Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack (Siren Publishing Classic) by Siobhan Muir Read Free Book Online Page A

his choice was clear.
    Squaring his shoulders and schooling his expression to show bland amusement, he opened the door to his bar and strode inside. It was going to be a long day, but one thought cheered him as he returned to the posturing females inside. He’d see Julianna at the party on Friday before everyone else arrived. His smile broadened as he faced the wolves in the bar.

Chapter Three:
    Party Politics
     
    Julianna sighed as she parked her car in front of the Lightfoots’ house. It had been a long week getting used to her dad’s absence in the house, and she relished the distraction. She stepped out onto the drive and handed the valet her keys. The young man stared at her car, took the keys almost reverently from her hand, and carefully got into the Camaro as if she was suddenly his hero. He nodded to her before he slowly drove off to find a parking place. She shook her head with bemusement. The Lightfoots needed a valet for their party? How big was this shindig going to be?
    Taking a deep breath, she moved toward the house along the front walk. The yard looked just as immaculate as she remembered. Sheesh, not even the weeds dared mar the perfection of the flowerbeds!
    Deep breath, Julianna. It’ll be fine. She followed her own advice as she smoothed the flared skirt of her iridescent, peacock green halter dress and pushed the tendrils of loose hair behind her ears. Scents of hot pavement and cool grass filled her nose, and she concentrated on slowing her breathing as she marched to the front door.
    This will be a cinch, her Sister stated.
    Yeah, right.
    One of the double doors opened at her knock to reveal a woman dressed in a maid’s uniform. She gave Julianna a sharp once-over before saying, “I’m sorry, the party doesn’t start for another hour, miss.”
    “Uh, yes, I was invited by Mr. Jeff Lightfoot to meet the family before the party started. My name is Julianna Morris,” she blurted out, hoping her voice hadn’t become shrill in her nervousness.
    Instead of turning up her nose in disdain, the woman’s expression shifted and she offered Julianna a warm smile. “Of course, Ms. Morris. Please come in. The family is expecting you.”
    She stepped back, allowing Julianna to enter. As Julianna passed, she caught something teasingly familiar in the other woman’s scent. She frowned and tried to remember where she’d smelled it before.
    “If you’ll just follow me, Miss Tawny instructed me to bring you to her as soon as you arrived.”
    “Yes, thank you,” Julianna replied with bewilderment, wondering how she’d become an honored personage in such a short time.
    She followed the woman through the house to the backyard, still puzzling over the familiar scent. The Lightfoots had a huge amount of land around their house. Forest hemmed in their yard at the foothills of the mountains and the trees seemed to go on for miles and miles. In the open space before the trees, large white tents stood strung with lights like fireflies on tethers. Julianna stared, entranced.
    Tables arranged with at least ten place settings each filled the space beneath the tents, with two long buffet tables set to one side, holding Bunsen burners and rectangular brackets. Serving staff briskly set the tables and arranged dinnerware and centerpieces.
    Julianna scanned the people around her with her eyes and nose. She caught scents of food mixed with the distinct musk of predator, but she couldn’t pinpoint a single animal beneath the softly glowing shrouds. Tawny appeared out of the crowd of servers, her crimson dress glowing like the flames of a phoenix against their black and white uniforms. Her sandy blond hair was drawn up onto her head with a complex series of clips and diamond dangle earrings fell from her ears. Julianna envied her effortless beauty.
    “Miss Tawny, Mistress Julianna Morris has arrived.”
    Tawny turned, and her face creased into a warm smile.
    “Welcome, Mistress Morris.” Julianna couldn’t help but