It’s Wednesday and December officially starts tomorrow. *muppet flail* I did “win” NaNoWriMo back on Monday. I went just over 50K words. With this book remain that long or longer? Probably not. There is a lot of filler and side notes in its current configuration. As last Thrursday was T-giving, not Thursday Threads prompt so I had to riff along on the #1lineWed prompt: **IT IS: Finished. Only just begun. Green.** That last one is evidently a Star Trek reference. Something about Data and weird whiskey. I didn’t go there. And I cheated a little. I added the prompt and some extra words to a scene where they fit right in, and one I happened to be working on. So, hwere you go. This scene takes place fairly early in the “trekking” portion of the book. If you remember the chewed boot, this happens not too long after that.
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“Kin?”
He didn’t snarl but it took every ounce of his willpower to leash his aggression. Duke was not a Wolf. Even if he had been, the man was the human equivalent of mated.
“Sorry,” he bit out.
“Talk to me.”
He wanted to ignore the order but Duke was his commander. This was a mission after all and his fecking moonstruck testosterone levels had no place on what could become a battlefield.
“None of your business.” And wasn’t that a stupid thing to say. He closed his eyes. “’Tis the girl,” he admitted in growled undertones.
“You have a problem with her?”
And that was the dilemma, wasn’t it? “Not like you mean.” He inhaled, forcing his wolf to relax. The bloody thing wanted to rip out Duke’s throat for touching Meg. All he’d done was assist her over a rocky spot in the trail, just like he’d helped the kids they were shepherding.
Loch suddenly appeared and Kin glanced up. Had the Russians gotten closer?
“You’ve not been around a moonstruck Wolf, have ya now?” Loch asked, his Irish brogue a lilt on the breeze ruffling through the surrounding forest. “We need t’keep the others away from the girl until Kin has a chance to claim her.”
Duke’s expression resembled a confused Golden Retriever and Kin almost laughed. “What the hell does that mean?” Duke barked.
“She’s his mate, mate,” Loch explained. “And until she’s his right and proper, no man is safe around her.”
Kin growled. “She’s not my mate. And this discussion? It is finished.
“’Tisn’t. ’Tis only just begun,” Loch countered.
Duke’s snarl was worthy of a Wolf. “Well, fuck.”
“Aye, Duke. That’s what they need t’be doin’ except this is not the place nor the time.”
Studying Kin intently, Duke finally spoke. “Can you keep it under control?”
His first instinct was a snarling, “Yes.” Instead of voicing that, Kin actually thought through things before answering. “Aye. I haven’t lost control since I was a pup. I won’t be losin’ it now.” He gestured toward the clump of kids and the rest of the team. “Too many lives dependin’ on it.”
“Okay, then. Maybe you should take sentry duty, Kin.”
He shook his head. “Assign one of the others. I need t’prowl. I’ll shift and scout a wider area.”
Not waiting for Duke’s response, Kin turned his back and walked away. Loch laid his hand on Duke’s biceps and shook his head. “Let it be. His wolf is ridin’ him hard. He needs t’let the beastie out to work off some steam. If we’re lucky, he’ll find some game and make a kill. Good eats for us, energy release for him.”
Duke rubbed his forehead. He’d just thought dealing with a bunch of surgically and genetically enhanced SEALS had been a pain in his ass. Now he had those plus guys who could change in wolves, humans, and a dude that talked to the animals—at least his falcon and dog. For all he knew, Uri could communicate with the two wolves the same way. Which was a strategic advantage to be sure. There were times when radio silence and the need to communicate slammed up against each other.
Moshe suddenly sat up, ears pricked, gaze zeroed in on a section of the woods. Duke glanced at Uri, who knelt beside his dog. Golda, the falcon, perched on his shoulder. With a soft coo, the bird launched, wings beating as she rose above tree level. Loch relaxed.
“Just Kin’s wolf,” Loch said. “The Ladyhawke will keep an eye on him and she’ll let Uri know if there’s trouble.”
Duke flashed the other man a narrow-eyed look. “Ladyhawke?”
The Irishman grinned. “T’was a favorite movie of mine.”
“Because Rutger Hauer turned into a wolf?”
Loch’s grin turned impish. “Naw. T’was all about Michelle Pfeiffer. In fact, I swore back in the day should I ever have a little cailín of m’own, I’d be namin’ her Isabeau Michelle.”
****
And there you have it. No obscure Star Trek reference but a semi-obscure movie reference. Have you seen “Ladyhawke?” 🙋🏼♀️ Yeah, I’m with Loch on this one, except I was all about the wolf. I hope y’all enjoyed this little peek into current conditions in CROSSFIRE. Writers, feel free to start creating. Readers, do you have a favorite shapeshifter movie? (And writers, you can answer the question too, LOL)
No Universal message today, though this quote has a universal message
Silver James 