To Claim His Mate by Serena Pettus Read Free Book Online Page A

chuckled.
    “You have no idea.” Adam stood. “I better get back. Hopefully, I’ll find some way to soften this blow for her, but I can’t see how.”
    All the way home, Adam’s emotions battled for dominance. Sorrow for the news he would deliver, happiness because it meant that she’d stay in his home longer and guilt for the latter. He would much rather have her stay with him by her own choosing, not out of necessity, but he was selfish enough to take it however it came.
    Adam drove by her home on the way and dreaded bringing her back. He knew she’d insist on seeing the destruction for herself, and it would devastate her. His inner wolf growled, a low menacing sound, and paced in its agitated state. It demanded release, ready to seek justice on behalf of its mate.
    “Down boy. We’ll get the bastards.” If he let his beast off leash, he’d surely find the sons-of-bitches if they were anywhere nearby. There wouldn’t be anything but a bloody mess left once he finished with them. No. He needed his mind clear and capable of rational thought instead of running on pure animal instinct. He’d be sure these guys fried for what they’d done to Evangeline.
    He pulled up to the house and was greeted by a very anxious Lightning. As soon as Adam jumped from the car, the wolf cocked his ear and took off. Adam didn’t think twice and just ran after him.
    Storm was underneath the big elm that they had decided to build in and was looking up into the branches. Evangeline sat on a thick branch, with her knees to her chest, her back to the trunk and appeared to be having a total breakdown. Adam felt her agonizing emotional pain, and it nearly staggered him.
    She knew. Somehow, she’d discovered what had happened. Then Adam realized the tree was on a small hill that overlooked part of the town. Sure enough, her street was visible…along with the empty space where her house used to be.
    As he approached the tree, Adam sent the two canines to the house and climbed up to bring Eva down.
    “It’s really gone, isn’t it?” Her red, swollen eyes were desolate, just begging him to tell her that she was wrong, but Adam couldn’t lie to her. “I have nothing now. I’m completely alone.” Her voice sounded so empty, almost hollow, and his wolf howled.
    Adam swallowed past the lump in his throat. “You have me, Eva. I know that this is rather quick, since we haven’t known each other long at all, but I want you to stay here, with me. You know I care, and I’ll be here for you in whatever way you need me to be. Let me take care of you. Just don’t let this bring you too far down, baby.” He drew in a deep breath and let it out. “You have your love and your memories, and that’s something they can never take.”
    “Until they kill me.”
    “ That won’t happen! ” He hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but her eyes widened, and she scooted farther down the branch she was perched on. “I’m sorry, but the thought of you being hurt makes me crazy. I care about you…a lot.”
    “Uh, thank you? I’m not really sure what I feel right now. I just want to go to bed. God, I’m so tired.”
    Adam could tell she was exhausted. She hadn’t slept much, if any, the night before and had cried so much he’d worried about her becoming ill.
    “Don’t worry about it. Just let me take care of you. We’ll go back to the house, and I’ll make you some soup, something light so you can rest.”
    When she didn’t immediately slide toward him, he climbed up onto the branch and scooted toward her. The shaking jostled her, and she looked down. It was about a twenty-foot drop. Eva gasped, and Adam watched as she overcorrected when she straightened. She pitched backward with a shriek. As he saw her flip, Adam dove, landing a spit second before her and catching her in his arms.
    “How did you do that?” she breathed, visibly shaking.
    “I’m very fast when I need to be. Are you all right?”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and