Read Online Rogue Alpha: Wolf Shifter Romance (Wild Lake Wolves Book 1) by Kimber White - Free Book Online Page A

in his face, his
posture, made me stop. “Just try and get some sleep,” he said, his voice
softer, calmer now. It made me calmer too. I couldn’t explain it, but it was
like his moods affected mine. Was I so traumatized that I couldn’t even
regulate my own emotions? The idea of that unsettled me almost as much as
everything else that happened today.
    “I’ll keep watch,” he said. “I swear. Nothing’s getting
near you tonight. You’re safe.”
    I nodded. Suddenly, the need for sleep became so
powerful, I think I might have dropped right there if the bed weren’t so close.
I went to it, crawling to the head. The mattress was firm. A soft down
comforter covered it, and all I wanted to do was sink into the thing and
disappear for a few hours. I kicked off my shoes and pulled the covers around
me, already overcome with drowsiness.
    “You can take the shotgun,” I said, yawning and
pointing to where I’d leaned it against the wall.
    Mal gripped the doorknob and watched me as I settled
under the covers. “Thanks, but I’m deadlier without it.”

 
    Chapter Nine
    I dreamt the black wolf came to me in the predawn
hours. He stood at the foot of the bed watching me, those familiar golden eyes
flashing. I reached out and placed a hand on his great head. He whined, pressed
his ears flat, and put his paws on the mattress, making the bed sink to one
side. He sniffed the air and his nose went to my upper arm. A low growl made my
body vibrate as he licked the worst of the bruises, sending waves of soothing
heat through me.
    He’d been there that night. He knew what Flood tried
to do to me. He came to protect me. Somehow, I knew he belonged to me. Or that
I belonged to him. Then, sun stabbed through the window, warming my skin. When
I opened my eyes, the wolf was gone and I knew I’d dreamt the whole thing.
    But, Mal was gone too. A mourning dove sang right
outside the window and a breeze picked up, rustling through the trees. I’d
slept like the dead and woke with my head clear. Mal had been right. I needed
sleep more than anything else. Now though, I needed a toothbrush.
    I startled when the door to the cabin creaked open.
Mal stepped inside. With the sun behind him, for an instant I saw nothing more
than a great, black shadow. Then, he closed the door and came to me.
    “All quiet out there?” My voice was groggy with
sleep and I cleared my throat.
    Mal nodded. He’d changed. He wore a fresh pair of
jeans, hiking boots, and a white t-shirt that stretched taut across his biceps.
He pointed to a small table by the bed.
    “I keep some hotel-sized supplies in there.
Toothbrush, soap. That kind of thing. You can use the pump well outside if you
need to. It’s potable. Don’t be afraid to drink it.”
    “Oh, God bless you!” I said, throwing the covers off
me. I took what I needed from the drawer and headed for the door.
    “Breakfast when you get back,” he said. “Nothing
fancy. I’ve got trail mix bars and some fresh fruit.” He seemed to have my body
trained to his voice because my stomach let out an audible growl.
    I shot him a sheepish grin and went out the door. A
light fog settled over the treetops and cool air raised the hairs on my arms. I
found the red pump in the back of the cabin. Despite the sulfur smell, the
water was cool going down. The bruises on my arms had deepened to an ugly black
on both sides. God, in the heat of the moment, I hadn’t realized how rough
Flood had actually been. He could have wrapped those hands around my neck and
choked the life out of me.
    My knees went a little weak at the thought of it. I
splashed more cool water on the back of my neck. As I washed some of the grime
and sweat away from the night before, a new clarity filled my head. I had to
get back. Over the last few hours, this cabin had provided a little bubble of
protection against all the ugliness that had happened. But, I had to face it. I
had to call the university and file a report. I couldn’t let that