Free Fast and the Furriest by Celia Kyle Page A

saw that Braden was fighting his own as well.
    “And it is appropriate now because…”
    He couldn’t wait to hear the answer to that.
    “Oh!” Ronnie smiled widely. “I’ve been waiting to use this one for forever.” The she-wolf went to clap her hands and frowned when Darcy didn’t release her. Darcy seemed to be trying to decide between confusion and anger. “Holding onto me when I’m trying to talk is rude, B.T.W.”
    “Can Internet acronyms not be part of this conversation?”
    Ares imagined this was a typical exchange for the two women, and he decided he wanted to get comfortable for the rest of the show. He led Zoe to the breakfast table, his gaze remaining on the two women at the counter. He tugged out a chair and lowered himself before pulling Zoe down to sit on his lap.
    “Fine, no acronyms. Bitch,” she grumbled, but since Zoe didn’t get pissed, he didn’t either. Ronnie glared at Darcy. “Holding onto my arm while I’m talking is rude.” Then the wolf glared at Zoe. “ By. The. Way. Ahem, as I was saying. Cats are sometimes called pussies. And pussies are sometimes called cunts.” Ronnie winked at him. “You know what I’m talking about. When you get all growly and—”
    Zoe got growly and jolted from his lap, the sting of her jealousy smacking him in the face. He barely managed to hold her back with an arm around her waist. “C’mon, baby. If I let you eat Ronnie, you’d be really pissed at me.”
    Besides, keeping her around would make life interesting.
    “An-ee-way. Cat equals pussy. Pussy equals cunt. Thus, cat equals cunt, and it’s totally living in the world of social acceptability.” She nibbled her lip. “Or something.”
    Zoe turned her attention to Ares, her eyes wide, and he was pretty sure she attempted to look apologetic, but he saw the laughter lurking beneath her expression. “I’m sorry?”
    Ares cupped the back of her head, holding her still as he leaned forward. He couldn’t resist the temptation of her mouth and brushed his lips across hers in a soft kiss. He nibbled her lower lip, nipping it and then laving the plump piece of flesh with his tongue. He could have happily kissed her all day, every day.
    Until he heard the gagging.
    Zoe eased away from him with a soft, annoyed sigh. “Really, Ronnie?”
    “Alpha,” Darcy snarled, “are you going to let this dog bitch—”
    “That’s a bit repetitive. I mean, if you’re tossing me into the dog category, and I’m a female, then calling me a dog and a bitch is just… yeah, repetitive.” Ronnie focused on him. “Are all of your cats this dumb or is it just her? I can see why our past interactions were kept to email. She sounds much smarter in type than in real life.”
    Right. He’d forgotten the two women had worked together as PR go-betweens when the wolves decided to emerge. Every time a group of shifters came out, it involved them all.
    Now, with them side by side, he wasn’t gonna laugh. He wasn’t. But damn, this was what he needed—what they needed—after last night.
    Unfortunately, he couldn’t let it go much further. “Darcy, Ver—” he corrected himself when Ronnie shot him a glare. “Ronnie, that’s enough.”
    “Alpha,” Darcy hissed.
    “Darcy,” he snapped, and she jerked as if he’d struck her. “We,” he included Zoe. “forgive you for last night because of the moon’s pull. Emotions were high. But the moon can’t be your excuse for denying me right now.”
    He hoped Zoe forgave her. When his mate didn’t speak up, he was relieved, though he was sure there’d be more discussion later.
    The tigress struggled with his words and while thinking, just had to be an idiot and tighten her grip on Ronnie. The coppery tang of wolf blood filled the air, the air conditioner blowing the scent through the room.
    That’s when it all changed. Ronnie’s amber eyes flared brightly, and her fangs lengthened, peeking past her upper lip. The female wolf’s attention slowly turned from