Ties (Running With Alphas Book 6) by Viola Rivard Read Free Book Online

things they’ll like to do… They’re not even really here, but somehow they’re already the biggest part of my future. And if anyone were to take that away from me, I don’t know what I’d do.”
     
    Alder pulled her into his arms and laid her back on the furs. Placing his hand over hers, he leaned in to kiss her.
     
    “I will never let anyone take them from us,” he said.
     
    She knew that in the world they lived in, it was impossible to make such a promise, but it was comforting just to know that he cared. She snuggled up against his chest, reveling in his warmth.
     
    Just as Taylor was getting comfortable, she heard the furs rustle. She looked up to see Hale standing, his expression neutral.
     
    “I’m gonna go get something to eat. You two want anything?”
     
    She wanted him to lie back down, to spend some more time together with the both of them, just like they used to. But maybe that was too much to ask. For now, she finally had Alder and she’d take what she could get.
     
    “I’m fine.”
     

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    The frosted grass crunched beneath Taylor’s feet as she climbed down from Alder’s back. She kept her hand clenched in his fur as the Halcyon wolves stalked ahead, laying the deer carcasses on the ground in front of them. Three fresh kills with thick puncture wounds in each of their necks. According to Laurel, they would be enough to feed the whole of Whiteriver for nearly a week.
     
    Taylor stared down at them, her nose wrinkling at the sight of blood oozing out onto the ground. She had been blissfully eating meat for a full week now, but she still couldn’t stomach seeing what her dinner came from.
     
    Her stomach turned against her and she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling a gag. Normally, she didn’t resist the urge to vomit, but given her present company, she put forth an effort.
     
    On the far side of the field, Whiteriver wolves stood, watching them. In the early morning light, she could make out at least five wolves, but was sure there were more hiding amongst the trees.
     
    It was easy to tell which one was Silas. Tall and muscular, he stood out in front of the others in his human form. He wore heavy black furs and had his chestnut hair tied back.
     
    His amber gaze and the gazes of all the Whiteriver wolves, were focused squarely on Taylor. She had expected that. They were probably wondering what the heck she was doing at the border. She was wondering the same thing.
     
    Their attention made her nervous. Not just because the stakes were so high or even because she still wasn’t entirely sure what she was going to say, but because she had suddenly remembered how terrible she was at public speaking.
     
    Part of her wanted to shrink back, let Alder pick Lark up per usual, and go back to the den in shame. Her pride wouldn’t let her. Nearly every member of Halcyon had been dragged out this morning to act as her bodyguards. Like the Whiteriver wolves, most of them hung back in the trees, but Taylor could feel their stares boring a hole into her back. 
     
    Taylor swallowed and cleared her throat a few times. Laurel put a hand on her shoulder.
     
    “Remember, you don’t have to yell. He’ll be able to hear you if you speak normally.”
     
    Taylor nodded in understanding, but when she finally worked up the nerve to speak, she still found herself awkwardly raising her voice.
     
    “I brought you some food,” she said, waving her hand at the deer. “Well, actually, my pack brought it. And hunted it. I just came up with the idea.”
     
    She gave Silas a weak smile as she scratched the back of her head. Bringing them food had seemed like a pretty good idea, but he didn’t look happy.
     
    Taylor motioned back towards the forest. “There’s plenty more where they come from, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
     
    She waited to see if he would respond, but was relieved when he didn’t. For what little of her speech she had prepared, she