Oycher by Talyn Scott Read Free Book Online

was all temporary, that one day soon she would immerse herself in human life and no immortal would find her. So until she didn’t need Pack protection, she wouldn’t shoot off her mouth.
    Finally, she broke the silence, “You knew I was listening the entire time.”
    “Perhaps you don't understand what a werewolf can do.”
    “Sure, I do.” She pushed her hair from her face. “You’re a bloodhound.” He raised a brow at her analogy. Though born of the moon, werewolves never walked on all fours or sprouted fur as human legend dictated. No, they were far scarier than anything a human mind could imagine. During mid-transformation, they half-released their Beasts, erupting canines, expanding their already incomparable frames, and protracting claws the equivalent of hooked daggers — claws meant to behead any immortal with the single swipe of a hand. In full transformation? She hadn’t a clue, and Isla wanted to keep it that way.
    He reached out and placed a hand on her knee, the magic beneath his touch a swirling power that oddly felt like home, though she grew up entirely in the human world. “Isladora, if I had not distracted Seanmháthair Eri, a rare pureblood female, with my handy Druid spell, she would have found you in all of two seconds. Remember that for future reference.”
    “You shouldn’t have dumped me in the commissary.” Isla noticed the reflection of her glowing irises flash blue across the planes of his cheeks. “Do you know how many males were breathing down my neck? They were staring between me and the steaks on their plates, as if they couldn’t choose.” She didn’t know whether to be flattered or offended. Yeah…probably offended.
    “I can’t blame them.” Inhaling deeply, Dax ran his hand gently down the top of her thigh. “Your scent is lovely.”
    Her leg quivered beneath his touch. “Tasty, you mean.”
    “No, lovely,” he corrected.
    “H-have you heard from Terje?”
    “We’re looking for him. I know Terje personally. I have faith he’ll show up. Now, come on out of there.” One hand wrapped around her thigh, the other found the crook of her elbow. In a blurring movement, he settled her on a velvet covered window seat overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
    She looked through the glass. The moon wasn’t full, though she sensed it coming. And wasn’t that weird? “So, I guess you’ve separated me from the only real friend I’ve made since coming to Pack.” The thought of living alone in an all male complex made her stomach ache, and she hadn’t yet spent the first night.
    “Only by living arrangements, all the Younglings inside this complex should hide your scent better.” His expression softened. “So those who choose to ignore your Pack marking will have a harder time finding you.”
    She rubbed the top of her head, where a Druid spell had been placed, a claiming mark from Dax’s brother. She couldn’t see a thing when she looked in the mirror, although Isla was assured it was there.
    Hesitating, he added, “And under male protection, you can go out again.” Dax lifted a long strand of her hair and sniffed it.
    This wasn’t supposed to be her life, where she would ask for permission merely to drive down the street and have a drink with a friend. Still…“I guess that’s a better deal than living inside the Dynasty Empire.”
    A small nod from Dax. “I consider it very much my business that you’re hiding a game plan.”
    How did he know? “A game plan?”
    “You are waiting for the dust to settle.” He studied her in a way no one ever had. “You want to save money, scout out a new place to relocate far, far away from here.”
    Some werewolves could scent deception, so she treaded carefully. “I’d thought about it after I’d first arrived.”
    “I hear underworld blood slaves would sell their souls to be sold to Dynasty Vampyrs. But I’m sure you’ve weighed the risks of running away from those who will protect you, at all costs.” He didn’t wait