Under the Alpha's Protection (Steamy Werewolf Shifter Menage Romance) by Willow Wilde Read Free Book Online Page A

clearing of the lake, I stepped onto the small bridge and kicked off my clothes. Down to my underwear, I thought for a moment whether I should keep them, before finally shrugging and tossing them into the pile as well.
     
    I slipped into the cool, refreshing water. It was fairly hot and humid here, even at night, and the water had retained some of the temperature. No need to wade near the bridge — I dropped in completely, feeling the silt beneath my toes as my head descended a couple of feet underwater. Rising back up and treading water, I started to swim out a little further — but not too far.
     
    Alone with my thoughts, I wondered about my parents, about home, about college and my life afterwards. Uncle Jack had it so easy. It was hard, backbreaking work, but with some help, he’d be able to easily keep the place maintained. He didn’t have to worry too much about the outside world — keeping up with the neighbors, living with constant technological advances, social media, changing fashions…it was just the land, the help, and him.
     
    I respected him. I admired him. I loved my father to death, both Mom and Dad, but they didn’t have the stamina or the fortitude to do what my uncle did. They wouldn’t last longer than a few days out here, doing what he did the last few decades. He was a dying breed, and even into his Fifties, he loved what he did and he was damned good at it.
     
    The sounds of rustling from the trees ripped me from my thoughts, and I instantly dropped underwater. Swimming as low to the slit as I could, I darted in the direction of the bridge. Was somebody else out there? But then the worse question was asked: was I wrong about the predators?
     
    I came up for air under the bridge, and what I saw almost made my heart stop beating altogether.
     
    Three bears were wandering out from the trees and onto the lakebed. Large, shaggy animals with powerful muscles beneath their fur, they wandered along the edge for a moment, one pawing at the water. After a moment, they seemed to look at each other, before the light around them grew to a glimmer, and they…
     
    …They changed . It’s the only way I can describe it. It was over so quickly that I can still barely remember it. Their fur receded, their bodies shrunk, and their limbs contorted until they were three broad, powerful men, laughing and running for the bridge, ripping off their jeans and boots.
     
    But they weren’t just regular men.
     
    They were the ranch hands.
     
    Brad was the first to dive in, landing just ten feet in the water in front of me. Next was Petro, shouting “ Cannonball !” at the top of his lungs. But Caiden, the last one, paused before lunging in after them. As I continued to tread water, ducking behind the thick column of the bridge, I realized all too late what had stopped him.
     
    “What’s the matter, boy? You change your mind after all?”
     
    “We’ve got company,” Petro told them. I heard a rustling up top and knew he was digging out an article of clothing, and judging by how the ranch hands looked up, he was probably holding it out.
     
    “It’s that niece of his,” Brad mentioned. “Where are you? Come on out! It’s fine, we’re not going to hurt you!”
     
    I bit my lip, still hiding behind the bridge. They hadn’t spotted me yet…
     
    “Maybe she’s not here anymore?” Caiden offered. “Maybe she just got scared by somethin’ and took off.”
     
    “Without her clothes?” Brad asked incredulously. “No…I’m more worried that she’s hurt herself…it’s dark, what if she slipped, she have drown out here…fuck, we’ve gotta look for her!”
     
    Petro stumbled around up top, and I could hear him moving towards the edge of the bridge.
     
    “You see anything, man?” Caiden called out.
     
    “…Nah! Nothing! I don’t see anyone out on the lake!”
     
    Brad turned to Caiden. “We’ve gotta tear this place apart, if anything’s happened to that girl…”
     
    I