Free Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) by Lily Thorn

steamed, juice pooling around the rare slab. The scent was heavenly.
    “Just a moment.” Ronan pulled up his pants.
    Clove wrinkled her nose. “Della insisted the venison be cooked.”
    “Della is exceedingly wise.” He noticed the scornful look that the shifter cast over Lia, saw Lia flinch back. “Serve Lia first. After all, she’ll be your Alpha female soon enough.”
    “As you wish.” Clove gave Lia the plate, along with an obsequious bow that Ronan knew grated. Still, he couldn’t allow her to intimidate Lia.
    “Thank you, Clove. I will take my meat after Lia has eaten.”
    “Of course, Alpha.” Clove ran a hand absentmindedly from her breastbone down to her flat stomach, resting her fingers on her taut skin. “And do let me know if your future mate requires a larger portion. I only live to serve.”
    Ronan thought about kicking her into the roasting pit with the venison, but instead he steered Lia away. “You can eat near the bonfire. The nights can grow cold here.”
    He found them seats on a log upwind from the flames.
    Lia stared at her plate.
    “Did you want me to get you your knife and fork?” he asked.
    “It’s not that.”
    “What is it, then?” A log broke on the fire, and the flames crackled.
    “I’m not very hungry.”
    “Lia, I can hear your stomach rumbling from here.”
    She took a half-hearted bite of venison and chewed. Ronan heard her pause, then swallow.
    “It’s good, isn’t it?” he asked.
    Lia tore off a chunk, eating it with a contented sigh.
    “Clove isn’t the nicest pack member, but she’s the best cook. And the deer in these mountains are the finest in the world.”
    “How do you know that?” Lia asked through a mouthful of venison.
    “No one but the best could catch them.”
    She stared at him. “Did you catch this one?”
    “I don’t want to brag, but yes, I did. He was a young buck, and he didn’t go down without a fight.”
    “Could I see you hunt one day?”
    He hesitated. Would she upend her stomach contents if she saw him cut a deer’s throat, cry out as its spasms died away?
    “You don’t have to worry,” she said. “Magda made me catch frogs and bring their spleens to her. They aren’t the same as a deer, but I’ve done my share of hunting and gutting.”
    “All right, then.” He smiled. “I’ll make sure you’re part of the next hunting party.”
    Lia wiped away some juice that was dribbling down her chin, but he could tell she was pleased. He was glad he could make her happy.
    Ronan heard the padding of heavy footsteps. Kane sat down across from them, ignoring the billowing smoke. In fact, it seemed that he was ignoring everything but his prime cut of meat. He didn’t acknowledge Ronan or Lia.
    Ronan glared, but Kane didn’t look up. Lia ripped off a piece of meat and chewed furiously. Ronan’s lip curled, but he wouldn’t give Kane the satisfaction of a confrontation. He could ignore his brother right back.
    “How’s your cut doing?” he asked Lia. Ronan reached for her forehead at the same time she did. Their hands brushed, and they both laughed.
    “Sorry about that,” Ronan said. “I shouldn’t touch it. I might infect you.”
    “Then you’d have to amputate my forehead,” Lia said. “And I know you wouldn’t want that.”
    He was about to agree when he heard a low growl from the other side of the flames. Kane was looking now, his teeth bared.
    Ronan couldn’t allow this. He stalked around the flames. “I need to talk to you, Kane. Now.”
    “So talk.”
    His brother was begging to have his plate thrown into the fire. “Not here.”
    “Where, then?” Kane’s tone was nonchalant, like they were discussing the fine spring evening.
    Clamping a hand on Kane’s shoulder, Ronan dragged him toward the forest. Kane jerked in surprise. Ronan tried not to smirk. His brother hadn’t thought Ronan could still drag him. He’d pull him by the ear if he had to.
    When they’d gone a sufficient distance away, Ronan