Into the Unknown (Werewolf Wars, #2) Read Free

worried about Gene-”
    “It’s not that,” Natalia said cutting Lark off. “I do not trust Daniel or Claire.” Or anyone! She thought to herself. If she could run away, she would. She’d come to the awful realization that there was nowhere for her to go. This pack seemed nicer, but she was still a prisoner.
    “Sarah, Emily, and I are going shopping next weekend. Fall is almost here, and Sarah wants to get some new clothes before she goes to college. You and Adrian could come with us,” Lark said, glancing up to meet Natalia’s gaze.
    “I don’t know,” Natalia hesitated. She would like to get out and resume a normal life. “You’re going by yourselves?”
    “Devon and Marcus will probably be there-maybe Preston-but I doubt they’ll be hovering. After the kidnappings, Devon and Gene aren’t taking any chances with anyone. They’ll probably stay far away from us while we shop, but with everything that is going on, it isn’t safe for us to just go out,” Lark rambled, chewing on her bottom lip.
    “I will think about it,” Natalia said with a sigh. She hadn’t been shopping in close to a year now. It would be nice to get out. To have clothes of her own to wear again.
    “Nobody here is going to hurt you, Talia,” Lark reminded her. “If you want to talk about what happened...”
    “I don’t,” Natalia snapped. Shivers zipped down her spine as her mother’s dead, haunted eyes flashed in her mind.
    Lark opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it when someone knocked loudly on the door. Natalia gripped the green bed sheets in her hand as Lark set Adrian down in the bassinet.
    “Who is it?” Lark asked, making her way to the door and resting her hand on the knob.
    “It’s Gene. I need to speak with Natalia,” the alpha’s voice called from the other side.
    Natalia tensed as the door creaked open, gritting her teeth as the alpha glanced at her.
    “Hey Lark,” Gene greeted with a warm smile before turning his intent brown eyes on Natalia. “Do you mind helping Claire out in the kitchen? I need to have a few words with Natalia.”
    “Oh, um, sure,” Lark said, glancing between the two of them.
    “Thanks,” Gene said, opening the door wider so Lark could exit.
    Natalia swallowed as Lark gave her one last look before exiting the room. Fear gripped her as the cream-colored walls seemed to close in on her. She could only imagine what he was going to force her to do. She’d been waiting for him to make demands. It appeared today was the day.

Chapter Two
    “C an I come in?” Gene asked, flicking his gaze to Natalia.
    She inhaled sharply as she stood, her coffee hair falling over her shoulder and into her chestnut eyes. “I suppose you’ll do as you please, regardless of my answer,” she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
    Gene hesitated. The alpha in him wanted to sustain its dominance by entering anyway. The caring man in him, however, did not feel comfortable invading her personal space. Despite her best efforts to appear strong, the scent of fear wafted off of her, mixing with her intoxicating floral and sea salt scent. His inner beast finally won out as he stepped into the room, leaving the door ajar so she didn’t feel completely trapped. He needed answers.
    “I spoke with your grandfather a little bit ago,” he started studying her.
    Natalia narrowed her eyes, her body tensing. Her knuckles turned white from clenching her fists so hard. Gene was sure that her nails were leaving imprints from the grip she had on herself. “He is no family of mine; none of them are,” she hissed.
    He took a step toward her, and she took two more back until she was flush against the beige bassinet holding her son. “You must understand that we are in the midst of war, Natalia. I need to know more about Juarez, and I need to be sure you’re not a spy.”
    Anger flashed across her face. “I would never help that man—ever! I want no part of your war or your pack. The only thing I want