He seemed just as coolly disinterested as she. Jacqueline wondered if it was genuine or a front. She could only find out by paying attention to him—his words, intonations, body language—as they spoke.

She, of course, found her interest piqued at his words. It sounded like just the kind of challenge she couldn’t help but accept. “And which way is that?” she mused, swinging her attention to him fully. He was a fine specimen, as far as she was concerned. Good genes, at least for his physique. She’d never seen markings on a wolf like his. Perhaps he is from this strange area? “Do you mean to say the land is claimed already?” By his kin, which only made sense, since he seemed to bear knowledge of the island, or was it a different group altogether?