Awakening: Montana Wolves, Book 2 Read Free Page B

forbidden, but it was definitely discouraged. Her pack did business with humans every day, and many of them had human friends or acquaintances. But they didn’t let them get too close, or they invariably started asking tough questions like Amber had done.
    If he had no plans to hook up with her again, and everyone was asleep anyway, maybe he hadn’t seen the harm in bringing her over. They all knew better than to change indoors. Wolves were insanely destructive and they all liked a nice house, so it wasn’t like she would’ve seen anything she shouldn’t have.
    Still, since she’d been with this pack, she couldn’t recall a single time any of them had brought a human home. Billy kept a room in town where he entertained lady friends, and if Maggie had a boyfriend, Chandra sure didn’t know about it. The rest of the pack followed suit, spending most of their time with one another or the other area wolves.
    She might not have a right to be jealous, but Jax was Liam’s second, and his right hand in all things. He was also the brains behind their business ventures. The others looked up to him and respected him. He needed to lead by example, and, as his friend, it was up to her to remind him of that.
    She went to the cabinet and took out her favorite mug, one that Jax had given her for Christmas. It had a picture of Little Red Riding Hood on it and read Anyone who confuses a wolf with their grandmother DESERVES to get eaten .
    She filled it with the steaming coffee from the pot on the counter and sniffed appreciatively before taking a deep swallow. It scalded her tongue, which healed almost instantly, but it was worth it as she felt the glorious jolt of caffeine skim through her veins, clearing out the cobwebs in her brain. She drained her cup and refilled before heading back up the stairs to take the proverbial bull by the horns.
    She knocked lightly on Jax’s door but didn’t wait for a response to let herself in. The room was dark, all the shades drawn tight, and she could just make out the shape of him in his bed.
    “Go away,” he grumbled, covering his head beneath a pillow. “Wait!” He stirred again and poked his head out. “Do I smell coffee?”
    Chandra sighed and brought her cup over, setting it into his outstretched hand. She sat down on the foot of the bed as he struggled into a half-seated position and began to drink her coffee.
    “Headache?” she asked dryly.
    “Nah, not too bad. Strong constitution, you know. What time is it?”
    “About nine o’clock.”
    He smothered a yawn. “Tired, though. Long night, I hardly slept.”
    Chandra resisted the urge to jab him in the solar plexus and tried not to imagine he and Amber rolling around on the bed together. She reached out and touched a half-melted candle on the dresser with her forefinger before picking up a book of matches and reading the words emblazoned on it. “What’s The Naughty Kitty?”
    “The name of the club where Amber dances.”
    Dances.
    He clearly wasn’t talking the Viennese waltz, and she bit back a growl.
    “Whatever.” She dropped the matchbook and stood, determined to say her piece in spite of the ache just being in the room was causing her. “It’s really none of my concern what time you and your friend finally went to sleep last night. I’m here to talk to you and I want to get it out of the way so I can go for a run. First thing, you really shouldn’t be bringing women to the house.” She held up a hand as he opened his mouth to speak. “I know your personal life is none of my business, but she was asking me a lot of questions this morning.”
    Plus, I’m crazy about you, and seeing you with someone else breaks my heart.
    Jesus, she had to get those feelings on lock. Sure, he was sexy. And gorgeous. And smart. And, aside from his recent, late night jaunts, he was a great dad as well as a good person. But she couldn’t allow herself to be in love with him. That would be nuts, to hand her heart over to someone who