Read Online Mated to the Pack by Alanis Knight - Free Book Online Page A

the scent
of rain in the air.
    “We need shelter,” Michael said.
    Then, without a thought to propriety or her
silly pride, he scooped her into his arms and scanned the area
through narrowed eyes.
    Allison, too weak to argue or protest,
allowed herself to be nestled in his embrace. She laid her head
weakly on his shoulder and noticed his musky scent for the first
time. Perhaps it was imperceptible before, but now it was familiar
and soothing.
    The thunder rolled over the hill and
droplets of rain thumped on the leaves. At first, the pitter-patter
was soothing. Soon, the downpour was a drenching, driving force
that beat down on their heads unrelentingly.
    Michael’s pace quickened, jostling her as he
jogged. She could hear the babbling of running water nearby, even
over the torrent of rain. A creek. Michael dropped to his knees and
began dragging her underneath an outcropping just feet from the
creek bank.
    The opening was narrow, but the two of them
could just barely fit inside the tiny cave-like structure. There
was nothing but soil underneath them, but at least it was dry. Bare
roots formed a natural wall in front of them. They were almost
entirely hidden from sight.
    Michael wrapped his arms around her, pulling
her against him. His warmth calmed her shivering, and shielded her
from the chill that crept in from every angle.
    Pictures crept into her mind. She fought to
keep them away, but they were vivid and real. His body pressing her
against the rock wall of the cave, his kiss on her tender lips, the
taste of him. She couldn’t keep those thoughts from invading her
head, but she knew she had to. She couldn’t let him betray the pack
again. She wouldn’t.
    She could feel his breath hot on the back of
her neck. His lips brushed against her flesh, and her skin erupted
in tiny goose bumps. His nose nuzzled against her neck as he
breathed in her scent. She closed her eyes and tried to picture
something else, anything else. But it was no use.
    “How do I fight this?” she whispered. It was
meant to be a silent prayer, but it somehow slipped from within
her.
    “If I knew that then I would be able to do
it, too,” he whispered back, his lips pressing against her neck,
tasting her skin. His arms squeezed her more tightly.
    “Michael, I…”
    “God help me, I need you,” he said, his
breath ragged behind her.
    Her throat swelled with suppressed desire.
The creek rushed by, filling higher and higher with water,
threatening to swell over the bank and into their shelter.
    “Michael,” she said.
    He paid no heed, and he continued to kiss
the sensitive skin below her hair. She closed her eyes and murmured
pleasantly, but upon opening her eyes, they widened with alarm.
    “Michael!” she shouted, and he looked over
her shoulder, noticing now the flow of water inching dangerously
close to them.
    They both began to scramble from behind the
curtain of roots as the creek began to rush around their feet.
Michael clutched her hand and dragged her up the bank and away from
the rising waters. They collapsed into the leaves, breathless and
in disbelief. There was nowhere to go as the rain surrounded them
and the wind gusted heartily. Trees swayed heavily, and thunder
grumbled following lightening that streaked across the sky.
    Allison made the mistake of turning her eyes
toward Michael, and the moment their eyes locked, they were
overcome by a force of nature far more powerful than the thunder,
the wind, and the rain combined.
    She flew into his arms, wrapping them around
his neck and throwing her leg over him, straddling him as she
kissed him passionately. Her hands rested on his cheeks, and as the
rain washed over them, they embraced and escaped into one
another.
    Michael’s hands wrapped into her hair and
tugged hard, and she moaned against his lips. She could feel him
swelling underneath her, and she was desperate for him.
    His hands clutched at her shirt and pulled
it over her head, letting it drop in a soggy pile on the