The KinKaid Wolf Pack Trilogy Read Free Page A

from the room. The alpha queen moved on hesitant feet in Evin's direction. She reached up, and with her palm, smoothed the long strands of his black hair out of his eyes and away from his face. Slowly she shook her head, turned her back, and walked away.
    Evin's breath hitched. Dammit. He'd never wanted to hurt them.
    From the corner of the room, Jocelyn sashayed toward him.
    "So sorry you got kicked out of your pack and everything, Evin." She sighed. "But I told you I would make you pay for betraying me." Jocelyn reached out and stroked his cheek. Evin jerked his face away from her touch. She pulled her hand back and shrugged. "Now...we're even." Jocelyn pivoted, and without another word, left the room.
    Evin closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, grasping for the remaining threads of his control. He felt for the ties to his robe at his waist, cinched them tighter, then opened his eyes and glanced over at his sister. She stood with her arms across her chest, as if she could hold in the emotion that appeared to be tearing her apart—and breaking his heart in two.
    Rosa strode toward him, and Evin met her halfway. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. Exactly what he needed. Rosa always knew. Ever since they were little, Rosa had been there whenever he'd needed someone.
    She sniffed, then pulled back. "You're going to be okay." She nodded with a failed attempt at a smile. "These tears are only because I'm going to miss you so damn much." Evin reached out and wiped the moisture from her cheeks.
    "I'm going to miss you too." He swallowed. "You're my heart. You know that, right?"
    Rosa nodded again. She lifted her hands to his face and cupped his jaw.
    "You will be fine—and happy—Evin KinKaid. Believe me. It's out there waiting for you. You just have to trust in what you find."

Chapter Two
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    D over, Washington, USA
    One year later
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    "C an I see some ID, please?"
    Mason reached into his wallet, removed his driver's license, and handed it to the convenience store clerk. The older gentleman held the credit card next to Mason's license and lifted his reading glasses into place. He glanced at Mason, then back at the photo before comparing the names. "Mason Thorne II." His weathered blue gaze darted to Mason again, and a half smile turned up his lips. "Any relation to the Thorne Global?"
    A groan formed at the back of Mason's throat, but he forced it back. In its place, he shaped his well-practiced, polite smile and nodded. "That's my father's pride and joy." The clerk released a low whistle and shook his head.
    "I can't even imagine growing up around all that money, son," he said, sliding the card through the reader. Mason released a humph of acknowledgment. Yeah, the old man didn't know what he'd missed by not being the son of a shipping tycoon, whose world revolved around business first and his family second. The receipt rolled from the register, and after tearing it free, the clerk handed Mason a pen for his signature. "You planning on spending some time in Dover, or just passing through?"
    Mason scribbled his name and handed the pen back. "Just passing through."
    "On your way back to Seattle?"
    Easing his wallet back into his jeans pocket, Mason muttered a "that's right," turned, and headed toward his car.
    "Have a safe trip," the clerk added. Mason threw his hand up and gave the older gentleman a smile as he stepped outside.
    One week. That was all he had left before he had to return to work and grad school. Damn. How had his vacation flown by so fast? Mason slid onto the leather driver's seat of his convertible, pulled the door shut, and secured his seat belt. He glanced over at the passenger floorboard, where a dark case housed his most prized possession: his guitar. Mason couldn't help the smirk he knew sat on his face. His father may have been able to guilt him into obtaining an MBA, but he couldn't take away Mason's passion for music, no matter how damn hard