The Alpha's Unwanted Mate: (BWWM) Paranormal Romance Standalone by Ellie Valentina Read Free Book Online Page B

who could only be their instructor, as he barked directions on how to take down members of a rival pack. Each and every face watched the man with rapt attention, and as Angeline held a hand to her recovering stomach, they slowed just shy of the circle.
    For a moment, Angeline could only stare in shock at the activity around her. Here were people who weren’t mindlessly tearing each other apart and worried about asserting their dominance. From first glance, it appeared to be a society that ran quite efficiently, at least until the teenaged boys before her suddenly lunged at one another and began tearing at once another with a ferocity she’d never seen before.
    She jumped, reflexively drawing back against Clyde. For moment, she allowed herself to revel in the warmth of his chest and his arm around her before she realized she was supposed to be steeling herself against his charm. And so, despite the fact that the man had carried her over ten miles of forest, she squirmed away from him, stepping back as she watched the teens scrap with wide eyes.
    Clyde glanced at her apologetically before stepping forward through the fray. Angeline bit back a cry of shock as he sidestepped two snapping boys to have a low, short conversation with their instructor. The gigantic wolf nodded curtly and Clyde returned to her.
    “Sorry about that. The boys are just learning to spar. They’d never hurt you. We take special care here with all human women.”
    Immediately, Angeline leaped at him, clinging to the front of his shirt as her eyes widened. “So they are here?”
    Clyde arched a brow, his expression confused. “What do you mean?”
    Immediately, Angeline shut her mouth. She was going to make a complete fool of herself. How was she going to look at the way the women were being treated if Clyde knew she was scrutinizing them? Clearing her throat, she released the man to turn away. “Never mind.”
    She could feel the wolf’s bewildered silver gaze burning into her back a moment before he touched her shoulder lightly. “Well, then, I suppose you’d best meet Ian and Elias.” With those words, he led her along a path well away from the main clearing until they reached another small cottage that stood out from the rest.
    Before this house stood a small garden, lovingly tended, in which flowers and vegetable plants grew. It was painted a dark blue color with red shutters, and the moment she saw it, Angeline realized it looked more…well, homey than any of the high rise apartments buildings she’d seen in the city. As Clyde led her inside, she held her breath, hoping against hope that the man’s children wouldn’t hate her, that she could greet them quickly before getting about the business of beginning to understand the machine that was the pack.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Clyde lay in bed that night, alone, with a massive headache. He supposed the day had gone just about as well as could be expected. Elias had skipped out on meeting Angeline entirely and upon being confronted with the woman, Ian had merely clung to his father and cried.
    He frowned deeply. Though Clyde knew he had gone into this experience with the intention of impressing no one, he couldn’t help but wonder what Angeline thought of him. He’d given her space, setting aside the small bed in the guest bedroom for her use, rather than attempt to seduce her into his bed right away. While he couldn’t deny the woman heated his blood, there was too much going on inside his head for him to give over to his lustful feelings.
    Ian was angry with him; Elias was angry with him, and he had no idea what the woman in the next room wanted. He had half a mind to go knock on Lex’s door and see if Alicia would be willing to come over and speak to her. Angeline was…skittish, at best. She seemed to jump whenever he touched her, and all his attempts at conversation had been rebuffed by her skeptical glances and wary stares. Where, he wondered, had all her willingness to become the mate