Hidden in Plain Sight. Amy Lee Burgess

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ back from sharp teeth.

      It was the biggest wolf I’d ever seen.

      I looked at him and ignored Murphy’s frantic pleas for me to get inside the porch.

      “I think it’s Nate,” I told him. “It’s somebody Pack definitely.”

      “I figured that out myself. Please get inside the porch, Constance.”

      When Murphy called me Constance, he was either scared or mad. I knew I shouldn’t ignore him, but felt compelled to point out the facts.

      “He’s Pack and so are we. He won’t hurt us. It’s against Pack law.”

      Everyone knew we weren’t allowed wolf-on-human violence. Even my poor wolf before she’d started to evolve had known it was wrong to bite—even wolf to wolf. Not that she hadn’t bitten Murphy’s wolf anyway.

      Wolf-on-wolf violence was only punishable if severe injury or death resulted. There was a certain leeway allowed if the odds were balanced.

      There was no leeway involved in wolf-on-human violence. If Nate bit me, there’d be an investigation at least by the Regional Council and more than likely the Great Council would send an Advisor too.

      Because of our laws and the strong indoctrination we all underwent as both wolves and humans, I thought I was safe even though he shouldn’t have growled, not after he picked up my scent and realized I was Pack.

      The big wolf continued to growl. In fact, each time we spoke, his volume got a little louder. He kept his tawny-gold eyes fixed menacingly on me.

      “I’m Pack,” I told him, uncertain of how much he understood. My wolf would probably have heard just so much gibberish because she was used to thinking in words, not hearing them. Murphy’s wolf might have understood spoken words. I’d never thought to ask him.

      “Stanzie, please, I’m begging you.” Murphy was only a few yards away but it might as well have been a continent because there was nothing he could do if the wolf attacked me except watch. Vaughn’s face was white with dread.

      For the first time I felt fear, and didn’t like it. We didn’t fear our own kind. At least I never had until the conspiracy had been unmasked. Just because we were near strangers didn’t mean Nate should go all territorial.

      I took a small step for the porch stairs and calculated how close I would need to get before I could make a break for it and which way the door worked. If I guessed wrong whether the goddamn door opened inward or outward, I was fucked. Who the hell was I kidding? I was probably fucked no matter what I did. Wolves were way faster than people. By the time I made the stairs, he could leap across the space between us and knock me down with ease.

      “I don’t think I can make it, Murphy. I’m afraid if I run he’ll attack me.”

      “Shit,” was Murphy’s less-than-helpful response. “I’m gonna slam the trunk down. When he reacts to the noise, get the hell inside.”

      “What about you?” I started to say but the trunk slammed and Murphy yelled something in Irish. The wolf didn’t take his eyes off me.

      Unfortunately by the time I processed that, I’d already sprinted three of the six feet between where I’d stood and the porch steps.

      About a half second before he brought me down, I sensed his leap and tried to cover my head with my arms, but it was no use.

      Murphy screamed my name. So did Vaughn. I tensed and waited for the agony as the wolf’s teeth tore into the soft parts of my arms, but all I felt was hot breath on the back of my neck. And then a slobbery tongue in my ear.

      “Oh, fuck me,” I muttered into the dirt beneath my mouth as I tried not to choke on it.

      The wolf continued to lick me until I rolled over, then he swiped my face. I gave him my throat because he was an Alpha male and he took it in his jaws, but did not break the skin.

      This was how it was supposed to go. A little unorthodox since I was still in human form, but this was acceptable Pack behavior. He asserted his dominance and I acknowledged his leadership.

      “I told you.” I used the male wolf’s broad shoulders to brace myself as I got to my feet. His fur was thick and soft and he smelled like he’d been rolling in leaves. Twigs and leaf bits stuck in his fur and I began to brush them out with my fingers.

      Murphy and Vaughn rushed over to us. Murphy looked ready to explode and Vaughn wasn’t far behind.

      “This is bullshit,” declared Murphy as the wolf wagged his tail at us all. His tongue lolled out of the side of his half-open mouth. By wolf standards he was smiling. He made a chuffing sound, almost like a sneeze—the lupine equivalent of a laugh.

      “Now you’re making fun of us. Bad wolf,” I lectured, but I couldn’t help my smile. I patted his head and he gave a happy yip before he trotted off toward the clothesline.

      “I’m glad one of us is amused because I’m about ready to kick his ass.” Murphy’s dark eyes glinted dangerously. Vaughn did not look remotely amused.

      The screen door banged open and we swung around to confront a petite woman with long chestnut hair and huge brown eyes. She wore a green-and-white floral print sundress and her feet were bare. A small black wolf’s head was tattooed on her left shin. I’d been with her when she’d gotten it at a Regional Gathering when she was sixteen and I was fifteen. She’d dared me to get one too but I was too chickenshit my father would find out and kill me.

      A baby who looked about a year old balanced on her right hip. She clutched at her mother’s arm with one chubby hand. The other was curled around a small stuffed bunny.

      The woman’s gaze traveled over all of us and registered several emotions from happiness to wariness. When she fully focused on Vaughn, her face froze.

      “Hey, Jossie.” He raised a hand in greeting.

      Jossie Wilbanks bit her lip and, for a moment, I didn’t think she would reply. Just as she opened her mouth, Nate Carver walked from behind the clothesline where he’d shifted back into human form.

      “Sorry about that, we didn’t expect you until later this afternoon.” He’d dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt that smelled of the fresh spring breeze.

      I’d forgotten what a giant of a man Nate was—at least six six, probably taller.

      His light blond hair was buzz cut close to his scalp. Brown eyes fringed with thick lashes were his best feature. He was not handsome, but he had something that attracted people to him. He was open and friendly, charismatic, with a sense of humor. He’d shown that to us in wolf form.

      “He was looking for Bethany.” Jossie rushed into speech. “In fact, the whole pack is going to shift tomorrow and scour these woods if that’s all right with you?”

      I was a little surprised she asked our permission, but then I remembered we were Advisors to the Great Council and, even though we were not Alphas, we had power. It was an interesting thought.

      “I think that’s a good idea.” Murphy’s eyes were appreciative as he gazed at her. Pack men were drawn to Alpha females with babies. СКАЧАТЬ