Read Online Embracing The Lion (Gray Bears 6) by Natalie Kristen - Free Book Online Page B

he slid
away from the crowd and disappeared into the shadows. Tara saw him
running towards the edge of the town, heading straight for the woods.
    Tara stood and squinted into
the distance, trying to catch a glimpse of the lone wolf. She felt
Gareth's arms circle her waist and she leaned into his embrace.
    “Ryan Kline may remain
in wolf form for the rest of his life,” Gareth said, watching
the distance with her. “Ryan is a broken man after Hugo's
death. He stepped down from the Alpha position and left his pack.
He is filled with pain, regret and guilt. And the anguish may be too
much for him to bear. The beast will rise to protect the human, to
prevent him for losing his mind completely.”
    Tara let out a heavy sigh,
and looked down at the dagger lying in the pile of ashes. Carefully,
she picked the dagger up and held it out to Gareth.
    “Thank you,” she
whispered. “You saved my life, again.”
    “You—saved me,”
Gareth said, his eyes shining with love and pride. “And they
saved us!”
    Blinking back her tears, Tara
turned to the crowd of cheering townspeople and said, “Thank
you! Thank you all so much, I really don't know how to thank you...”
    “But we do!”
Gramma and Ne-ma shouted. “We know the best way to say thank
you!”
    Everyone laughed and yelled
together, “By having a par-tay!”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE

    Tara grabbed the sizzling
steaks from the barbeque grill and plated them. She was careful not
to overcook them. She pressed the middle of the steaks and smiled
when she saw blood oozing from the meat.
    “Seasoned and charred
on the outside, juicy and bloody on the inside,” she announced
as she handed the plate to Rosalina.
    “Perfect! Thank you,
Tara!” Rosalina beamed and went to share the steaks with her
coven members.
    Gramma and Ne-ma grinned at
her. They were roasting the corn, peppers and potatoes at the other
grill. The vampires had banned them from cooking the meat, so Gramma
and Ne-ma put themselves in charge of the vegetables. And they were
doing a wonderful job, judging from the long line in front of their
grill.
    The roads were closed, and
the whole town was out in the streets, enjoying the biggest, longest
barbeque ever. The party started once the sun went down, and Tara
had been grilling steaks and blood sausages non-stop. All the
vampires congregated at her station, while the fae folk and witches
crowded round the humongous barrels of beer.
    Gareth had supplied twenty
barrels of beer and bloody bourbon, while the fae owners of The
Thirsty Toadstool, another popular pub in Shadow Point, sponsored
another ten barrels of beer and mead.
    Gareth came up to her and
offered to take over while she went to get some food. “Go and
grab a bite,” he said. “Elle has baked over a hundred
different types of treats for tonight. I know you love her cupcakes.
Go grab one before they're all gone! I'll man the barbeque...”
    “I'll do the cooking!”
Olivia interrupted, finishing her blood sausage in two bites. “I
want to grill more sausages for myself, so I'll grill something for
everyone along the way. But I'll feed me first!”
    “Okay, thanks!”
Tara laughed and passed the barbeque tongs to her. She took Gareth's
hand and strolled towards the long table that was laden with so many
dishes, desserts and treats.
    She saw human children,
vampire young and shifter cubs running around the town square,
chasing one another and squealing with glee. As she helped herself
to the food, she laughed and chatted with the townsfolk, soaking in
the relaxed, carnival atmosphere.
    She had made so many friends,
and gotten to know almost all the townspeople. She had gone from
door to door to personally thank everyone who had helped her that
night. The townspeople had risked life and limb and courageously
fought off Phillip Lancastle and his fiendish friends. The townsfolk
opened up their homes and hearts to her. She had been invited into
the homes of many vampires families, and she saw that they