A Tale of Red Riding: Rise of the Alpha Huntress (The Alpha Huntress Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

all her might, but she just couldn’t lift it more than a foot or two off the ground.
    “Pathetic. I know you can do better than that, Little Red.”
    “Stop saying my name like that.” Red stomped over and stood inches from the rider’s face. “You hear me, Wolf Boy?”
    “You’re cute when you’re angry, Little Red. But you need to calm down.”
    “Caln Down!” Red’s fist flew wild, pummeling him in the arm.
    The rider groaned. “Ouch. That hurt a lot.”
    “Well you had it coming, Wolf Boy.”
    The rider’s face tightened and twitched. He was clearly fighting the urge to lash out. This was enough to make Red shudder in fear. She figured that if he had any dangerous intentions in mind, this would be enough to set him off.
    “Listen, I’m sorry,” Red said. “I’ve never in all my life done a thing like that.”
    The rider rubbed his sore arm. “For a first hit, it sure had a lot of wham behind it.”
    “I don’t know how that could be. I’m totally weak.”
    “I’m thinking you’re a lot stronger than you realize, Little Red. That hit is going to leave a serious mark.”
    “If I’m so strong, why can’t I even pick up my own bike out of the mud?”
    “Because you’re trying instead of doing, Little Red.”
    “Now where have I heard that one before, Wolf Boy?”
    “Stop calling me that.” The rider stomped over and grabbed the handlebars of Red’s motorcycle. With one hand and an effortless heave, he pulled it up onto its wheels.
    “ Wolf Boy! What big muscles you have.” Red was so embarrassed by the girly tone of her reaction that she smacked herself in the head.
    The rider flexed his muscles. “Think nothing of it.”
    “Already forgotten.” Red hopped onto her motorcycle. “Now, if you’re done with this creepy little game, it’s time for me to go anywhere away from here.”
    “Leaving so soon? Don’t you want to stay around and pick flowers or something, Little Red?”
    “Whatever that means.” Red stomped her boot down on her motorcycle’s kickstarter, but the engine didn’t start.
    “You’re wasting your time. That bike ain’t going anywhere unless you plan on pushing.”
    Red clenched her teeth. “Look, I get it. You think you’re all that and know everything there is to know. This time you’re totally wrong. My boy will start for me.” She again kicked the starter, with the same frustrating result.
    “Your bike is a boy?”
    “A little one, but definitely a male. Not like your little missus over there.” Red again kicked the starter. Still nothing.
    The rider looked at his motorcycle with a curious eye. “You’re saying that great big machine is a girl?”
    “Does the idea of that threaten your manliness, Wolf Boy?”
    “No. It just explains why she gets all temperamental once a month.”
    “Oh, that is so not funny.” Red kicked the starter, this time unleashing all of her angst. The motor just would not start.
    “You can kick that thing all night. It’s just not going to happen.”
    “What makes you so sure, Wolf Boy?”
    “Your fuel line is busted.” With a smug grin, the rider strutted away toward his motorcycle.
    Red glanced down to the underside of the gas tank. The fuel line was indeed snapped in half. “This is all your fault, you know?”
    “Whatever you say, Little Red.” The rider mounted his motorcycle and kicked the starter. The engine fired up with a thundering roar. “There’s a repair shop in town, but it won’t be open till morning, and it’s a long walk.”
    Red looked around at the dark forest, debating if it would be worse to deal with being stuck alone in the middle of nowhere all night, or to ask for help from the stranger she believed was responsible for her predicament.
    “So do you want a ride or not, Little Red?”
    Red had to fight the urge to tell him where she thought he should go. “You’re not going to try to make a move on me, are you?”
    “I make no promises.”
    Red had never felt so conflicted. Going