After the Moon Rises by Karilyn Bentley Read Free Book Online Page A

pack leader smiled. “That can be arranged.”
    Excuse me?
    “Huh?” Wasn’t he full of intelligent remarks tonight?
    The pack leader tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You,” she pointed at Tom, “can mate with her,” the finger turned to Vonda, “and we can let you keep Elizabeth. Of course, that’s dependent on the bitch there,” the finger returned to Vonda, “joining our pack. You have five minutes to decide.”
    With that declaration, she marched to the other side of the clearing, the pack following. Tom felt the wolves’ eyes on him, staring, watching, daring him to make a run for it. If he hadn’t seen one of the creatures change before his eyes, he’d think it was all a nightmare from the blow to the head.
    But small things in his life, little things he had stuck in the back of his mind over the years, whispered to him, made him know that what the alpha said was true. Werewolves existed and he carried their genetics.
    Made him wonder what other secrets Mom had neglected to mention.
    “Daddy, if I’m a wolf and they wanted me to join them, why didn’t they just ask?” Elizabeth’s amber eyes turned toward him, her head resting on his arm.
    “Um...”
    Because their momma never taught them any manners. I swear, thinking there’s nothing wrong with kidnapping little girls, these folks are nuts.
    ****
    But she’d still like to get to know them. And with the mating heat upon her, sleeping with Tom sounded like a wonderful idea. Best idea she’d heard all night.
    Of course, she’d have to wait until morning when her human body returned to engage in any of the fun.
    Permanent , slid across her mind. Yeah, it would be a permanent type of thing. Would she be able to handle permanence? To move in with Tom? Staying with him when the mating heat vanished?
    At least he wouldn’t call her a dog.
    And he was way ahead of her ex on the attractive scale, the nice scale and the family man scale. All in all she wouldn’t mind a bit of horizontal time.
    “I’m sorry to drag you into this.”
    Vonda gave Tom a wolfish shrug, wishing she had her human features so he could read on her face how much she wanted him. Not all of the desire came from the mating heat. Sure, her core pulsed and she wanted nothing more than his staff thrusting into her, filling her, but a part of the desire throbbing in her veins was for Tom. Just Tom.
    Something within him spoke to her on a base level.
    And she wanted that in a permanent way.
    You didn’t exactly drag me, you know. I saw them taking her first.
    Tom nodded and swallowed, his hand stroking Elizabeth’s back, his eyes refusing to meet Vonda’s.
    A shaky hand shoved through his hair. “Are you willing?”
    He spoke the words to the trees, but turned to face her before the sound died.
    She didn’t hesitate. If he was willing to have her, knowing she turned furry once a month, she would take him. And she got a hot body in the bargain.
    Yep. If you don’t mind me looking like this monthly.
    He shook his head, opening his mouth to speak, but the alpha chose that moment to return.
    “So, what’s the decision?”
    “She’ll move in with me. And you won’t be taking my daughter,” Tom growled the last words.
    Damn, if that wasn’t the sexiest thing Vonda had heard.
    The alpha nodded. “That is acceptable. We will check on you monthly to see how Elizabeth is.” Her eyes moved to Vonda. “And to see if you have questions about us. You need a pack.”
    Thank you. I would like that.
    “Now since you’ve decided to mate, we will need to make sure you consummate the relationship.”
    “And just how do you suggest you do that?” Tom’s lips pulled back, exposing his teeth.
    “I’ll follow you back to your house and ensure the mating is consummated. I’ll return later to talk more to Vonda about the pack. Are you ready to go?”
    Vonda exchanged a glance with Tom. PL was going to watch them? Eww. She didn’t get into starring on sex tapes. Talk about