Wicked by Lorie O'Clare Read Free Book Online Page A

Perry would be one hell of a catch.
    What the hell was she thinking?
    Already she had a list longer than her tail why he’d be a very bad catch.
    She had a hell of a jaunt before she reached the bus station. There was only one way to get across town. She’d have to risk running.
    “What makes you think the Amyx den is there?” she asked, changing the subject while darting across the street, clutching her phone to her ear.
    She’d have to get off the main drag. Humans knew lunewulf were thick in Prince George. That didn’t mean they liked a visual reminder. If she took off in a sprint in her human form, running faster than any human, more than one of them would call the police, complaining. No way did she want the pack leader pissed at her. Already more attention focused in on her than she liked having.
    Taking a minute to look up and down the street, there was no sensation of being followed, or watched. More than likely she’d imagined it. That or darting into the donut shop had thrown off her scent and she’d lost her tracker.
    Now why did that leave an empty feeling inside her?
    “I’m sitting next to the ticket counter. Earlier I smelled their angry stench. But I don’t see the lunewulf that I saw earlier.”
    “Stay where you are. Call me back if you get scared again. I’ll be there soon.”
    Wendy agreed , sounding more relaxed than when she’d first called. With little den left alive, Jaynie would protect her cousin with her life. Wendy’s den, her aunt and uncle, were good people. Her aunt had been her mother’s sister. Jaynie hadn’t seen them much as a cub. But since her parents had died, they’d tried including Jaynie in den affairs. Jaynie had been the one who’d been reluctant to get close to Wendy’s den. Losing her parents had been enough pain for a lifetime. She wouldn’t allow her heart to suffer like that again.
    Shoving her phone into her jeans pocket, she headed away from the busy street. There were miles of neighborhood to cover before she hit the industrial part of town where the bus station was. If she could hit a full run, she’d be there in less than ten minutes. But she’d have to be careful, ensure that not too many people saw her.
    Maybe she should make a few phone calls, seek out help. Figure out how to call Perry.
    “What the hell are you thinking?” she hissed through her teeth.
    She’d made it quite a few years now on her own, enjoying freedom, not needing or wanting another werewolf for anything. Ten years since her parents had died. Ten years that she’d made damned sure no one got too close.
    Calling him would be as bad as putting the collar around her neck by herself.
    Half an hour later she wiped sweat from her brow, twisting her hair off her neck and taking a slow breath as she walked toward the bus station. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Wendy being escorted out of the bus station by the older lunewulf who’d been at her den that morning.
    “Whoa. What’s going on here?” She hurried toward them.
    Wendy looked up, her cheeks stained with tears.
    “Get in the truck.” The older lunewulf ignored her and pulled open the passenger door, shoving Wendy forward.
    “Like hell she is.” Jaynie grabbed the guy’s shoulder, shoving him out of the way and then taking Wendy’s arm. “Let’s go.”
    “I’ve about had enough of you, bitch.” The lunewulf had some foul-smelling breath.
    “That makes it mutual. You have no right to her, and you damn well know it.” Anger rushed through her, her bones popping while her muscles started growing.
    No way could any of them allow the change while outside the human bus terminal. But a little strength wouldn’t hurt anything in dealing with these lowlifes.
    “You don’t have your Cariboo here to protect you this time,” the lunewulf sneered, glancing over her shoulder.
    The little hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Anger smelling so spicy she almost sneezed filled the air around them. “I’ll give the