Savage Instinct by Celeste Anwar Read Free Book Online

she wanted to
admit it or not.
     
    He arched a brow, considering that development.
     
    Perhaps he didn’t have to go out into the wilderness to
wait on his pack to return.  He could stay here a few days, fake being too
injured to leave, and guilt the woman into accepting him until he was ready to
leave.
     
    She talked tough, but he could tell she had a soft heart
somewhere inside her.  If she hadn’t, she would’ve just driven off without him,
or dumped him at the nearest hospital instead of bringing him home and
doctoring him.
     
    If he could keep her guilt high enough to prevent being
thrown out on the street, this just might work out in spite of the odds.
     
    Getting out of the shower, Aiden grabbed a towel and dried
off, rubbing the Egyptian cotton over his head until his hair was mostly dry.
     
    He saw she’d left him some pajama bottoms and slipped them
on.  Checking to make sure his bandage was still secure, not that he needed it,
and left the bathroom to find Nydia.
     
    She was cleaning his blood off the tile floor at the front
door.  Not exactly something that would inspire thoughts of lust, but maybe the
pity angle.
     
    Aiden limped across the floor and stumbled to the couch,
acting more tired than he felt and hoping he had the right amount of pathetic
to inspire sympathy.  It was hard to remember he was supposed to be injured.
     
    She finished and stood, looking at him sprawled across her
couch.  A mix of emotions crossed her face, but he didn’t know her well enough
to tell what they were.
     
    “Where can I sleep tonight?” he asked.
     
    She frowned and looked down the hall, then back at him on
the couch.  “Here.”
     
    “You don’t have an extra bed?  This isn’t quite long enough
for me.”
     
    Nydia walked to a trash can and dropped the soiled paper
towels and set her tile cleaner on the counter in the kitchen.  The open floor
plan let him see everything she was doing.
     
    “I do, but I don’t want you to get too comfortable here.  I
know what it’s like to have guests that don’t leave.”
     
    He propped his head on his cupped hands, watching her with
one knee propped in the air.  He moved in a way to indicate his legs hurt from
the car accident.  She gave him a guilty look but quickly covered it by washing
her hands and turning away from his gaze.
     
    “What makes you think I wouldn’t leave?”
     
    “I have no idea if you’re homeless, an escaped criminal, or
something worse.  My luck, I’d have to call the cops to haul you away.  I mean,
why did you have a knife sticking out of your chest?  Care to enlighten me?”
     
    He studied her a long moment.  “I guess you deserve that
much.  I was mugged and had everything stolen.”
     
    She jerked her head back in disbelief.  “Even your
clothes?  You run into the terminator or something?”
     
    He chuckled.  “Something like that.  I don’t know.  Maybe
he was high on meth or something.  I was lucky to escape with my life.  But
they might be waiting for me at my house.”
     
    “Why don’t you just call the cops and let them check it
out?”
     
    He floundered for a minute, trying to back himself up
without sounding like an idiot.  He should have thought more about his story
while he was alone.  He tried not to feel guilty at the little lies piling up,
but better that than tell the truth—that werewolves were on the prowl in Misty
Springs.  She’d throw him out on the spot.
     
    “We’re in the south, honey.  You don’t call the cops unless
you need them.”
     
    “So stabbing and robbing isn’t enough to warrant a call to
the police?  I’ve lived down here for years and never heard this,” she said,
shaking her head.
     
    “You must be a yankee.”
     
    Nydia propped a hand on her hip.  “I’m from Michigan
originally.  I’ve lived here since I was a kid.  What’s that got to do with
anything?  And they’re just as paranoid about cops there as they are down