The Lamb Who Cried Wolf by Scarlet Hyacinth Read Free Book Online Page B

shrunk closer to Brody, tasting terror in his mouth. He felt safer by his mate’s side, but his reason knew Brody couldn’t possibly take them all and win.
    A tall wolf who looked somewhat like Brody took a step forward.
    “You’re so predictable, little brother,” he said. “I just knew you’d do our work for us and try to escape.”
    “Soren,” Brody said, and that one word dripped so much poison it shocked Carson. “What are you doing here? We established to meet at noon at the Observatory.”
    The second wolf—Soren, apparently—sneered. “You fail to understand that I am Alpha and I give the orders.”
    Brody narrowed his eyes. “I never questioned your leadership. I merely wanted to meet with you and explain that I found my mate.”
    Soren snorted. “Your mate. Right. I heard all about your mate.”
    His gaze turned to Carson, and Carson shuddered at the threat he saw there. These were the wolves the stories spoke of, the wolves who The Lamb Who Cried Wolf
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    populated his nightmares, and who would have no qualms in eating him if given the chance.
    “Cease this stupidity, Brody,” Soren said. “I can understand you wanted to have a little fun. But now that you have it out of your system, come back to the pack and let us deal with the lamb our way.”
    “You will not touch a hair on his head,” Brody snarled. “Before I let you do that, I’ll kill you. I challenge you for the leadership of the pack.”
    For the first time, Carson actually saw Soren’s self-assurance falter. The wolf must truly doubt that Brody and Carson were mates.
    “You’d do such a thing for the lamb? You’d attack me, your Alpha and your brother?”
    “You give me no choice,” Brody shot back.
    “Fine.” Soren nodded toward the other wolves, and the beasts shot into action. Brody intercepted them and pushed Carson out of the way, but several of his opponents crowded in on him.
    “Don’t fight us,” Soren said. “You’re just making the situation worse. The humans will see. We’ll just take you to pack lands. You can’t possibly expect to hold the challenge here, can you?”
    Brody ignored him and still tried to push his attackers away. He managed to get rid of a couple, but while he was distracted, the other wolves crowded in on Carson. Carson hated being a burden on his mate, and he tried to defend himself, but fear crowded his mind. His body ceased functioning and at one point, he just stood there, frozen.
    “Fine,” he heard Brody say. “I’ll come with you. Just leave Carson alone.”
    “Oh, I think not,” Soren answered. “Grab him,” he told the wolves.
    One of Carson’s attackers lifted him up and draped him over his shoulder. Carson couldn’t help a sound of terror, and he had to focus not to turn into his lamb form. Before these last forty-eight hours, he’d never lost control of his animal, but now, the presence of the 46
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    predators seemed to be triggering his innermost fears. It would just make the situation worse.
    Thankfully, the wolves didn’t attempt to hurt him. They just stuck Carson in a car and climbed in next to him. Carson dared to hope Brody would come with him, but he realized they’d put his mate in another car.
    It was the panic of this separation that gave him a strength he didn’t know he had. “Brody!” he shouted. Outside, he heard Brody howl like an animal. He fought to open the car door, surprised when the latch gave. It seemed the wolves had not expected him to try to make an escape while cornered. And surely, Carson knew he couldn’t get away, but the thought of losing Brody just made that a distant, unimportant reality.
    The wolf who’d caught him before cursed and reached out, grabbing Carson just as he was leaving the car. “Fucking lamb. Stand still if you don’t want to be eaten.”
    A female wolf who’d taken the driver seat glowered at the man.
    “Stop it, Lester. Maybe they really are mates. What do you know?”
    Carson thought he