Fire Wolf: CINAED (New Scotia Pack Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

brother.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Star said.
    “Did ye just arrive?” asked Liulf.
    “We did. We just, um, made the beds.”
    Conn laughed.
    “So you’d be one of the new arrivals then.” Liulf ignored Conn. “This is your first Gathering?”
    “Yes.” She nodded. “I never imagined there were so many werewolves. It’s...”
    “Exciting?” Conn looked at Ken when he said it. “Don’t you think so, Ken?”
    Cinaed stared at his ale sullenly and said nothing.
    “Well,” Star said, “It was nice to meet you, too. Maybe I’ll see you later?” she asked Ken. He looked the other way and shrugged. Her cheeks flamed from humiliation as she backed away. “Okay. Well…”
    When she was gone, Conn and Liulf looked at Ken like he’d just puked on their toes.
    “What’s the matter with ye, brother?” Conn asked. “A very fetchin’ female just turned over on her back, showed ye her neck, and invited you to play. What was that?”
    “I agree,” said Liulf. “You were rude. And she’s practically kin.”
    “That’s just it,” Cinaed said. “She’s practically kin. I do no’ think ‘twould be smart to encourage a dalliance with family.”
    “She did no’ strike me as a female lookin’ for a dalliance, Ken. I’m thinkin’ she’s wantin’ to make lots of cubs with ye and keep yer bed permanently warmed.”
    “She does no’ know me.”
    Ken objected to everything about the conversation and the situation. He resented Starfire for putting him on the defensive with his brothers, but one thing was for certain. His wondering over the past three weeks about whether or not he’d imagined that she’d shown interest in him was resolved. His brothers, much more experienced with females, confirmed that there was a spark, of something, between them.
    “ She knows all she needs to know, numbskull. She likes your look, your smell, your voice, and is apparently willin’ to overlook your ignorant idiotic awkward way with women. Ye should be chasin’ her down right now, waggin’ yer tail and beggin’ her forgiveness for the cold shoulder you gave her just now.”
    “No,” Ken said. “I told ye ‘tis no’ a good idea to pursue someone related, even loosely.”
    “Why no’?” asked Liulf.
    “Because if it does no’ work out it puts a strain on everyone. People have to choose sides and ‘tis messy.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” said Conn.
    “Ridiculous, is it?” Ken was starting to feel the Scotia temper rise and his ears were turning pink on the edges. “Ridiculous or no’, ‘tis none of yer business.” He then looked at Liulf. “Nor yours either.” He slammed his tankard down, swung his leg over the bench and stomped away.
    “He likes her,” Liulf said.
    “Two nestin’ hens says they’re mated before summer’s first Gatherin’.”
    “Two nestin’ hens says they’re mated by spring’s last Gatherin’.”
    “Done.”
    They touched wooden tankards together to seal the deal. Not hard enough to crack the wood, but hard enough to slosh ale over their hands. They laughed and drank to the bet.

    Ken thought she looked good enough to eat wearing a thin shirt. He’d been listening to his brothers talk about Grey’s expedition idea when he’d seen her wandering aimlessly looking lost and adorable. Of course he’d been staring when she looked their way. When their eyes locked, she’d taken it as an invitation to come over and say hello.
    Liulf had been right. He’d been rude. Deliberately. He needed to be sure there was no ambiguity in his manner. He wanted to send a message that there was nothing between the two of them and never would be.
     
     
    Pride was the only thing that had kept Starfire from breaking into a run when she backed away from the tent where she’d encountered Cinaed and his brothers. At the moment that pride felt paper thin. Cinaed had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her.
    She got the message. She just wasn’t satisfied with the message and