“Where is Claray's horse?" "This is Claray's mount," her father announced, and she couldn't help noticing his pride as he glanced to the black steed pulling impatiently at the reins Edmund was holding on to to keep the huge beast from charging up the steps to greet her. "It's a stallion," Conall protested as they reached the bottom of the steps. "Ladies usually ride mares." "Aye. Well, she rides him well, and the stubborn bastard'll no' let anyone else on his back so I gave him to her two years ago," her father explained as Claray slipped her hand from Conall's to move to the horse and give him a soothing hug. The moment she touched his neck and leaned her head on him, the horse calmed, rested his head on her shoulder and raised his front leg to hook his foreleg around one of her calves in his version of a hug.” Claray MacfarlaneStallionZoophilistBlack Horse Book:Highland Wolf Source: Highland Wolf
“The thunder of the other riders loud in her ears, Claray didn't hesitate, but threw herself protectively to her knees in front of the wolf, her arms instinctively going around him, lest any of the men thought to attack the beautiful creature. Of course, the wolf thought this a fine game and promptly started licking the side of her face, her head and shoulder and anything he could reach, making happy little whining sounds of greeting as he did. At which point, Stubborn Bastard decided he wasn't to be left out and started to nibble and lick at the back of her head as well.” PetWolfClaray MacfarlaneZoophilistBlack Horse Book:Highland Wolf Source: Highland Wolf
“She'd then rushed to embrace the wolf as if he were a long-lost friend. And that's what the horse and wolf were acting like too. Both were licking at her like they were mother cats cleaning a kitten who'd returned after being missing. Conall had reined in at once, and had heard the other men catch up as he dismounted, but had then simply stood staring at his wife and the beasts until Roderick had joined him and spoke. "I guess I win the bet," Roderick commented now, and when the words brought Conall's blank gaze back to him, he shrugged. "Hamish thought the next animal would be a dormouse or pine marten, Payton thought a wildcat, but I bet on a wolf." He grinned, something else he rarely did, and pointed out, "It's a wolf.” WolfClaray MacfarlaneZoophilist Book:Highland Wolf Source: Highland Wolf
“Lovey immediately straightened next to her, his ears pulling back as he squinted at him, and then going straight up when Conall continued forward. When he then bared his teeth and growled low in his throat, Claray tightened her fingers in the fur at the back of his neck in warning, then turned to bare her teeth and growl at the wolf in return. Lovey didn't look happy, but he did relax a little. Though she noticed he stood a little taller, puffed out his chest and went back to squinting suspiciously at Conall too. "Wife?" Claray turned to him in question. "Aye, husband?" "Ye just growled at the wolf," he pointed out. "Aye," she agreed, and smiled at him. " 'Tis what he understands.” WolfClaray MacfarlaneZoophilist Book:Highland Wolf Source: Highland Wolf
“Curious now, she glanced to its contents and this time did squeal with delight when she saw all the cages holding the furry friends she'd rescued, mended and adopted over the years. At least, the ones that hadn't been released back to the wild: Osborn the three-legged goat, Lowrans the blind wildcat, Grisell the baby cow who couldn't walk when she first saw her and now could but was still quite wobbly on her feet, and of course Brodie the bunny, and her earless little fox.” AnimalsClaray MacfarlaneZoophilist Book:Highland Wolf Source: Highland Wolf
