Capturing Caroline Read Online Free Page B

incorporated into the design of
the house. Their trunks rose up through the roof, which was spotted
with skylights. An immense river stone fireplace dominated the
living room, which was decorated with comfortable looking couches
and chairs.
    She walked over
to one of the trees and looked up into the branches, which started
about four feet above her head. She expected to hear the twittering
of birds at any moment, but it looked like the place was wildlife
free. "This place is amazing," she breathed.
    "I'm glad you
like it. It’s not an easy design to maintain. The places where the
roof meets the trees are in regular need of alteration to prevent
leaks, but I love the work. It's not a very human house style, much
more Lycaon. I never expected to bring my human mate here or I
would have made a few changes."
    It was perfect
the way it was. She shot him a sidelong glance. "You keep using
that word."
    "What word?
Mate?”
    “Yes.”
    “I use it
because you are my mate." Torrent moved away from her,
denying her chance to retort.
    Her sisters and
their husbands had hung around outside, presumably to give Torrent
a chance to bring her into the house with some privacy. Now they
came in and led her to the kitchen where food was already set out
on the table. Her mouth watered at the sight of it. The rabbit
they'd had the night before hadn't lasted all that long.
    "We made food
for you both," said Kaitlyn. "Eat, bathe, sleep. We’ll come back
this evening. I know you must have questions."
    Panic erupted.
"Wait. What? Don't leave!"
    "You need to
relax," answered Paige, taking her by the shoulders. "Don't worry.
There's nowhere you could be safer than with Torrent."
    Caroline didn't
doubt that.
    Her sisters
each kissed the top of her dirty head and then moved to the door
with their spouses. "We'll see you in a few hours, Caroline.
Okay?"
    She stared at
them glumly as they turned to leave, the heavy wood door closing
behind with a final sounding snick. Her sisters looked amazingly
happy and healthy. All this time she'd been worried about them,
they'd been here living dream lives with gorgeous men. She shook
her head. It was still hard to believe any of this was
happening.
    Her stomach
growled, bringing her back to her immediate needs. And maybe that's
what she needed to focus on now—trying to feel a little less like
she'd been hit by a truck and left to die.
    “Eat,” said
Torrent, gesturing at the table. “I’ll be right back.”
    Tucking the
blanket around her like a towel, she sat at the table and peered at
the dishes in front of her. Something hot and meaty. Something cool
and fruity. Some kind of green leafy salad. Overcome suddenly with
a need for nutrition, she grabbed the plate in front of her and
began to help herself.
    She was eating
like a starved animal—because she felt like a starved animal—when
Torrent returned. He set a bundle on the kitchen counter. "Here is
a towel and some clothes for you. Your sisters thought to bring
some things."
    In between
swallows she managed thanks. She didn’t even care what she looked
like, gobbling food this way. Her only concern was getting food
into her body. Torrent had gone still and silent. She glanced up at
him. He was staring at the food, too.
    “Eat!” she
commanded him. He’d had even less sustenance than she’d had and he
was a much larger person.
    He gave his
head a shake. “You eat first. Take all you need.”
    “Oh, come
on! ” She stood grabbed a plate and piled food on to it. Then
she set it at the place next to her. “Sit down, Torrent, and
eat!”
    He didn’t
move.
    She gave an
exasperated sigh. “Now!”
    He grinned at
her, sank down, and tucked into the food. She sat back down too,
but her belly was finally starting to feel full. It probably wasn’t
wise of her to eat so much food after being nearly starved to
death. She guessed she’d be sick later. Honestly, though, she
didn’t care.
    “There’s enough
here to feed an army, Torrent. You didn’t