The Wolves Next Door by Catherine Vale Read Free Book Online

another.”
    Both
men were astute to know Julie was having that inner battle. With all their
heart they longed to explain the truth of their intentions, but she needed
time. Especially when it was obvious she’d been hurt badly before – maybe
even recently. Was that why she’d moved here? So many things they wanted to
find out about her but she still kept so much under wraps. What would it take
to break down her defenses?
    When
Caine finally returned to the waiting Darcy, he quirked his brow at the
spitting anger in her eyes. Julie had just returned and from across the room,
Darcy and Caine watched as Ryan placed a hand on her waist and rose to kiss her
cheek before guiding her back on her stool like she was some china doll about
to break. Darcy’s scowl deepened.
    “It’s
getting rampant, isn’t it?” she began with a fake smile as she lifted her beer
to her pouty pink lips. Caine chose to ignore her biting tone and instead asked
what she meant.
    “The
way everyone seems to be willing to mate with humans. First Vern and then
Hawke. Soon the whole pack would be overrun and weakened by this trend which
makes me wonder why Alpha Jepson condones such fraternization.”
    Darcy
was in the same pack as Caine and Ryan and like them, had wolf traits. Like
many in the pack, she frowned on them having to mix with humans and as a
female, she felt especially threatened. Once, she’d had a thing for Caine but
then when he told her what they – Caine and Ryan – were looking
for, Darcy had backed out. She regretted it now but couldn’t show it. She’d let
the opportunity pass her by and now it was too late to change her mind.
    Caine’s
face broke into one of his rare frowns. “You of all know that we can’t help who
we mate with. It’s nature. And mating with humans could never make us weaker,
but stronger. The more we learn to co-exist, the better for all concerned along
the line.”
    “Or
so it would seem,” Darcy said with a curl to her lips. “Well I guess it’s hard
to think straight when sentiment is involved. But what makes you think she’ll
ever want anything to do with your special…arrangement?”
    Darcy
saw Caine’s slight wince and knew she’d hit a sore point. She smiled inwardly.
So, it wasn’t going to be all cut and dried then. Maybe there was still hope.
    Yes,
she knew all about mates and how they were ‘fated’. But then again, mates could
also be chosen. She knew that once, Caine had been ready to settle for choosing
a mate so long as she met their need for a ménage relationship. Perhaps, Caine
would be made to reconsider his earlier choice. But as long as Julie was in the
picture, Darcy couldn’t see that happening.
    Her
eyes glowed with intent which she concealed by turning away to beckon the bartender
to refill her glass. Her hidden smile widened as she thought of all the
possibilities open to her as mate to Caine and Ryan. Everyone knew they were
two of the strongest and most respected shifters in their pack. Either one of
them could be made Alpha of their thriving community and Darcy knew becoming
aligned to them would prove favorable to her clan, and of course to herself. As
their mate, she’d gain Madam Alpha status and considering she virtually grew up
in the pack, she felt this was more than her due, it was her birthright.
    The
only thing standing in her way was the wonderfully curvy human usurper who may
have seduced the two friends with her innocent, alluring beauty. But Darcy
could tell there was more to Julie than what anyone knew and she was going to
do everything in her power to win her rightful place with both Caine and Ryan
– even if it meant getting rid of the competition herself.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    A
month ago, if anyone had told Julie she’d have not one, but two gorgeous men
vying for her affections, she’d have laughed out loud and called them crazy.
    Now
reality was turning into a manifestation of her most secret fantasies. At
first, she hadn’t wanted to