Curse of the Alpha: The Complete Bundle

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a thousand holes in it. Plus she was pretty sure it was offensive – though she couldn’t decide if it was the women or the peasants who should have been most offended.
    “So you’re asking what’s the point in having an ability if you don’t use it?” Julian asked.
    “I guess I am.”
    Although when he put it that way, it hit a little too close to home.
    Just as she was about to turn purple and scurry away, Julian began to laugh softly.
    “You’re quite the rabble-rouser, Miss Connor,” he said.
    “Thank you.” She managed to meet his eye. He was smirking again.
    “At least we can conclude that you did read the book.”
    Now everyone laughed. Ainsley smiled down at her lap and smoothed her dress over her thighs. He might have won this round, but only because she hadn’t been paying attention.
    The talk went on for another hour. Julian had a great perspective on the novel. Ainsley found herself hearing new notes in War and Peace that she had never heard before. Many of the attendees asked a question here or there, but more and more Ainsley saw that Julian was focusing his thoughts on her, looking to her as he made each point, waiting for her to ask a question or add a thought.
    It was electrifying to share a room with a man who was smart, cultured, creative and passionate – and one who knew how to get a shirt to the drycleaner’s. Ainsley was overwhelmed at the possibilities.
    And the way he looked at her was almost unbearable. Her inner wolf stopped pacing behind its bars, and lifted its nose to scent the pure excitement wafting off him.
    They sparred a few times, and he argued eloquently, though once or twice he lost his patience and ran his fingers through his golden hair as she quoted passages to shoot him down. Ainsley knew her stuff and she wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t. If he couldn’t handle it, she’d rather know now.
    Oh, but he could handle it. Sometimes he would come back at her with a brilliant point, leaving her with nothing to do but nod. Others he would shake his head and smile admiringly at her, in what she could swear was a pleased way, then raise his hands in concession.
    At one point in the evening she heard Carol cough a tiny cough. They stopped their latest argument just as Carol rose and spoke.
    “This was a real treat for all of us tonight. For anyone here who didn’t know it already, I’d like to explain that Miss Connor in the front row is the daughter of the late Professor Michael Connor.” A murmur rippled through the crowd. “I think you’ll all agree she is cut from his cloth. I don’t know when we’ve had a more spirited discussion at one of our campus talks!”
    She stopped to smile at Ainsley and then at Julian, who bowed his head in acknowledgment and began to clap his hands. The rest of the crowd joined in. Ainsley blushed and shot him a look that said she would get even with him.
    “At any rate, I know it’s getting late,” Carol said. “Thanks again to Dr. Magie, and please don’t forget to grab a flyer in the lobby about our upcoming series of campus talks.”

Chapter 18
    T he audience shuffled toward the exit.
    Julian leaned forward and Ainsley’s heartbeat sped as she realized he wanted to continue their conversation privately. But before he could take the first step in her direction, Carol Lotus strode over.
    “Oh, Ainsley,” she wavered, “it was just like listening to your father. The way you talk about Tolstoy…”
    “Thank you, Carol,” Ainsley said, trying to hide her disappointment at losing her moment alone with Julian.
    “We all miss him so much.”
    “Tolstoy?” Ainsley asked.
    Carol looked confused for a moment, then realized Ainsley was making a joke and managed a weak smile.
    Ainsley felt a pang of regret for the older woman. She had been close with Ainsley’s dad, and was obviously still dealing with the loss. Ainsley was just so tired of going through the same song and dance every time she talked to someone in

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