Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) Read Free Page B

pull another stunt like you just did in there. It doesn’t take a genius to know a woman doesn’t have that kind of strength.”
    That really made her mad. “Women are not dainty little things in need of protection from men, or even shifters. We’re quite capable of fending for ourselves if need be. Look at Katlyn. She gave birth to two babies. If that isn’t strength, I don’t know what is.”
    Raphael nodded in response. “I’m certainly not going to argue with you there, but you’re used to living in civilization. Where I came from, it’s quite another story. Women are in need of protection for many reasons. Some male shifters have been known to be territorial when it comes to their mates. And there are dangers lurking in the shadow that you wouldn’t even want to know about.”
    “Where exactly are you from if not Creeksboro?”
    “I’ve lived in Montana amongst the full-blood werewolves.”
    “Full-bloods? I thought all werewolves were the same.”
    “No. I’m half wolf and half human. All of the werewolves at Silver Creek have human mates. The full-bloods are nothing like us. They can shift only on the light of the full moon. Wyoming is home to only one full-blood that I know of, Dr. Evans.”
    “The doctor Brendan and Chase wanted to deliver their sons?” Tessa seemed astonished at the thought.
    “Most likely, since shifters trust him to care for them, but there’s a danger with having a full-blood living so close to humans.”
    “Why? I don’t see the doctor as a werewolf at all. I’m sure he’d never cause any problems here.”
    “I’m not sure how he’s been able to contain his beast, but full-bloods are unable to control themselves in shifted form. I shift into a four-legged wolf as most of the half-bloods do, but a werewolf like the doctor shifts into a werewolf capable of walking on two or four legs. They are deadly, uncontrollable, and unpredictable,” Raphael informed her.
    Tessa gulped at learning this then sat on a bench, admiring the moon overhead. It wasn’t quite full, but would be soon. “Don’t you ever get tempted to shift on the full moon?”
    “I do. It doesn’t have to be a full moon for me to shift. What about you? What do you like to do on the full moon?”
    She shrugged. “Nothing interesting, but I did want to talk to you about something.”
    “Shoot.”
    “I appreciate what you did last night, but—”
    “I don’t remember doing what I wanted to do last night.” He winked.
    “I didn’t mean that part. I was talking about the rabbit.”
    “Oh, of course. You looked hungry.”
    “Did I?” Tessa asked, intrigued he could tell such a thing.
    “Yes. It must be hard to resist wanting to feed.”
    “That’s just the thing. I don’t want to be fed by you or anyone. If I decide to feed on an animal, I’ll find my own. I told Katlyn the same thing. I always seem to have some kind of animal outside my door when I wake up. I need to figure out my way and not be fed like I’m someone’s pet.”
    “Aren’t you supplied with blood by Paige?”
    “I am. It’s not to my liking, but perhaps it time to resign myself to the fact that’s how it will be. I guess I’m trying to figure out who I am now. Being a vampire has changed everything about me, and I’m not sure I like who I’m becoming.”
    “I don’t see you as a bad vampire, and you’ll find out that you’re still an amazing woman underneath it all,” Raphael complimented.
    Tessa smiled. Seth came out of the saloon at that moment and sat next to her. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m so angry that I’d love to rip that Jason Traxler’s throat out, but I wouldn’t even welcome the taste of his blood.”
    “Imagine him as a vampire, though,” Seth said.
    “He had better stay away from me. If he doesn’t, I can’t promise I won’t end his life.”
    Raphael squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t even think that way. You just can’t kill a human without the law getting involved. It would be the end