Page 13 of Shifters' Fated Summer
“And you don’t have anywhere to go. Once you’re healthy and clean, we can help you get a new home, but you can’t go running out the door right now.”
“What if I don’t want to stop having venom?” I asked, my voice tiny and ashamed.
Luca’s brows rose, lines forming around his eyes.
More pity.
Voices drifted through the wide, open room. The blond man I vaguely remembered strode in with several people flanking him. He was broaderwith a short-trimmed beard over his jaw and upper lip. Longer blond hair fell in waves over his ears.
Luca was a beautiful man, but this stranger before me was stunning. I couldn’t look away. The muscles over his shoulders and torso tightened, highlighted by a snug gray t-shirt.
His eyes narrowed on me, lips pursing, and I felt such a wave of suspicion from him that I took a step backward. Luca’s arm caught me, and his hand settled on my lower back. I gasped, jumping sideways, away from Luca’s touch.
“That’s our Alpha, Cade,” he said quietly, leaning closer but keeping his hands to himself.
The blond Alpha paused, standing a few yards away from us. The people around him continued on, filing in the space around us.
A younger man with dark skin smiled, offering his hand. “Hey, I’m Finn.” Anxious, I drew back, tightening my hold on my plate. Finn dropped his extended hand. “No worries. I’ll see you later.”
With a nod to Luca, Finn left the room.
Luca leaned closer. “Finn is our resident geek. He hacked the systems that led us to you.”
My attention slid back to the golden Alpha. He stood with his hands behind his back, watching intently. A beat o silence stretched awkwardly.
Luca sighed. “I’m going to go talk to him. Just relax, you’re safe here.”
I nodded roughly, my throat working as I swallowed.
Luca’s tattoos flexed as he approached Cade. Luca’s hand went to his arm, and the two stood with their bodies touching.If they weren’t a couple, they were very, very close. Cade still looked as if he wanted to murder me, but he softened under Luca’s touch.
Seeing the two of them together, I remembered seeingsomething. Had they kissed?
It was all a blur, but I was fairly sure of what I saw.
“So, what are you doing here?” a female voice asked. Twisting, I eyed a tall, lean woman with blazing red hair and freckled skin. “Not sure why we brought back one of the vamp’s pets.”
Her friend laughed, tilting her head to rest against the redhead’s shoulder. She was darker, with delicate features and an upturned nose.
“I wasn’t–” I started to say.
The woman didn’t give me a chance. “Really, you shouldn’t be in the pack house. Wolves eat timid little things like you. Especially after the vamps chewed you up and spit you out.”
Her companion smirked and mouthed “Blood whore.”
“Harper, Rae,” Luca said, returning to my side. He brought Cade with him. “Why don’t you show some respect to our guest?”
The redhead, Harper, curled her lip, revealing a single blunted fang. Her words echoed back in my mind.
Wolves.
Pack house.
“You are werewolves,” I whispered.
Luca’s hand went to my back, resting theregently. “Yes.”
Panic choked me. Werewolves were dangerous, far more so than vampires. Even without turning, they could have claws and teeth that could rip flesh from bone. They were unpredictable animals.
