The Tiger's Mate: (Book 12, Grey Wolf Pack Romance Novellas) by E A Price Read Free Book Online Page B

on the principal’s car.”
    Simone slapped her hand over her mouth, and even her tiger found that distasteful.  “Eeuw! How did she manage to persuade the principal not to expel him for that?”
    He chuckled.  “She threatened to home school him.  Hans bucked up and acted like he was sorry, and the principal was actually more scared of my mom than Hans.  My brother figured that at least in School he could get away with more, and not attend classes.  His teachers actually preferred it if he skipped classes.”
    “She sounds like quite a woman,” she marveled.  The females in her pride didn’t even stand up to their mates never mind anyone else.  “So, humans and a bear in your pack?”
    “Yeah, we’ve got bears, pumas, witches and even a leopard who’s also a witch, although, don’t ask her to show you her powers, she’s still learning and keeps changing wine into water.”
    “More than one bear?”  If bear shifters even came into their town, the pride forced them to move on.  The Alpha didn't like having other predators anywhere near him.
    “Yeah, you should see the bear that’s mated to our Omega.  Seven feet tall and too broad for a lot of doorways.  Carly reckons he’s a cutie on the inside.”
    “I’ll bet.”
    “Maybe I could introduce you…”
    “Right, but I really need to get home as soon as possible.”  Her beast snarled in objection, but what could she do?  Simone knew she couldn’t hide there forever.  The longer she was away, the worse it was going to be when she went home.  And it was already pretty bad.
    His lips twitched, and she liked to think it was down to disappointment.  “Of course, how are you feeling?”
    “Much better.”  So good that she couldn’t really justify staying there, although her cat urged her to try.
    He opened his mouth and then shut it again.  “It’s getting late; perhaps you should get some rest.  I don’t think you should try to leave tonight.”
    “Oh no, I wasn’t!  I don’t want to rush things.”
    Acksel nodded and gave her a half-smile.  She was going home, she was, just not tonight.

Chapter Seven
    The flames licked at the door.  The room was hot, too hot.  She clutched at her stuffed tiger and cried for her mommy.  Her skin was starting to burn.  She tried to cry out, but she choked as the smoke poured into her room…
    Simone panted, and her tiger whined as she awoke from the nightmare.  She looked around the room, wildly, disorientated.  She remembered she wasn’t home.  She was somewhere else, but the same nightmare followed her.
    “Simone!”  Acksel gave a cursory bang on the door before barrelling into the room.  He didn’t hesitate as he pulled her into his arms, holding her trembling body.
    “It’s okay,” he soothed her as he stroked her back.  She wrapped her arms around him.  She wasn’t a natural hugger, but it did feel natural to be in his arms.  “Was it about the accident?” he asked, softly.
    “No… just… no.”  She felt her heartbeat slowing, returning to normal.  Her tiger began to calm, and she rubbed her cheek against the bare skin of his shoulder.  “There was a fire when I was a kid; sometimes I dream about it.”
    “It’s okay; it’s fine.  I won’t let anything happen to you.”  The last part was said with such feeling that Simone couldn’t help the shiver that trickled down her spine.
    The steady, rhythmic thump of his heartbeat eased her.  The feel of his soft skin under her fingers and the press of his hard body against hers made her heart speed up for an entirely different reason.  She could feel her arousal stirring.
    Acksel inhaled and groaned.  “Simone,” he breathed, a touch of anguish in his voice.
    She shouldn’t be doing this.  She didn’t know this wolf.  She’d only met him a few hours ago.  She was technically mated to another male for heaven’s sake!  But she couldn’t stop herself.  Her tiger yowled, urging her on.  She’d only