Winter Wolf (A New Dawn Novel Book 1) by Rachel M Raithby Read Free Book Online

over the worn album, the leather faded and wrinkled. She couldn’t bring herself to open it. She wasn’t ready to see the life she could have had. She wasn’t ready to see the mother who never had the chance to raise her.
    Feeling suddenly overcome with fatigue she lay back down, wishing the churning knot in her stomach would go away. Karen said she didn’t expect anything from her, but that wasn’t true. She not only wanted her to carry on the pure bloodline, she wanted her to save Jackson. Katalina didn’t want to know him. She hated him for all he’d done and she didn’t think anyone could make him see he was wrong.
    Only a few days ago, I was happy… Oh, Mom, Dad, I miss you…

Chapter 6
     
    The morning sun peeked behind the drawn curtains, flooding the room in a muted orange.
    “Knock, knock,” Toby said as he opened the door.
    “Hey, Toby.”
    “Brought you some breakfast if you’re feeling up to eating?”
    “Yes, please, I’m starving. Do you think I could get this drip out my hand? Kinda hate needles.”
    “Karen’s coming over at lunch. You’ll have to ask her then. She instructed me to change the bag though.”
    “You?”
    “Oh, okay, she asked Cage, but Jackson had a fit because she didn’t ask him. He stomped off somewhere, and then Cage…he asked me to do it. I saw Karen change it last week; can’t be that hard.” He grinned at her.
    “Hmm, I don’t feel worried one little bit.” She started to stuff the food he’d given her into her mouth. “So Cage hates me then?”
    “Hates? No, don’t be silly. He loves you.”
    Katalina’s eyes widened.
    “Well, maybe ‘loves’ is a little strong. Erm, he…well, he really likes you, Kat, and you kinda hurt his feelings.”
    “So he stomped off, too?”
    “Yep, it’s just me, you and Arne.”
    “So does this house have a TV or is that too high tech for shifters?”
    “Course we have a TV. Who doesn’t have a TV?” he laughed.
    “So can we go watch it? I’m going to go insane if I have to stay locked in this room another day.”
    Toby frowned, guilt clouding his eyes. “Kat, I would can’t really, but—”
    “Oh, come on, Toby, pleeasse. Don’t be a bore. You’re the only fun one around here, pretty please?” She smiled her sweetest smile.
    “Urgh, Kat, you are going to get me in trouble. All right, come on then; I’ll help you down the stairs.”
    Katalina slipped out of bed, using the metal stand her drip was attached to as support. “Yes! Thanks, Toby! You’re the best,” she said, ruffling his hair.
    “Ay!” he moaned, ducking. “Don’t push your luck!”
    “I’ll be on my best behavior, promise. Just the sofa and TV, what could go wrong?”
    Several hours later, Katalina regretted her words as a police car pulled up to the house.
    “Shit!” Toby muttered as Arne barked. “Shit, shit, shit!” He ran his hand through his hair.
    “Toby, calm down. You’re just a kid. They can’t do anything to you. I’ll just tell them you saved me if they are here for me. But honestly, how would they know I’m here. It’s probably about something else.”
    Toby looked around in panic and then locked eyes with Katalina. “Stay here! Do not come out, even if it is about you, got it?”
    “Toby.”
    “No, Kat, I’m serious. I might just be a kid but I’m also a shifter, and your dad, my alpha, would kill me if I lost you, and I mean that literally! Or worse, he’s probably out there watching the house and when they take you away, he’ll come out and start fighting the cops!”
    “All right, all right, you’ll never know I was here.”
    There was a knock at the door. Toby glanced at Kat, looking as if he might be sick. Taking a deep breath, he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
    Kat moved closer to the door so she could hear them properly.
    “Looking for a Jackson Song. Is he here?”
    “No, sorry, he’s out.”
    “Are you his son?”
    “No.”
    There was a pause. She could imagine the cop,