Lone Wolf (The Westervelt Wolves, Book 8) Read Online Free Page B

for the fire that burned inside Gabriel—made its way into her soul. He didn’t know, couldn’t know, how magnificent his soul looked.
    “This is why they don’t tell us.” She kissed his arm. “Because if anyone ever knew this was what happened, and it didn’t happen for them, it would be a cruelty beyond belief.”
    He nodded. “We vowed to never be alone and we really won’t be. We’ll always be together now.”
    Carrie let the tears fall, knowing she’d be powerless not to. The gods had truly blessed her.
    * * * *
    “What are you doing?” She looked down at Gabriel, fully aware that he’d never be able to stop himself from speaking with her. Even when he wanted to be doing push-ups. Her mate never gave himself a small break, even from exercise. “You know we’re supposed to be in our mating time. I’m not training.”
    He stopped his workout and grinned at her. “I have to stay in shape. How else am I going to keep up with you? You wear me out, woman.”
    She kicked him lightly on the shin and he pushed her to the ground, turning in midair so she landed on top of him.
    Carrie shrieked. He always managed to catch her off-guard.
    “You know I would stop breathing if you asked me to.”
    Her heart stuttered and she lost the smile from her face. With her pointer finger, she traced the lines of his cheek. “I would never ask you to stop breathing. Or anything like that. You don’t have to prove yourself to me. I know who you are. I have you inside of me.”
    Gabriel sighed. “I got the better end of that deal. Trust me on that point. You’re all goodness, strength, and light. I can only imagine what you had to take on.”
    “Don’t talk about yourself that way.” She might really kick him hard if he kept it up. “You’re the strongest member of this pack. Everyone turns to you for everything. Do you want to know why, big guy? Because you’re also goodness, strength, and light. If I am too, then we were well-matched. Leave it at that.”
    He pulled her against his chest and she laid her head where she could hear his strong heartbeat.
    “I love you,” he whispered against her hair.
    She lifted her head to gaze at him. Laughter was the gift she could give him. Smiles. Hugs. A sense of peace and belonging. He’d been born a Kane, and it turned out that came with lots of mines to navigate around.
    “Good.” She jumped up. “Then you’re going to have to catch me.”
    Shifting in mid-run, she took off into the woods. Behind her, Gabe howled. It wouldn’t be long—maybe a few minutes—before he ran her down. Still, they would be glorious. It turned out she loved to be chased by Gabriel more than anything in the world. Well, she smiled, almost anything.
    * * * *
    Kendrick and a woman Gabriel had never seen before stood in the clearing behind one of the kitchens on the island. For a second, he considered continuing on without stopping. There was nothing inherently weird about his father talking to a woman. Gabe sniffed the air. Well, maybe a little odd that he spoke with a woman who did not smell like a wolf but instead held the scent of a witch. Talking to witches had never been forbidden, just frowned upon.
    Witches used their magic to get paid, and making a deal with one could have vast unforeseen consequences. But Kendrick held the title of Alpha, and what the Alpha wanted the Alpha usually got.
    Do you really think it’s normal that he should be here in the middle of the night talking to her? Why shouldn’t he be home? With your mother?
    His wolf made a valid point. Gods knew Gabe wanted to be home. He’d been mated all of six months and he still couldn’t get enough of his woman. Most mated couples behaved like they’d just been mated. Who could blame them? He knew he’d always want Carrie.
    But his parents had never behaved like that, not in his recollection anyway.
    “Come over here, son. I know you’ve spotted me.” Kendrick’s voice resonated in his head.
    Well. Now that he’d