Read Online Motor City Wolf by Cindy Spencer Pape - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cindy Spencer Pape
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crossed to the kitchen area, returning a few minutes later with two glasses filled with sparkling golden wine. Greg had tasted elven wine once before and knew it tasted like ambrosia but packed a wallop, so he took a small sip before placing it down on the cedar chest that served as a coffee table.
“Now, about my grandfather. You have to have questions.” He angled himself at one end of the couch so he could face her and maintain some distance.
“Many.” She took a slightly bigger swallow, but stopped there as well and faced him, sitting cross-legged on her end of the sofa—a pose she’d only adopted since she’d been hanging out with Lana. “Where would you like me to start?”
“You understand the concept of alphas and Primes within werewolf society?” That was probably the most basic and impersonal information she needed to have.
“I think so. According to Lana, two alpha males can’t live closely together, which is why most young werewolves break off from their parent packs and form their own small groups. But to keep some order within the population, there is a regional Prime alpha who controls which other wolves may live in his territory. I did not realize the Prime was your grandfather.”
Greg grimaced. “It’s something I’d rather forget. We don’t exactly get along.”
“And yet you are his heir?”
“Only because he’s too proud to let the title and authority pass out of the Novak family. Believe me, I’d be happy to let someone else have the headaches.”
“You have cousins, right? Other than Lana? Aren’t any of them alphas?”
Greg nodded. “Derek is a second cousin, and he’s on the edge—not a full-out alpha, but he could step up if he had to.” Derek and his wife Katarina had been to visit maybe once since Fee had been living in the building, but he didn’t think they’d met. “He’s an okay guy, a lawyer, actually, but he doesn’t want to be Prime any more than I do. Besides, his wife Katy hates politics, so she’d be miserable if Derek had to deal with all that territory shit. All they want is their own house, just them and their kids.”
“George told me they have four.” She bit her lower lip and her lashes fluttered down, shading her eyes. He tried to ignore the wistful tone to her words. “That must be wonderful.”
“Fee, you should know better than anyone that family isn’t always a blessing.” Her uncle and cousin had both abused her emotionally if not physically, and he suspected they’d dabbled in the latter, as well.
“Yet your brother is your closest friend and your cousin lives under your protection.” She shook her head. “You can’t fool me, Gregory Novak. Family is the most important thing in your world.”
“Yes, but notice you didn’t include my grandparents in that list. Some people should never be allowed to have children, or more importantly, raise somebody else’s. My grandfather is one of them.” He shuddered at the memories of being beaten and berated by the old man, who’d had very specific notions about how a future alpha male should be raised. “At least George had it a little easier. Grandfather used up most of his meanness on me.”
“How horrible. No wonder you want nothing to do with him.” After a thoughtful moment of worrying her hair with her fingertips she inhaled deeply. “And no wonder you were so careful this afternoon. I’m sorry if I tempted you to go against your principles. I know I’m one of those people you couldn’t trust.”
“That isn’t true.” The couch wasn’t very long, so with a short scoot, he was close enough to cup her chin in his hand. “If I didn’t think I could trust you, I sure as hell wouldn’t have told the old bastard we were engaged.”
“What will happen when we don’t get married?” She went back to twisting the end of her ponytail.
Greg shrugged. “I’ll probably have to leave Michigan for good. Or at least until there’s a new Prime in the area who might
“Now, about my grandfather. You have to have questions.” He angled himself at one end of the couch so he could face her and maintain some distance.
“Many.” She took a slightly bigger swallow, but stopped there as well and faced him, sitting cross-legged on her end of the sofa—a pose she’d only adopted since she’d been hanging out with Lana. “Where would you like me to start?”
“You understand the concept of alphas and Primes within werewolf society?” That was probably the most basic and impersonal information she needed to have.
“I think so. According to Lana, two alpha males can’t live closely together, which is why most young werewolves break off from their parent packs and form their own small groups. But to keep some order within the population, there is a regional Prime alpha who controls which other wolves may live in his territory. I did not realize the Prime was your grandfather.”
Greg grimaced. “It’s something I’d rather forget. We don’t exactly get along.”
“And yet you are his heir?”
“Only because he’s too proud to let the title and authority pass out of the Novak family. Believe me, I’d be happy to let someone else have the headaches.”
“You have cousins, right? Other than Lana? Aren’t any of them alphas?”
Greg nodded. “Derek is a second cousin, and he’s on the edge—not a full-out alpha, but he could step up if he had to.” Derek and his wife Katarina had been to visit maybe once since Fee had been living in the building, but he didn’t think they’d met. “He’s an okay guy, a lawyer, actually, but he doesn’t want to be Prime any more than I do. Besides, his wife Katy hates politics, so she’d be miserable if Derek had to deal with all that territory shit. All they want is their own house, just them and their kids.”
“George told me they have four.” She bit her lower lip and her lashes fluttered down, shading her eyes. He tried to ignore the wistful tone to her words. “That must be wonderful.”
“Fee, you should know better than anyone that family isn’t always a blessing.” Her uncle and cousin had both abused her emotionally if not physically, and he suspected they’d dabbled in the latter, as well.
“Yet your brother is your closest friend and your cousin lives under your protection.” She shook her head. “You can’t fool me, Gregory Novak. Family is the most important thing in your world.”
“Yes, but notice you didn’t include my grandparents in that list. Some people should never be allowed to have children, or more importantly, raise somebody else’s. My grandfather is one of them.” He shuddered at the memories of being beaten and berated by the old man, who’d had very specific notions about how a future alpha male should be raised. “At least George had it a little easier. Grandfather used up most of his meanness on me.”
“How horrible. No wonder you want nothing to do with him.” After a thoughtful moment of worrying her hair with her fingertips she inhaled deeply. “And no wonder you were so careful this afternoon. I’m sorry if I tempted you to go against your principles. I know I’m one of those people you couldn’t trust.”
“That isn’t true.” The couch wasn’t very long, so with a short scoot, he was close enough to cup her chin in his hand. “If I didn’t think I could trust you, I sure as hell wouldn’t have told the old bastard we were engaged.”
“What will happen when we don’t get married?” She went back to twisting the end of her ponytail.
Greg shrugged. “I’ll probably have to leave Michigan for good. Or at least until there’s a new Prime in the area who might
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