Read Online An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carrie Ann Ryan
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gone. Though she didn’t know her future, she wanted him to bend down and press his lips to hers.
Kade merely quirked the side of his mouth in a sad smile before lifting his hand to her face. He brushed her brow, trailing down to her cheek. His warm, calloused fingertip sent shivers through her.
But he didn’t kiss her.
Too quickly his warmth left her. Did he not want her? Mel glanced down at his clenched fists and released a sigh. He wasn’t as unemotional as he would tried to show.
What was wrong with her? Her tumbling and confusing thoughts gave her a headache and hurt her stomach. Whatever happened here tonight would set the course of things to come. Now she only needed to make up her analytical mind. She needed more data, more time. But her heart screamed at her.
She was making the wrong choice.
Chapter 10
Kade inhaled the mountain air threaded with the anticipation of the gathering crowd. An eerily familiar chill crept up his spine. Damn, how could I be doing this again? What did I do to deserve this?
He didn’t know if he was speaking to God or his wolf, but neither answered. It appeared no matter what, he would be alone in this fight, and maybe for the rest of his life.
Despite his mind telling him not to, he risked a glance at Mel. Damn . It wasn’t his imagination. Even with the worried scowl on her face, she still looked amazing. Her long blonde hair flowed in the wind, whipping about her face in small gusts. His hands fisted as he fought the urge to go over to her and brush a lock behind her ear.
Dammit, he was doing this for her. For them. Doubt clouded his mind. Did she even want him? Or was she like Tracy? Desiring another man, but without the backbone to say no to the Heir of the Pack.
Kade shook his head, dispelling the inner fears assailing his mind. He needed to focus. Lance stepped into the circle, a smirk of confidence on his face, yet fear in his eyes. Huh? Lance was a low-level Pack member. There was no way Kade could lose to him. That explained the fear, yet why the smirk?
“Kade.” Lance’s deep voice echoed through the circle and the noise of the Pack hushed.
“Lance.”
“Men,” his father’s voice cut through their rising tension. “You’re both here in this place of magic to battle, man against man, flesh against flesh, for the right to mate Melanie Cross.” His father turned his head toward Mel, forcing Kade to do the same. She stood wide-eyed, frozen.
“Melanie Cross, do you acknowledge either of these men? Do you choose and stop this fight?” His father’s voice boomed toward the crowd.
She shook her head, and Kade’s heart plummeted. It didn’t occur to him until right then that he was actually hoping she would choose him. What did he expect? One night and she would fall madly in love with him? It didn’t matter that that’s what happened to him.
Kade looked into Mel’s eyes. Fear, yet pleading radiating from them. Without blinking, he turned from her toward his opponent. The smirk didn’t leave.
“Why are you smiling?” Curiosity pulled the words from him.
“You’ve lost before pup, and she never said no to me. Why would she want the politics that come with your job? With me, she has more options.”
Uncertainty attacked him. Dammit.
“Watch your back Lance. I will fight with everything I have. Mel’s worth fighting for. Remember the power I hold that comes with my ‘job’. Don’t fuck with me.” Kade growled the last part, wiping the smirk off the jackass’s face. Good.
“Men, stand ready at the center. And begin when I tell you.” Sadness threaded his father’s voice. No father wanted to see their son, especially their first-born, fight, maybe to the death, for a mate – twice.
Kade planted his feet, the soil smooth against his bare skin. Clad in only an old pair of faded jeans, his mobility was the greatest
Kade merely quirked the side of his mouth in a sad smile before lifting his hand to her face. He brushed her brow, trailing down to her cheek. His warm, calloused fingertip sent shivers through her.
But he didn’t kiss her.
Too quickly his warmth left her. Did he not want her? Mel glanced down at his clenched fists and released a sigh. He wasn’t as unemotional as he would tried to show.
What was wrong with her? Her tumbling and confusing thoughts gave her a headache and hurt her stomach. Whatever happened here tonight would set the course of things to come. Now she only needed to make up her analytical mind. She needed more data, more time. But her heart screamed at her.
She was making the wrong choice.
Chapter 10
Kade inhaled the mountain air threaded with the anticipation of the gathering crowd. An eerily familiar chill crept up his spine. Damn, how could I be doing this again? What did I do to deserve this?
He didn’t know if he was speaking to God or his wolf, but neither answered. It appeared no matter what, he would be alone in this fight, and maybe for the rest of his life.
Despite his mind telling him not to, he risked a glance at Mel. Damn . It wasn’t his imagination. Even with the worried scowl on her face, she still looked amazing. Her long blonde hair flowed in the wind, whipping about her face in small gusts. His hands fisted as he fought the urge to go over to her and brush a lock behind her ear.
Dammit, he was doing this for her. For them. Doubt clouded his mind. Did she even want him? Or was she like Tracy? Desiring another man, but without the backbone to say no to the Heir of the Pack.
Kade shook his head, dispelling the inner fears assailing his mind. He needed to focus. Lance stepped into the circle, a smirk of confidence on his face, yet fear in his eyes. Huh? Lance was a low-level Pack member. There was no way Kade could lose to him. That explained the fear, yet why the smirk?
“Kade.” Lance’s deep voice echoed through the circle and the noise of the Pack hushed.
“Lance.”
“Men,” his father’s voice cut through their rising tension. “You’re both here in this place of magic to battle, man against man, flesh against flesh, for the right to mate Melanie Cross.” His father turned his head toward Mel, forcing Kade to do the same. She stood wide-eyed, frozen.
“Melanie Cross, do you acknowledge either of these men? Do you choose and stop this fight?” His father’s voice boomed toward the crowd.
She shook her head, and Kade’s heart plummeted. It didn’t occur to him until right then that he was actually hoping she would choose him. What did he expect? One night and she would fall madly in love with him? It didn’t matter that that’s what happened to him.
Kade looked into Mel’s eyes. Fear, yet pleading radiating from them. Without blinking, he turned from her toward his opponent. The smirk didn’t leave.
“Why are you smiling?” Curiosity pulled the words from him.
“You’ve lost before pup, and she never said no to me. Why would she want the politics that come with your job? With me, she has more options.”
Uncertainty attacked him. Dammit.
“Watch your back Lance. I will fight with everything I have. Mel’s worth fighting for. Remember the power I hold that comes with my ‘job’. Don’t fuck with me.” Kade growled the last part, wiping the smirk off the jackass’s face. Good.
“Men, stand ready at the center. And begin when I tell you.” Sadness threaded his father’s voice. No father wanted to see their son, especially their first-born, fight, maybe to the death, for a mate – twice.
Kade planted his feet, the soil smooth against his bare skin. Clad in only an old pair of faded jeans, his mobility was the greatest
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