Human Shifter (Book Three: A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance) by Aubrey Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

only on my command."
    "I'm certain your boys will be keeping an eye on me," Mara said.
    "Promise.
    "Yes, of course," Mara said. Damien let a moment pass, and then he nodded. She turned briskly and left.
    As soon as she was out of earshot, Dee exploded.
    "How dare she speak that way to you? The smart aleck pup! I ought to turn her over my knee and give her a good whipping."
    "She's had plenty of those already from Trax," Julia said softly.
    Dee fell silent to the reply from her granddaughter, and Damien let himself open up to Julia's emotions now, to feel as she felt. Hurt and pain, and longing, still longing. He closed his mind to her; the pain was too much.
    "Damien," Dee said. "She's not a member of the pack. There's something dark about her, something dangerous."
    "Do you think she would betray us?" Damien said.
    "I think she will challenge you."
    "As leader?" Damien chuckled. "I thought I had to look out for a challenge from you, Dee, not her!"
    "There have been packs led by females," Dee said, her voice serious. "It wouldn't be the first time."
    "If it happens, then it happens," Damien said. "And you can all test out the idea of having a female alpha. But I'm not worried about a traditional challenge."
    "What, then?" Julia spoke up.
    "I'm worried that she's not telling us everything," Damien said. "I'm worried that she may yet want to go back to Trax's pack, or what's left of it, and tell them what she knows."
    "Then why are we talking?" Dee said, her voice bright with anger. "The pup nearly killed you, Damien. Get rid of her."
    "How?" Julia asked. Her shock pierced his mind and electrified his nerves with its intensity. "You can't! You couldn't ... "
    "We're not doing anything with her anytime soon," Damien said. "Not now. Not until we know for sure."
    "The girl's a danger," Dee said. So stubborn, the old woman was. He'd think she was a mule if he didn't know she was a wolf.
    "Perhaps. So keep an eye on her," Damien said.
    "If you think I'm not already—"
    "Keep a close eye."
    "That's it?" Dee seethed with frustration. "Watch her tear this pack apart?"
    "Kyle and Katherine should move out to their cabin," Damien continued, ignoring her protest. "She and Mara don't know how to get along yet."
    "I doubt Mara could get along with anyone unless they knocked her head in," Dee grumbled.
    "Dee—" Julia said.
    "We'll get Mara her own shelter soon," Damien said. "But for now, I want her close."
    "I'll do my best," Dee said.
    "Then I have confidence that everything will go well," Damien said. Dee left, closing the door behind her. Julia sank next to Damien on the bed, laying her body out alongside his. Despite the numbness induced from the painkillers, the touch of her body so close to his sent vibrations from his head to his toes. He exhaled all of the stress of the morning and let himself open up to her emotions.
    ... hurt. My love is hurt, he aches ...
    Her sympathy was like a soft bath of calmness, and her love permeated his body. He breathed deeply, letting the pain in his leg ebb away into the back corners of his consciousness.
    "Everything will be fine," he said, kissing her brow.
    "I know," she said.
    ... need to go. Need to find her ...
    Damien squeezed Julia's hip, trying to distract her from her thoughts. It was hard, now that he could read her so clearly, not to respond to her directly. Instead, he let himself drift into pure sensation, reveling in the warmth of her body against his skin now that she was nestled in his arms. Soon, her thoughts quieted down and he could hear her heartbeat.
    "Did you figure out what classes you were going to take?" Damien asked.
    "Oh, I almost forgot!" Julia rolled over on her side. "I signed up for three of them and got all of the books today. American Literature, Creative Writing, and An Introduction to Philosophical Fiction."
    "Philosophical fiction?"
    "Like No Exit ," Julia said. "Or Candide ."
    "I don't know what those are, but I assume they're very philosophical," Damien said,