Taken by the Alpha Wolf Read Online Free Page A

balconies was all chrome and stainless steel, gleaming
hardwood floors. Cindy glanced at his expression. She knew what he
was thinking, without reading his mind.
    Wealthy and cold, just like her parents. But like
her?
    “I have a condo on the beach, but it’s being
renovated. So I’ve stayed here in one of my father’s rentals for
the past couple of months.”
    Etienne gazed upward, his jaw tight. “So this
is where rich people live. In a museum. Go inside. I need to shield
the house in case we’re attacked. It may take a few minutes. It’s
very large.”
    Museum. Big. Wealth. Ouch, that hurt, because
this wasn’t her, and he thought it was.
    “Attacked by what, designer fairies? Trust
me, they’ve already been here with all their cute little museum
decor. My very wealthy father has the bill to prove it.”
    She hated the nasty tone of her voice.
    Etienne regarded her with his calm, steady
gaze. “I need to protect it against those who would hurt you. I’m
not taking chances with your safety.”
    Inside, she watched from a bay window as he
walked the perimeter, waving his arms and chanting, erecting an
invisible magick shield that would keep out all harm.
    The real harm had already been done, she
thought.
    When he slipped quietly into the house, his
big body taking up all the soaring space inside, she gestured to
the elegant, shining white living room.
    “Stay here while I take care of a few things
upstairs. I won’t insult you by asking to make yourself at
home.”
    Ouch. Wrong thing to say. Trying for humor,
because she’d always loathed this cold, indifferent room, she’d
offended him.
    Those blue eyes filled with hard mirth. “I’ll
try my best not to spit on the floor or arm wrestle an alligator
and serve him for supper that slab of marble you call a table, chere .”
    “My father bought it on a trip to Europe, and
I’ve always hated it so feel free to slaughter anything on it,” she
offered.
    Purpose flared on his face. Etienne flicked a
hand. A thunderous crack split the air as the table split in table,
toppling to the hardwood floor in a dust cloud. Cindy sucked in a
trembling breath.
    Such power. And she had nothing to match it.
Not even a flicker.
    She turned, trying to conceal her shock.
She’d known her true mate was lethal. But this… It made her puny
attempts at majick laughable. Like an ant struggling to run a
marathon with elephants.
    Shaken, she climbed the winding staircase to
her bedroom.
    I’ve lived in the human world far too long.
    Cindy headed for a tall mahogany bureau.
Inside one drawer was a custom-designed safe. Keying the
combination, she opened the glass door and removed from its blue
velvet nest a globe the size of a softball.
    Welcoming her, the Astra Orb glowed a warm
crimson in her palms. The scent of fresh rain, wildflowers and
earth enveloped her. Its comforting pulse of energy soothed like a
maternal hand to her brow.
    Thinking of her own mother, she returned the
Orb to its hiding place and locked it. Cindy went to the polished
desk by the window, and powered up her laptop. She typed in some
commands, and began sorting through files.
    “Need help?”
    She jumped, startled by his deep voice.
Etienne lounged against the door jamb. His face was freshly
scrubbed. He’d removed the bandana, and his short brown hair stood
up in spikes.
    “Didn’t you hear me come up the stairs?”
    Grasping for excuses, she quickly thought.
“You’re very stealthy. Must come from being in the Navy. All that
stealth stuff the military likes, you know, like bombers, SEAL
stealth.”
    But he didn’t buy it, just gave her a long
look from those laser blue eyes. Eyes that could penetrate a thick
web of lies.
    Certainly she could spin one.
    His gaze did not waver as he folded his arms.
“Smells nice in here. Smells like your scent. Very delicate, but
fragrant. Not like mine.”
    Etienne sniffed an armpit. “After those hours
in the swamp, I’m kinda… odorous.”
    She closed her eyes.