Sanctuary (A Hunted Novel Book 1) by Bethany Shaw Read Free Book Online Page B

of the night he tried to approach her, but I intervened. He clearly made Eden uncomfortable. He was obnoxious, and he said he was in town for a few days.”
    Nate flicked his attention back to the road. Xander growled low in his throat and turned back to his window.
    “I’m just curious,” Tess started as she slid into the center of the backseat. “Why doesn’t Eden stay at Sanctuary too? It seems like it’d be safer for her. I know she’s not a shifter, but she has shifter blood, right?”
    Nate exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his hair. “She’s my baby sister. I keep an eye on her and make sure that some of my friends stop into Gordy’s on occasion when I’m out of town. Half breeds aren’t allowed at Sanctuary.”
    “Why?” Tess scoffed.
    “Same reason mating outside of your own species is forbidden. Tainted bloodlines,” Xander whispered. “The pack wants to make sure that wolves only mate with full blooded wolves. Snakes with snakes, birds with birds, and so on.”
    “Seems like someone didn’t get the memo then,” Tess replied, leaning back.
    Nate nodded as he cast a glance over at his friend. “My dad had an affair. Eden was the product of it. It’s a rather sore subject for my mother. And I’d venture to say one of the underlying reasons we have such strict rules now.”
    “So she’s treated as an outcast because of a mistake someone else made? That hardly seems fair,” Tess replied. “You’re not worried about the hunters finding her?”
    “She’s not one of us,” Xander growled.
    “No,” Tess conceded. “But I could sense something different about her. Even if she isn’t a shifter, she still has our blood. Are you sure hunters won’t pick up on that?”
    Nate gritted his teeth. He’d brought that point up several times to the council members. But the council had determined Eden was safe, and didn’t belong at Sanctuary.
    “Our leaders are very set in their ways,” Xander explained acidly. “They rarely make exceptions.”
    “Rarely?” Nate asked. They never made exceptions.
    “Makes me glad I’ll be leaving tomorrow,” Tess whispered.
    “Surely the pride has rules too?” Nate questioned. He flicked his gaze to the backseat again. What kind of rules did they have?
    Tess looked down at her nails and shrugged. “Nothing that strict. Our rules were designed more to keep everyone safe. As far as finding a mate, that was up to the individual.”
    “You had humans in the pride?” Xander asked, whirling around to face Tess.
    Tess swallowed and then cleared her throat. “Yeah. There were six of them. One of them was my brother’s mate.”
    Nate wanted to say something, but he didn’t know what to say. Xander slunk back into his seat, his eyes wide with wonder as if he were considering finally going against the rules. The other wolf always followed orders. Maybe his friend was finally going to follow his heart.
    Silence filled the car. Nate watched as Tess’ brow furrowed and worry clouded her features.
    If only he could reassure her somehow. But how could he do that when he doubted there was a reason to have hope. There were no shifters in Ohio. He was certain of it. Maybe they could find members of her pride he thought as he pulled into Gordy’s.
    Nate found a parking spot close to the door. Before he could shut off the ignition, Xander hopped out of the vehicle and jogged to the front door.
    “For being a forbidden mate he sure does seem invested in Eden,” Tess commented quietly.
    “Is it that obvious?” Nate questioned as he turned off the car. He’d noticed the tension between Xander and Eden a few years ago. Xander usually tried to hide the connection when others were around. Apparently Tess was an exception.
    “I noticed it when he tried to protect her from me,” Tess explained. “He overreacted in the way only a mate can.”
    How did she know so much about mates? “Are you mated?” he blurted. No. She can’t be someone else’s. Tess is mine.