Free Savage Moon: Wolf Shifter Romance (Wild Lake Wolves Book 4) by Kimber White Page B

front of me,
but they knew. It bothered Kane that he couldn’t do anything about it for now.
Not without causing repercussions with the rest of Wild Lake. Alec stayed far
enough away not to violate the boundaries of Kane’s territory. But just.
    On the third day after the full moon, Kane returned.
His gray wolf stalked through the camp, eyes flashing. I stood on the porch of
my cabin, gripping the railing. Kane stood in the center of the compound with
his back arched and tail high. The rest of the pack came out to greet him, shifting
at once when they came in sight of him. A shudder ran through me. Alec warned
me that Kane might try to control the pack by keeping them in their wolves
permanently. Marked as I was, I felt a faint echo of the pack’s mood. Naked
aggression bubbled through Wade and Brandon as they took their positions at
Kane’s right and left. Christian and Cole felt fear and revulsion. They hadn’t
wanted to shift. Daniel stepped into view. His wolf seemed pensive, pawing the
ground. If it came to a fight, I wasn’t sure where Daniel’s loyalties would
fall. He’d be the swing vote.
    Then Kane turned his attention to me. I wasn’t a
shifter. I was human like my mother. Still, an urge roiled through me under the
intensity of his golden gaze. It might be some latent shifter gene buried deep
in my DNA. If I could shift, he would have made me. I had the sensation
of wanting to crawl out of my own skin. My mark burned hot, and I stepped off
the porch, drawn to Kane by some invisible cord I wanted desperately to sever.
Was there a way? Or was I doomed to walk in Kane’s shadow forever?
    The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as
another urge coursed through me. Standing in front of Kane and the rest of the
pack, I sensed the danger. Alec’s wolf stepped through the trees, and my body
didn’t feel like my own. Kane exerted his will over me, keeping me rooted to
the spot. But desire flared through me. I turned quickly to Kane. Let him think
it was for him.
    Alec’s gleaming white fur cut a stark contrast with
Kane’s pack of gray wolves. It made them look dull. Almost brown. Wade snarled,
and his low, rumbling growl vibrated through me. Kane snapped his jaw once and
Wade went instantly quiet. Kane wanted the pack to keep up a cordial charade. I
couldn’t help but smirk. Oh yes, Kane. We’re all playing pretend tonight.
    Kane growled at me and tossed his head to the side.
It was my cue. He wanted me to take my place in the dining cabin while the rest
of the wolves shifted, dressed, and talked business. I gave him a nod and stole
a glance toward Alec. His blue eyes flashed and he moved, positioning himself
between Kane and me. It was a subtle gesture. One Kane and the pack didn’t pick
up on. But, I did. Alec was here. He was watching. Kane could posture all he
wanted, but Alec would never submit.
    Not wanting to draw any more attention to myself, I
went into the cabin and made sure everything was ready. Kane had me make
venison stew. And he’d make me serve the pack like some kitchen maid. Fine.
Tonight I’d make no waves. With the pack all in one place, it meant Jaxson was
alone wherever he was. At a minimum, it would hopefully give him an hour or two
of peace.
    A few minutes later, the pack came in. They’d
shifted back. Fur and fangs replaced with denim and leather over hard muscles. Kane
was laughing, talking. He gave Alec a hearty slap on the back like they were
old friends. Alec stiffened and locked eyes with me. A tiny, barely perceptible
twitch near the corner of his mouth belied his true feelings. And he saved that
look just for me.
    I sat at Kane’s side through dinner and made small
talk, answering yes or no or laughing at Kane’s jokes when it seemed warranted.
I played his dutiful girlfriend. Laughing. Vapid. Careful not to overdo it
because he would have noticed that too. Or Wade would.
    They men talked about business. The Wild Lake packs
had an interest in a wilderness store in