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

the den. Taylor chatted happily with Quinn and Glenn, her mood too bright to be dampened by the cold, misty forest. For the first time in a long time, things were looking up.
     
    When they arrived at the den, Hale helped Taylor down from Alder’s back. With her feet on the ground, he moved to release her, but her knees buckled. Eyes widening in alarm, Hale tightened his hold on her hips to steady her.
     
    “Sorry,” she said, taking hold of his arm. “I was too nervous to eat before we left. Now I’m totally wiped out.”
     
    He lifted a brow. “I saw you eat at dinner.”
     
    “That was five hours ago,” Alder said, having shifted behind her. He placed his hands around her waist. “I told you before, she needs to eat every two hours.”
     
    While the two alphas debated her dietary needs, Taylor spotted Lark amongst the others. Usually, she was chaperoned back to the room where she would be interrogated, but in all the excitement, she seemed to have been overlooked.
     
    Lark still stood with her arms around her chest, looking intensely uncomfortable. When she noticed Taylor looking her way, Lark gave her a beseeching look.
     
    Carefully slipping away from Alder, Taylor made her way across the room on shaky legs. Having also skipped her nightly nap, all she wanted to do at this point was eat and pass out, but she couldn’t ignore Lark’s silent plea.
     
    She suspected that the Lark was worried about her position in the pack. If Taylor really had managed to resolve things with Silas and Snow was safely returned, Lark would return to Halcyon full time. Regardless of her intentions, most of the pack still viewed her as a traitor, and Taylor could see how the current situation would make Lark nervous.
     
    “Hey,” Taylor greeted. “Are you cold, can I get you a fur?”
     
    In a hushed voice, Lark said, “Not right now. Can I talk to you in private?”
     
    Taylor hesitated. In spite of what happened, Lark was her friend, but she still didn’t think it was wise to sneak away with her. Taylor glanced around, spotting Holly nearby. The fox shifter was already eyeing them with suspicion, so Taylor motioned for her to join them.
     
    “Can we go talk, just the three of us?”
     
    Holly scowled, and it was then that Taylor remembered how much Holly hated Lark. Probably not the best person to call over.
     
    “Over there,” Holly said, tilting her head towards the tunnel that led to the upper chambers.
     
    Taylor assumed they’d be going into a room to talk, but Holly stopped them a few yards in.
     
    “All right, what is it?”
     
    “Keep your voice down,” Lark urged.
     
    “I don’t take orders from you, rat,” Holly hissed.
     
    Taylor intervened. “Just tell us what’s going on, Lark.”
     
    “I thought what you did today was really brave. I’m sure Silas will return Snow.”
     
    Taylor’s face warmed with pride. “That’s great to hear, but you didn’t have to tell me that in private.”
     
    Lark looked from side to side and then leaned forward, lowering her voice even further. “It’s not about that. You see, the thing is, everything’s going really well and I don’t want everyone to freak out, but there’s something you should know.”
     
    “What is it?” asked Taylor.
     
    “You see, Alder doesn’t know and Snow was going to tell him, but—”
     
    Holly let out a harsh breath. “Oh my God, will you just spit it out?”
     
    “Snow thinks she might be, um, going into heat soon.”
     
    “What?” Taylor and Holly asked in unison.
     
    Holly added, “That’s impossible. She’s a wolf shifter.”
     
    Lark looked to Taylor. “She says it’s happened once before, early last winter. That her parents think it might have something to do with how she can’t shift. She doesn’t know if it’s going to happen again or not.”
     
    “Did she ask you to tell us this?” Holly questioned.
     
    “No, not exactly, but it doesn’t matter. We have to get her out of there