Free Hidden Moon (Hot Moon Rising #4) by Afton Locke Page A

batter onto the grill, forming circles as round as her
    breasts. The woman was way too damn perfect for a freak like him.
    “I wish—” She bit her knuckle.
    The egg slid onto the counter, instead of into the bowl. He couldn’t even scramble a
    lousy egg without screwing it up. Part of him ached to pretend he could be her mate.
    That he could change. Shifting must have eased her fear because her eyes were soft with
    hope.
    Was she crazy? How could she witness the violent freak at its worst and look at him
    as if she still cared and saw the best in him?
    “Don’t wish,” he said, hardening his voice. “And for God’s sake, don’t love me. I’m not
    even capable of returning it.”
    She flinched again but nodded. “Moonlight pack is my family and home. All I ask is
    that you think of the pack before selling out.”
    Irritation prickled his spine, but it felt nothing like what he’d experienced earlier. His
    wolf’s instinct told him he’d never hurt her, but his logical mind wasn’t so sure.
    “I am thinking of the pack.” He scooped up the raw egg and dumped it onto the
    sizzling grill. “I’m a danger to them and you. If you don’t believe it, you’re hopelessly
    naive.”
    Her bottom lip trembled, and she shrank from him. Good. It meant he was finally
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    getting through to her.
    He grabbed the spatula from her limp hand. “If selling to Starwood gets me out of
    here the fastest, then I’m going to do it.”
    The sooner she got it through her head they weren’t right for each other, the better.
    Having sex with her had been a mistake. Even though they hadn’t done the mating
    bond, the act had connected them. From now on, he needed to keep her at a distance no
    matter how much it ripped him apart.

    ***

    When the breakfast rush died down, Alan wiped the grease from his hands with a rag.
    Luckily, it had been so busy Shelley hadn’t said another word to him. She’d left fifteen
    minutes ago to return to her farm, and Liana had taken over waiting tables.
    He headed for the door, hoping to find someone to fill in for him, too, so he could
    check on his father. They also had to discuss Starwood’s offer. After this morning’s
    outburst, he needed to be with kin.
    In the dining room, several pack members gathered around a large round table. They
    huddled forward like a football team and spoke in low voices so the tourists wouldn’t
    overhear them. Even though it made his belly lurch, he stepped toward them.
    “Can someone take over in the kitchen for a while?” Alan asked. “I need to check on
    Dad.”
    “Sure.” Charlie Aquino, a friend of the pack, sipped the coffee he stopped by for so
    often. “We’ve been discussing the diner, trying to find a solution to suit everybody.”
    Including him? Alan blinked. Maybe he’d underestimated them. Then again, Curtis
    was gone. Earlier, Derek could have punished him but had only restrained him. If he
    wanted an Alpha in his life, which he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t find a better one.
    How would it feel to be part of the Starwood pack? It seemed to be a businesslike
    outfit similar to his corporate life. Just get the job done with no strong attachments.
    Moonlight was more like family. Not being a part of it was worse than being alone.
    “I’ll buy it myself if I have to,” Derek said, draining the rest of his coffee. “Better yet,
    why don’t a group of us take ownership of it? We can share the expense, labor, and
    profits.”
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    “Good idea,” Rand said. “Count me in.”
    “Liana and I are in, too.” Charlie looked at his wife. “Right, babe?”
    “Of course,” she replied with a smile.
    “As long as the diner gets sold, I’m a happy camper,” Alan said. “All I want to do is go
    home and get out of your hair.”
    “Believe it or not, we all want the same thing,” Derek declared.
    “I’ll discuss it with Dad this afternoon,” Alan offered. Maybe pack mentality was
    finally sinking into his brain because the need