Read Online Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 08 - Revenge by Bailey Bradford - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Bailey Bradford
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thing as his mom. Possibly because he’d felt doomed to repeat her mistakes, and after a childhood of misery, Ryder hadn’t had a clue how to be happy or normal.
Now he had a chance to be better, and he wasn’t going to waste it. He smiled at one of the kids who ran by laughing as if she’d never had a care in the world. It was a beautiful sound of pure joy that made him feel kind of sappy.
Usually he stayed in his rooms or went to the dining hall. Not today. He was finally going to start making a place for himself, here and with other shifters in general. It would make his move to take over the South American packs easier if he wasn’t uncomfortable in his own skin and ignorant of what he was.
The large common area was occupied by about thirty people, he guessed. Teenagers flirted, adults chatted and little kids clung to their parents. Everyone seemed happy, and when he walked into the area, several shifters waved at him or greeted him. Ryder didn’t know anyone’s name, but he did his best to learn them if they were offered.
At first he felt awkward, but soon he was chatting with the others like he’d known them for years. He listened as Kathy and Arnie told him about how they’d met, and even though they weren’t mates, they still loved each other a great deal. Ryder was confused by that, but he nodded and tucked it away to ask Marcus about later. Mates, lovers, he wasn’t sure of the difference as he’d never had either. Fucking and having a lover were two different things to him, as having a mate obviously meant something else entirely to the shifters, too.
After excusing himself, Ryder was feeling much more confident while he strode down another hall. He didn’t know where he was going, but he’d remember the way and map it all out in his mind. After a few minutes of nothing but golden-blonde wood and door after door on either side, Ryder thought he must be in one of the dorm areas. The doors were only separated by about ten feet. Sounds of TV shows and people talking could be heard.
Another hallway had the doors farther apart, but still they were evenly spaced out. Couples or families he supposed. There were five halls like that, along with two more of the possibly singles halls.
There were three gyms and two pools along with hot tubs and a sauna. All of those were occupied as far as he could tell. No surprise since shifters seemed to have a lot of energy. A door marked Training Room was locked. There were no windows to look in, but Ryder pressed his ear to the door and could hear soft pants as people fought each other, the smack of fists on skin.
That would be him tomorrow, getting beat on and trying to give as good as he got. Ryder had no illusions about what would happen. He was going to get his ass handed to him, probably several times. As he continued to listen, he had to admit he was excited about learning to fight, although getting hurt would suck.
When he heard the voices grow louder and could make out the words of praise, Ryder left off eavesdropping. There were more halls and rooms to check out, and the outside grounds themselves. Plus, he was getting hungry—for food and sex.
Probably should check on that Maarten guy, too. Get it over with and see how obnoxious he’s gonna be. Before or after dinner, though? Considering his hopes for the night, he supposed it’d be best to meet Maarten sooner than later. The problem was, Ryder didn’t know where to find Maarten. He obviously wasn’t in any of the living quarters.
“Well, duh,” he muttered. Ryder’s rooms were in a different wing, and he’d bet Maarten’s were near his. It only made sense to have the guest quarters in the same area. Plus, it put the guests closer to Marcus and Nathan.
“Are you lost?” a young lady asked him.
Ryder blinked, wondering why she’d asked until it dawned on him he was standing in the middle of a busy hallway. He hoped his smile wasn’t creepy. It felt too big, but his embarrassment at
Now he had a chance to be better, and he wasn’t going to waste it. He smiled at one of the kids who ran by laughing as if she’d never had a care in the world. It was a beautiful sound of pure joy that made him feel kind of sappy.
Usually he stayed in his rooms or went to the dining hall. Not today. He was finally going to start making a place for himself, here and with other shifters in general. It would make his move to take over the South American packs easier if he wasn’t uncomfortable in his own skin and ignorant of what he was.
The large common area was occupied by about thirty people, he guessed. Teenagers flirted, adults chatted and little kids clung to their parents. Everyone seemed happy, and when he walked into the area, several shifters waved at him or greeted him. Ryder didn’t know anyone’s name, but he did his best to learn them if they were offered.
At first he felt awkward, but soon he was chatting with the others like he’d known them for years. He listened as Kathy and Arnie told him about how they’d met, and even though they weren’t mates, they still loved each other a great deal. Ryder was confused by that, but he nodded and tucked it away to ask Marcus about later. Mates, lovers, he wasn’t sure of the difference as he’d never had either. Fucking and having a lover were two different things to him, as having a mate obviously meant something else entirely to the shifters, too.
After excusing himself, Ryder was feeling much more confident while he strode down another hall. He didn’t know where he was going, but he’d remember the way and map it all out in his mind. After a few minutes of nothing but golden-blonde wood and door after door on either side, Ryder thought he must be in one of the dorm areas. The doors were only separated by about ten feet. Sounds of TV shows and people talking could be heard.
Another hallway had the doors farther apart, but still they were evenly spaced out. Couples or families he supposed. There were five halls like that, along with two more of the possibly singles halls.
There were three gyms and two pools along with hot tubs and a sauna. All of those were occupied as far as he could tell. No surprise since shifters seemed to have a lot of energy. A door marked Training Room was locked. There were no windows to look in, but Ryder pressed his ear to the door and could hear soft pants as people fought each other, the smack of fists on skin.
That would be him tomorrow, getting beat on and trying to give as good as he got. Ryder had no illusions about what would happen. He was going to get his ass handed to him, probably several times. As he continued to listen, he had to admit he was excited about learning to fight, although getting hurt would suck.
When he heard the voices grow louder and could make out the words of praise, Ryder left off eavesdropping. There were more halls and rooms to check out, and the outside grounds themselves. Plus, he was getting hungry—for food and sex.
Probably should check on that Maarten guy, too. Get it over with and see how obnoxious he’s gonna be. Before or after dinner, though? Considering his hopes for the night, he supposed it’d be best to meet Maarten sooner than later. The problem was, Ryder didn’t know where to find Maarten. He obviously wasn’t in any of the living quarters.
“Well, duh,” he muttered. Ryder’s rooms were in a different wing, and he’d bet Maarten’s were near his. It only made sense to have the guest quarters in the same area. Plus, it put the guests closer to Marcus and Nathan.
“Are you lost?” a young lady asked him.
Ryder blinked, wondering why she’d asked until it dawned on him he was standing in the middle of a busy hallway. He hoped his smile wasn’t creepy. It felt too big, but his embarrassment at
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