Alpha's Child Read Free Page A

the forest branches, and the cool of the wind as it ruffled his fur. And, too, he could feel Julia’s wonder as she stretched her body, newly furred.
    He came alongside her and nuzzled her belly with his nose. He still couldn’t sense them yet. Their babies. No matter what, Damien knew that she and then were the most important parts of his life.
    Julia jumped then, leapt into the air, and the joy emanating from her body rippled through Damien, infecting him with excitement. Then she was running, and he ran after her into the forest.
    The air was crisp, clear, and as Damien ran behind Julia he could see—almost, perhaps it wasn’t seeing—the branches and the paths twisting in front of him. Perhaps it was his memory of running through the forest that he was seeing, but it came only in brief, momentary flashes of sight, almost like a fragmented dream. If it was a dream, it was a wonderful one.
    Then he sensed something else, a scent that crossed his nose and made him stop in his tracks. The flashes were gone; everything was dark again, and Julia stopped in front of him, trotted back, and waited expectantly.
    The scent was a bad scent. It was the scent of death, of danger, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. Damien twisted his neck, his nose sniffing the air around them, but it was gone.
    He did not want to ruin the moment for Julia. She waited for him, and he barked once, jumping over her back in play and rolling on the ground. They tousled for a while, Damien being careful not to hurt Julia in any way. She seemed to be stronger as a wolf, for she nipped at his heels like a pup at play and ran back through the woods as quickly as she had come. When they finally arrived back at the house, Julia shifted back into human form, but Damien sensed a hint of disappointment in her, a longing for the forest.
    “We’ll go running again,” Damien said. Being human had its drawbacks, but at least he could hold her hand.
    “That was so much fun! Did you smell the fish in that stream?” Julia chattered on and on as they walked back. Dee met them at the porch stairs.
    “Leader,” she said, addressing Damien. “We need to talk.”
    Damien felt Julia’s fingers intertwine with his.
    “What’s going on, Granny Dee?” she asked.
    “Come in first,” she said. “In the house.”
    Damien heard a hint of fright in Dejara’s voice and followed quickly. They sat in the living room, Dee on the chair opposite them. When she spoke, it was to the point.
    “We have to leave. It would be dangerous to stay here.”
    There was a pulse of startled emotion as Julia was taken aback. She turned to Damien, squeezing his hand. He furrowed his brow.
    “This is because of the scripture?” he asked. “About the twins?”
    “Yes,” Dee said simply.
    “Why?” Julia asked. “Surely it would be dangerous to leave. Scripture is scripture, no matter where we go.”
    “True, child,” Dee said.
    “Then you think the twins will be kidnapped by one of Trax’s shifters?” Julia said.
    “Not Trax’s anymore,” Damien said, putting his hand around her hip and kissing her shoulder. “And we won’t let that happen.”
    “I’m not sure what will happen,” Dee said. “But the predictions made by the gods do not preclude worse results.”
    “Such as?” Julia said.
    “Such as losing not just your children, but your mate.”
    Julia yelped and shrunk back as though the words had physically struck her.
    “That’s enough—” Damien said.
    “Or being killed yourself,” Dee said, her voice rising.
    “That’s enough!”
    Julia shuddered, her breath coming fast and shallow. Damien tightened his arms around her, pulling her to his chest. He opened his mind up to send her his love and comfort, and sensed a ripple of thoughts spreading from her.
    No don’t take them they can’t take them I won’t let them I’ll kill them I’ll—
    Damien pressed his lips to her forehead to stem her rising panic.
    “Julia, it’s going to be