The following afternoon they boarded the plane and returned to Arizona. Even if they were absent only three days, Amy missed the ranch, it was now her home but most of all she missed Alba. She got down on her knees and laughed as Alba's long rough tongue licked her face.

"I missed you," Alba mentally projected.

"I missed you too and I worried you would have the pups without me. You look like you might explode."

The wolf gently nipped her arm and Amy rubbed the ...