Masquerade by Dahlia Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

down and used his massive body to pin the animal before snapping its neck with his huge jaws. The others attacked and soon it was a full-on battle. She noticed that Vernon kept a discreet distance, hoping to look like he was in the fray but doing nothing. It made anger rise up inside her knowing that he was such a coward that he let others fight his battle even though he was the Alpha.
    Two wolves were on Dominic’s back while another circled Alex. The other wolves from Acadia were in battles of their own. When she saw Lorna creeping toward the window Tempest gave her a deadly look. She shrunk back with an evil glare of her own and sat on Bubba’s lap. He promptly got up and she almost slid to the floor. He, of course, made a beeline to the ice chest where the beer was being kept and pulled out two before sitting back down. She heard soft chuckles when people noticed how much Bubba truly cared for Lorna. She actually felt sorry for the woman when pink rose up in her cheeks.
    Everyone kept the kids entertained, and before you know it silence reigned and when she heard a knock on the door she gasped and everyone looked at the barrier. It literally was as if they expected the big bad wolf to be the one behind the door. It was one of her wolves instead. Dominic strode in and looked around the crowded living room.
    “Is everything okay out there?” Tempest asked.
    “Yeah, we had to put down some of them and a few stragglers got away. The pack was larger than what was expected.” Dominic kissed her forehead. “Vernon and his people are getting rid of the…well, they are taking care of the situation.”
    “That’s very good to hear,” the mayor said. “But I think after everything, we should all go home. This party had a very exciting ending.”
    Everyone laughed and stood up and soon she was saying goodbye to some of the residents of Cormina and the Acadia women took their children back to their RVs. You knew the women that Vernon preferred. They were the ones without kids, who looked longingly at the mothers with their children. She watched from the front yard as people drove away, but ignored the glare Lorna was giving her. The silence was comforting and she took a deep breath. Even though the festivities ended early, she thought her party had been a success.
    Lights came on in some of the RVs in the area where they were parked. She liked the people of the Acadia pack, but couldn’t wait to see the back of Vernon’s car. Knowing he would be back in his own territory would give her a sense of relief. Her shoes echoed against the gravel as she turned back to the house. Dominic and Alex were heading around the back of the plantation to make sure everything was secure. She took one step up to the porch and then everything happened in the blink of an eye. She barely saw the blur before she was grabbed around the waist and lifted off her feet. Tempest began to struggle and cruel hands fisted in her hair.
    “It would be easy for me to snap your neck, lil’ girl. Payback for my family that was killed tonight.” She recognized the voice from the phone. He kissed her neck and trailed his tongue along her skin. Tempest almost gagged. “Oh, you taste good. I think I’ll keep you—”
    “Let her go now.” Dominic’s voice was deadly.
    “Oh, the black wolf. This your woman?” He laughed and it reminded her of a hyena. “Then I’ll definitely want to keep you.”
    She saw Alex trot out in the form of his wolf. His snarl was fierce and even as the rogue wolf held her against his thin body, she felt a shudder of fear run through him.
    “Like I said, let her go,” Dominic repeated.
    “Do it,” she said. “I’ll make sure they don’t hurt you. They’ll let you leave this area untouched, I promise.”
    The rogue wolf laughed again and it grated against her nerves. “I think I’ll take you with me and by the time they find you…well, let’s just say you’ll be in one piece, but that’s about the only good thing