Choices: Alpha City, Book 3 Read Free

unguarded. She scored, and then gave all the kids high-fives.
    “She’s great with the cubs,” Penn commented.
    Nodding, Judd continued to watch her as she hugged the boys one by one, then went over to where Carina sat alone at a table, drawing. She sat down beside the girl, but didn’t speak, just started drawing. She was sitting close enough that Carina could peek through her hair and observe Maggie’s work. Maggie was beautiful as she colored. Her hair looked different. She usually wore it straight around her face, but today it was pulled back in a ponytail. She actually looked relaxed, contrary to the way he was feeling.
    “I was wondering where you were at.” Ryder stood beside him; Judd hadn’t sensed him walk up. He acted like he was watching the boys play basketball, but his eyes continued to stray back to Maggie.
    “She’s great with the pups.” Ryder offered the same observation as Penn.
    “Who?”
    Ryder laughed. “Who, who? You sound like an owl. Maggie, that’s who. Like you don’t know who I’m talking about. You can’t keep your eyes off her. When are you going to…”
    “Ryder, I love you, brother, but stay out of my personal life. I didn’t meddle in yours, and I don’t need this right now. We have a lot to do. That witch has already got us at a disadvantage—that’s all I can afford to think about right now.”
    “I’m just worried about both of you. You’re mates, Judd. I‘ve never seen anyone light up like that at first touch.”
    “You’re wrong. She’s a vampire, Ryder, a damn vampire, and I can’t just ignore that. You know what happened to my mom. What if—”
    “I know, but she’s nothing like Locke. Look, Judd…” Ryder ran his fingers through his hair. “Dammit man, you can’t compare her to him. Maggie is so sweet, and she’s already been a great help to the pack.” Ryder turned and pointed at Maggie and Carina. “Look at her—she loves the kids, and she’s already helped Carina break out of her shell. What are you going to do, let someone else claim her?”
    Judd couldn’t control his anger at the thought of anyone else touching her. “If anyone touches her, I’ll kill them.”
    “Hey man, you can’t have it both ways.” Ryder shook his head. “You can’t make others stay away from her just because you’re afraid to take a chance.”
    Judd grabbed Ryder and slammed him up against the lockers that had been brought in. “I will kill anyone who touches her,” he spit out. All the kids, and Maggie, turned around and stared at the two Alphas.
    “What’s wrong?” Maggie asked. Using her lightning speed, she was already standing beside them. He couldn’t think clearly as he inhaled her scent. “Judd, let him go.”
    He lifted his hands off his friend and held them up. What was he doing? Judd stared at his hands as he backed away. He couldn’t believe he’d pushed Ryder. He looked up at his friend. “I’m sorry, Ryder.”
    “Everything is okay, Maggie,” Ryder assured her.
    “You sure?”
    “Just a misunderstanding.”
    “Okay.” Maggie looked back over her shoulder before walking back across the room to the kids.
    “It’s the mating pull, and it’s only going to get worse for you and for her. Judd, don’t let the past rule your future. Your mom wouldn’t have wanted that.” Ryder patted his shoulder and walked off.
    Every time Judd looked at her, all he saw was a vampire. A beautiful vampire, but someone whose very existence made him sick to his stomach. He glanced over at Maggie to find her watching him, her green eyes flickering against the light. He ached for her as their eyes met and lingered for a few minutes, before he turned his head and walked away.

Chapter Three
    M aggie could feel what he was thinking. He was torn for some reason; mostly because she was a vampire, she figured. She could feel the turmoil raging inside of him. His emotions were deafening, his desire overcome by anger. Maggie cringed. She had to stop