Free Catching Alicka by Dakota Dawn

ear stoked the eternal fire she carried for him. The scent of her arousal had him hurrying them home.
    Home . Their portal to paradise.

Chapter Seven
     
    At the sound of the door chiming, Slanon went to it. Alicka was right on his heels. For a shorty, she could be quick. Guilt speared his chest. He’d forgotten to tell her he was going hunting today. A call from Xander thirty minutes ago was all the warning he’d given her.
    Tor and Xander were at the door, and they entered when he opened it. They were dressed in camo and ready to go. The three of them had been hunting since they’d been kids. When they’d asked him if he wanted to go, he’d jumped at the chance. Alicka hadn’t even crossed his mind.
    Pleading blue eyes looked up at him hopefully. He’d been discussing how dangerous it was for the last twenty-nine minutes. He shook his head and her pretty, full lips pursed into a frown.
    Then her lips curled and she looked over at Xander and Tor. Her gaze settled on Tor. “You don’t mind if I come along, do you?”
    “Have you ever been hunting?” His icy eyes demanded the truth.
    Straightening, she easily held his gaze with her own. “Yes. I used to go with my dad.”
    Crossing his arms over is massive chest, he eyed her. “Have you ever been around a fresh kill or killed an animal?”
    Slanon watched his little mate smirk up at his brother. “Yes, I have. I’ve killed several rabbits and a few hogs. My dad made me help him skin them and cook them.”
    Tor grunted. “Go get dressed.”
    “Yes!” Alicka jumped and whirled around and then spun back around and grabbed Tor’s hands, growling a happy greeting at him. The big guy grunted and touched his head to hers. She quickly greeted Xander and then rushed down the hall. “I’ll be right back. Thank you, Tor,” she called over her shoulder.
    Slanon properly greeted his brothers, putting in a little more effort into the head-butt he shared with Tor. He glared at his brother. “What’s wrong with you? She can’t come with us. Gorrcans are dangerous. You have to tell her she can’t come.”
    Mr. Tickles chattered and looked at his brothers from a safe distance. Slanon couldn’t tell if the lukpas was on his side or not.
    Xander leaned against the wall, grinning as he closely watched their exchange.
    He turned on Xander. “Why didn’t you say something?”
    “Hey, I wasn’t the one she asked. Don’t blame me.”
    Slanon snorted at Xander and turned his attention back to Tor. “Are you going to tell her?”
    “No, I don’t have a problem with her coming along.”
    Heat suffused his body and he could feel his vision sharpen.
    Alicka walked out with an adorable smile on her face. It turned to a frown when she looked at him. “Why are you flushed?”
    Through gritted teeth, he answered, “Because I don’t want you to get hurt. We are hunting gorrcans. They are fifteen feet tall and dangerous.”
    With eyebrows hiked high, she nodded understandingly. “That’s why you need me there. I can help watch your back.”
    The look in her pretty eyes told him that she really believed she could help on the hunt. Adorable . That’s what his mate was. He hated to disappoint her, but he needed her alive and healthy.
    Slanon was just about to tell her she couldn’t go with them when Tor grunted and gave him a look that said he had it under control. A glance down at Alicka with her hopeful expression, and he caved.
    Xander pushed away from the wall. “Now that that’s been settled, let’s go.”
    Slanon hoped Tor knew what he was doing. He’d die himself if anything happened to her. Alicka petted Mr. Tickles and then followed his brothers out the door.
    Tor and Xander climbed into the front of the vehicle, and after he and Alicka were safely inside, Tor took off. As they drove, he held her hand and watched her smile and point things out as they passed them. She seemed to love every tree, flower, hill…everything here.
    Seeing VisOrrenta through her eyes