Wyrd Calling (Wyrd Bound Book 1) by Shen Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

that moment was food. I wondered idly if there was some nice takeaway or similar where I could flirt my way to a free meal; I did so enjoy those games.  
    Alex snapped me out of it, though. "We have to keep our heads low and out of trouble."
    I pulled a disgusted face and dug out some fresh clothes. The bandages were infuriating, but Ark was helping me so I didn't complain (too loudly). Alex remained stiff and shifted his weight from foot to foot; he was more uncomfortable than me. Good.  
    I looked up at him expectantly. "Well, what are you getting me for dinner then?"
    "There's plenty of game in these woods, we could have venison..."
    The wolf in me tried to barge forward and take control. I drove it back and allowed the jaguar just enough control for my tail to twitch.
      "I don't think so. I'm in the mood for something more... civilised."
    In truth I would have loved to have hunted. I couldn't remember the last time I'd fully shifted. I just didn't trust those cubs and had no desire to share something so intimate with him.  
    Alex sighed and nodded before turning and heading to the door. I stood and followed in the hopes of being given good food, and perhaps some alcohol too. We went down into the kitchen to find the cubs were sitting around the central island.  
    They looked over to Alex somewhat hopefully, and he said in a flat tone, "Go and get some takeaway. Make it pizza and Chinese or something."
    Their faces fell, and Nik stood and walked out. It seemed that he'd been put on food duty. Ryan looked up at me, his wolf rippling just below the surface as he said, "Are you serious? We've worked our asses off, we deserve that hunt."
    I raised an eyebrow and tried not to glare at Alex. I felt betrayed at him having promised them that before even mentioning it to me. He’d put all of that on me. I focused on Ryan and said, "Oh, do you now?"
    He raised his chin a little, his voice gaining the edge of the lupine growl, "Yes. We had to spend hours doing bullshit training, hand to hand combat, energy control, and more. We’ve been cooped up in here, unable to run, to shift, for far too long."
    I pursed my lips and said in my best mocking tone, "You poor thing..."
    Alex moved closer to Ryan putting himself between us. "You deserve nothing. You did some basic training, and you feel you deserve to hunt?"
    Ryan looked between us, but Dan stood and glared at Alex. "Yes, we deserve it. We came here with thoughts of working for the gods, of making something of ourselves, and all we've done is take shit from a high-strung bitch and go through combat and energy training."
    I smiled sweetly and said, "Have you quite finished?"
    Alex, however, said, in his icy calm tone no less, "You are whiny, pathetic little cubs. You are entitled and demanding. A pack is a tight-knit unit that depends on one other. You were chosen for an important task, and you dare not only to make demands but to insult one of your alphas?"
    Dan wavered as he looked over to Ryan and down to the floor as he thought about things. He gritted his teeth as he did, putting his hands behind his back. Not the ideal mark of submission, but given how far along we were, I took it for what it was. I looked at Ryan, who sighed and also lowered his head. I turned my back to them and wished for the days when I chose my own pack and had wolves of quality rather than these worthless wretches.  
    The tension was palpable when Nik returned. None of us had said a word since Ryan and Dan had lowered their heads. Their muscles remained tight and their hands were tense as they tried to un-grit their teeth and not ball their hands into fists. I kept my breaths long and slow and gazed out the window, keeping my back to them as I allowed my mind to wander. I almost jumped when Nik came through the front door. He had a small smile on his face when he walked into the kitchen with three bags bursting with various cartons. The smells were incredible. One bag had a sweet and sharp tang to