Full Circle (Central Florida Pack Book 1) by Chudney Thomas Page A
Authors: Chudney Thomas
Tags: Romance
Ads: Link
with the fact that every time he got close, he wanted to take her down and mark her. Maybe that showed.
Through the course of the night, as he grew frustrated at her absence from the table, from the living room, from everywhere he was, Drake reminded himself she was human. As a human, she didn't have the same instincts he did.
He'd finally spotted his prey on the screened-in patio by the pool when a less than delicate hand connected with his shoulder. "Stop scaring her."
James, his second, stood by his side. Drake had scented his approach, but had chosen not to acknowledge it. He let his gaze shift from where Ria was busy helping feed one of the Pack's many children. He smiled at the sight. Piles of clothing dotted the floor as the older kids gleefully romped in wolf form, as they had been given permission to change after eating their suppers. The hapless babies were the only ones left.
"She doesn't know how you feel," James said. "Tracking her every move is bound to make her feel hunted."
"Why would that make her feel hunted? Did you tell her that I'd be here?"
"I didn't tell her. Hell, I didn't tell anyone you'd be back tonight." James gestured in her direction. "If she knew, she wouldn't have been here."
Drake growled and James complied by voicing his next statement in more submissive but firm tones. "Look. She's human. She's part of the Pack, but not. The others treat her as a submissive. They've treated her that way since she was a teenager. Do you think that she doesn't know that?"
Drake stood to the side and watched as, one after another, mothers handed Ria their infants' bottles and diaper bags, readying themselves for an evening of enjoyment with the Pack. Ria was soon barricaded by a half-circle of infants in portable car seats. Still, more than one of the Pack stopped to request more food, more drink—just more, period. If something was missing, they looked to her to fix it. Ria filled an essential role. He wasn't sure that she knew it.
He frowned as one more person handed over another diaper bag. Perhaps she filled her role within the Pack too well.
He searched the room and located a few of the younger unattached females and barked out a short order.
***
"Here I'll take
that
from you."
Startled, Ria looked up from the baby she was trying to feed as she rocked another one across her lap.
One of the Pack's females was holding out her hands impatiently. "Give me the baby. Trina will feed the other kid."
Ria frowned up at the two females standing side by side. Reluctantly, she handed over the two babies to the females and stood up from her chair. Her stomach rumbled. "Thanks."
She was hungry, but she didn't want to give up the shield the kids provided. If Drake saw her heading for the dining room, alone, then he would most definitely follow. A quick look around the room showed he was in deep discussion with James. Feeling every inch the coward, Ria decided to head for the kitchen, instead. Within two steps, however, her foot connected with a small furry pup who immediately butted her and demanded to be picked up.
She understood her duty to sooth the tiny hurt she'd caused, so she cuddled the little furry body close.
"Better?"
The pup's little tongue flicked out to lick her cheek, and Ria couldn't help but giggle. Soon, the young one tired of being held and wriggled to get down. Ria gladly complied, not wanting to lose her chance to get something in her stomach.
The kitchen was empty of Pack members as well as most of the food, but wonder of wonders, there was enough ham left over to make a sandwich. Ria's stomach rumbled again as she hastily built her sandwich.
The sound of the double dishwashers running almost drowned out the sound of the festivities in the great room. Almost. She took a sip of her Coke, hoping the carbonation and sugar would give her the energy she needed for the long night to come. She wasn't a part of the Pack, not really. She stood on the periphery. The only place she
Through the course of the night, as he grew frustrated at her absence from the table, from the living room, from everywhere he was, Drake reminded himself she was human. As a human, she didn't have the same instincts he did.
He'd finally spotted his prey on the screened-in patio by the pool when a less than delicate hand connected with his shoulder. "Stop scaring her."
James, his second, stood by his side. Drake had scented his approach, but had chosen not to acknowledge it. He let his gaze shift from where Ria was busy helping feed one of the Pack's many children. He smiled at the sight. Piles of clothing dotted the floor as the older kids gleefully romped in wolf form, as they had been given permission to change after eating their suppers. The hapless babies were the only ones left.
"She doesn't know how you feel," James said. "Tracking her every move is bound to make her feel hunted."
"Why would that make her feel hunted? Did you tell her that I'd be here?"
"I didn't tell her. Hell, I didn't tell anyone you'd be back tonight." James gestured in her direction. "If she knew, she wouldn't have been here."
Drake growled and James complied by voicing his next statement in more submissive but firm tones. "Look. She's human. She's part of the Pack, but not. The others treat her as a submissive. They've treated her that way since she was a teenager. Do you think that she doesn't know that?"
Drake stood to the side and watched as, one after another, mothers handed Ria their infants' bottles and diaper bags, readying themselves for an evening of enjoyment with the Pack. Ria was soon barricaded by a half-circle of infants in portable car seats. Still, more than one of the Pack stopped to request more food, more drink—just more, period. If something was missing, they looked to her to fix it. Ria filled an essential role. He wasn't sure that she knew it.
He frowned as one more person handed over another diaper bag. Perhaps she filled her role within the Pack too well.
He searched the room and located a few of the younger unattached females and barked out a short order.
***
"Here I'll take
that
from you."
Startled, Ria looked up from the baby she was trying to feed as she rocked another one across her lap.
One of the Pack's females was holding out her hands impatiently. "Give me the baby. Trina will feed the other kid."
Ria frowned up at the two females standing side by side. Reluctantly, she handed over the two babies to the females and stood up from her chair. Her stomach rumbled. "Thanks."
She was hungry, but she didn't want to give up the shield the kids provided. If Drake saw her heading for the dining room, alone, then he would most definitely follow. A quick look around the room showed he was in deep discussion with James. Feeling every inch the coward, Ria decided to head for the kitchen, instead. Within two steps, however, her foot connected with a small furry pup who immediately butted her and demanded to be picked up.
She understood her duty to sooth the tiny hurt she'd caused, so she cuddled the little furry body close.
"Better?"
The pup's little tongue flicked out to lick her cheek, and Ria couldn't help but giggle. Soon, the young one tired of being held and wriggled to get down. Ria gladly complied, not wanting to lose her chance to get something in her stomach.
The kitchen was empty of Pack members as well as most of the food, but wonder of wonders, there was enough ham left over to make a sandwich. Ria's stomach rumbled again as she hastily built her sandwich.
The sound of the double dishwashers running almost drowned out the sound of the festivities in the great room. Almost. She took a sip of her Coke, hoping the carbonation and sugar would give her the energy she needed for the long night to come. She wasn't a part of the Pack, not really. She stood on the periphery. The only place she
Similar Books
