Sorcha's Wolf Read Free

that irritated look deepened and he turned his attention back to the demons.
    “I said unharmed ,” he growled.
    She forgot how to breathe. Literally, the need disappeared along with the knowledge. He smelt like the forests of her home—spicy with pine and something else—soap maybe, but under that his own warm aroma seeped into her even as she tried to barricade against it.
    She wasn’t a wolf, she wouldn’t ache for her mate when the full moon rose, and she wasn’t a vampire, she wouldn’t need him close for his blood, but she was a woman and this was her man—or at least he should be. Her mate . Centuries before, she’d spotted him through a crowded market and had known he was her future. She’d nearly run right into him in her haste to reach him. Instead of sensing her as his mate, he’d stared down at her, then had turned and pushed his way through the villagers. She’d thought, for a second in time, that his wolf had flashed in his eyes, recognising her as his, but it had happened so quickly she’d often wondered if her girlish hopes and dreams had clouded her clear sight. The look of distaste before he’d turned arrogantly away hadn’t been mistaken though. She remembered that clearly, even now, hundreds of years later.
    The pain from that long ago day still lingered, especially when to her, he was the most handsome man she’d ever encountered. His skin felt rough in that way men who use their hands became. He had just the right amount of toughness on his palms from his life as a warrior to make his tenderness all the sweeter. Was he a gentle lover? Or rough and careless?
    With an uneasy look, Alex released her abruptly and stepped back. She saw no recognition in his dark brown eyes, merely wariness. He scanned her face once more, as if confused by her, then, dropping his gaze to her nightgown, his attention snagged on the breasts Mr Ugly had bruised. She watched, fascinated as he drew in a sharp breath, making his chest swell under his button down shirt. He didn’t turn his body, but he swung his head at the demons as if he could tell which one had touched her. Without looking away from them, he shifted her slightly behind him.
    “Tell me why I should let you live.” While he had spoken, he’d shrugged his jacket off then still not looking at her draped it over her shoulders.
    The growl in his tone shivered from the top of her head to her bare toes. Along the way, her traitorous breasts grew heavy and her nipples tightened until the silk of her nightgown felt painful against the sensitive tips. The battered right one ached for his touch, as if he could soothe the bruises.
    With his jacket covering her from shoulders to toes, his scent and body heat surrounded her . Goddess, please, let this not be happening . Tell me Alex isn’t here to buy me off two demons!
    “She tried—” the taller demon began. Alex cut him off by jerking the demon by his shirt off the floor. She spotted a knife at the demon’s throat and heard him hiss as the blade drew dark, red blood in a line under his jaw.
    “Don’t fuck with me. You knew my demands and agreed to them,” Alex said, sounding so pissed off she took a step back just in case all hell broke loose. “Don’t think to give me excuses now. You touched her, hurt her.”
    The demon pushed at Alex’s fists but only managed to make Alex tighten his grip and back the man to the wall—hard. Alex’s big body hid him from her view, but she heard Mr Ugly gasping for breath.
    The shorter demon tried to pacify Alex, but the one getting his oxygen cut off rasped, “Excuses? Listen, wolf, she nearly kicked me in the bollocks!”
    “You nearly broke her arm!” Alex roared and shook him, then seemed to get his temper under control and dropped the demon. The guy fell against the wall panting while his partner frowned at Alex.
    She couldn’t blame him. This wasn’t the cold, cool Alex she’d heard rumours of for years—this was a furious, ready to kick some ass