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Gavan hadn’t changed ranite-like face, same attitude Gavan’s family was mostly mountain lion, and his washed-out eyes held the look of a solitary hunter

Ellison started setting up a ga he wouldn’t intrude on Gavan’s territory Territory fights could extend even to corners of bar back roo here, Spike?" Gavan asked "Morrissey send you?"

Ellison bent to break the cluster of balls, and Spike shrugged Scents changed with lies, and Gavan would smell a false denial

"Doesn’t matter," Gavan said, then he chuckled "I’m entitled to ain, burying deep any thoughts of his new cub, but he knew Gavan would scent Jordan on hiht," Gavan said "You’re good You wanted to kill that bear"

"Could be"

"Not could be You did I saw it in your eyes You backed off because you had to The kill would have felt good, yeah?"

"Yep" No question Of course Spike had wanted the kill He was Shifter

But Spike wasn’t as stupid as people assuht, boneheaded fighter Spike let theured out exactly what they were up to and what to do about it

He’d have been stupid as hell to try to go for the kill with Corth, and Spike had known it

Bears were stronger than all Shifters--they’d learned to teth in order to live in Shiftertoith other Shifters They had to, or they’d crush every hand they shook

Even in the ring, in a fight to show off skill, Cormac hadn’t wanted to accidentally kill Spike Spike had won through strategy and opportunity, not strength

If Spike had gone for the kill, today his grand a ceremony to send him to the Goddess Spike wouldn’t have met Myka, ouldn’t have taken him to Jordan

Thank the Goddess the bear had held back

Gavan looked at the two Lupines "Beat it," he said "I want to catch up on old times with my friend"

The Lupines looked annoyed, but Gavan out-dominated them, so they laid down their cues and strode off to the bar forit was their idea

"Let’s set ’em up, Spike And talk"