Read Online Owned By The Alphas: Part Four by Faleena Hopkins - Free Book Online Page B

sparking hot. “What are you doing here? Is Calt with you?”
    The name was exactly the punch to reality she needed. Glancing to her she-wolf friend, she took a deep breath. “No. We’re here looking for our…family.” It felt weird to say. It was the first time she’d called them that, but that’s what they were. Her family.
    Bloo’s voice was under control. “Lorn and Lucin. They ran away…eloped, I guess. We were hoping they were here.”
    His confused frown and the looks on the brother’s faces told them the answer. But it was Tawny who spoke it as she appeared in the doorway. “They’re not here.” Kyren and Gypha walked up, too and the whole pack stepped out onto the snow, everyone covered with furs. “Bloo, you look cold. Let me get you something.” Tawny disappeared inside.
    Ali and Bloo exchanged a what-the-hell-was-that look as Kyren came to stand beside Red. She looked equally stunning in her fur as he did. “They eloped? You mean they’re in love? But why run away?”
    Bloo shrugged. “Yeah. It’s not allowed.”
    Red cocked his head. “What?”
    Ali, feeling loyal and protective, quickly said, “There are no favorites. It’s to keep things equal and harmonious.”
    “Not working out though, is it?” Tawny jogged up with a pelt and a rope.
    “Thanks.” Warily, Bloo took them and put them on, shaking off the tiny snowflakes from her hair as she informed Tawny, “He said he wants to change the rules now.”
    Tawny’s eyebrows shot up. “Calt said that?”
    Bloo nodded. “So maybe it’s good they did this…as long as we can find them again, that is.”
    She covered with a dry tone, “That’s great. Glad to hear it,” but she wasn’t fooling anyone.
    As she addressed them as a group, Ali kept her eyes on the pack, avoiding Red’s penetrating stare that had never left her. “If you could please tell them, if they come to you, that there will be no punishment. We just want them home and safe. They’ve never been without a pack before.”
    Tawny frowned with real concern as she looked toward the west. “They’re probably very scared.”
    Bloo sighed. “They’re not the strongest of us, you know.”
    Tawny nodded and met her old friend’s eyes. “I know. I hope you find them. I mean that.”
    There was an awkward silence, and then Red said, “Be safe,” forcing Ali to look at him. She crumbled and offered him a sad smile. Surprising everyone, he walked over to embrace her, burying his face in her hair. Her breath hitched as she hugged him back and closed her eyes. He whispered in her ear, “You got new boots.”
    She chuckled, pushing him away, and taking a step back on wobbly knees. Several shuffled their feet. Both Tawny and Bloo were frozen as if the air had left their lungs. Ali knew the feeling, but she blushed guiltily knowing she should not have touched the alpha, for so many reasons.
    “We’ve gotta go, Ali.” Bloo slid off the borrowed pelt and tossed it back. “Thanks for this.” She paused. “I’m glad to see you’re softening up, Tawny.”
    The pale blue eyes danced as she returned, “Oh, I’m still a badass.”
    Bloo grinned, “I’ve no doubt,” but then the weight of their situation stole her smile away. She looked to the others, everyone’s shoulders and crowns of their heads now covered in a light layer of snow. “Goodbye. Maybe we’ll see you around.” They nodded a goodbye, and she glanced at Ali before shifting.
    Ali was staring at the snowy ground around her oversized boots, wishing she could just get out of there. As her friend’s transformation completed, she went to climb on, but whipped around as Red shouted, “Wait!”
    “We have to go,” she whispered.
    Resigned, he shook his head and swatted the air with his hand. “This isn’t right. You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll help you.”
    Stammering, Ali objected, “That’s very sweet, but we decided it was best to go it alone. We don’t want to scare them,