Feral Love (Paranormal Alpha Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Alison Walsh Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes and sniffed himself deeply, it was as if she were here with him. Come back soon, Remy . He thought and pushed deeper into the trees.
     
    The lands of his pack were widespread and poorly defined. Individual wolves often came and went as they pleased, marking whichever tree they saw fit. While Blake had a good idea just how much land his pack could cover, the exact borders were always shifting.
     
    By sundown he came upon the vast circle of pines stabbing into the winter sky that marked the Wolfden—the place where his pack settled twenty years ago as he began his search for his mate. A pair of sentinels saw his approach and howled at the Alpha’s return. They came to him tails wagging and heads bowed.
     
    Though wild wolves preferred to live on all fours, in the circle of the Wolfden, all were expected to shed their skins—a sign that they existed both as man and beast. With a graceful leap, Blake shifted and walked through the approaching ranks of wolves to the great fire burning in the middle of the clearing.
     
    Several benches were arrayed beside the fire. Sitting on the highest bench was Locke. In the crook of his arm was the pelt of the fawn that they brought down a night ago.
     
    Upon seeing Blake, Locke rose from the bench and took his Alpha’s hand in greeting.
     
    “Was wondering when you’d show up.” He grinned. “Where’s Emma?”
     
    “I sent her off on another job. Ask her if you want, but I doubt she’d tell you much.” Blake replied. “We’ve got collared wolves encroaching on our territories.”
     
    Locke snorted. “I know that, I was there, remember?” He stopped and sniffed deeply, eyes fixated on Blake’s neck. “There’s a queer smell to you, Alpha.”
     
    The mark! He knows! His wolf snarled. “It’s nothing.”
     
    But Locke’s hand pointed at the mark—red and pulsing. “Nothing, is it?” Locke smirked. “Well, well, my Alpha is mated. It wouldn’t happen to be that plump little girl, would it?”
     
    The casual insult Locke threw about Remy made Blake’s anger flare up and he wanted nothing more than to pummel his Beta into the dirt for speaking out of line. But in sight of the rest of the pack, it would be inappropriate. Instead, he held his gaze steady and swallowed the insult.
     
    He knows, he knows and he’s taunting me, probing for a reaction—an excuse.
     
    “Does it matter?” he asked Locke.
     
    Locke shrugged. “No, it makes no matter. I just wanted to know if my new Alpha is a collared wolf.”
     
    A collective gasp rose up all around Blake. Some were looking at him in shock while other shook their head in disgust. A crowd was starting to gather. Some of the bolder ones could sense the sudden shift in power between the two while the more timid ones resolved to simply observing. Blake knew that he needed to take control of the situation fast before all order broke down.
     
    Blake kept his voice low. “She’s more wild than collared. I promise you that.”
     
    The smile on Locke’s face widened. “We’ll see.” Then he clasped Blake by the shoulders and laughed. “My Alpha has found his mate; don’t you think the rest of the pack ought to know?”
     
    Just like that, the tension was broken. The other wolves saw that no fight was to happen and walked away. Some continued to watch and a few scampered away, whispering the words ‘ The Alpha has found his mate’ to the rest. Blake knew what Locke had done. A single clasp on the shoulder and a few calm words did more damage than a thousand bites on the neck ever could.
     
    “In due time.” Blake replied tersely.
     
    Locke continued smiling. “Of course.”
     
    Blake cursed silently. He needed Locke by his side, needed the ruthlessness that the old wolf brought to the table, but he didn’t need Locke probing into the possibility of becoming the new Alpha.
     
    As much as Blake Christensen hated to admit it, the only thing he could do for now was to keep Locke under close