Devi: Matefinder Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

rising. My wolf didn’t like it.
     
                    ‘Wolves need a pack. It’s in our nature. Rogues who have been that way for a long time are usually mentally unstable. They end up killing themselves or going crazy and trying to kill others. The council puts them down.’
     
                    ‘Jesus.’
     
                    I could see him. He was trotting right toward us with amazing speed. He was a huge wolf, like Kai, and all black. Only a few white whiskers around his mouth gave him any color.  I inhaled deeply. Whisky. Smoke. Pine. Kai stepped in front of me. ‘He’s been a rogue for a while. Smells like an Alpha. Stay back. I’m not kidding, Aurora. These guys have taken out entire packs.’
     
                    I stepped behind Kai and watched. The wolf stopped in front of us and stared behind Kai, directly at me. Kai let a growl rip from his throat. A few of our wolves behind me howled. The rogue shifted into human form. It was slow and painful, but he didn’t flinch. We couldn’t talk to other wolves in wolf form unless they were pack. Kai shifted instantly.
     
                    Both men were staring each other down. The rogue had dark black hair that was wild and dreadlocked; it hung halfway down his back. He was chiseled and buff with scars that littered his deep mocha skin.  Not a word was spoken. A dominance challenge was in place. When a wolf wants to test someone’s dominance without a fight, it begins with a staring contest. Having been through many myself, I knew how tempting it was to test other wolves, but it was rude. You didn’t stare at an Alpha of another pack. Wanting to prove he was more dominant than Kai pissed me off! I could see sweat on Kai’s brow. Oh, this jerk! I shifted instantly without thinking.
     
                    “You’re trespassing, rogue! What do you want?” I shouted at him. My voice came out gruff, still going through the change . The man grinned from ear to ear. He broke eye contact with Kai to look at me. I hid my body behind Kai but stared at him.
     
                    “I’m here looking for you,” he said, holding my gaze.
     
                    “What do you want with my mate? Choose your next words carefully.  They may be your last,” Kai told him boldly.
     
                    I could hear rustling behind me. Max and the dominants were coming closer, no doubt. I held the rogue’s gaze even though I was beginning to feel the strain. Anytime someone wanted to test my strength or my dominance, it only served to make me stronger.
     
                    The rogue grinned at me again. “There is a rumor going around that the Matefinder is here on Mount Hood. That she has found hundreds of mates already. I’m feeling a little left out.”
     
                    “Lower your eyes!” Kai told him.
     
                    My hands were feeling shaky. How long had I been holding his gaze? I wanted to kneel, to bow my head. It’s like he was putting those thoughts in my mind. No! A larger part of me wanted to prove I was stronger than he thought. Was that sweat on his upper lip?
     
                    “You’ll have to excuse me, Alpha. I don’t get company often. This is my idea of fun,” he told Kai.
     
                    “Well, it’s not mine. Take your eyes off of my mate, NOW.” Kai stepped forward and the man broke eye contact immediately. He looked at Kai and smiled.
     
                    “Just seeing what dominant females are like these days. You’ve got a strong one there, maybe even stronger than you.”
     
                    “You don’t have the greatest set of social skills, do you?” I mocked him.
     
                    He grabbed his belly and laughed