Read Online Their Forever Home by Marla Monroe - Free Book Online

men. It meant that women were fought over, stolen, and treated like possessions instead of the humans they were.
    She thought about her brother and why he’d died before she slammed the door on that memory. It hurt too much to remember. Then she’d ended up in yet another bad situation where the fact that she was a woman meant she lost some of her rights and couldn’t go where she wanted. It was the final straw when he’d told her she would move in with him and the other single women until a family was chosen for her. Vella refused to allow her brother to die in vain. He’d given his life because he wanted her to be free and safe and happy.
    She shook the memories off and sat up, thankful for the ridiculously long T-shirt so that she could stretch without revealing anything. The boxers were almost more trouble than they were worth, but she wasn’t about to walk around without anything on under the T-shirt. That was asking too much of both men when she was sure it would be pretty obvious beneath the white shirt. Even now she was self-conscious about her breasts feeling so exposed.
    Vella shimmed out from under the blankets and straightened them so that they would be ready for bed that night. She wandered closer to the fire that they’d allowed to die down some and found a covered pan. She peeked beneath the lid and smiled. Inside was what looked like some type of stew. When she looked around, she noticed a squirrel pelt spread out to dry on a rock just inside the cave.
    “Squirrel stew. I can eat that. Too bad I don’t have a way to make biscuits.” Vella smiled as she dipped the yummy looking food into a bowl.
    She’d just taken a quick taste when a noise near the front of the cave snapped her eyes that way. At first she didn’t see anything, and then a slight movement near the side of the cave entrance caught her attention.
    Holy hell. Is that a wolf? It’s huge!
    She didn’t move, staying as still as she could, keeping her eyes down from the predator’s so as not to challenge it. Vella kept his paws in her sights, so she knew when he started walking slowly toward the inside of the cave, ignoring the dying fire as if it didn’t worry him in the slightest.
    What was she going to do? She didn’t have anything to fight a wolf, if that was what it was. Where was Lance? If she screamed, it would startle the wolf and might make him attack. If she didn’t scream to get Lance’s attention, the wolf might still attack.
    Vella remained still as the wolf slowly made its way inside the cave. It didn’t move closer to her, but stalked over to where the rabbit stew remained at the edge of the fire to keep it warm. He nosed it then jumped back when it burned him. He whined, looked toward her and tried again.
    It upset her to see him hurt himself in an attempt to get food. He looked a bit thin. Without thinking, Vella moved closer to the fire and the animal, still not meeting its eyes. She watched his paws and shoulders for any sign he might lunge for he.
    When she’d gotten close enough to the pot to touch it, the wolf backed up a step, then another. It gave her the courage she needed to pick up the folded cloth and pull the pot from the fire. She opened the lid and carefully stuck a finger into the liquid to see if it was too hot for the animal. It wasn’t, so she pushed the pot of rabbit stew toward the wolf using the handle. Once she reached as far as she could go, she pushed it a few more inches with her fingertip then slowly inched her way back to where she’d left her bowl.
    The wolf didn’t move at first, so Vella picked up her spoon and started eating, still keeping an eye on his whereabouts. After a minute, the wolf eased toward the pot and sniffed it then dipped its head into the stew, and all she heard after that was the sound of his tongue lapping at the delicious food.
    By the time she’d finished her bowl, the wolf had finished as well and was lying next to the pot watching her. It didn’t look in any