Challenged by Lorie O'Clare Read Free Book Online Page A

need to tell Ali
    that. She knew her sire had strong values.
     
    And he’d given them to her too. He really had. Taking a quick sip from her cup,
    and then a bigger drink, she held the mug to her lips while watching Gabe’s back. The
    werewolf reminded her too damned much of Stone. Just an inch or two taller than
    Mickey or her sire, muscles fine-tuned enough to stand out as stronger, bigger, tougher.
    Stone’s appealing qualities were just as well-defined in his twin.
     
    Damn it. Where were those redeeming qualities that were supposed to run through
    her bloodline?
     
    She turned from the back door, sipping again at her coffee.
     
    “Where would we go?” Thoughts of traveling to Prince George sounded damn
    appealing at the moment.
     
    The back door opened and Janie Lynn skipped into the kitchen. “Mickey is asking
    Dad if he can take you out Friday night.”
     
    “No!” Ali snapped at her younger sister before she could stop herself. “I can’t go
    out with him.”
     

 
    Mother and sister grew very quiet, both of them staring at Ali. She shook her head,
    turning away from both of them.
     
    “Without making a scene,” her mother began, using the tone she only used when
    what she had to say was very important, “go tell your father that Ali can’t go out Friday
    night.”
     
    “Yes, Mother.” Janie Lynn skipped back out of the kitchen, letting the door slam
    behind her.
     
    Ali turned toward the coffee. Suddenly she desperately needed another cup.
     
    “Is there something you want to talk about?” her mother asked.
     
    Ali shook her head, not having a clue how she would bring up Stone to her mother.
    It wasn’t like she could tell her that she allowed a werewolf who was just passing
    through to take her virginity, that she couldn’t get him out of her head. And oh, by the
    way, his twin was out in the yard talking to her sire.
     
    No. She couldn’t say any of that.
     
    “You were up last night. If I didn’t know better I’d say you were howling after
    some werewolf. But since no one has come sniffing around, I’m clueless as to who it
    would be.”
     
    Ali turned, staring her mother in the eyes. She prayed she would have half her
    mother’s perception when she finally birthed cubs.
     
    “Mom. What would you say if I told you that I wanted to go to Prince George?”
     
    Her mother puckered her lips, staring at Ali. She let out a sigh when she wasn’t
    immediately accused of having lost her mind.
     
    “Chasing after some werewolf?” her mother asked.
     
    “Not exactly. How about if we call it a change in scenery?” Ali knew her mother
    wouldn’t let her off the hook that easily.
     
    “Tell me his name,” her mother demanded.
     

 
    “Stone. Stone McAllister. I met him at the tavern and he went back to his home
    pack.”
     
    “He’s called for you?” her mother asked.
     
    “No. Not exactly.” Ali walked over to the back door, her attention immediately
    going to Gabe who had his back to her and was talking to her sire.
     
    He had the same body as Stone’s, large and so damned muscular. His broad back
    muscles tapered into a narrow waist and thick hips with tight buns of steel. It wasn’t
    right to stare at a mated werewolf, but she wasn’t really staring at Gabe. Her mind was
    envisioning Stone, and her body was screaming for him.
     
    “I have to go, Mom.” Just bringing it up to her mother made her realize how
    desperately true that was. “I can’t sleep and I can’t think. I have to go after him.”
     
    Her mother shook her head. “Lord knows how I chased down your sire.” She shook
    her head, a sad smile appearing on her face. “I’m not sure we’ll be able to talk your sire
    into permitting it though.”
     
    “There’s got to be a way.” Ali opened the back door, taking a deep breath of the
    cold morning mountain air and heading back over toward the werewolves.
     
    “Someone’s a lot more perky with a bit of caffeine in her,” Mickey