Three Mates for Judith by Cara Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

road. If anyone tried to enter the property, they’d give him a warning. A few other older men were scattered through the farmland, ostensibly looking at the crops, but they were actually keeping watch for observers or potential danger. Again, they were far enough away from the house that there should be ample time to get the women and the Alpha to safety before anyone reached them, even if they were in a vehicle.
    Nelson’s gaze constantly drifted to Judith. His job would be to protect the Alpha if there was an incident, but right now Sam and Jake were sticking to him like a second skin, so Nelson was free to let his gaze go where his heart and his thoughts were, and they were with the dainty blonde. She was completely at home with the pack, most of whom she’d only met very briefly before being returned to the safety of the pack lands.
    She was bright and friendly, chattering away happily to anyone and everyone about any topic under the sun. He liked that she seemed content to be among his people. If—no, when—he and his brothers asked her to be with them, it would be important that she could relate to the panthers. He supposed they wouldn’t live in the warehouse anymore. They’d likely have to live somewhere that suited her work. Not that he had much of an idea what her work was. Something to do with business and investments. He didn’t even know if she had an office in town, but if she did, she hadn’t been to it in months and was apparently able to telecommute from just about anywhere, which was what she’d done while she and her mom were safely hidden away from Lutterworth up north.
    That just reminded him once again that she was no longer safe and his job was to care for her.
    The Alpha moved over to the center of the cookout area and gave a shrill, piercing whistle. Instantly, all the noise stopped, and people came across to him. Nelson knew the food wouldn’t be ready for at least an hour yet, so he guessed what the Alpha was about to say.
    “It’s time to run. We’ll be running as a pack. That means no one, no one, goes off by themselves or with just a friend or two. We are running as a pack . Is that understood?”
    His voice was full of authority, and everyone from the oldest to the youngest answered immediately, “Yes, sir.”
    “Very well. The ladies will change in the house. Judith and Cherise will show you where to go. The men will change among the trees once the women leave us.”
    Nelson watched as the women ushered the children inside with them. He and his brothers would be remaining here with a few of the older men to guard the humans and those who didn’t want to run. Sam and Jake would have more than enough people with them to guard the Alpha, and there were a few designated men who were going to watch out for stragglers or those inclined to disobey.
    He would have liked to run, but Nelson was a security guard, trained to protect others, so staying was a much more sensible use of his skills and abilities right now.
    The children who remained behind, with the few women who were watching them, plus a handful of humans, settled in the living room, and Nelson could see the two older men on lookout duty through the window. While Judith settled the children in front of the TV and switched the Disney Channel on, Cherise took a platter of cheese, crackers, and fruit, and put it on a coffee table near the women. Nelson was leaning against the wall, keeping an eye on everything when movement out front caught his attention. As it did, his cell phone rang.
    “Could be trouble,” came the laconic voice of Tony, one of the guards.
    “I’m watching.” Nelson waved to Naftali.
    Originally the plan had been to put the women and children in the bus as they’d be easy to supervise there, but that had presumed the driver with the key to the bus would be around. Nelson hadn’t been outside to see where the man who’d driven the bus had been standing to know which pair of jeans to search for the bus