The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

nice.”
    “Oh.” It came out a low wolf’s growl. The bite of bread in his stomach turned to rock. Knowing someone had hurt her made his wolf hackles rise.
    His father had been an abuser too. It was why, long ago, Mac had vowed he’d never hurt anyone else unless it was in self-defence or in defence of another. The Elgonquinn Mountain alpha had worried about Mac for a while, knowing he was strong enough to challenge his alpha position, but Mac didn’t want it and wouldn’t fight unless provoked first. Now the pack just left him alone.
    “I was pregnant when he gave me the little love tokens you saw on my leg and stomach. I lost it.” She paused. “The baby, I mean. It was a long time ago.”
    She couldn’t have children any more, either. Mac could feel it. The bastard had really messed her up inside.
    Lily stared at her stew for a long moment, then got up and paced to the window, wrapping her arms across her chest. “Looks like it’s letting up a little.”
    “We won’t lose the boy.”
    Her shoulders grew a degree tighter. “I hope not.”
    “He’s not your baby.”
    She turned, dropping her hands to her sides and taking a step towards him. “How did you know to say that? How could you know that’s what I was thinking?” Swift intake of breath. “I thought your telepathy only worked among shifters.”
    “It does, but that doesn’t mean I’m not observant. You’ve committed your entire life to helping people, wildlife, the world, but especially children - shifter and human alike. After what you just told me about your miscarriage, it wasn’t hard to make the jump.”
    She turned her face away. “It’s dumb.”
    “It’s human.”
    Her whole countenance darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    Damn it. He wasn’t good at this. “I mean it’s not dumb. It’s a reaction to a disturbing event in your life. It might be irrational, but it’s not dumb.”
    Lily studied him, licking her lower lip and then pulling it from under her upper teeth. It was a habitual gesture she displayed when she was deep in thought.
    Mac had to look away, otherwise he’d get up and kiss her.
    “How did you end up so emotionally intelligent?” she asked.
    “You think because I live away from the pack that I don’t have feelings?”
    She regarded him for a long moment, eyes narrowed. “On the contrary. I’m starting to think that it’s because you have strong feelings that you live away from the pack.”
    He turned away and spooned up more stew.
    She sat back down. “Why do you live away from the pack anyway?”
    “Most people irritate me.”
    “Join the club. Not that you would join a club.” Pause. “So, do I irritate you?”
    He set his spoon down and looked up at her. Mac made sure he had eye contact with her before he spoke. “You’re one of the few people whose company I enjoy.”
    She blinked, then their gazes caught and held. “Really? I’m surprised you’d say that. After all, I’m a human and we really don’t know each other very well.”
    “I’d like to fix that,” he answered.
    “The part where I’m human or the other thing?”
    His mouth twitched. “I can’t make you a shifter, you have to be born with the DNA, so I guess it’s the other thing.”
    “Oh.”
    “You sound surprised.”
    “Well, I am.”
    He blew out a frustrated breath. “I live away from the pack because I don’t want to be a part of the politics. I’d be expected to challenge Randall for position of alpha since I’m one of the stronger of the pack wolves, and I don’t want it. I prefer to live here, away from the entanglements of other people.”
    “Away from responsibility.”
    “Sure, you could say that. I don’t mind being alone. I’m not afraid of myself. Living this way suits me.”
    She studied him. “It does suit you.” She took another bite. “So can I ask you a personal question? Since, you know, you’re linking sentences together at the moment.” She smiled a little.
    He knew he wasn’t the most verbose man in the world. “Sure. Ask me anything.” He leaned back in his chair.
    “Were you born as a human or a wolf?”
    It was a common question. Some shifters were born wolf and then turned human when they reached maturity. Most shifters were born human though, and changed for the first time into wolf form when they hit adolescence.
    Mac looked at her through half-lowered lashes, a secretive expression on his face. “I was born human. Would it make a difference if I’d