Read Online NocC 013 - Katie Reus - Protector's Mate - Harlequin 2012-04 by Nocturne - Free Book Online
Book: NocC 013 - Katie Reus - Protector's Mate - Harlequin 2012-04 by Nocturne
Read Free Book Online
Authors: Nocturne
Tags: Romance
Ads: Link
walking a razor-thin line of self-control. “What was the purpose of your attack anyway? Did you really think killing her would make me want you? ” He couldn’t keep the loathing out of his voice.
She gritted her teeth but didn’t respond.
When he growled at her, she took a step back and held her palms up. “If she died I wouldn’t have shed any tears but…I just wanted to scare her off, not kill her. She ran away once before so I didn’t think it would be that hard to run her off again.”
Alaric knew the only reason she was telling the truth was because she was well aware that he would sense if she lied. And she probably also knew he didn’t need any excuse to take back the offer for banishment as opposed to her death. “Was anyone else working with the three of you?”
She shook her head. “There’s no one else.”
When she defensively crossed her arms over her chest, he knew he’d gotten everything he would from her. “Rainer will stay with you until you leave.”
“Is that really necessary?” she snapped.
Of course it was. She didn’t live at the compound, but in a house closer to town. He wasn’t letting her out of anyone’s sight until she was gone and someone else’s problem. Ignoring her, he turned to his brother. “Call me if you have any problems.”
Rainer nodded and as Alaric stepped out onto the front porch, a pressing weight lifted from his chest. Now that this mess was settled, he’d finally be able to ask Felicia to mate with him.
*
Felicia opened the French doors and stepped out onto Alaric’s balcony. At least the “compound” had turned out to be the exact opposite of what she’d expected. Knox owned a huge mansion on a big spread of land in northern Alabama, and Alaric’s room in the mansion was enormous. It was bigger than her old two-bedroom apartment. So far everything was much better than the apartment complex Lamont had kept his pack crammed into. Plenty of space to run free was a nice change of pace.
On the way in she’d hadn’t seen any wolves she recognized so she figured most of her old pack really had dispersed. That was fine by her. Right now she just wished Alaric would hurry up and get back. Rainer had dropped her off, but he hadn’t told her when anyone would be back to get her so she was making herself at home. So many hours had passed it was now sunny outside.
She still wore the same clothes she’d had on yesterday, but soon enough she’d go shopping and pick up the stuff she’d sent to her human friend. What she really cared about was seeing Alaric again. After this morning all she could think about was him. She’d kept herself closed off to other people for so long it was a unique feeling to finally drop her guard. When Alaric had held her after she’d killed the wolf, it had been so warm and real. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d let a man—or really anyone—hold her like that.
Despite the cooler weather, she’d come out on to the balcony barefoot and the natural stone patio was warm under her feet. She sat on one of the lounge chairs and laid her head back, soaking up the warmth of the bright sun hanging overhead. As soon as she closed her eyes she was aware of another presence.
“Felicia? I heard you were back.” She opened her eyes at the voice to find a familiar wolf perched on the edge of the balcony.
He must have jumped up from the first floor. Half-smiling, she stood as Chris Fleming stepped down from the stone balustrade. The wolf was a few years younger than her, but he’d been one of the few in Lamont’s pack who’d been kind to her. “I didn’t realize you’d joined Knox’s pack.”
Instead of responding, he pulled her into a tight hug. The blond, surfer-boy-looking wolf held her to the point that she started to feel uncomfortable. When she stiffened he let her go and chuckled. “Sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I thought about joining another pack but I like the weather here.
She gritted her teeth but didn’t respond.
When he growled at her, she took a step back and held her palms up. “If she died I wouldn’t have shed any tears but…I just wanted to scare her off, not kill her. She ran away once before so I didn’t think it would be that hard to run her off again.”
Alaric knew the only reason she was telling the truth was because she was well aware that he would sense if she lied. And she probably also knew he didn’t need any excuse to take back the offer for banishment as opposed to her death. “Was anyone else working with the three of you?”
She shook her head. “There’s no one else.”
When she defensively crossed her arms over her chest, he knew he’d gotten everything he would from her. “Rainer will stay with you until you leave.”
“Is that really necessary?” she snapped.
Of course it was. She didn’t live at the compound, but in a house closer to town. He wasn’t letting her out of anyone’s sight until she was gone and someone else’s problem. Ignoring her, he turned to his brother. “Call me if you have any problems.”
Rainer nodded and as Alaric stepped out onto the front porch, a pressing weight lifted from his chest. Now that this mess was settled, he’d finally be able to ask Felicia to mate with him.
*
Felicia opened the French doors and stepped out onto Alaric’s balcony. At least the “compound” had turned out to be the exact opposite of what she’d expected. Knox owned a huge mansion on a big spread of land in northern Alabama, and Alaric’s room in the mansion was enormous. It was bigger than her old two-bedroom apartment. So far everything was much better than the apartment complex Lamont had kept his pack crammed into. Plenty of space to run free was a nice change of pace.
On the way in she’d hadn’t seen any wolves she recognized so she figured most of her old pack really had dispersed. That was fine by her. Right now she just wished Alaric would hurry up and get back. Rainer had dropped her off, but he hadn’t told her when anyone would be back to get her so she was making herself at home. So many hours had passed it was now sunny outside.
She still wore the same clothes she’d had on yesterday, but soon enough she’d go shopping and pick up the stuff she’d sent to her human friend. What she really cared about was seeing Alaric again. After this morning all she could think about was him. She’d kept herself closed off to other people for so long it was a unique feeling to finally drop her guard. When Alaric had held her after she’d killed the wolf, it had been so warm and real. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d let a man—or really anyone—hold her like that.
Despite the cooler weather, she’d come out on to the balcony barefoot and the natural stone patio was warm under her feet. She sat on one of the lounge chairs and laid her head back, soaking up the warmth of the bright sun hanging overhead. As soon as she closed her eyes she was aware of another presence.
“Felicia? I heard you were back.” She opened her eyes at the voice to find a familiar wolf perched on the edge of the balcony.
He must have jumped up from the first floor. Half-smiling, she stood as Chris Fleming stepped down from the stone balustrade. The wolf was a few years younger than her, but he’d been one of the few in Lamont’s pack who’d been kind to her. “I didn’t realize you’d joined Knox’s pack.”
Instead of responding, he pulled her into a tight hug. The blond, surfer-boy-looking wolf held her to the point that she started to feel uncomfortable. When she stiffened he let her go and chuckled. “Sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I thought about joining another pack but I like the weather here.
Similar Books
