Untamed (Wolf Lake) by Jennifer Kohout Read Free Book Online

handing Natasha a bundle of toiletries. "Let me know if you need anything else."
    "I will," Natasha said, knowing that she might have to ask for a lot more in the near future.
    Roland stood waiting for Natasha, letting her pass before turning to follow her outside. A soft hand on his arm stopped him. Looking down, he found Sam staring after Natasha, her fingers cool on his arm.
    "Be gentle with her," Sam said, watching the female disappear outside.  
    When she finally looked up at Roland it was to pin him with piercing green eyes. "I will," he said.
    Sam searched Roland's face before withdrawing her hand and letting him go. She had been wrong. A trace of the bond she had created with Natasha remained, a shadowy afterimage that radiated with pain.

CHAPTER THREE
    As I Walk Through the Valley...

    Craig strolled through the pack house, stepping over garbage and the discards from last night's meal. Making a mental note to have the females clean, he carefully avoided touching...anything.
    Like everything else in this place, the condition of the house had steadily declined. You could still see the remnants of what used to be a home, but the soft, feminine touches were tattered and dusty. The few pictures that remained were cracked and faded, and the windows were caked with grime.   All of it evidence of their alpha's failing mental state.
    Speaking of Dimitri, Craig spied the old alpha sitting at the kitchen table. Bent over a book, a candle burning at his elbow, he appeared lucid.
    "Sire," Craig said, bending slightly at the waist.
    "Where's Randall?" Dimitri asked, without looking up.
    "He awaits your pleasure," Craig said. Considering what had happened to Carter, was it any wonder Randall had nearly wet himself at the idea of delivering the news to his alpha?
    "Spare me your silver tongue," Dimitri said, making a meticulous note in the margin. "What news of my daughter?"
    "She lives," Craig said. How that was possible was a question of considerable interest. He'd seen the condition the female had been in, her father dragging her out the pack house door. "She remains with Nafarius."
    An unnatural stillness settled over the house. Empty but for the two of them, Craig waited to see which way Dimitri would blow.  
    "Traitorous bitch," Dimitri muttered. His own daughter had betrayed him. "Never should trust a female..."
    Craig was inclined to agree. Oh, females have their place. Preferably on their hands and knees. Dimitri's daughter, no submissive she-wolf, hadn't appreciated her father's recently devolving opinion on the subject and had objected strongly to the changes in the pack hierarchy. At one time, Dimitri had adored his daughter but that time was past.
    "And Nafarius?" Dimitri carefully turned the page, gently smoothing his hand across the book.
    "He and his mate appear to be getting ready for winter." Craig said. Nothing like adding a little gasoline to the fire. The mention of the male and his mate was sure to aggravate the old alpha.
    Dimitri's pencil snapped. Carefully, he set it aside and reached for a new one.  
    "They prepare to hunt?" After nearly eight hundred years as alpha, Dimitri could predict the other male's moves with ease.
    Craig nodded, though Dimitri had yet to look up from his book. What exactly was he reading? Tilting his head slightly, Craig tried to get a look at the book. The margins were riddled with notes, illegible scribbles too cryptic for him to make sense of.  
    "Most of the males will be spread out across the territory," Craig pointed out.
    "Hmmm..." Dimitri stared down at the page. Lost my place . The words tilted, bunching closer together and overlapping each other as they slowly slid off the paper. Can't read when they're on the floo r.  
    Craig watched as Dimitri bent down to look at his feet. No, the alpha was staring at the floor.  
    Patiently, he waited. Craig had learned to give it time. Eventually, Dimitri would snap back, his thoughts clear once again. For the moment.
    It took