Read Online Hunting Wolf: Black Mesa Wolves #3 by J.K. Harper - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J.K. Harper
Tags: paranormal romance
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into contemporary times.” She smiled at Rielle. “We know only as much as we are capable of understanding at any given moment. Don't fret so much, child. You are doing quite well in that regard.”
Otsana tilted her head to the side as she contemplated the younger wolf, and Rielle was struck by how much Lily Bardou, Caleb's sister, resembled their mother. Otsana's hair was more chestnut-brown than Lily's remarkable red-gold locks, but their faces were similar enough to look like sisters. Rielle didn't know Lily very well, but she'd always liked the strong-willed Guardian. She liked Otsana, as well. The Alpha's mate had listened to Rielle's complaints about her overly protective parents more than once while she'd been growing up and straining against their worry-driven confines.
What exactly they'd always worried about had been beyond her, back then. Now she understood it had been because she was their only cub, and they'd lost several before her mother had been able to carry her to term. They fretted so much about her safety they sometimes threatened to smother her with their style of love, especially her mother. She loved her mom, of course...but she'd always sort of wished Otsana had been able to impart some of her trust in children to Rielle's mother.
Otsana glanced down at Rielle's foot, which tapped nervously on the carpet. She hadn't even realized she was doing it.
“Tell me what's worrying you,” the Alpha's mate said. “You will probably feel much better if you speak about it.” The genuinely caring tone of her voice encouraged sharing. This was a safe place, and Rielle knew it.
The words tumbled out of Rielle's mouth fast and furious before she could stop them. “I—I'm not sure what there is to tell. But—it's driving me crazy, I know that much! Actually, what I need is to run!” She forcibly stopped herself, shocked at her own outburst. “Oh!”
Should enjoy running. Her wolf rumbled deep within, pacing just like Rielle had been. Need to run.
Otsana smiled as Rielle looked at her, one hand now clapped over her errant mouth.
Speak more, her wolf urged. She knows.
“Oh, my god,” Rielle whispered from behind her fingers. She took her hand away as her eyes widened. “I think my wolf is talking through me.”
Otsana picked up Rielle's hand and rubbed it gently with her own. Rielle could feel a ripple of calmness wash over her. She knew the older wolf was sending energy to her through the Pack bond.
“Yes,” Otsana said simply. All traces of laughter had left her face, but kindness still played over her pretty features. “Your wolf is talking through you because you've been repressing her. Haven't you?”
Utterly no judgment came with that statement. Just pure understanding. Maybe, too, a bit of rueful acknowledgement? No, Rielle had to be making that part up. Otsana Bardou didn't repress her own wolf, that much was certain.
Her throat tightened, the sure sign of her nervousness. Wordless, she tipped her head in a tiny nod.
Yes. She held her own wolf captive inside her, like the coward she was.
Never a coward, her wolf instantly thought. Only afraid of what is unknown. There is a difference.
To her absolute horror, Rielle felt a prickling behind her eyes. She refused to cry.
One tear slipped down her face. Then another.
Dammit.
~
Maybe a half foot short of his taunting target, Caleb ate dirt. Hard. Growling and snapping, he tried to take a chunk out of Rafe's hide from where his brother had body checked him onto the ground.
“He knows who they are!”
“Be still! Fool,” Rafe added, his granite-like bark meant to be obeyed.
Despite the blinding rage, Caleb responded to Rafe's command. His brother had had that Alpha-in-training demeanor his entire life. He'd always given off an air of quiet authority and had the ability to influence other wolves by sheer hierarchy ranking. His will wasn't as binding as that of the actual Alpha, but it was close.
Caleb lay mostly still
Otsana tilted her head to the side as she contemplated the younger wolf, and Rielle was struck by how much Lily Bardou, Caleb's sister, resembled their mother. Otsana's hair was more chestnut-brown than Lily's remarkable red-gold locks, but their faces were similar enough to look like sisters. Rielle didn't know Lily very well, but she'd always liked the strong-willed Guardian. She liked Otsana, as well. The Alpha's mate had listened to Rielle's complaints about her overly protective parents more than once while she'd been growing up and straining against their worry-driven confines.
What exactly they'd always worried about had been beyond her, back then. Now she understood it had been because she was their only cub, and they'd lost several before her mother had been able to carry her to term. They fretted so much about her safety they sometimes threatened to smother her with their style of love, especially her mother. She loved her mom, of course...but she'd always sort of wished Otsana had been able to impart some of her trust in children to Rielle's mother.
Otsana glanced down at Rielle's foot, which tapped nervously on the carpet. She hadn't even realized she was doing it.
“Tell me what's worrying you,” the Alpha's mate said. “You will probably feel much better if you speak about it.” The genuinely caring tone of her voice encouraged sharing. This was a safe place, and Rielle knew it.
The words tumbled out of Rielle's mouth fast and furious before she could stop them. “I—I'm not sure what there is to tell. But—it's driving me crazy, I know that much! Actually, what I need is to run!” She forcibly stopped herself, shocked at her own outburst. “Oh!”
Should enjoy running. Her wolf rumbled deep within, pacing just like Rielle had been. Need to run.
Otsana smiled as Rielle looked at her, one hand now clapped over her errant mouth.
Speak more, her wolf urged. She knows.
“Oh, my god,” Rielle whispered from behind her fingers. She took her hand away as her eyes widened. “I think my wolf is talking through me.”
Otsana picked up Rielle's hand and rubbed it gently with her own. Rielle could feel a ripple of calmness wash over her. She knew the older wolf was sending energy to her through the Pack bond.
“Yes,” Otsana said simply. All traces of laughter had left her face, but kindness still played over her pretty features. “Your wolf is talking through you because you've been repressing her. Haven't you?”
Utterly no judgment came with that statement. Just pure understanding. Maybe, too, a bit of rueful acknowledgement? No, Rielle had to be making that part up. Otsana Bardou didn't repress her own wolf, that much was certain.
Her throat tightened, the sure sign of her nervousness. Wordless, she tipped her head in a tiny nod.
Yes. She held her own wolf captive inside her, like the coward she was.
Never a coward, her wolf instantly thought. Only afraid of what is unknown. There is a difference.
To her absolute horror, Rielle felt a prickling behind her eyes. She refused to cry.
One tear slipped down her face. Then another.
Dammit.
~
Maybe a half foot short of his taunting target, Caleb ate dirt. Hard. Growling and snapping, he tried to take a chunk out of Rafe's hide from where his brother had body checked him onto the ground.
“He knows who they are!”
“Be still! Fool,” Rafe added, his granite-like bark meant to be obeyed.
Despite the blinding rage, Caleb responded to Rafe's command. His brother had had that Alpha-in-training demeanor his entire life. He'd always given off an air of quiet authority and had the ability to influence other wolves by sheer hierarchy ranking. His will wasn't as binding as that of the actual Alpha, but it was close.
Caleb lay mostly still
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