Black Wolfe's Mate (Paranormal Shifter Romance) by Avelyn McCrae Read Free Book Online

glanced back at their faces, noting the awe in their expressions. Even unconscious, Angelica drew people to her.
    He almost smiled. Angelica was going to be the most protected female on the planet.

Chapter 7
 
    “W hat is it that is so—” he began, stopping immediately when he saw his entire pack gathered there. There was a small canvas suitcase on the sofa, as well as a carry-on. Obviously, she didn’t have much in the way of belongings. But what caught his attention were the drawings covering the table: hand-drawn sketches of such remarkable quality they might as well have been photographs.
    Pictures of Derrick and every one of his sentinels.
    They waited in silence as he took them all in. It was several minutes before he lifted his eyes and met those of his pack mates. His brothers.
    “We found them on the desk in her suite,” Steffen said quietly.
    When had she done these? More importantly, how had she done them? Derrick could understand the pictures of him and those of Antoine seemed reasonably plausible as well, but the others? They’d had no personal interaction with her, had they?
    The sketches showed an incredible amount of talent. Not only had she recreated their images in breathtaking detail, she had also managed to capture their personalities. Anyone who viewed them would have had a very good sense of the males themselves. Derrick’s clearly depicted a leader, a man of unquestionable quiet authority. Silas’ intensity bled through, nearly hypnotizing the viewer and making it hard to look away. Antoine’s smug arrogance. Steffen’s mischievous, roguish grin. Christophe’s compassion. Dieter’s infallible strength. Niko’s mystery. All were portrayed with haunting accuracy.
    The portraits were mostly done in black and white, with color only used to portray the eyes and hair. Even the most complicated of hues, like Dieter’s unusual mix of earthy brown and steely gray, were perfectly captured.
    “How is this possible?” Derrick asked, touching each of the pages as he looked at their flesh and blood counterparts. “Could it be, perhaps, that you are all more familiar with her than you would have led me to believe?” His voice was quiet, dangerous.
    “I saw her daily,” Antoine shrugged, unconcerned. “You know this.”
    Yes, Derrick did know that. He also knew Antoine had never felt compelled to pack personalized picnic lunches for any of his guests before — except possibly for an exorbitant price. Derrick was quite sure Angelica had neither requested nor paid for such a service, which meant Antoine had taken it upon himself to do so.
    “I do. It is the ‘why’ of it that eludes me.”
    “She was not eating,” Antoine explained with a small, impatient wave of his hand. Derrick pinned him with his Alpha glare, silently requesting the truth. Antoine sighed. “I cannot properly explain it,” he admitted, “except to say I wanted to do it.” He glared at the others, daring them to make a smart-ass comment. No one did.
    “I spoke to her only once upon your command,” Silas spoke next, “the day you asked me to persuade her from the rocks.” Silas’ lips quirked at the memory.
    She had looked at him with those huge eyes and apologized for being a nuisance. Her demeanor expressed such disappointment at having to leave, he ended up sitting out there with her for a little while longer. Her skin had turned an unusual shade of pink when he lifted her into his arms without warning, carrying her back to shore because he feared she might be swept away.
    “I brought her here,” Steffen piped up, “along with a dozen others.” He furrowed his brows. “I almost missed her at first. Thought I’d gotten everyone, started to untie the ropes from the dock, and then, there she was.”
    He felt the lightest touch on his arm and glanced down to see her looking at him.
    “Yes?” he said, impatient to be off.
    “I think I’m supposed to be on this boat,” she said quietly.
    “Did you hear