Read Online Half-breed Wolf by Shiloh Saddler - Free Book Online Page A

it.
He might be trapped in human form forever unless he could find
another Alpha to give him permission to shift.
    That seemed highly
unlikely. The Wolf Creek Pack were the only shifters he knew within
hundreds of miles. He’d heard rumors of roving bands in the
wilderness. Even if they existed and he could find one, they
wouldn’t want to make him a member. He really was a poor excuse for a
shifter.
    Lance yawned, his feet heavy. He
hadn’t had a decent meal in days. He’d been walking for countless
miles on two legs. Now all he wanted to do was lie in the soft
grass and sleep.
    Three horse and riders approached
riding fast, their mounts snorting. Lance didn’t have time to hide.
He stood at the side of the road, head bowed. White men had a low
opinion of Indians and Africans and he was half of both.
    “ What do we have here,”
the largest of the men said. The round, stocky man dismounted and
strode up to him reeking of false importance. “What’s your name,
boy?”
    “ Lance, sir,” he said in a
soft voice. He didn’t want to cause trouble. Lately trouble had a
way of finding him.
    One of the other men, a tall scruffy
fellow spat a stream of tobacco juice on the ground. “You got
permission to be out?”
    “ I don’t need permission,
sir.”
    “ You hear that?” The
stocky fellow said. He exchanged a smile with his friends. “He
thinks he’s free. Is that so, boy?”
    “ I belong to no one.” He’d
never be collared. No one would want him.
    The stocky man grunted. He reached
over with a meaty hand and forced his head back and to the side.
“That S on your cheek tells a different story.”
    “ The S…” He couldn’t
explain what it meant to a white man. Even if he tried they
wouldn’t believe him. It wasn’t like he could shift into a wolf to
prove his story. And if he could shift into a wolf in front of them
they’d likely shoot him dead.
    “ Are you going to come
with us peaceably or do we have to drag you back to where you
belong?”
    Belong? He didn’t belong anywhere. His
mouth felt dry, his tongue thick. Where did they plan to take
him?
    The man let go of his chin. One of his
companions tossed him a whip. The large fellow let the leather fall
softly across his fingers. “Now,” he said in a rough voice, eyes
narrowed. “Are you going to cause trouble?”
    It wasn’t in him to resist, too tired
and hungry and beaten-down. “I … uh … no, sir.”
    “ Good boy.” His breath
smelled like garlic and Lance’s stomach coiled.
    The stocky man put a hand on his
shoulder, fingers digging into his skin. Lance winced and the two
men leered down at him, pleased with his pain.
    Damn them. Damn them all.
    “ Good, boy.” He said again
and gave him a push toward a large oak tree. “Maybe we’ll go easy
on you this time.”

Chapter 2
     
    Oliver cussed under his breath. He
headed down the stairs, the gas lamps casting pools of light in the
darkness. Being summoned at this hour only meant one thing:
patrollers. While he didn’t mind staying up late at night, they
were far from pleasant company.
    He pulled a few dollars out of his
money clip ready to give to the men in exchange for whoever they
dragged back. Some days challenging his father for control of their
pack seemed a better option than managing his plantation in Texas.
But he wanted to keep peace in the family for his mother’s sake.
After his father died or became too old to lead he’d take
charge—peacefully.
    He opened the door and saw Mr. Pierce
holding the arm of a wiry colored man he’d never seen before. The
stranger’s scent was a mixture of man and wolf. Oliver’s nape
prickled, and he found himself both alarmed and aroused. He’d
thought he was the only shifter this close to Mexico.
    Mr. Pierce gave the colored man a
shove in his direction. “We saw the S on his cheek and figured he
was yours, Mr. Sawyer.”
    Oliver nodded. “Thank you.” He handed
Mr. Pierce the money. “I’ll deal with him,” he said in a