The Wolf Prince Read Free

secret.
    Glancing at his watch, he prayed this night would be over.
    And then, as fate played some sort of ironic trick on him, he saw her from across the room. Unfamiliar, tiny, exquisite, the dusky rose of her skin faintly shimmering with life. Desire stabbed him, sharp and strong and so gut-wrenchingly powerful even his wolf was stunned into silence.
    Unlike the others, who resembled overdressed peacocks, she wore a simple long sheath in a muted yellow, devoid of ornamentation or jangle. Head high, smooth shoulders back, she carried herself with the unconscious bearing of royalty. Though he could tell from her lack of aura that she was not Pack, he found himself wondering if she was even human. Something about her...
    Damn and double damn. He swayed, wondering if he’d had more to drink than he’d thought.
    For the first time in a long time, his wolf approved. Though he’d not yet taken measure of her scent, the beast wanted to mate with her.
    Letting his wolf guide him, he began moving toward her, determined to claim her as his.
    * * *
    When their gazes met, every jangling noise inside Willow went still. Who was he? What was he? Whatever he was, he wasn’t human. The darkness emanating from him drew her. She wondered if this was because of her secret Shadow heritage or if, as always, the part of her that was Bright felt a compulsion to bring light to the faintest bit of darkness.
    Of course, since she had no magic, she never could. But that didn’t stop the longing.
    As he began to move toward her, certain and sure and clearly determined to reach her, she panicked. Glancing left, then right, she quickly calculated an escape route and tried to leap toward it. She didn’t know if she was afraid because she’d crashed his party, or because he was so damn beautiful. She went with her gut reaction to flee. However, she’d completely forgotten about her long skirt and high heels, and as a result, she stumbled and nearly fell.
    Miraculously, she caught herself. Casting a quick glance over her shoulder—he was drawing impossibly closer—she slipped in between two groups of women and hurried away. Keeping to the most crowded part of the room, she weaved her way toward a balcony she noticed on the other side.
    Finally there, she opened the French style door and slipped out into the cool darkness, lit by the brightness of the full moon. Safe, at least for now.
    As she gripped the iron railing, she wasn’t surprised to note her hands were trembling.
    Inhaling the sharp, fresh air, she wondered when she’d become such a coward. Behind her the door opened with a click. Even though she’d remained in the shadows, she knew he’d found her, even before he spoke.
    “I’m not dangerous, you know.” The husky-as-sin voice sounded exactly that. Dangerous as hell.
    Slowly she raised her head. Years of experience at her parents’ court enabled her to put a pleasantly surprised expression on her face. “I think if you feel the need to even say such a thing, then you must be very unsafe indeed.”
    When his smile came, the sight of it made her pulse race. She futilely tried to get her now scattered bearings, when he spoke again.
    “Walk with me.” He held out his arm, his words a command rather than a request.
    She swallowed hard and tried to think. This she hadn’t planned for. She gazed up at him, a dark figure of a man with powerful shoulders and broad chest, and her mouth went dry. Blindly she reached out and took his hand. The roughness of it gave her an unwanted sense of protection. She glanced down at their entwined hands and realized his fingers were beautiful—long and strong and oddly graceful, like those of an artist.
    “Who are you?” she asked, finding her voice.
    “Ruben,” he answered simply, his dark gaze locked on hers. Despite herself, she shivered.
    “Don’t be afraid,” he murmured.
    At that, she straightened her shoulders. She might be many things, but coward was not one of them. “I’m not,”