CHAPTERTWO
The morning sun managed to force its way through the mossy canopy overhanging the narrows. Rev glanced at the still waters of the bayou, recalling his conversation with Sam.
Steering his pickup around the fateful curve, he pulled over near his fallen motorcycle. Glancing around to ensure there were no witnesses to his supernatural strength, he effortlessly lifted the motorcycle and set it in the bed of the truck.
Before climbing back behind the wheel, he sensed something … a faint scent, maybe a distant sound.
“Can you place it?” he asked his tiger.
“That scent is unfamiliar. But something or someone has been through here. Whoever it was didn’t stick around long, though. It’s nothing we have to worry about.”
“Huh. Gotta stay cautious. Remember what Sam was saying about people seeing something strange around the bayou. You just never know for sure.”
His tiger growled, pacing inside of him.“Let’s go into the city. You’ll feel better once you find a lady, or three, to take the edge off.”
“Enough!” Rev forced his tiger back into the shadows of his mind.
Two hours later, he finished with his bike and wondered how to spend the remainder of his day. Suddenly his phone rang.
“What’s up, Eddie? You haven’t even called me in like three months.”
“If you’re free today, how’d you like to take a run into the city?”
Rev laughed. It was as if his tiger had been scheming behind his back. “Yeah, I’m free. What do you have in mind?“
“I’ve got some wolf business to take care of, then I was thinking of getting some decent food and whatever.”
“In other words, you want me to go drinking with you. Yeah, I guess I’m good with it.” It would be good to get out of the swamp for a bit and hang out with Eddie. He could definitely use a drink or ten to take his mind off the whole mating thing that had his head spinning in a giant fucking circle.
“Great. I’ll swing by this afternoon.”
“See you then,” he said, ending the call.
Checking his watch, Rev thought more about Eddie’s “wolf business.” They’d been friends since they were young, despite both of their families’ efforts to steer them apart. “Wolves will never understand us. Besides, they’re violent. They live in packs like gangsters.” His dad used to say.
Eddie’s parents warned him about tigers. “They are nothing but a weird bunch of loners and stragglers. They are outsiders who have no loyalty to anyone but themselves, not even their own families.” To the wolves, the non-social, small family units of tigers were completely alien, and they had no desire to understand them. Since tigers were such a rarity, the wolves only tolerated the presence of tigers if they stayed to themselves and didn’t interfere with the pack.
Eddie’s bike thundered up the drive just as Rev stepped outside. “I thought maybe you got lost.”
“Nah, just got distracted. I need to make a quick stop along the way, then we’re good.”
While they were steadfast friends, Rev respected Eddie enough not to be too nosey and ask specifics of any wolf business he needed to take care of.
But he did have questions. The last time he talked to Eddie, he’d called to say he’d found his mate. Perhaps he was sharing the good news as much as letting Rev know he might not be seeing much of his friend. At least, that was the impression. After all, he’d heard so much about the legendary wolf mating and how it secured a wolf’s place within the pack.
And while he understood, sort of, he felt his best friend had no choice but to push him aside. After all, he would never, could never, be a part of that wolf pack life. One question he would press Eddie on, though, was why the hell hadn’t he introduced him to his new mate?
* * *
A few milesfrom the city, Eddie turned off onto a small road that appeared to be nearly hidden from the highway. He was glad Rev never pried into wolf pack affairs, especially on this particular trip. He guessed Rev would never get it, and based on previous conversations, he definitely wouldn’t have approved.
The cabin was located at the end of the road but still within pack territory. “Eddie! Glad to see you. Come on in.”
“Hey, Gerri. Nice to see you too,” he said, stepping inside.
“Isn’t your friend coming in?” Gerri asked.
“Nah, he’s not a wolf. His name is Rev. He stays out of pack things.”