Full Circle (Central Florida Pack Book 1) by Chudney Thomas
Authors: Chudney Thomas
Tags: Romance
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Chapter One
He was home.
The whine of the automatic garage door set Ria Marlett's body trembling. Like the coward she was, she hid in the kitchen while everyone else moved to the front door of the sprawling Florida ranch that served as Pack Central and the Alpha's home.
The sound of kids squealing in delight brought Ria's head up in the middle of counting silverware. She imagined he was tossing his nieces and nephews in the air, a huge grin on his face.
She shouldn't be here. If she'd known he'd be home in time to attend February's Pack Circle, she would have made sure that she wasn't. Now, she was stuck, hiding in the hope of avoiding talking to him. Hell, to avoid him even scenting her. Which was a vain hope, since as Alpha of his pack, Drake Neilson had the most acute senses of them all.
Ria eased through the butler's pantry into the adjoining dining room and proceeded to set the table. It wouldn't get done, if she didn't do it. They had all wandered off, distracted by their Alpha's arrival, and most likely would stay away until they decided it was time to eat. Like the kitchen, the dining room was huge. It had to be. The Pack was huge. There were, at any given time, anywhere from sixty to a hundred members. Protecting them was the reason Drake had been away.
As one of the few humans in the Pack, Ria occupied an uncertain status. As the only orphaned member, she was in some ways even lower. Worse, she was attracted to him, the Alpha, Drake Neilson. She cut that thought off. In a pack full of werewolves, emotions had to be hidden deep. Or, personal scent had to be disguised. In fact, if she'd known he was going to be here, she would have doused herself in perfume.
Heavy footfalls sounded down the hallway. Ria kept her eyes and hands busy with the task of setting up the buffet table.
"Ria." Drake's deep voice rolled across her skin, setting her nerves on fire. She could almost hear his smile.
As she worked, she moved. It was instinct, to keep the predator in the room with her at bay. As she moved, his jean-encased thighs came into view. Her gaze was drawn up his long, lean, T-shirt-covered torso.
Ria swallowed. She didn't understand why he insisted she of all people meet his gaze and hold it. Pack etiquette dictated one made brief eye contact and focused somewhere else. Staring could bring out the aggression in a dominant wolf. It was a challenge to hold a wolf's gaze, yet Drake insisted she do it.
Ria knew better than to antagonize him, so she complied. His strong jaw was covered in dark stubble. His full lips stretched into a smile that sent her pulse racing. Green eyes held her captive as she felt her lips stretch into a tight smile. Her hands shook as she put the last of the water goblets on the table. She looked away.
"Welcome back, Drake."
***
Drake felt his wolf's aggression rising, and he hadn't even been home for half an hour.
She
barely looked at him. She hadn't come to greet him. For months, Ria had been keeping him at a distance. He remembered a time when those pretty brown eyes met his without hesitation. When her full lips would curve into a warm smile of welcome. He longed to caress her warm golden skin once more. Now, here she stood on the opposite side of the table, her dark hair tumbling free around her shoulders, poised to flee. He couldn't help it if he growled rather than spoke. "Is it all ready?"
She barely nodded in answer as she methodically finished setting the table. He couldn't get a clear read on her emotions. Uncertainty made his aggression worse.
Drake sucked in a breath. He needed to calm down. With each breath, he gathered more information. Ria's fear was tinged with lust. The scent of an unattached female approaching the dining room interfered with Ria's interesting scent. He stifled his annoyance at being interrupted. Ria slipped away as soon as his attention wavered. He let her go. It was more than obvious she didn't feel comfortable around him. It might have to do
He was home.
The whine of the automatic garage door set Ria Marlett's body trembling. Like the coward she was, she hid in the kitchen while everyone else moved to the front door of the sprawling Florida ranch that served as Pack Central and the Alpha's home.
The sound of kids squealing in delight brought Ria's head up in the middle of counting silverware. She imagined he was tossing his nieces and nephews in the air, a huge grin on his face.
She shouldn't be here. If she'd known he'd be home in time to attend February's Pack Circle, she would have made sure that she wasn't. Now, she was stuck, hiding in the hope of avoiding talking to him. Hell, to avoid him even scenting her. Which was a vain hope, since as Alpha of his pack, Drake Neilson had the most acute senses of them all.
Ria eased through the butler's pantry into the adjoining dining room and proceeded to set the table. It wouldn't get done, if she didn't do it. They had all wandered off, distracted by their Alpha's arrival, and most likely would stay away until they decided it was time to eat. Like the kitchen, the dining room was huge. It had to be. The Pack was huge. There were, at any given time, anywhere from sixty to a hundred members. Protecting them was the reason Drake had been away.
As one of the few humans in the Pack, Ria occupied an uncertain status. As the only orphaned member, she was in some ways even lower. Worse, she was attracted to him, the Alpha, Drake Neilson. She cut that thought off. In a pack full of werewolves, emotions had to be hidden deep. Or, personal scent had to be disguised. In fact, if she'd known he was going to be here, she would have doused herself in perfume.
Heavy footfalls sounded down the hallway. Ria kept her eyes and hands busy with the task of setting up the buffet table.
"Ria." Drake's deep voice rolled across her skin, setting her nerves on fire. She could almost hear his smile.
As she worked, she moved. It was instinct, to keep the predator in the room with her at bay. As she moved, his jean-encased thighs came into view. Her gaze was drawn up his long, lean, T-shirt-covered torso.
Ria swallowed. She didn't understand why he insisted she of all people meet his gaze and hold it. Pack etiquette dictated one made brief eye contact and focused somewhere else. Staring could bring out the aggression in a dominant wolf. It was a challenge to hold a wolf's gaze, yet Drake insisted she do it.
Ria knew better than to antagonize him, so she complied. His strong jaw was covered in dark stubble. His full lips stretched into a smile that sent her pulse racing. Green eyes held her captive as she felt her lips stretch into a tight smile. Her hands shook as she put the last of the water goblets on the table. She looked away.
"Welcome back, Drake."
***
Drake felt his wolf's aggression rising, and he hadn't even been home for half an hour.
She
barely looked at him. She hadn't come to greet him. For months, Ria had been keeping him at a distance. He remembered a time when those pretty brown eyes met his without hesitation. When her full lips would curve into a warm smile of welcome. He longed to caress her warm golden skin once more. Now, here she stood on the opposite side of the table, her dark hair tumbling free around her shoulders, poised to flee. He couldn't help it if he growled rather than spoke. "Is it all ready?"
She barely nodded in answer as she methodically finished setting the table. He couldn't get a clear read on her emotions. Uncertainty made his aggression worse.
Drake sucked in a breath. He needed to calm down. With each breath, he gathered more information. Ria's fear was tinged with lust. The scent of an unattached female approaching the dining room interfered with Ria's interesting scent. He stifled his annoyance at being interrupted. Ria slipped away as soon as his attention wavered. He let her go. It was more than obvious she didn't feel comfortable around him. It might have to do
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