Read Online Hidden Moon (Hot Moon Rising #4) by Afton Locke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Afton Locke
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“It’s central to our pack and symbolic. If they take it, we may as well roll onto our
backs and wave our paws in the air.”
“I want out,” Alan insisted, swiping his fingers across his forehead. “Dad already gave
me his permission. Legally, I have the right to sell it.”
“No, you don’t,” Derek shot back. “Like it or not, you’re a member of this pack, and I
forbid you to sell it to them.”
“He’s not one of us,” Curtis said with a sneer. “Never was.”
Alan stalked to the crate of tomatoes he’d set down. Panic swirled in Shelley’s belly
when she felt the anger billowing off him like smoke. She cringed when he picked up one
of the tomatoes and crushed it. Red juice spurted between his fingers, reminding her of
blood. A fang lengthened and pierced his lip, drawing the real stuff.
She wished she could kiss it and make it go away before it turned into a scab. If only
44
this whole rotten situation would go away, so they could live a happy, peaceful life
together as mates.
Alan grabbed a clean napkin from a nearby place setting and wiped off his messy
hands. The gesture reminded her of their lovemaking, sticky with orange juice. Had
their sweet joining happened a mere hour ago? It felt as if days had passed.
Please don’t prove them right. You’re not a violent freak. You’re a gentle, caring
man.
Shelley must have uttered some sound because his chocolate gaze rested on her. With
her eyes, she sent him love and peace, but he looked through her as if she weren’t even
there.
“I don’t want to be here,” he said slowly, glaring at the crate. “And you all don’t want
me here. Something’s got to give.”
“Look, we’ve pissed him off,” Curtis crowed. “He’s more dangerous than Starwood if
you ask me.”
“Shut up, Curtis. You’re not helping,” Derek snapped.
Alan’s body shook so hard, it appeared to blur—something she hadn’t seen since
prom night. With a growl of rage, he picked up the crate and flung it against the wall.
She covered her mouth to smother a cry as wood splintered and tomato pulp splattered
everywhere.
“Get me the fuck out of this hellhole!” he yelled.
More fangs pushed between his lips, drawing blood and reminding her of a vampire.
Hairs sprouted from his arms. He appeared completely out of control. Shelley glanced
around the room to make sure no tourists were there to witness the spectacle.
But even if he’d remained calm, he’d still sell them all out without blinking an eye.
The Starwood pack seemed serious about its threat. If Alan could walk away when she
and their pack were in danger, then he wasn’t the man she’d fallen in love with. Did she
cling to some schoolgirl fantasy, yearning for the class underdog because she couldn’t
have him? Maybe she’d matured the least of all of them.
She’d blurted out she loved him too soon. Passion and the instinct of being his mate
had popped those careless words into her mouth. Seeing his patience and caring for his
difficult father made her feelings for him grow, but he had a point. They really didn’t
know each other very well.
45
“Hey, Scabs!” Triumph glittered in Curtis’s eyes as he leaned back in his seat like a
spectator at a ball game. “You won’t get much money for the place if you trash it.”
Derek and Rand bolted out of their seats and looped their arms through Alan’s. They
lifted him off his feet while he thrashed and kicked the air like a lunatic. They almost
lost their grip on him when he shifted into wolf form.
Except for the bare patches, his reddish-brown hackles vibrated from neck to tail.
Violent chills racked Shelley’s body when his foaming jaws snapped the air, seeking flesh
to bite. Unable to watch anymore, she looked down, half expecting to see the pink silk of
her prom dress instead of denim shorts.
Liana Aquino, a refugee from another pack and part-time waitress, grabbed a roll of
paper towels and the
backs and wave our paws in the air.”
“I want out,” Alan insisted, swiping his fingers across his forehead. “Dad already gave
me his permission. Legally, I have the right to sell it.”
“No, you don’t,” Derek shot back. “Like it or not, you’re a member of this pack, and I
forbid you to sell it to them.”
“He’s not one of us,” Curtis said with a sneer. “Never was.”
Alan stalked to the crate of tomatoes he’d set down. Panic swirled in Shelley’s belly
when she felt the anger billowing off him like smoke. She cringed when he picked up one
of the tomatoes and crushed it. Red juice spurted between his fingers, reminding her of
blood. A fang lengthened and pierced his lip, drawing the real stuff.
She wished she could kiss it and make it go away before it turned into a scab. If only
44
this whole rotten situation would go away, so they could live a happy, peaceful life
together as mates.
Alan grabbed a clean napkin from a nearby place setting and wiped off his messy
hands. The gesture reminded her of their lovemaking, sticky with orange juice. Had
their sweet joining happened a mere hour ago? It felt as if days had passed.
Please don’t prove them right. You’re not a violent freak. You’re a gentle, caring
man.
Shelley must have uttered some sound because his chocolate gaze rested on her. With
her eyes, she sent him love and peace, but he looked through her as if she weren’t even
there.
“I don’t want to be here,” he said slowly, glaring at the crate. “And you all don’t want
me here. Something’s got to give.”
“Look, we’ve pissed him off,” Curtis crowed. “He’s more dangerous than Starwood if
you ask me.”
“Shut up, Curtis. You’re not helping,” Derek snapped.
Alan’s body shook so hard, it appeared to blur—something she hadn’t seen since
prom night. With a growl of rage, he picked up the crate and flung it against the wall.
She covered her mouth to smother a cry as wood splintered and tomato pulp splattered
everywhere.
“Get me the fuck out of this hellhole!” he yelled.
More fangs pushed between his lips, drawing blood and reminding her of a vampire.
Hairs sprouted from his arms. He appeared completely out of control. Shelley glanced
around the room to make sure no tourists were there to witness the spectacle.
But even if he’d remained calm, he’d still sell them all out without blinking an eye.
The Starwood pack seemed serious about its threat. If Alan could walk away when she
and their pack were in danger, then he wasn’t the man she’d fallen in love with. Did she
cling to some schoolgirl fantasy, yearning for the class underdog because she couldn’t
have him? Maybe she’d matured the least of all of them.
She’d blurted out she loved him too soon. Passion and the instinct of being his mate
had popped those careless words into her mouth. Seeing his patience and caring for his
difficult father made her feelings for him grow, but he had a point. They really didn’t
know each other very well.
45
“Hey, Scabs!” Triumph glittered in Curtis’s eyes as he leaned back in his seat like a
spectator at a ball game. “You won’t get much money for the place if you trash it.”
Derek and Rand bolted out of their seats and looped their arms through Alan’s. They
lifted him off his feet while he thrashed and kicked the air like a lunatic. They almost
lost their grip on him when he shifted into wolf form.
Except for the bare patches, his reddish-brown hackles vibrated from neck to tail.
Violent chills racked Shelley’s body when his foaming jaws snapped the air, seeking flesh
to bite. Unable to watch anymore, she looked down, half expecting to see the pink silk of
her prom dress instead of denim shorts.
Liana Aquino, a refugee from another pack and part-time waitress, grabbed a roll of
paper towels and the
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