Running with the Pack: Cannon Pack, Book 3 Read Free

had started downhill last year, but she hadn’t let him know how she felt. Keeping their relationship, after all, was part of her cover.
    The hunters gathered around her, asking her to tell them what was wrong, doing their best to render aid. At last, John strolled over and knelt beside her.
    “What happened?”
    Super. No “Can I help you, babe?” Not that Lauren should’ve expected any real concern. But she’d expected at least a sincere attempt at faking it. She rubbed her leg and let out as pitiful a moan as she could muster. Right now she had to think of the escaping shifter. The longer she stalled the hunters, the better the shifter’s chances.
    “I don’t know. I was running along and, without warning, this pain shot through my leg. The next thing I knew, I was face first on the pavement.”
    John nodded but was already turning to gaze in the direction the shifter had gone. “Uh-huh. Yeah, that sucks.” He stood, leaving her reaching for him. “Charlie, take care of her, okay? Guys, let’s get going before the beast gets too far ahead of us.”
    The man had a cold streak in him. She’d thought about breaking up with him ever since she’d come to see shifters for what they really were, but she’d cared for him. Maybe one day he’d understand what she now did: shifters were humans, too. However, the lack of consideration for her injury—fake or not—cinched the deal. Shifters or no shifters, she was so over him.
    Nonetheless, she’d have to take her time until she could ease her way out of the relationship while still remaining part of the group.
    “No, John. I need you.” Like hell she did. He started to move away, but she grabbed his pant leg and held on. “Stay with me.”
    Damn, she hated to beg, but she couldn’t think of anything else to do. Short of throwing her naked body at him. Hell, even that might not stop him. She could almost see it now.

    Lauren tore material, popped buttons, ridding her body of every stitch of clothing. The hunters leered at her, but John stood quietly gazing at her naked body, not showing any indication of arousal.
    “John, take me. I’m yours.” She pushed her breasts together and flicked her tongue over a nipple. “What are you waiting for, my big, strong hunter-man?”
    John shook his head. “Not now, babe. I have a shifter to kill.” Ignoring her protests, he waved for the men to follow him and took off at a sprint, leaving Lauren naked and alone.

    John shook her off. “Charlie will stay to keep you company. We’ll come back for you once we’ve caught the animal. Good thing I shot it or we wouldn’t have a chance in hell of catching it now. We still may not.”
    Only her agonized—and totally dramatic—scream kept him from striding away. “Oh, my God, I think I’m dying.” She’d better watch it and not take the dramatics too far. After all, Meryl Streep she wasn’t. But then again, Meryl never had to act with the likes of John. Whimpering, she put on her saddest look, aimed it directly at him and hoped he didn’t have a defense against her pitiful face. If the man didn’t take the bait, she’d have to seriously consider trying the buck-naked idea.
    The urgency in his expression faded, replaced by resolute resignation. “Aw, crap.” Kneeling by her side, he ran his hand along her leg. “Can you walk?”
    “I-I don’t know.” Lauren grimaced, then changed her expression to a stoic one. With a sigh, she gripped her someday-to-be ex’s arm and tried to stand.
    “Good girl. You made it. See? All better, right?”
    Little did he know. She took a step—or rather a contrived hobble—and whined. “No, I’m not all better. It really hurts, John.” Was it her acting that sucked? Or just him?
    “Maybe she needs to go to the hospital?” Luke, the quiet one of the bunch, gave her a sympathetic look.
    “Oh, gosh. I don’t think so. I mean, it’s not that bad.” She leaned against John and beseeched him with her best doleful eyes. The