Deception (Dark Alpha #3) by Alisa Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

realized Mace had every intention of forcing Arianna to have sex with him in front of his pack in the middle of the estate.
    Not tonight, asshole.
    The rustling sounds from the hallway settled, and the distant thumping of boots on the stairs said most of the pack was heading outside. His time was growing short. A couple more minutes, and Gage would be back in Jak’s room, insisting he call the university nerds back later. Jak really needed a backup excuse for delaying further. Maybe he should take this moment, when everyone was heading out, to slip outside on his own and just lurk around Mace’s house until he got the signal from Arianna that Mace had shifted. Problem was, Jak didn’t know who was still straggling behind in the house like him.
    Or if Gage was waiting just outside his door.
    Just as Jak was about to pace the room again, and try to come up with a backup excuse for delaying, a movement over at Mace’s house caught his eye. Shadows moved across the blind-covered windows, and a breath-stopping ten seconds later, he saw long shadows cast by the moonlight of something moving at the rear of the house. Jak glimpsed five figures just briefly before they moved deeper into the meadow where he couldn’t see them. But that had to be Mace, his three pack members, and Arianna.
    Come on, come on, come on.
    Jak pulled the phone from his ear and looked at the face of it, willing Arianna’s text to come. Just at that moment, Mason stuck his head in Jak’s door, jolting surprise through him.
    “Hey, are you done?” Mason asked. “Gage is getting pissed.”
    Jak shook his head and quickly put the phone back to his ear. He needed more time. “What do you mean, the basement’s flooded?” he said harshly into the phone. He held up a finger to Mason, indicating he needed another minute.
    Mason just crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.
    Shit.
    “Well, yeah, but I don’t see why that would shut down your hoods,” Jak said into the phone. He shrugged to Mason and held up his hands like he was helplessly stuck on the phone then waved off Mason, like he should leave.
    Mason just shook his head and stayed put.
    Meanwhile, Arianna could be texting him any second.
    Dammit. Jak covered the microphone and whispered to Mason, “Dude, I’ll be there. Just start without me.”
    “No can do,” Mason said, not moving an inch. “Gage says not to come back without you.”
    Jak stalked across the room, still holding his hand over the phone. “Look, just give me two seconds, all right?” He uncovered the phone. “Yes, I’m still here,” he said into it. “I’ve got to go, so can we—yes, I know that’s a problem.” Jak took his free hand and shoved Mason out the door. He closed it in Mason’s face before he could get a foot back in. Jak leaned against the door to hold it closed. He sighed in relief. At least Mason would be out of the room when Arianna’s message came in, but now Jak was stuck in a major way.
    He glanced at the phone. Still nothing.
    Jak would have to take Mason out somehow. Once the message came in, everything went into play. Jak had to be ready to move. The last thing he wanted was to have to shoot Mason, not least because it would be too soon for shots to be fired and send everyone into red alert. And because he actually liked Mason. His stomach knotted up even more than the ball of extreme tension it was already. Jak would have to knock Mason out or come up with some excuse—
    His phone pinged.
    Morgan Media.
    What the hell?
    Ice ran through his veins. Why were the witches calling him?
    He swallowed and answered. “Hello?”
    “Well, hello. Damn, you even sound sexy on the phone.” It was Circe, Hecca’s sister. The witch who he had hoped would break Arianna free of her mating bond, only to find the spell would break him instead.
    “Look, I’m a little busy right now—”
    “I’m sure you are, lover,” she purred. “Full moon and all. Isn’t that when you boys get together