Stretching the Rules by BA Tortuga Read Free Book Online Page A

to think about the shadow of the pack hovering over him.
    He didn’t want to think about anything but how good it felt to hold them.

Chapter Three
    “Did you text him?” Olivia was smoking a cigarette. Hank hated when she smoked.
    “I did. He hasn’t texted back.” There’d been a dead cat at the front door this morning, nailed to the threshold. There was nothing saying it wasn’t just some random psychopath who’d seen Liv’s shows, but Olivia was convinced it was wolves.
    Targeting her. Accusing her of stealing one of their big, strong males.
    “I want to speak to him!” she roared and Hank nodded. He knew. He did, but it didn’t matter. Jonah would call when he could.
    “I’ve got a call into him. Would you like a bath?”
    “No.” She hopped up off the stool and began to pace after she stubbed out her smoke. “I want Jonah to know what his asshole pack is up to.” Liv looked so angry, but he could smell the underlying fear. A wolf pack could tear up a cat in moments.
    “What can I do? Do you want me to go find him?”
    “Yes.” Her green eyes flashed then softened. “Of course not. They would kill you, baby.”
    “They would, if they caught me. I’m quick and clever.” Sometimes Hank felt as though his two overly-alpha lovers underestimated him. A lot. Oh, he didn’t get mad; he loved them for who they were, just as they did him. But Hank had ways to find out things.
    He was smarter than your average bear. Hell, he was smarter than panthers and wolves; he was just small.
    Liv touched his cheek, shocking him back to the moment. “It was gross, but it could easily have been a demented fan. We’ll wait for Jonah to call.”
    “It was gross.” He’d buried the evidence and washed with bleach, feeling like there were eyes on him the entire time he was outside.
    “I’m sorry, sweet.” Liv gave him a hug, a sweet gesture from his solitary kitty.
    He wrapped around her then petted her back with, long, easy strokes along her spine.
    Liv melted into him, purring. “Do you think it’s the wolves?”
    “I know it’s not Jonah.” That he knew, one hundred percent.
    “No, I know. He’d never allow anyone to hurt an animal.” Jonah hunted for food when he was a wolf, but he and Liv both knew he was a sucker for cats and dogs and shit.
    “Wolves aren’t cowards, right? Isn’t that part of the deal?” Coyotes were, but his kind didn’t care about pack structure.
    “Not that I know of.” Liv shrugged. “I know about as much as you. Damn it, Jonah! Call.”
    “Let me text him again.” Then give Liv a massage. She needed to relax. Hell, maybe he’d go down on her. That was a win-win. Whatever calmed her down and kept him from the slash of her claws.
    His phone buzzed, and Hank lunged for it. “Hello?”
    “Hey, baby. I got your text. What’s going on?” Jonah. Oh, thank God.
    “Jonah. Someone nailed a cat to our front door. Liv and me, we’re worried.”
    “Did what?” Jonah growled the words, his shock clear.
    “I cleaned it up, but... I’m not sure what to do to keep Liv safe.”
    “What did you smell outside?” Jonah knew he was better at scents than Hank let on.
    “Blood. Anger. There was a group.”
    “A group,” Jonah repeated slowly. “Shit. Okay. Are you in town or up at the cabin?”
    “We’re at the cabin. We’re having that bathroom remodel done at the condo.”
    “Damn. I was going to send you up to the cabin.” Jonah paused. “I’ll come over as soon as I can get away. You stay inside with the doors locked. I want you to watch each other’s backs like hawks.”
    “I won’t let anything happen to her.” He would die before anyone touched a single hair on her beautifully coiffed head.
    “I know, baby. I— if this is my fault, I’ll kill something, I swear to God.”
    “We’re okay. She wants to talk to you.” Hank dropped his voice. “She’s scared.”
    “Shut up and give me the phone, pup.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Hank handed the phone to