Read Online Eventide of the Bear (The Wild Hunt Legacy #3) by Cherise Sinclair - Free Book Online
Authors: Cherise Sinclair
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answer was terse. “I’m Ryder, Ben’s littermate. My cub and I just arrived.”
“Oh, how nice you…” Her voice trailed off. Oh, this was bad. Ben’d said the only prepared bedrooms were hers and his. At least two rooms would be needed for this male and the cub. And what about the cub’s mother?
Emma was occupying a room they’d need.
And really, if they knew what kind of a person she was, they wouldn’t want her here. Certainly not anywhere near such a sweet little girl.
Dismay swept through her. Somehow, Ben had made her feel welcome, but under this male’s cold assessment, her feeling of belonging had changed. It wasn’t right to be around other people. Not when she was…tarnished.
The female had stopped herself before finishing her sentence, Ryder realized. Obviously, she didn’t think it was nice he and his cub had arrived. On the contrary, from the way her brows were drawing into a frown, she didn’t want them here. Why?
Because she was all settled in and enjoying a good deal?
Ryder studied her for a minute, feeling an unwelcome punch of attraction.
Although obviously half-starved, this female possessed ample curves that would attract a celibate troll, let alone a male as virile as his brother.
Ryder’s mouth tightened. He’d abandoned Ben because of a conniving female who’d wanted him only for what he could give her. She wasn’t the first mercenary female he’d met; wouldn’t be the last.
And here was this female tucked neatly into Ben’s house. She obviously didn’t welcome intruders. No surprise there. What female would give up a cahir with a great house and a good income?
By the God, Ryder felt twenty years older than Ben. His littermate had no idea how greedy females could be. Cahirs were protectors right to the marrow of their bones. And if a child or female needed him, Ben’d give his life to help. The bear had the biggest heart in the territory.
And he could be played. Any male could. Fuck, Ben wouldn’t be able to resist this beautiful female who claimed to be ill.
But was she? She looked healthy enough. Her eyes were clear, her complexion a clear ivory, her color flushed—probably with annoyance at having her plans ruined.
Yeah, she was looking at him as if he’d stolen her breakfast bunny. He decided against attempting to be sociable—the politeness skill sure as hell had never been in his toolbox anyway.
Instead, he tipped his head and backed out of the room.
Ben noticed Ryder leaving Emma’s room. Had she called for help? “Problems?”
“Nah. Minette popped in there, but had already left before I could retrieve her.”
Ben considered him, surprised Emma hadn’t tried to keep Ryder in there to talk. She’d been increasingly bored. “She okay?”
Ryder gave him a puzzled look. “I suppose.” He noticed Minette peeking out of her room. “Kitten, let’s go downstairs and see what’s in your bag.”
Ben walked into Emma’s bedroom and stopped.
Sitting on the bed with her back to him, Emma was trying to pull on a pair of jeans Angie had provided. Before he could stop her, the harsh material scraped over her wound. The pain-filled sound she made twisted his gut.
“What the hell?” He strode across the room and sat on the bed beside her. “Emma, what are you doing?”
She ignored him and managed to get the jeans to her knees. Carefully, she rose from the bed, balanced on one leg, and pulled the waist up and over her round ass.
“What happened? Was Ryder rude?” Difficult to imagine. His taciturn brother might not sweet-talk a female, but he’d never been rude to one.
“No. He didn’t say anything.”
Then what the fuck?
“Sit down and talk to me, li’l female.” He curled his fingers in the waistband and tugged her back onto the bed.
The tears in her eyes defeated the effectiveness of her frustrated glare. “I know you have more people here now. They’ll need this room, so I’ll be out of your fur in a few minutes.”
“Not going
“Oh, how nice you…” Her voice trailed off. Oh, this was bad. Ben’d said the only prepared bedrooms were hers and his. At least two rooms would be needed for this male and the cub. And what about the cub’s mother?
Emma was occupying a room they’d need.
And really, if they knew what kind of a person she was, they wouldn’t want her here. Certainly not anywhere near such a sweet little girl.
Dismay swept through her. Somehow, Ben had made her feel welcome, but under this male’s cold assessment, her feeling of belonging had changed. It wasn’t right to be around other people. Not when she was…tarnished.
The female had stopped herself before finishing her sentence, Ryder realized. Obviously, she didn’t think it was nice he and his cub had arrived. On the contrary, from the way her brows were drawing into a frown, she didn’t want them here. Why?
Because she was all settled in and enjoying a good deal?
Ryder studied her for a minute, feeling an unwelcome punch of attraction.
Although obviously half-starved, this female possessed ample curves that would attract a celibate troll, let alone a male as virile as his brother.
Ryder’s mouth tightened. He’d abandoned Ben because of a conniving female who’d wanted him only for what he could give her. She wasn’t the first mercenary female he’d met; wouldn’t be the last.
And here was this female tucked neatly into Ben’s house. She obviously didn’t welcome intruders. No surprise there. What female would give up a cahir with a great house and a good income?
By the God, Ryder felt twenty years older than Ben. His littermate had no idea how greedy females could be. Cahirs were protectors right to the marrow of their bones. And if a child or female needed him, Ben’d give his life to help. The bear had the biggest heart in the territory.
And he could be played. Any male could. Fuck, Ben wouldn’t be able to resist this beautiful female who claimed to be ill.
But was she? She looked healthy enough. Her eyes were clear, her complexion a clear ivory, her color flushed—probably with annoyance at having her plans ruined.
Yeah, she was looking at him as if he’d stolen her breakfast bunny. He decided against attempting to be sociable—the politeness skill sure as hell had never been in his toolbox anyway.
Instead, he tipped his head and backed out of the room.
Ben noticed Ryder leaving Emma’s room. Had she called for help? “Problems?”
“Nah. Minette popped in there, but had already left before I could retrieve her.”
Ben considered him, surprised Emma hadn’t tried to keep Ryder in there to talk. She’d been increasingly bored. “She okay?”
Ryder gave him a puzzled look. “I suppose.” He noticed Minette peeking out of her room. “Kitten, let’s go downstairs and see what’s in your bag.”
Ben walked into Emma’s bedroom and stopped.
Sitting on the bed with her back to him, Emma was trying to pull on a pair of jeans Angie had provided. Before he could stop her, the harsh material scraped over her wound. The pain-filled sound she made twisted his gut.
“What the hell?” He strode across the room and sat on the bed beside her. “Emma, what are you doing?”
She ignored him and managed to get the jeans to her knees. Carefully, she rose from the bed, balanced on one leg, and pulled the waist up and over her round ass.
“What happened? Was Ryder rude?” Difficult to imagine. His taciturn brother might not sweet-talk a female, but he’d never been rude to one.
“No. He didn’t say anything.”
Then what the fuck?
“Sit down and talk to me, li’l female.” He curled his fingers in the waistband and tugged her back onto the bed.
The tears in her eyes defeated the effectiveness of her frustrated glare. “I know you have more people here now. They’ll need this room, so I’ll be out of your fur in a few minutes.”
“Not going
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