Beckoned (The Brazil Werewolf Series) by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn Read Free Book Online

small dimples. How did I not notice his dimples before? For some reason, my heart began race.
    When he stood in front of me, his smile widened as he looked toward Sophia, “Hello, Mother,” he said and then, turned to me, “Hello, Aurora.”
    I frowned up at him, trying to understand why anger did not mark his face or his voice. Instead, he seemed almost affectionate. I blinked again in surprise, “Hello, Andre,” I whispered, afraid that the angry man he had been during our first meeting would make another appearance.
    Sophia sighed, obviously relieved that we seemed to be on good terms. She looked at both of us and then, sighed again as if the first had not released all of the tension that she had held in.
    “Well, It’s time to announce your engagement,” she said, finally smiling. Andre surprised me by grabbing my hand in his. I frowned at the jolt of awareness that shot into my skin at just his touch and nearly jerked my hand away but he grasped my hand tighter in his by lacing our fingers together. Oddly, He jumped as if he had felt it too but still held firm to my hand as we began to walk toward the bonfire.
    When Sophia began to walk in front of us, Andre leaned close to me and whispered, “So, have you decided that it wasn’t so nice to meet me yet?”
    I narrowed my eyes at him, “I think that I had decided that before you had even left,” I raised one of my brows, “Of course that was before I knew that I was supposed to marry you.”
    He lost his smile and looked ashamed, “I’m sorry about that,” he said and shrugged, “I didn’t know that your mother hadn‘t told you.”
    I frowned, “So if I had known, you would have still been angry at me?” I asked, confused.
    “I wasn’t angry at you, Aurora,” he said and looked at me with such seriousness that it surprised me, “I was angry at the tradition and I was just letting you know that.”
    I nodded understanding, “I think that we have the same feelings about that,” I whispered, “I don’t like the traditions either.”
    He smiled and he gripped my hand tighter, “Well, get ready,” he said, looking forward at the bonfire. I followed his gaze to see his father as Andre whispered in my ear, “You’re about to participate in one…you’re about to be announced as my future bride.”
    A tremble shook me and he squeezed my hand in reassurance. I looked up at him confused and relieved at the change in him. He smiled, looking as nervous as I was, “It’s okay,” he said with a shrug and took a deep breath and said as if trying to convince himself, “It’s not the wedding yet. It’s just words.”
    I swallowed hard and looked up into Andre’s face as we stood next to Gavriel. Sophia stood to his other side and my mother took her place beside her, looking nervously at me. I knew she was afraid I would run away but I didn’t. Instead, I just gripped Andre’s hand tighter as everyone in the crowd stopped in their celebrations and gathered around us.
    Gavriel cleared his throat loudly and then smiled as his voice rose over the crowd. I swallowed as I looked around at the faces surrounding us. All of them were strangers to me.
    “We are here to celebrate one of the happiest times in our family,” he said in a calm, deep voice, “Marriages and births are blessings in our traditions. My son Andre and my new daughter, Aurora’s marriage will be just that…a blessing. So tonight we celebrate…Andre and Aurora and the continuance of our family!”
    Cheers broke out but a moment later, a long low howl of a wolf broke through the air and caused me to jump. A hush fell over the crowd and Andre’s hand tightened on mine as everyone stiffened but as quickly as the howl began, it ended. I looked up into Andre’s face, frightened.
    “Is that a wolf?” I asked with wide terrified eyes. The memory of the nightmare came unbidden to my mind.
    He smiled but it was weak, “Don’t worry,” he said but he didn’t look at me. Instead, he