—eagles, hawks, and an owl—hung in various stages of flight from the ceiling. Visitors often instinctively ducked as they came in. The mounts were as much standard decor for a government wildlife office as the faded orange chairs from the seventies and the chipped countertop.
“Somebody does a lot of hunting,” Kenzie said as she leaned on the counter.
“The animals weren’t killed for display. Most of them ended up dead by accident—that moose was hit by a truck on a city street in Anchorage outside a Starbucks. Or else they were poached and then confiscated, like that bear.”
“You look busy. I don’t want to take you away from your work.”
“No busier than usual, and I have a large number of days off owed to me. You’re doing me a favor by taking me away from all this.” He slid papers into a file folder and stood up. “Ready?”
“I guess so.”
“I love your enthusiasm.” He held the office door open for her and nearly laughed at the glare she gave him. Then something occurred to him. “Hell, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll bet you’d like a chance to freshen up, maybe shower or something before we go to the city.”
She looked down at herself—surveyed her dusty jeans, the smears on her shirt and the half-torn pocket over her breast—and he knew she hadn’t given a single thought to what she looked like until now. It was easy enough to understand. She lived in a camp in the middle of nowhere and dug in the dirt for a living. Nobody to see, nobody to please ... He almost laughed at that. Kenzie Macleod wasn’t the type to be concerned about
pleasing
anyone. Surprisingly, it only made her sexier.
pleasing
anyone. Surprisingly, it only made her sexier.
“Crap.” She swiped a hand through her hair and only succeeded in making it stand on end. “I can’t show up at a shopping mall like this. People will stare.”
“Well, I’d still be proud to hold your hand, but if you’d like to tidy up, my house is yours.” The wary look she gave him made him add something else. “And if you’d be more comfortable, I could just come back and finish up my paperwork while you’re there.” It sure as hell wasn’t
his
first choice, but it did have a couple of advantages. One, she might feel comfortable enough to actually accept the offer if he wasn’t going to hang around, and two, the thought of her in his shower was enough to make him need a shower himself—a cold one.
his
first choice, but it did have a couple of advantages. One, she might feel comfortable enough to actually accept the offer if he wasn’t going to hang around, and two, the thought of her in his shower was enough to make him need a shower himself—a cold one.
“You wouldn’t mind? I’ll be quick. And you certainly don’t have to leave your own house.”
“All right then.” She’d probably deck him if she knew how happy that made him. He wondered if his sister, Sam, had left any clothes in the spare room the last time she’d visited. Probably not, but it was worth a look. Maybe they could find something at Whitford’s Trading P ksastost before they left town. Nothing classy there of course—the Post’s selection consisted of souvenir T-shirts and Carhartt work clothes—but anything clean and functional would work until Kenzie could buy something more stylish in the city. That is, if she even possessed a fashionable side. Was she all practicality, he wondered, or was there a softer side to her?
For the first time in his life, he was excited about shopping.
It wasn’t a surprise that Josh owned a house, but Kenzie was expecting a small bungalow in town. Instead, he drove back along the highway and entered a laneway that wound through thick trees. A sprawling log home, rustic yet modern, gracing a clearing and the vivid view of Mount Drum, snow-capped despite the summer season, made her heart ache. She got out of the truck slowly, drinking in the sights and smells.
“This is just like a
postcard.
And the house blends right in like it grew here. It’s really yours?”
postcard.
And the house blends right in like it grew here. It’s really yours?”
“Bought it as a fixer-upper the year before I signed up. The owners had started building years ago but never finished it, so it was just a shell. There wasn’t a thing on the inside but some wires and a couple of lightbulbs. I figured the place would be a good investment and a good hobby, something to do in my spare time. When I first came home from Afghanistan, though, it was therapy. Worked for Fish and Game in the daytime, then came home and worked on the house half the night. Sometimes, if I couldn’t sleep, I’d get up and work on something. That’s how most of the drywalling got done.”
She followed him inside to a massive great room with a vaulted ceiling. Wide windows faced the stunning mountain view. Armchairs and couches sprawled around a large woodstove. The walls sported an eclectic collection of artwork and artifacts—everything from deer antlers and snowshoes to sepia photos and paintings of wildlife. The effect was a “lodge” look that was comfortable and welcoming. Kenzie thought it would be even more inviting in the wintertime.
“Shower’s this way.” Josh led her to a guest bedroom that was dominated by a rustic four-poster bed and a colorful red and blue quilt. He crossed the room and checked the drawers of a wide pine dresser. “My sisters stay here when they visit.
Aha!
” He held aloft a pair of T-shirts, one pink with
Alaska Girls Kick Ass
emblazoned in rhinestones across the front, and a scoop-necked charcoal one with a black gothic pattern. He laid them on the bed and proceeded to check the closet, but it held only a couple of jackets and a bridesmaid’s dress in a clear plastic sheath. “I’m sorry, I guess all we have are the shirts. Look, give me your jeans and I’ll put them through the dryer while you shower.”
Aha!
” He held aloft a pair of T-shirts, one pink with
Alaska Girls Kick Ass
emblazoned in rhinestones across the front, and a scoop-necked charcoal one with a black gothic pattern. He laid them on the bed and proceeded to check the closet, but it held only a couple of jackets and a bridesmaid’s dress in a clear plastic sheath. “I’m sorry, I guess all we have are the shirts. Look, give me your jeans and I’ll put them through the dryer while you shower.”
“What? They’re not wet.”
“I probably shouldn’t reveal this to you, but it’s an old bachelor’s secret. Put the jeans into the dryer with a damp washcloth and a couple of fabric softener sheets and
voilà—
they’re fit for human company again.”
voilà—
they’re fit for human company again.”
“An
old
bachelor’s secret, eh? Sounds like something guys learn in high school.”
old
bachelor’s secret, eh? Sounds like something guys learn in high school.”
“Hey, you can’t acquire life skills too early. Just leave the jeans outside the bedroom door and I’ll take care of it. Meanwhile, there’re towels in the bathroom, and shampoo and all that stuff.” He waved and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Kenzie stood for a few minutes gazing at the back of the door. She’d never met anyone like him. A little voice in her head warned her that the more time she spent with Jos kpenng h Talarkoteen, the harder it would be to avoid becoming involved. And no good could come of having a relationship with a human. Sure, Connor and James would probably laugh at her if she said that out loud. Both of her brothers’ mates had been human to start with, and everything had worked out great.
So why was she still averse to the idea? And if she was truly averse to the idea, why was she so attracted to him? Because there was no denying the pull she felt. Worse, her wolf seemed to feel it even more than she did, and she did
not
want to think what that might mean.
not
want to think what that might mean.
Still, what was it Birkie had said?
Don’t close the door on possibilities.
That and something about being
openhearted
and receptive to the universe or some such thing. Kenzie sighed. What could happen if she just relaxed and tried to enjoy Josh’s company? She’d been able to do that with Nate once upon a time. Just have fun and not worry about anything more. Her work and her cause meant a lot to her, but when was the last time she’d taken a break? A real one? Maybe it would be a good idea to relax and clear her head for a couple of days, and then she could go back to her project refreshed and renewed. She might even be more effective, more intuitive on the dig.
Don’t close the door on possibilities.
That and something about being
openhearted
and receptive to the universe or some such thing. Kenzie sighed. What could happen if she just relaxed and tried to enjoy Josh’s company? She’d been able to do that with Nate once upon a time. Just have fun and not worry about anything more. Her work and her cause meant a lot to her, but when was the last time she’d taken a break? A real one? Maybe it would be a good idea to relax and clear her head for a couple of days, and then she could go back to her project refreshed and renewed. She might even be more effective, more intuitive on the dig.
Right now there was a hot shower calling her name and a good-looking, intelligent guy who wanted to help her have a good time.
Kenzie decided she wasn’t going to resist either one.
Kenzie thought that a man who caught his own rabbits and cooked them over a fire he’d made himself shouldn’t appear so damn comfortable in an urban setting. But then, that was part of the unusual energy Josh Talarkoteen possessed. He was centered, as grounded as the ancient spruce that grew around her camp, as if his very soul had roots that went deep into the earth. At the same time he was fluid, in touch with everything around him, be it in the forest or on the main street—and apparently perfectly at home in either.
The drive between Glennallen and Anchorage was only a couple of hours, but they’d decided to stay in the city for the sake of time. He’d picked an upscale hotel and she was surprised that it was in the heart of the downtown. It was just down the street from what he called the
best Italian restaurant in Alaska
, and their rooms—two adjacent—boasted stunning views of the city and the mountains beyond. She teased him mercilessly about the décor, however. It was as rustic and lodge-like as his living room, replete with lamps made of antlers and paintings of moose and caribou.
best Italian restaurant in Alaska
, and their rooms—two adjacent—boasted stunning views of the city and the mountains beyond. She teased him mercilessly about the décor, however. It was as rustic and lodge-like as his living room, replete with lamps made of antlers and paintings of moose and caribou.
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