Changed: 2 (Wolf's Den) by Aline Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A

the clock. Now bitten by a werewolf—she swallowed thickly, fear rising
up—Rachel had nowhere to go. “Guess it’s a good thing I got nipped,” she said
under her breath. Despite talking softly she heard the words clearly and when
she lifted her eyes she saw Chloe had heard her as well.
    “I truly am sorry.” Her friend’s green eyes swam with tears.
“If I’d stayed away from you this wouldn’t have happened.”
    Stayed away from you.
    It wasn’t unheard of for supernatural creatures and humans
to maintain friendships but it certainly was rare. From time to time news
stations had special reports about strange bonds between mortals and their
superior counterparts. But there was a reason humans resided in one area and
werewolves, vampires and other things lived in another. Black County consisted
of mere humans, the area a safe place to call home. On the flip side, Atrum
Hill was primarily a city where all things kooky preferred to dwell. She knew
the wooded areas belonged to werewolves, the city streets were a haven for
vampires and—if rumors were true—witches.
    “I never wanted that.”
    Upon learning of Chloe’s lineage, Rachel had been determined
to maintain their close relationship. Perhaps she should have been resentful,
placing the blame for her predicament on Chloe’s shoulders. But she couldn’t,
especially now. She kept forcing aside her fears. A part of her didn’t want to
believe it. There was no way she was going to change into a crazed animal. It
wasn’t possible.
    Things couldn’t get any worse.
    “It’s normal to be in denial.” Chloe might as well have been
reading her thoughts. The young woman studied her, a knowing light in her eyes.
“I was too at first. After Jackson told me what I was I didn’t believe him. I
felt so many things but I kept telling myself it couldn’t be true. It’s not a
death sentence, Rach. You’ll be amazed at how wonderful it feels to change.
You’ll be able to see and do things you’ve never imagined.”
    “I’m not ready to deal with this.” The mere thought of
changing—of her body doing the things Chloe’s had—terrified her. “I don’t want
to talk about it.”
    “I’m afraid you have to.” Glancing at the door, Chloe
whispered, “I have to tell you something else. There’s a reason Declan’s been
visiting you. I didn’t know about it. I swear. Jackson didn’t tell me. I tore
into his ass when I found out he’d been keeping it from me.”
    A lead weight settled in Rachel’s gut. “Tell you what?”
    “You have to feel it.” Chloe’s eyes swept over her face,
searching for something. “When Declan’s near you, do you feel drawn to him? Is
there something about him you can’t resist?”
    “He’s a nice-looking guy.” There didn’t seem to be a right
answer to the question, so she fibbed. “With all those muscles and tattoos,
he’s a woman’s wet dream. Who wouldn’t be attracted to him?”
    “It’s more than that and you know it. Far, far more.”
    Her haphazardly constructed façade crumbled. What Declan had
told her at the garage was true. She’d never been a good liar. Chloe saw right
through her. They knew each other too well. It was time to go for broke, no
more evading the issue.
    “What are you telling me? Come out and say it.”
    “You belong with him.” Meeting Rachel’s gaze, Chloe said,
“You’re his mate.”
    Damn it. Wrong again.
    Things could get worse.
    * * * * *
    “You’re burning the bacon,” Jackson said, pointing at the
skillet. “I’m not sure how Rachel feels about crispy pork but Chloe isn’t a
fan.”
    With a growl, Declan flipped the frying meat over. The
minute he’d heard Rachel’s voice he’d wanted to run from the kitchen into his
bedroom. If it hadn’t been for Jackson he would have done just that. The Alpha
had insisted Chloe needed to talk to Rachel and calm her before Declan waltzed
in. Perhaps Jackson had been right but the instinct remained, urging him to go
to