Homecoming Read Free Page A

Cal could not explain exactly why. He knew it though, and from the stunned expression on Daniel's face, he knew it too. They looked at each other warily, in shock but also agreement: Tony found the mate he wanted, and Heaven help them both if she made things difficult. Or worse, if her pack did.
    Because there were a couple of universal truths in play, which Cal knew for fact: one, most female shifters were not keen on rogues, Alpha or no; and two, no woman that goddamn gorgeous was single.
    His brain went from “packmate” to “cop” like a switch being flipped. Old habits never died, especially when they came in handy. Daniel was a wilderness boy from Alaska who liked people and respected the laws of nature, but Cal was a city cop who didn't trust anyone and had a history that gave him plenty of reasons not to. They worked well together like that, and within seconds they were bunched protectively around Tony playing a werewolf version of good–cop/bad–cop as he made his was over to the girl.
    She was in her mid–twenties, nearly six feet tall, brunette, maybe 130 pounds. Cal's cop brain cataloged everything as they approached: body type, stance, build, attitude, clothes. She wore flats, unsurprising for a woman as tall as she was, and a nice blue wrap around dress that showed off everything without looking cheap. She had class, just like Tony did. Maybe, Cal thought, Tony could smell that too.
    Cal noticed by the change in her posture that she pinged them right away, but she did not shut them out or look at anyone else in the club for backup. He did not believe for a second she was here on her own, but she was playing things cool, as if she did not have anyone to answer too. Cal did not believe they were that lucky, though.
    “Tony.” He held out his hand. It was a formal introduction for unclaimed territory, where last names wouldn't matter because there were no local packs to attach to.
    She looked at it, then at his face, then back at his hand. Cal held his breath. If she gave a last name, the night might end up being a bloody one.
    “Lisbeth.” She took the proffered hand. As they gave a polite shake, both Tony and Lisbeth broke into smiles. Something clicked between them, Cal could see it.
    She hadn't given a name, but sometimes that didn't mean shit because some shifters were just out to play games. If she belonged to anyone, Tony was going to be strung up by his balls.
    They moved over to a table, Tony and Lisbeth making small talk about the club. She did not ask about Cal and Daniel, who clearly belonged to Tony. In fact she did not even look at them. Most normals would find that rude, but it was exquisite pack etiquette on her part. Until Tony deigned to introduce them, they were beneath notice. Tony, for his part, was playing it just as smoothly because giving up pack political structure to strangers was dangerous. They were testing the waters like seasoned players, making Cal think that she was naturally a female Alpha herself. It wasn't something he could tell by smell, but as the seconds ticked by and he watched the way she handled Tony, he was certain of it. Their prince had found his princess.
    Daniel was busy getting everyone drinks and trying not to look stunned. Cal wanted to comfort him, to tell him that this was a good thing if it worked out, but he was on too high of an alert status to unwind that much. He was still waiting for her pack to show up; the fact that she was obviously unregistered herself meant something, and usually that something was bad news. Underground packs were usually underground for a damn good reason.
    Several songs later, he was still waiting for Lisbeth's pack to show and Daniel had calmed down enough to be waiting with him. They looked at the doors, the bar, the crowded dance floor: nothing pinged. It was just too unbelievable that a single female Alpha was here alone, though. It just went against the laws of nature.
    And then, suddenly from nowhere Cal could tell