WeresDigest by Desconhecido Read Free Book Online

his
brothers. Yet it had all been a game with them—it wouldn’t be with Carrie.
    So deep in thought was he, he didn’t notice that she’d
backed several steps away from him. He stiffened then at the scent of danger
nearby; his blood ran cold—wolf. Damn, could Simon be here in the woods with
them? Breathing deep through his nostrils, he identified the scent and breathed
easier when he realized it was a normal, every day wolf—not a shifter. Still,
not a good thing. Then he narrowed his eyes on an area directly behind her and
fear tore through him.
    A big, gray wolf growled behind Carrie, not more than
a few feet away. Damn! Why hadn’t he been more attuned to his surroundings?
Because Carrie had distracted him, he thought in chagrin.
    The wolf stood still, teeth bared. With its ribs
showing, it appeared it hadn’t had a good meal in a while. Max knew, in order
to save Carrie, he’d need to shift. He groaned since he remembered he’d used up
his allotted one night shift change!
    “Carrie,” he said very softly. “Come toward me. Now.”
    She frowned, opened her mouth, likely to protest when
she stopped at the sound of the wolf’s growl.
    He saw her chest rising and falling quickly, praying
she wouldn’t panic. She started to turn her head but Max ordered, “Stop. Do not
turn around. Do not look. There is a wolf behind you who appears very hungry.”
Her eyes filled with tears but she stayed still, facing him, trembling in fear.
“Now do as I say. Walk slowly toward me.”
    She did, thank God, one small step at a time. Just as
she reached him, the wolf pounced, his growl furious at having his meal taken
from him.
    Max yanked Carrie behind him, bounded in front of her,
and held up his forearm, damning himself for leaving his gun in the coach. How
had he forgotten it? It wasn’t often he required one, but right now, he wished
he had it. The wolf landed a foot away from Max, growling fiercely. Max
maintained eye contact with the animal, and the wolf soon started backing away,
then paced side to side, eying Max.
    After several moments of pacing and growling, the wolf
bounded away into the woods.
    Max released his pent up breath and turned to find
Carrie slumped on the ground, back against a tree. He swept her up into his
arms, felt her shivering body, and held her tight. She clutched him around the
neck and he groaned at the feel of her breasts against his chest. Her grip nearly
choked him and he pulled at her arms, “Loosen them, sweet, or you’ll strangle
me. The big bad wolf is all gone,” he joked. “Come, I’ll take you home.”
    “He’s gone is he? And what shall I do about this big
bad wolf?” she asked as she reached up and swept a curl off his forehead. He
groaned at the sight of tears tracking down her cheeks. “How did you make him
stop? The two of you met eye to eye, and…”
    “You’re safe now. I’m a good wolf.”
    Sniffling, she said, “I only live a short distance
from here. Will you take me home?”
     He gave her a long, level look, took in her frazzled
appearance, and sighed. He’d planned to bring her home with him, but hadn’t the
heart now after the fright she’d just had. While that inner beast protested at
the idea of escorting her home, he knew he had no other choice. He gave her a
devilish grin and held her high in his arms as he made his way out of the trees
and onto the road.
    Up ahead, he saw his driver and coach. Lifting his
fingers, he whistled and the driver turned the carriage around and headed back
down the road toward them. At her wide-eyed, questioning look, he said, “I
informed him to wait for us down the road apiece. Glad I did.” The carriage
reached them. He helped her inside, cursing as her lushly curved bottom tempted
him.
    Guessing she might not want him to touch her, he
started to take the seat opposite her, when she spoke.
    “Please, Max. Would you…would you hold me? I’m cold.”
    Breathing a relieved sigh at her invitation, he slid
onto the