Alpha Rising Read Free Page B

his animal nature. Since he’d met Lilliana, he’d already growled in public and just then he’d wanted to do it again. If it had been a full moon, he’d be completely out of control.
    He continued speaking because he had to know more about her. If he had knowledge of her circumstances, he could try to make her life better. Assuming she would let him and not cut him down verbally as she had before. He’d melted into the ground at her words, in a way no one had been capable of doing to him in decades.
    “Tell me about your family.”
    “Tell me about yours.” The defensive tone of her answer told him more than the words she spoke. The girl had boundaries she’d set up to protect her heart. They weren’t going to come down just because he ordered her to speak. Sometimes wolves had to be coaxed into trusting him. He knew how to do that.
    “My parents are both dead, but I am surrounded by family. I’ll never be alone. You?” How else to explain pack to her? He really missed his mother in that moment. She’d have taken Lilliana away, and when she returned, Lilliana would know everything about werewolves and accepted all of it.
    One way or another, Travis knew he would somehow screw this up.
    “I’m sorry about your parents.” She reached out and rubbed his arm. “I know how that is. My parents are gone too. My dad died when I was two and my mom just last year after a very long battle with cancer.”
    “I’m sorry for you too.” He really was. It couldn’t have been easy. His had gone very quickly in battle and together.
    She rounded the corner, and he stayed tight on her tail. “You were saying earlier about being in debt.”
    “I wish I hadn’t.”
    “Well, you did.” He wanted to close his eyes and rub his head in her hair, but she might run away and refuse to see him ever again. Travis needed to convince her to stay with him forever, not force him to leave her alone.
    “My mother had credit card debt. After a while she, apparently, faked my signature to take out some loans. I know, it sounds really bad. She had some mental problems. I’m working on forgiving her.”
    “You can go ahead and do that.” Dead or not dead, he wouldn’t be letting that woman off the hook. “How much money do you owe?”
    “Oh.” She sighed loudly, sticking her key in the lock. He hated the paint peeling off the walls, the smell of mold wafting from the stairwell. The landlord needed to be reported for not up keeping the place. His mate did not belong here. “Who knows anymore? I shouldn’t let you in. Only you drove me here. I fell asleep in your presence. It’s probably too late to start being cautious now. Besides, Matilda likes you. I’m hoping that means you’re not dangerous.”
    She had no idea just how dangerous he could be. Only never to her. “Give me a ballpark figure.” There was no way that she didn’t know.
    “A few hundred thousand. Look, it’s not your fault or your problem.” Her back stiffened, and he nodded. Lilliana had her pride. He wouldn’t step on it anymore that night.
    Her apartment appeared clean. She clearly took care of what little she owned. There were small touches everywhere that spoke to her tastes. A small figurine of an angel positioned in the center of a coffee table, a music box in the corner of the room. Hung on the wall, two fairies in mid-flight. His mate had whimsical tastes. He wanted to spoil her and would.
    “Why are you so interested in me?” She put her hands on her hips. Physically, her latency might put her at risk, but no one would make his mate cower emotionally. He grinned, and she cocked her head. Travis figured he must seem crazy to her.
    “Why do you think?”
    “Look. I really don’t get it. I’m not that pretty, kind of plain, actually, but lately men can’t seem to get enough of me, and I’ve sworn off meaningless relationships. If nothing else, I can take care of how I feel about myself. I appreciate you walking me in, but nothing is going