To Catch His Mate (Crescent Moon Series Book 5) by Savannah Stuart, Katie Reus Read Free Book Online Page A

Reece’s presence because her shifter side had definitely forgiven him by now. She had too, but it was one thing to let go and another to truly trust that he’d support her no matter what. That was something she’d only know when and if he showed her.
    “Good.” He clasped her hand and linked his fingers through hers.
    The sweet action took her off guard, but she liked it. “Can I ask you something personal?” It wasn’t her business but it was something she needed to know.
    “Yes.”
    She kept her gaze ahead, focused on the stretch of white sand and washed up seashells. “I don’t have a lot of experience with pack life other than my own and…” This was a little awkward. Now that she’d started she wondered if she should even ask. “My father has never slept with any of the females in our pack. I assume he, well, finds…companionship elsewhere, but he doesn’t sleep around.” She knew it was partially because he’d been so broken when her mother died, but also because it could lead to a power imbalance.
    “You didn’t actually ask a question but I think I know what you’re asking. Since I became alpha, I haven’t slept with any females in my pack for probably the same reason as your father. There would be too much inter-pack fighting or a pack member could feel as if they had to sleep with me because of my position.”
    She was silent, digesting his words. It was something she wanted to know because if he had slept around and they mated, she would want to know who in the pack might have a grudge against her.
    “I did sleep with some females in the pack before I became alpha,” he continued. “But those have moved onto other packs since I took over.”
    She shouldn’t feel relief at that, but experienced it all the same. “Was it hard taking over?” She’d only ever known her father as an alpha so wasn’t sure what it would be like during a transition. And Reece was young for an alpha. Not that his age mattered. Power pulsed around him as if it were a tangible thing.
    He paused and she liked that he took his time answering. “It was exhausting in the beginning. For about the first two months I was challenged almost every other day for authority. At first I simply dominated the other males in fights but didn’t make my wins overkill. After two months…” He shrugged, trailing off.
    He didn’t need to finish though. She understood completely. He got tired of the challenges so he wiped the floor with those who continued to push him. Shifters, especially males, seemed to only respect physical strength. It was something that annoyed her about her species, but it was just the way things were.
    “When I went to see your father I met a female named Ember,” he continued. “Who is she to…you?”
    Alyssa snorted. Ember had it bad for Alyssa’s dad, but both of them were too cowardly to do anything about it. “She’s one of my dearest friends but I think you really wanted to ask who she is to my father. If he can ever get his head out of his butt, he’ll mate Ember.”
    Reece laughed, the rumbling sound soothing to every bit of her.
    “I love your laugh,” she said.
    She felt him look at her, but she didn’t meet his gaze, just kept their steady pace along the sand. Grant was right, this stretch was incredibly private and quiet. Seagulls and the crash of waves were the only sounds.
    “I saw you, you know. Before I asked you and your father to my territory.”
    Now she glanced over at him. “You did?”
    His dark eyes met hers. “I saw you shopping over in Waterstone. You had a couple bodyguards with you.”
    She hadn’t seen him because Reece was the type of man she’d remember—the type any woman would remember. She wondered why he hadn’t said anything before. “Oh… Did you know who I was then?”
    He gave a small shake of his head. “No, but I wanted to know you. I would have talked to you too, but the males with you kept you pretty close. So I might have done a little