A Cougar Among Wolves Read Online Free

I’m not gonna hurt you. My name is Seth.”
    Something about his deep-brown eyes, however, held a gentle kindness. He didn’t look familiar, but he wasn’t one of them . “Where am I?”
    “Los Lobos, in the doctor’s office.” The stranger—Seth—spun around and headed toward the door but stopped at a water cooler. He tugged a paper cup from the dispenser on the side and poured some water.
    “Los Lobos? How did I get here?” She swallowed hard against the dry lump in her throat.
    The man returned and handed her the cup. She stared at the water, mulling over the 12

    risk of what it may contain, but then slurped it down anyway to quench her thirst.
    “My brother, Rogue, and I found you. We brought you here so our friend could help.
    You got shot.”
    “Griffith?” Tears welled as flashbacks of him hanging in chains in the cellar flooded back. The horrific torture he’d endured at the hands of their captors, and their relentless efforts to force him to shift. The final moment he told her to run, and the bloody butchery as she escaped, leaving him behind. At first, she’d refused to leave her brother there, but he’d sacrificed himself to save her. There was no other choice; stay and fight at his side and they would both die, or do what he said and run. Instinct took hold. It happened so fast, she didn’t have time to regret. Now, he was gone, all because of her.
    White-hot tingles of shock radiated through her chest as her memory flooded back and she dropped the empty cup over the edge of the bed. “They killed him.” Bursting into tears, she grasped the sheets and clutched them to her chest with trembling fingers.
    The man stood beside her, helplessness filling his deep-brown eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
    The pain overpowered her and darkness took hold.

    The cougar slept soundly with shallow breaths as Seth remained seated in the metal chair, watching her with both intense dread for her injuries and fascination with her beauty and the mystery surrounding her arrival. Despite her paleness from her trauma and blood loss, she was exquisite. Luxurious, long, red hair settled around her head and shoulders on the white pillow case .Her porcelain features and sumptuous lips beckoned him. It took every ounce of self-control he had to resist his need for proximity to her.
    What was this strange compulsion he had to be near her?
    “Did she say anything?” Ryker called from the doorway, with Rogue at his side.
    Seth approached them and spoke in a low voice. “She said they killed…Griffith?”
    “Who is Griffith?” Rogue looked to Ryker.
    The enforcer slumped his shoulders with a heavy exhale. “Dammit.”
    “What is it?”
    Ryker turned to leave. “Seth, stay with her in case she wakes up again.”
    “Is it okay if I come with you?” Rogue pleaded.
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    “Let’s go.”

    ***

    The clouds rolled over, and the sky grew dim as Rogue followed Ryker down the road to The Den. Cold rain started to patter down. Rogue knew better than to question the enforcer. The fact he allowed him to tag along was surprise enough.
    They ducked inside the bar as the downfall intensified.
    “Lovely day, ain’t it, gentlemen?” Kayden, the bartender, wiped the countertop.
    “Beer?”
    Ryker shook his head. “Where’s Gee?”
    “He’s in the kitchen. I’ll get him.” Kayden headed to the door behind the bar. “Gee, you’re wanted out here.”
    Crashes and clatters resonated out of the kitchen, followed by a few select curses.
    “Kayden, take care of this….” Gee emerged from the door, wiping his hands on a towel.
    “Don’t worry, boss. I’ve got it.” Kayden disappeared into the kitchen.
    “What?” The six-foot-seven, three hundred pound man made of pure muscle approached the bar.
    “We’ve got a problem.” No emotion touched Ryker’s tone or his scent. He could have been discussing the weather.
    “What’s up?”
    “Griffith is dead.”
    “No.” The towering bar owner’s eyes reddened. His