Chasing Sam: Vegas Mates Book 1 by Krystal Shannan Read Free Book Online

and
ride together? Four angry men, including himself, were about to
fight over his mate. What the fuck? Was her father just
trying to make things worse?
    “Changing your mind?” One of the other males
snickered as he climbed into the SUV.
    Chase snarled and crossed his arms.
    “Get in, Michaels,” Peter said as he exited
the house and climbed into the front passenger seat. He looked back
at him before he closed the door. Empathy? He could have
sworn for a second her father was encouraging him. It had to be a
mistake. Why would Peter Demakis want his daughter to marry outside
the noble line…unless he really did care if she was happy?
    The third man climbed in and took the last
captain’s chair on the driver’s side in the middle of the SUV.
    The car was silent, and tension was so thick
in the air that nobody even moved. Chase stared out the window,
willing his wolf to stay calm. The scent of the other three unmated
males was wearing on his resolve. He was sure it wasn’t any easier
on them either.
    About ten minutes later, Sam’s dad finally
broke the silence. He turned in his chair and looked back at Chase
and the other men. Chase shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
    “For tradition’s sake, I will go through the
expectations of the hunt.”
    Chase met his gaze and realized instantly
the speech was for his benefit alone. The other men knew exactly
what was going to happen tonight.
    “The ceremony will be blessed by myself and
my wife. Samantha will be presented as the gift of the hunt. You
will each drink a drought prepared to specifications of tradition
to keep you in your wolf form for several hours.”
    “Wait, we will be drugged?” Chase didn’t
like the sound of that. He heard several scoffs behind him, but he
didn’t care. What if someone hurt Sam?
    “The drought only inhibits the magic so that
you must use your wolf senses for most of the night. It will not
harm or inhibit your consciousness at all.”
    Chase nodded. It wasn’t like he really had a
choice.
    “Once Renata and I have presented our
daughter and all of you have officially accepted the challenge,
Samantha will be released and given an hour head start. Samantha
will also be drugged and unable to change into human form for
several hours.
    “What stops us from fighting with each other
while we are tracking Sam?”
    The older man’s face softened at Chase’s use
of his daughter’s nickname. “Nothing is stopping you, Mr.
Michaels,” he answered softly. “Anything that happens on the hunt
is sanctioned by the hunt and the noble families.”
    “Outsider, he’s trying to warn you that we
will come for you.”
    The same man who’d taunted him about getting
in the vehicle was at it again. Chase’s fangs extended and he
turned to face the jerk. He was not a small man, and his wolf would
be formidable. Chase was not concerned. If there were no rules to
this hunt, then so be it.
    “Your teeth don’t scare me, outsider.” The
olive-skinned man allowed his own fangs to show. “Did you forget? I
have them too.”
    “Enough!” Peter Demakis bellowed. “You can
taunt each other later.”
    Chase could feel his gaze settling on him
and turned to meet it.
    “You will have to fight, and you may have to
kill. It is your choice, Mr. Michaels, to participate in this hunt.
Mr. Savona is correct. I am trying to warn you. These other three
contenders have trained for this event since puberty. They will not
hold back to win Samantha.”
    “Neither will I,” Chase answered
solemnly.
    “Good.” Peter paused. “One more thing. To
claim Samantha as your mate, you must mark her once you have both
returned to human form. If the mark is not there before you emerge
from the hunt, your claim is negated and Samantha will have to
participate in another hunt.”
    Freak! Why would a father be willing to
subject his daughter to this barbaric ceremony? No wonder it was
only the crazy nobles that still participated in this
tradition.
    “ Chase, it is