He raised a brow at me. “Don’t know much about cows, do you?”
I shrugged. “Nope.”
“Our station is huge. The cattle go months without seeing a single bloke. They’re more than half bonkers, especially if they have sookies.” He paused. “Those are calves. One whiff of a beastie Dire and the mob’d start runnin’ and never quit.”
“They’re afraid of you?”
He nodded. “Bad enough when we’re blokes, we keep our distance unless we’ve got ’em in a press. But we use ATVs and dogs to move ’em, most of the time.”
ATVs. How disillusioning. “I’d pictured you on a horse.”
He started laughing. “No brumbie worth his salt would letta wolf ride it. And our station is about 60,000 acres, all of it rugged. Have to be a bloody tough beast to cover that kinda turf.”
Sixtythousandacres? I gaped at him, and his grin widened.
“Big country, Straya,” was his comment.
His entire face had lit right up, and my breath seized. I swallowed. “You sound like you loved that life.”
His smile slipped, just a fraction. “I did.”
Mari had been quietly standing with us, watching Trix’s antics. But now her brow wrinkled in puzzlement as she asked, “Then why did you leave it?”
Matt’s grin diminished. “Nothing for me there anymore. Even the weekend fights went downhill—they’d become a right dog’s breakfast. Most contenders were a bunch of bogans that I could beat with one-hand behind my back.” He shrugged. “Unless someone lights a fire under the bleedin’ council, there won’t be anything left for my brah, either.” He glanced at me. “My brah—brother—is our alpha.”
I couldn’t help the expression that passed over my face, and he caught it. “If ya met my brother, you’d know what a poser Darius is. Being alpha isn’t about throwin’ your weight around. My brah is a real leader. But he needs a mate.”
“So Darius isn’t really an alpha?” I asked, surveying the area to ensure the Dire wasn’t within hearing range.
Matt’s eyes flashed. “Oh, he’s alpha all right. Was born with that energy. But the bludger has no idea how to lead.”
I filed that away underuseful information.“Well, we need to form a team with him, somehow.” I sighed. “The Dragon is going to be even harder, I think.”
Matt’s mouth pulled straight. “Strewth, he’s intense. Cold as ice. But sometimes those blokes go berko on you.”
I considered that, just as Trix stopped her circles and gazed off into the meadow with her ears pricked and tongue lolling.
Oh, no you don’t,I thought at her.
She rolled her head back to pant at me, eyes alight, and I decided that was enough excitement for the evening. I strolled over to snap her leash back on.
We wound our way peaceably back to the castle. If it were just the three of us, I had no doubt we would form a great team. But it wasn’t. It was only half of the team we were supposed to have.
Mari unlocked our door and disappeared into the room, but I hesitated in the hall outside. Matt stood with his hands in his pockets, swaying slightly from foot to foot like a little boy contemplating something he shouldn’t. It was endearing, and my heart accelerated at what it might mean.
I wanted to get to know this man better. Er... Wolf. Or whatever. If I were honest, it wasn’t friendship that had me weak in the knees.
But I wasn’t here for this, and neither was Matt. There were valid reasons that relationships were discouraged within teams. We had enough challenges without me complicating things further.
While I waffled, uncertain, Matt’s lips twitched into his trademark lopsided grin.
“’Night, Angel,” he said softly.
“Goodnight, Matt,” I answered, before I turned away and followed Mari into the room.
19
Anna
