Read Online Releasing the Wolf by Dianna Hardy - Free Book Online Page B

first in command by default – not flinching when the man bent down and lowered his mouth to his muzzle. They exchanged a lick in greeting, and it had taken Taylor a hell of a long time to get comfortable with this little welcome ritual. But most of what physically took place in the span of a day could be sought in the saliva glands of a person or animal, as if events and places are breathed in and stored. He’d never quite understood the biology of it, but he couldn’t deny the usefulness of such an ability.
    Lawrence stared at him briefly, questions clearly in his eyes, then he nodded and stood. Whatever those questions, he wasn’t going to ask them now.
    Taylor shifted into human form, and Lawrence began.
    “I’ve found Ryan.”
    A couple of gasps sounded and everyone held their breath, waiting for him to continue.
    “At least, the vicinity that he’s in. There are a number of warehouses behind Walnut Tree Road, along the railway line, before you hit the university campus. That’s where I found this just an hour ago.” He held up a small piece of cloth, and Taylor’s stomach lurched because he could smell the blood on it – Ryan’s blood.
    The fabric had clearly been ripped, but on purpose or by accident? The Trident’s sense of smell was almost as good as theirs. He doubted they would have missed it in error. “Lawrence, are you sure—”
    “Yes. I ran it under a stereomicroscope – the way the threads bend on the tear suggests this was done over a week ago, not recently. The blood’s over a week old too. I don’t think they planted this for us to find … unless it’s something that’s been planned all along,” he sighed, “which is a possibility, I admit. I realise this isn’t foolproof – there’s a chance it’s a trap – but it’s the best thing we’ve got. It’s the only thing we’ve got.”
    Taylor lowered his eyes in acquiescence. He was willing to take Lawrence’s word – he would have weighed his options with complete thoroughness. Almost nothing passed him by. All wolves, including their own pack, knew Ryan as the Alpha. They liked him, they missed him, and they only ever crossed him at the risk of broken bones – Ryan was virtually impossible to bring down; both in physical strength and in his mental outlook on life. Nevertheless, no one challenged Lawrence – ever – even if they didn’t fully understand why.
    He passed the fabric around and everyone took in the scent.
    “Marco. Bill.”
    The two males that had remained in animal form now shifted and waited for their orders.
    “Our females need looking after tonight. I need you both to stay here.” They nodded. “The rest of you … we’re going hunting. Be back here at ten to one. The pubs will have closed, but the nightclubs will still be going – the streets will be at their quietest. And prepare yourselves for battle. We’re not coming back without Ryan.”
     
    ~*~
     
    Lydia felt much better on stepping out of the shower … except that the pain in her chest had come back – not as badly as before, but bad enough so she didn’t feel comfortable. But then she’d been mostly ill all week. Stupid for her to think that sex with some hot bloke, no matter how orgasmic, could get rid of her flu symptoms.
    And even more stupid for her inner-voice to go suggesting it was because she’d washed Taylor’s scent off her. Or because she was a werewolf.
    Ha. Yeah, let’s just forget that conversation ever happened, shall we?
    Her intercom buzzed and she frowned. A quick glance at her bedside clock told her it was quarter to midnight. Holy hell, had she been in the shower for a whole hour?
    Usually she wouldn’t be leaving the restaurant until about quarter to one, but Lisa had ordered her to go home, and to be honest, she hadn’t felt like sticking around with everyone staring at her in sympathy after her fiasco with Simon.
    She picked up the handset of the intercom. “Hello?”
    “It’s me. Let me