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

tradition. It honors the
old ones. You are her love choice. Everything is as it should
be.” His wolf’s voice was soft.
    Glad you’re so calm now. What was wrong with
you earlier?
    “ I was unsure if Demakis would fully
explain the ritual. I was worried I would have to do it and
wondered if you would believe me.”
    Of course I would have.
    “ Are you willing to take a life? They
will not hesitate to take ours.”
    We will worry about that when the time
comes.
    “ That’s what I was afraid of.”
     
    ***
     
    Sam jumped from the car and swung around to
face her mother. “I hate you and father for doing this. Men
shouldn’t have to fight and die to have the right to claim me. What
happened to living in the twenty-first century? We are not living
in medieval times!”
    Renata Demakis stepped from her seat and
glared back at her. Without warning a sharp slap connected with
Samantha’s cheek, and she staggered backward, stunned. Her mother
hit her. What the hell? She stood speechless. Her mom had
never hit her or any of the them before.
    “You just be grateful your father is
allowing your choice to participate in the hunt at all. My father
allowed no such boon, Samantha Talia Demakis,” her mom hissed
angrily.
    Sam watched her sisters scurry out the
opposite car door and silently creep up to the house, giving as
much space as possible between their mom and themselves. Cowards.
    “My choice! My choice!” Samantha screeched.
“I met him at the airport earlier today!” Her breath was ragged,
and she struggled to hold her wolf at bay. “We connected, and he is
the only contender who will allow me a life after this hunt. Didn’t
you ever want a life, Mother?”
    “You connected? You stupid girl. You are a
noble. You don’t get a connection. Especially with a Michaels!”
    Samantha gritted her teeth. The other side
of her face burned from another slap, this time well deserved. She
couldn’t hold back the anger, and her fangs elongated. Samantha
growled. What was wrong with her mom? Didn’t she want her
daughters to be happy? Why wasn’t she excited that Chase was
allowed to join the hunt? His presence gave her hope for the
future. She could still be a doctor if she was married to him.
Doctors Without Borders wouldn’t be just a forgotten dream.
    Sam watched as her mother allowed her own
fangs to distend and growled angrily back at her. Her mom’s eyes
glowed bright gold, and Sam knew she was in deep shit.
    “Mom!” What the hell? “Mom!”
    Sam dove to the side just before her mother
lunged at her. She morphed in the air and cringed as her clothing
shredded around her. Reddish blonde fur sprouted all over her body
as she changed into her wolf form. She rolled on her back and
sprung to her paws facing a large, angry black wolf—her mother.
    “ If your father doesn’t get here quickly,
we are in trouble,” her wolf whined.
    No kidding?
    Sam and her mother circled each other on the
front lawn. Sam howled, hoping her father’s car was close. Her
mother snarled and lunged. Sam dodged the snapping teeth by a hair
and howled again.
    From the dark, a huge brown wolf charged
straight into her mother and knocked her to the ground. It stood
over her and growled until she whined and changed back into human
form. Sam watched as the wolf licked and nuzzled the sobbing, naked
woman. She averted her eyes as her father changed back.
    “Go, Samantha. The hunt will be tomorrow
night instead. Your mother needs time to rest, and your suitors
will appreciate the time to speak with you tomorrow.”
    He cast a glance behind him, and Sam
followed his gaze. Four wolves stood not twenty feet away. They had
all changed and come rushing to her aid. Which one is Chase? Two of the wolves were gray. One was brown like her father, and
another was reddish.
    Her father’s voice boomed across the lawn,
breaking her moment of admiration. “Go!”
    She barked and turned quickly. Sam jogged up
to her sisters on the porch and nosed the