Honesty by Viola Rivard Read Free Book Online

that we used to be like them a long time ago, before we started breeding with humans.”
    “What makes them different?”
    “They’re bound to their skin,” he explained. “They can shed it to take human form, but if it’s damaged, they’re usually stuck that way. Most of them die within a few weeks.”
    “That’s awful. Do they live in the den?”
    Hale caught up with her, just in time to push a branch from her path. “No. They may be able to look like humans, but they’re all animal underneath. They can’t speak and they don’t understand language. They’re also not very bright, at least, the deer aren’t.”
    “There are others, besides the deer?”
    “There are a few elk ones in the valley. I saw a swan once, when I was younger. There aren’t any predator skinwalkers left. We’re all shifters now.”
    There was a lull in the conversation, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. She hadn’t expected Hale to be so easy to talk to and was practically bracing herself for him to make some off-color remark.
    Something grim occurred to her. “You don’t eat them, do you?”
    “No. They smell different than their animal counterparts, so it’s hard to get them mixed up , even when we’re hunting.”
    Taylor stepped over a fallen log. Hale made no move to help her, but he did wait until she was over it to resume walking.
    “Hey, what’s it like to be a wolf?”
    It was something she’d meant to ask Alder, but she’d had surprisingly little time with him since coming to the valley.
    Hale gave her a strange look. “Can you describe what it feels like to be human?”
    She chewed her lip thoughtfully. “Being human is like…being constantly aware of your own limitations.”
    He seemed to consider her answer. “In that case, being a wolf is being constantly reminded that you’re not human.” As an afterthought, he added, “Not that that’s always a bad thing.”
    It was a strange answer and she couldn’t resist asking, “Do you ever want to be human?”
    Hale sighed and when he spoke again, his tone was sharp. “Of course not.”
    Taylor felt herself tense. You’re hot and then you’re cold .
    “I wish I could be a wolf,” she said, hoping to ease the tension. “It’d be so cool to be able to shift into a giant wolf. No one would ever be able to mess with me.”
    She was happy to see humor return to his expression.
    “You would be a very small wolf,” he said matter-of-factly.
    Taylor’s laughter was cut short by an awful screeching sound in the distance.
    “What was that?” she asked, her eyes whipping around the area before settling on Hale.
    Rubbing his chin, Hale said, “Sounds like that run t may have made a kill.” His lips curved. “Want to ride me?”
    Taylor blanched, heat spreading over her cheeks before she realized what he was referring to. Smirking, Hale took a few steps back, shifting into his wolf form. The shift may have taken a bit more effort than when the skinwalker had done it, but Hale sure made it look easy.
    She climbed onto his back, gripping the fur at the base of his neck. Without waiting to see if she was secure, Hale took off, sprinting in the direction of the others. Taylor held on tightly, keeping her eyes on the path ahead, but for some reason, all she could see was Hale’s barely clothed body.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Hale took a roundabout path, enjoying the feel of Taylor’s warm body straddling his back. Earlier, he’d made a point of walking behind her, curious to see what her ass looked like. Seeing it had been a temptation, but having it bouncing against him was sheer pleasure. He tried not to think of the fact that she didn’t belong to him and that in a few moments he would have to put her down.
    He wanted to believe that she was no different than the other females his brother seemed to go for: lying, selfish, and manipulative.
    Lies had spilled easily enough from her lips the night they’d met. Then, yesterday by the river, she’d not only