Free Claws by Kassanna Page A

walked over to the railing and looked down. Percel, Armand and a few other town’s men sat in various lawn chairs around the mammoth black grill. A steady stream of smoke rose from the chimney. The whoops of children playing some game between the houses rang out. It was an idyllic picture but something was missing. He searched the area and realized several women were absent.
    He dropped his head back and let the sun warm his face. Sasha had sneaked off, and if he wasn’t wrong, a lot of the ladies had left with her. This situation couldn’t be good. Yet Percel looked calm. He hated puzzles and this whole thing, whatever it was, felt wrong on too many levels to even try to figure out where to start.
    “Why do you have a look of terror on your face, mon ami ?” Armand’s thickly accented voice drifted up to him.
    Etienne met the curious eyes of the French Canadian. “Are y’all oblivious to the fact that most of the women are not here?”
    Percel rose and strolled over to the grill, billows of smoke flooding the area, surrounding the cooking contraption and the big boar waved. He stuck his hand under the lid and flames flared out in a flash of orange. He slammed the top down and stuck the tongs through the handle. “That’s why we’re barbecuing.”
    “Say what? Why would we be celebrating the fact that half of our clan’s women left?” Etienne rubbed the center of his forehead with his middle finger where the sharp pain was developing.
    “Of course not!” Percel shook his head as Armand and a couple other guys laughed. “I’m cooking because Sint thought we should celebrate your mating. She took your kitty to New Orleans for a little shopping and it became a party for them as more women jumped in raring to get out of Betaille.”
    “Oh.” Etienne took the stairs a few at a time down to the gravel drive they all shared. A niggle of unease formed between his shoulder blades. Sasha wasn’t much for crowds. The Wolverine Alpha uttered a few words, pulling his attention to the group when they all chuckled heartily.
    Armand shook his head. “Goddess save me from a claiming. I don’t think I’m ready for all the turmoil and screaming.” He covered his ears and shuddered. “So much screaming . That alone was more than enough to damage me for other women.” He looked at Etienne and pressed his lips together but it didn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curving upward.
    “Shut up, Armand.” Etienne stopped at a cooler set on the picnic table in the center of the chairs.
    “I’m serious! It sounded like you were murdering her. I was prepared to come to your house. Hell I’d crossed this yard on my way to save the damsel when your deputies politely put me in my place and offered to escort me home.” Armand slide forward in his seat. “Me! An Alpha! You’re lucky I didn’t leave you their intestines to clean up this morning.”
    Percel choked back laughter and turned red as he struggled to inhale.
    “That’s another thing I really don’t understand about you Americans. Why the hell would you post a few of your men at the exits of your house?” Armand raised his hands in question.
    “That was a security measure in case she tried to escape.” Etienne selected a root beer and popped the top.
    “What the fuck are you? A caveman? Maybe it’s me but you don’t make the woman a captive to your baser needs. You seduce her, make her feel as if conceding to your demands will give you both pleasure.” Armand stared at Etienne and waggled his brows.
    No longer able to contain his mirth, Percel burst out in great guffaws. “Armand, you’ve been dating way to many humans. Try claiming a snake. Our gator here had it easy.” He slapped his friend on the back.
    “They weren’t going to stop Sasha, only follow her so I could find her later. I prefer the old ways but not that far back. Of course she would have had a hard time getting away any way after I tied her to the bed.” Etienne took a deep swig