Pursued by a Werewolf (Mystic Isle, Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

night is all we have? All we’ll ever have?” Cal asked, his voice full of emotion. His words were p1`ing.
    Suddenly Avery didn’t want to hear the rest of the conversation. Not only did she not want to be caught eavesdropping, she didn’t want to get caught up in the emotional turmoil. She had enough of that on her own.
    Silently, she continued along the path until she came to the terrace. The neutral colored stone was dotted with luxurious seating, flickering torches and small, frothy palms. She skirted her way around the stone planters to the courtyard where a fountain trickled, enhancing the romantic atmosphere.
    Ceara Blackwell, a raven-haired beauty, was tucked into the corner of an outdoor love seat, goblet in hand. Her feet were propped up on a combination coffee table/fire pit and she had a serene, far-off look on her face.
    Having a handsome werewolf at your beck-and-call would do that, Avery supposed.
    “You'll never guess who was in my yoga class this evening,” she said.
    Though he’d been his usual teasing self during class he’d made no indication that he wanted to see her outside the yoga studio. Something akin to disappointment left her feeling oddly deflated.
    But wasn’t that what she’d wanted? To be his friend without complications? Without him wanting more? What did she care if he was here to enjoy the fruits of the island?
    Ceara's dark brows inched upward. “Who?” She pointed to the goblet on the table, offering it to Avery.
    Avery settled into the adjacent armchair and swirled the contents of her cocktail round and round. “Your brother-in-law.”
    Mate-in-law? Avery was never sure about the semantics of immortal relationships.
    “Hunter's here?” Ceara's smile could have charged batteries. The way her violet eyes brightened, there was no mistaking her feelings about Maxim’s brother. She’d adapted very well in a pack of werewolves, better than Avery had anticipated.
    The once shy, sheltered vamp was now a stylish force to be reckoned with and from everything she’d seen Ceara had both Ciolek men wrapped around her pinky-finger. But Avery knew Ceara’s relationship with Hunter was strictly platonic. The young vamp had eyes for her mate and only her mate.
    “You didn't know?” Avery asked, watching her friend closely. Ever since Ceara had found her mate in Maxim, she'd been not so subtly pushing Avery to find her own raison d'être .
    Ceara shook her head and the thick dark waves of her hair shimmied around her shoulders. It wouldn’t surprise Avery in the least if her friend and former coven mate was once again trying to play matchmaker between herself and the younger Ciolek.
    “What are you lovely ladies talking about?”
    Avery glanced way up to see Ceara's mate smiling down at them. Like Ceara only had eyes for him, he only had eyes for his woman. One would have to be blind and deaf to miss the energy passing between the two of them. They'd been together a year and a half now and they still mooned over each other like lovesick teenagers. Truly, it made Avery a little heart sick. But she pasted on a welcoming smile.
    “Your brother,” she told him.
    “Have you decided you can't live without him?” Maxim murmured, staring at her as he settled onto the extra wide arm of Ceara's love seat. He picked up Ceara's free hand and entwined their fingers.
    Avery looked away. She knew they meant well. Heck, it’d become a running joke within their circle. Hunter pursued her. Avery kept him at arm’s length. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
    Until today.
    “Sorry, no. He's here. He took my yoga class today.”
    The look on the wolf's face was puzzled brilliance. Comical. Priceless. His jaw dropped but he quickly snapped his mouth closed. Then he frowned, cocked his head and started again. “My brother? Tall. Dark hair. Green eyes?” he asked, holding his hand above his head. “Took a yoga class?”
    The buzzing energy around them shifted and she felt the weight of someone’s stare. She