Read Online Therian Prize: 5 (Therian Heat) by Cyndi Friberg - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cyndi Friberg
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go?”
Lexxie bristled. Did he honestly expect her to betray Heather that easily? He might be pack alpha but Heather meant more to her than anyone else on the planet. There was not a chance in hell she’d give up her best friend. “I have no idea. She’s terrified and… How could you do this to her? After what happened with Carlos, you had to know—”
“This has nothing to do with Carlos,” he sneered. “Heather doesn’t realize the full extent of her danger. I’m not impatient for grandchildren. I’m trying to protect her.”
“So you keep saying. But I’m with Braden. Explain what’s going on and I’ll think about helping you.”
His arm whipped toward her and his long, strong fingers encircled her throat. “Tell me everything right now or I’ll snap your scrawny neck.”
A lifetime of experience demanded she lower her gaze and comply. But Lexxie’s parents had been killed when she was a toddler, so Heather was the closest thing she’d ever had to family. “Go ahead,” she whispered. “I won’t betray her.”
With an exasperated growl, he shoved her back and stomped off toward the vehicles. There were only two left, his and hers.
Lexxie rubbed her bruised throat and waited until Nate disappeared into the darkness. Dawn was less than an hour away. She could see a faint glow along the treetops. She walked to her jeep and dug what remained of Heather’s clothes out from behind the seat. She’d snatched them off the ground while everything was still chaotic.
As she’d hoped, Heather’s cell phone was still in the pocket of her jeans. It was a stroke of luck for her but it made her realize the sobering reality of Heather’s situation. She had no clothes, no money, no credit cards or identification. Hopefully she’d found shelter by now. She couldn’t risk any of her usual haunts. Too many of the men in their pack knew her habits. She had to have gone way outside her comfort zone. Which meant somewhere she’d never been before or somewhere no wolf would believe she’d go.
Lexxie scrolled through the menus on the phone, looking for anyone in a position to help Heather. She spotted Landon’s number and paused. Nate was wrong about her knowing Heather best. That distinction belonged to her brother. They’d been born ten months apart and had always been incredibly close. But Landon was a traitor so Nate pretended that his middle son had never existed.
She’d been acting as go-between for the siblings, hoping to keep Nate from knowing they were still in communication. As long as Nate didn’t realize she had Heather’s phone it was safer than using her own, which he could demand to see at any time. She gave herself a mental shake. She was being paranoid.
“Just call the man,” she muttered. Lexxie debated between a text message and a call. The situation was complicated. Better risk an actual call. She activated his number and held her breath as she waited for Landon to answer.
“Damn it, Heather. This better be important.” He sounded sleepy and annoyed.
“This is Lexxie, not Heather, but Heather’s in trouble so please don’t hang up.”
“What’s going on?” Instantly his voice was void of sleep’s huskiness.
She gave him a quick rundown of the night’s events. “The hunters haven’t found her yet but there are at least four still looking.”
“All right. I’ll get right on it, but what’s this nonsense about her not being defined?”
“I don’t know. Nate claimed she wasn’t and told her to shift if she wanted to prove him wrong.”
“Did she?”
“Not at first. She claimed she sees Carlos’ face every time she even tries. I thought your father was right, that she couldn’t shift, and then she got this wild look in her eyes and proved us all wrong.” She dug the toe of her boot into the thick grass, wishing she could do more than make a call. “That was the only time I’ve seen her shift, but why would she lie about being defined?”
“I’m not
Lexxie bristled. Did he honestly expect her to betray Heather that easily? He might be pack alpha but Heather meant more to her than anyone else on the planet. There was not a chance in hell she’d give up her best friend. “I have no idea. She’s terrified and… How could you do this to her? After what happened with Carlos, you had to know—”
“This has nothing to do with Carlos,” he sneered. “Heather doesn’t realize the full extent of her danger. I’m not impatient for grandchildren. I’m trying to protect her.”
“So you keep saying. But I’m with Braden. Explain what’s going on and I’ll think about helping you.”
His arm whipped toward her and his long, strong fingers encircled her throat. “Tell me everything right now or I’ll snap your scrawny neck.”
A lifetime of experience demanded she lower her gaze and comply. But Lexxie’s parents had been killed when she was a toddler, so Heather was the closest thing she’d ever had to family. “Go ahead,” she whispered. “I won’t betray her.”
With an exasperated growl, he shoved her back and stomped off toward the vehicles. There were only two left, his and hers.
Lexxie rubbed her bruised throat and waited until Nate disappeared into the darkness. Dawn was less than an hour away. She could see a faint glow along the treetops. She walked to her jeep and dug what remained of Heather’s clothes out from behind the seat. She’d snatched them off the ground while everything was still chaotic.
As she’d hoped, Heather’s cell phone was still in the pocket of her jeans. It was a stroke of luck for her but it made her realize the sobering reality of Heather’s situation. She had no clothes, no money, no credit cards or identification. Hopefully she’d found shelter by now. She couldn’t risk any of her usual haunts. Too many of the men in their pack knew her habits. She had to have gone way outside her comfort zone. Which meant somewhere she’d never been before or somewhere no wolf would believe she’d go.
Lexxie scrolled through the menus on the phone, looking for anyone in a position to help Heather. She spotted Landon’s number and paused. Nate was wrong about her knowing Heather best. That distinction belonged to her brother. They’d been born ten months apart and had always been incredibly close. But Landon was a traitor so Nate pretended that his middle son had never existed.
She’d been acting as go-between for the siblings, hoping to keep Nate from knowing they were still in communication. As long as Nate didn’t realize she had Heather’s phone it was safer than using her own, which he could demand to see at any time. She gave herself a mental shake. She was being paranoid.
“Just call the man,” she muttered. Lexxie debated between a text message and a call. The situation was complicated. Better risk an actual call. She activated his number and held her breath as she waited for Landon to answer.
“Damn it, Heather. This better be important.” He sounded sleepy and annoyed.
“This is Lexxie, not Heather, but Heather’s in trouble so please don’t hang up.”
“What’s going on?” Instantly his voice was void of sleep’s huskiness.
She gave him a quick rundown of the night’s events. “The hunters haven’t found her yet but there are at least four still looking.”
“All right. I’ll get right on it, but what’s this nonsense about her not being defined?”
“I don’t know. Nate claimed she wasn’t and told her to shift if she wanted to prove him wrong.”
“Did she?”
“Not at first. She claimed she sees Carlos’ face every time she even tries. I thought your father was right, that she couldn’t shift, and then she got this wild look in her eyes and proved us all wrong.” She dug the toe of her boot into the thick grass, wishing she could do more than make a call. “That was the only time I’ve seen her shift, but why would she lie about being defined?”
“I’m not
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