Animal Nature: A Paranormal Romance (The Animal Sagas) Read Online Free Page B

carried their plates to the table.
    “Oh nothing,” she shrugged dismissively. He nodded as if that solved everything, and sat down at the table. Sonya slumped down in her chair across from him. She rested her chin in her palm and heaved a very heavy sigh again.
    “Sonya?” Clay glanced up at her reluctantly. He had gotten to know her well enough to know that she could get into some serious moods.
    “Oh I’m sorry,” she frowned. “I just was thinking of my friends.”
    “Friends?” he asked and took a bite of the venison steak. “Mmmmm,” he sighed at the flavor. “Awesome.”
    “Thanks,” she smirked a little. She always enjoyed it when he praised her cooking. She knew that he would be just as kind to one of her friends.
    “Now what about these friends?” he asked.
    “Well it’s just, ever since I’ve been part of the pack,” she paused a moment when she saw his eyes glaze over with loyalty. “Not that I’m not insanely grateful,” she hurried to explain. “But, I haven’t had a chance to see any of my old friends.”
    “Sonya,” Clay said with warning in his voice. “You know Ben said no going into town. It’s too dangerous right now.”
    “Right,” she nodded a little as if she could care less about her own freedom. “But don’t you think they could visit me here?” she suggested with a bit more of a pout. “I mean, I only ever have you to play with.”
    He looked up at her sharply and she hid a smile.
    “I mean spend time with.” Her bright blue eyes were full of pleading as she fixed them on him. “What would be the harm? At least you would get a little relief from my teasing,” she pointed out.
    Clay sat back in his chair. He really wasn’t sure if he could agree to the visit. “I’ll have to check with Ben,” he said with a frown.
    “Ben, Ben, Ben,” Sonya rolled her eyes a little. “Can’t you make a decision for yourself?”
    Clay nearly choked on his next bite of venison steak. “Uh, of course I can,” he growled. “I always ask Ben’s permission out of respect for him, as the Alpha of our pack.”
    Sonya sighed as she heard his usual speech. She was used to Clay being such a goody two shoes, she had just hoped to avoid the scenario.
    “We’re talking about my friends visiting, not anything terrible,” she reminded him. “We can meet out in the woods, so they won’t be anywhere near the pack, okay?” she asked as if he had already agreed to it.
    “Sonya I don’t know,” he hesitated.
    “Well then I’m going into town,” she said flatly. She stood up abruptly and was ready to walk right out the door when she felt Clay’s strong grasp on the crook of her elbow.
    “No,” he barked out, nearly choking on his steak, and she jumped a little at the intensity of his voice. She very rarely saw Clay behave so aggressively. It spoke to her own animal nature and stirred thoughts in her that she knew that she should not be having about Clay. With his hand still around her arm he pulled her gently back toward him. “Please, don’t make me bring this issue to Ben,” Clay said sternly. He was already embarrassed that he was always being run around by Sonya.
    “I won’t, just let me get together with a few friends,” she shrugged and pulled her arm out of his grip. “You’ll be there, so you can keep me safe,” she smirked.
    Clay hesitated. He knew that making a choice about Sonya without Ben’s approval might get him into a bit of trouble. But that was a risk he was going to take, not just to avoid embarrassment, but because he could understand Sonya’s need. Her entire life had changed, and she had left behind her old friends.
    “Okay, we’ll meet with them in the woods, but no running off,” he growled and met her gaze.
    “Of course not,” she smiled innocently.
    Sonya made the arrangements for the next day with her friends. She knew that they would be excited to meet Clay. He was a bit of a superstar in the were world for being second to an Alpha