Alpha Knows Best (Wicked Good Witches Book 2) Read Online Free

Or maybe his empathy was picking that up from her. Their emotions were starting to meld in his mind. It was getting harder to see where his ended and hers started. He also found that he liked this. Possibly the first time he enjoyed anything about his magical inheritance of empathy.
    Moreover, if he hadn’t been the largest dick in the world, he could have been enjoying all of this, years ago.
    I’m such a stubborn dumbass!
    The luckiest stubborn dumbass…
    He squeezed her fingers tighter needing to let some of the overabundance of emotion out of him. She squeezed back, understanding, her gaze never leaving Melinda.
    Even with the task of finding their father still looming overhead, life today seemed better than it had in a very long time.
    A bit later, coffee mugs emptied, refilled by Grace and almost empty again, a familiar voice called out. “Howards!” It was Mack, The Demon Isle sheriff.
    “Hiya, Mack,” said Michael. “Would you care to join us?” He had his arm around Emily as he spoke, but winked at the sheriff in their usual playful manner. 
    “’Fraid not. Funny thing is I was just about to call you guys.”
    Michael and Melinda were surprised when she did not return Michael’s flirtatious gesture. She rarely missed an opportunity to hassle him about his ridiculously good looks.
    “Perhaps we should move somewhere a little less, full of people,” Melinda suggested.
    “Actually, I hate to break up your party, but if you don’t mind, I’ll just follow you home. I’m afraid I’m gonna need Charlie on this one.” The tone in Mack’s voice dampened their good moods.
    “We could just call him,” Melinda offered. “To be honest, I’m not even sure he’s home.”
    “His summer fling must be back in town,” Michael mumbled under his breath. Emily let out a short giggle and Melinda just nodded in agreement, not wanting to think about her brother’s sex life.
    Mack inhaled, exhaled, and then shook her head, looking torn.
    “Sorry, but I think this is better discussed in person, and I need Charlie present.”
    Melinda grabbed the new cell phone she’d gotten that morning, to replace the one she’d broken a day earlier, and tried Charlie’s number. William had left the phone in the kitchen for her before locking himself in his luxury dungeon. 
    “Voicemail,” she whispered to Mack. “Hey, um, Charlie, when you’re awake and um, whatever, we need you home, okay. Mack needs our help.”
    Melinda hung up and headed into the coffee shop. Michael and Emily followed. Upon seeing them enter with the sheriff at their heels, Grace’s smile dropped a little, but she nodded politely.
    “Morning to you too, Grace.” Mack gave her curt nod.
    “I’ll take care of those mugs,” Grace said, grabbing them. “I can see you’ve got business to attend to. You don’t be a stranger now, Melinda. I expect to see you back here real soon.”
    “I definitely will.” Melinda paused. “Thank you, Grace.” She needed to say it. It was nice not to be treated like the local freak.
    Grace nodded kindly and went about her work.
    Melinda, Michael, and Emily walked in tense silence toward the Howard Mansion, the sheriff not far behind.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Charlie lay sprawled across the floor; a sheet partially covered his nakedness. The woman, Nina, shared the sheet, sleeping soundly just inches away. Slowly, the morning sun crept in, warming their bodies and bringing them out of their contented slumber. Charlie gently pulled her body closer, her head on his chest.
    “You could come back tonight,” she suggested lustfully. She lifted her head, to see his response.
    “You know I can’t. It’s the full moon. I know you don’t think I can hurt you, Nina, but I can’t take the chance. Not tonight. The ring makes you strong, but I can’t trust that it makes you unbreakable.”
    “You can’t blame a girl for trying,” she spoke softly, sitting up to face him. “But the ring is stronger than you think. And