Read Online Changed: 2 (Wolf's Den) by Aline Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

she cared for
most, tossed the scraps others didn’t want. She’d been fine with that because
it was the only life she knew.
    Familiar she could handle but not the unknown.
    “I’m not changing!” she shouted, slapping at his hand. “I
won’t let myself.”
    “That’s right,” he repeated and closed the distance between
them. “Let it out.”
    This time she was prepared, accepting she’d lost it as she
released another throaty cry. Strangely it did feel good, like she’d finally
managed to come to terms on some basic level with her predicament. Before it
had been easy to pretend it wasn’t real, a small sliver of her mind wanting to believe
she’d been dreaming. Not so much now, with the cold autumn wind seeping into
her clothing and whipping around her face.
    She took in her surroundings, painfully aware of herself.
    If there was one rule she lived by it was never to let
anyone see how much they’d affected you. Emotions were weapons. In the wrong
hands they could be deadly. They’d stopped on a public road—parked right next
to businesses and bars—but no one ventured out to see what was going on. In
Atrum Hill a scream could mean a lot of things and not all of them were bad. If
they were closer to her home humans would have come running.
    “Oh no,” she whispered, panting as she gazed up at Declan.
“I am changing.”
    She didn’t fight when he swept her into his embrace, a hand
wrapped around her waist, another bringing her face to his chest. The tears
that cascaded down her face were accompanied by silence, her habit of crying
quietly coming in handy. As close as he was he could feel her trembling but
there wasn’t much she could do about that. Deep down something else had
stirred, rising in response to her despair. It replaced her fear with courage,
setting fire to the rain.
    Suddenly she became aware of Declan in another way. He was
so warm, blocking out the bite of the air. Her nose attuned to his scent, the
glorious fragrance washing over her. It didn’t amp her desire but somehow acted
like a balm, soothing her nerves. He’d offered her his leather coat earlier but
she’d not put it on. That left him in a plain black T-shirt and blue jeans, his
arms bare. Her gaze darted over his inked skin and she noticed names worked
into the design at his forearm.
    “Who are they?” she whispered, hating how scratchy her voice
sounded.
    “Hmm?” He didn’t let go but angled his head to peer down.
    Bringing her fingers to the tattooed skin, she touched his
arm. “Ivy, Kellan and Gage.”
    “My mother, father and sister.”
    “You have a family?” The instant she blurted the question—as
soon as she heard herself ask it—she wanted to take it back. Talk about the
ultimate insult. He obviously wasn’t conceived by Immaculate Conception.
    “Of course I have a family.” Instead of sounding angry, he
seemed pleased. He stroked her hair, meeting her gaze. His eyes were dark, more
brown than gold. “You’ll love them and they’ll love you.”
    Love them? She hadn’t even considered there was a family to
meet. What would they think about their son mating? Would they be happy or
upset? A sharp stab speared through her chest. She wasn’t a werewolf—not yet.
How would they feel about welcoming a bitten person into the family? Was such a
thing taboo? In the human world prejudice existed. Did it in the werewolf one
too? Would they even want her at all? What if they didn’t like her? She didn’t
put herself in a position of being rejected for that very reason. It was easy
to be dismissive and not give a shit when you didn’t take chances with people.
    Since she wasn’t comfortable with talking about that aspect
of things she redirected the conversation. “Gage is a boy name.”
    “Do me a favor.” The smile he gave her made her knees weak.
“Don’t tell Gage that.”
    This she could do. This was familiar.
    “Why not?” she asked, grateful for the way they eased into a
playful banter.