Read Online Full Circle (Central Florida Pack Book 1) by Chudney Thomas - Free Book Online

stand.
    He opened the door, but not before shooting her a smile. He'd probably heard her eyelids open. She chuckled, wrapping the sheets around herself more securely.
    Then Ria realized that James stood in the doorway, sheepishly avoiding her gaze. There was no way for her to get out and get dressed without James seeing her naked behind. She was trapped. Ria ducked under the comforter Drake had thrown over her. She made herself as small as possible, until she was sure nothing, not even the top of her head, could be seen from the door.
    The sound of Drake closing the pocket doors to the bedroom followed. Ria popped her head above the covers and immediately began to grab her clothing, while keeping an ear on the conversation through the door.
    "What's going on?" Drake asked his second.
    "Doc called. The wolf is stabilized. We might be able to get some answers. You said you wanted to be there."
    Fully dressed and doing her best to control her now-tousled curls, Ria eased the door open and caught James' eye. Curiosity and concern trumped her embarrassment. She stood just behind Drake and listened to them discuss Pack business.
    "Is Tim okay?"
    "He's fine, the meal Ria had ready plus some raw meat did him good. His parents already picked him up."
    She hesitated a beat before asking, "Do we know why he was attacked?"
    "No, hopefully we'll find that out now."
    Drake reached back and drew her to his side, sliding an arm around her waist. Ria stilled at his touch. Drake dipped his head and inhaled her scent mixed with his, combined with fear and hope. He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.
    James moved out into the hallway, giving them a small bit of privacy.
    Drake nuzzled her neck as the pressure of his hands on her hips increased. He turned her to face him. Ria glanced at the door. "Easy."
    He cupped her face between his hands. "My wolf feels the need to mark you, even if it's just James who's been talking to you."
    Ria closed her eyes as he traced the mark he made on her neck. She could swear she felt his regret and his reluctance at leaving her, even as her body softened and leaned into his.
    "I'll be back."
    "Be safe." She didn't let the words go that she'd held inside for years. She was afraid to. Instead, she leaned forward and caught his lips in a gentle kiss that was filled with everything she wanted to say.
    James coughed from the doorway.
    Drake smiled against her mouth and pulled back. "I will."
    ***
     
    "They pumped him full of something," Doc said.
    He and Drake stood side by side, Doc with his shirtsleeves rolled up and arms folded as he contemplated the cage in front of them. The silver bars weakened anyone attempting to get out.
    "Do you know with what?" Drake smelled the frustration coming off of Doc. The expert was stumped, and that didn't make Drake feel any better. He had a lone wolf with a hair trigger in his territory, hopped up on some sort of designer drug. "Do you think it's out of his system?"
    "I don't know. We can't let him out. It took a hell of a lot to just get blood from him."
    Doc held up his rapidly healing arm. To anyone else, the slight red marks wouldn't mean anything, but to a wolf, it meant that Doc had almost lost a good chunk of his arm in the attempt.
    "What you're saying is, he's out of his mind. And, we have no way of knowing what his state of mind was before he or whoever the hell it was pumped him full of an unknown drug."
    "Yes, and he's a dominant lone wolf who isn't inclined toward the friendly." Doc rubbed at the redness of his arm is if reliving the attack.
    "Shit."
    "If we can't get him to cooperate, you may have to break him to keep him in line."
    Drake frowned. Turning a dominant into a quivering, weakened mass wasn't something he wanted to do. Other Alphas would relish bringing another dominant to his knees. Some would even go as far as killing a wolf without a reason. "Find another way."
    "I'm trying, but you're probably going to have to."
    "Doc, do what you can. I'd hate to break