Guardian (Wolf Shifter Romance): Reckless Desires (Alpha Protectors Book 1) Read Online Free

family.
    “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
    “It is my business if you expect me to protect you. I need to know who’s important to you.”
    She took a deep breath, her fingers curling in her lap. “My family won’t contact me out here so there’s no need to involve them.”
    So, she did have a family. “Husband?”
    My question was met with an icy stare. “Really?”
    No husband then. The tightening in my chest relaxed, something I didn’t want to examine too closely. I had to ask. “Kids?”
    “Do you think I’m the kind of woman who would leave her kids behind?”
    “Let the ice queen bitch-act go and then maybe I wouldn’t have to ask.” The second the words left my lips I regretted them.
    She vaulted to her feet, hands already tugging at that ratty cardigan. “I think you’d better leave, Mr. Colstone.”
    Following her lead, I stood, but I had no intention of leaving. I might have come here not sure whether I was going to accept the job, but now? Yeah, I wasn’t leaving. “Listen, I can help you. I wasn’t lying when I said I was the best. I can keep you safe.”
    She indicated the door, not meeting my eyes. “I asked you to leave.”
    “Natasha—”
    “Ms. Silk,” she corrected, her fingers twisting in wool.
    “ Ms. Silk , you need my help. I’m sorry if I came across a little strong, and all, it’s just—” How to explain it? My wolf took one sniff of you and decided he wanted a taste? She was human; she wouldn’t understand. And it wasn’t as if she were my true mate…
    “What?” she snapped. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “You couldn’t be…” I wasn’t really talking to her.
    “You need to leave.”
    “Ms. Silk—”
    A loud knock on the door had her nearly jumping out of her skin.
    I raised a hand, indicating she stay quiet. “Who is it?” I called.
    “Delivery for Ms. Silk,” a male voice called back.
    Striding over, I peered through the peephole. A young man wearing a courier outfit was leaning against the wall, his eyes glued to his phone as his fingers scrolled rapidly. “Leave it at the door.”
    I watched him glance up. “But... but I need a signature.”
    “The man at the front desk will sign on your way out.”
    Without a word he turned and left, his eyes already glued again to his phone.
    “You give your address out?” I turned to Natasha.
    All the color had drained from her face, and her breath came in shallow pants. She was petrified. “No one should know I’m here. Everything should be addressed to Ms. Brown.”
    “But someone does.” I opened the door cautiously, glancing around. I couldn’t hear anything but Natasha’s racing heart, couldn’t smell anybody but her. I eyed the small package. “Had he ever sent you a package before?”
    “No, just letters.”
    If this was from him, he was definitely escalating.
    Crouching down, I took a deep breath, trying to discern what was inside. Flowers. That was the overwhelming scent, but beneath there was a faint tang, metal maybe, or mineral? Only one way to find out. Keeping my back to her, I extended a claw, slicing through the layer of paper. Ever so gently, I lifted the lid.
    “Lilies!” she exclaimed, her breath hot on my cheek.
    My head jerked around, my face inches from hers. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get back!” I growled.
    “But they’re just flowers! I thought...I was imagining...” Her hand reached out to stroke a petal, her arm brushing my shoulder.
    My skin burned from the touch. She was so close, almost pressed against me. “There’s something not—” And then I saw it. A sliver of metal glinting beneath the petals.

Chapter Five
    Natasha
    O ne second I was stroking a dewy petal, the next I was flying through the air caged in arms of steel.
    We hit the floor with a backbreaking thud as the breath was knocked clear out of my lungs. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I squeaked. He was on top of me, pressing me into