Free Healing The Alpha Collection by Jessica Ryan Page A

with all the care of an eighty-year-old grandma who wanted to save the paper while opening her Christmas presents.
    He's a cocky bastard, Aster realized as he watched Abaddon fold his laundry. He doesn't see Luke as any challenge and he's letting him know. He's going to shift, but he cares more about taking care of his damn clothes than he does about fighting Luke. This is ridiculous.
    Aster looked over at Luke, who was shaking with rage. If it had been Aster, he would have shifted and attacked, try to get the upper hand, but 'that wasn't how Luke operated. He was full of honor—honor that was going to kill him.
    Finally Abaddon stopped his disrespectful showing, looking down at the clothing that he had shed. His body was an impressive sight, Aster would give him that, but so was every fully grown male werewolf he had ever seen. It wasn't hard to be rock-hard steel when your metabolism was like a furnace.
    "I'll give you one more chance to back down and give me the girl," Abaddon said. "I will hold no ill will if I just have to spin around and get dressed again."
    "Fuck you," Luke spat, effectively sealing his fate.
    "Have it your way," Abaddon said.
    Quickly he began to shift, silver hair sprouting from his body as his bones cracked and twisted into the form of a werewolf. Luke did the same, with brown and gray hair sprouting all over his body as his snout elongated and a row of razor sharp, death-dealing teeth appeared in his mouth. To most humans the change was instantaneous: one minute you were looking at a human and the next you were face to face with an angry wolf. But to other wolves the transformation seemed to last minutes and it felt even longer when you were the one actually shifting as you felt your entire body rearrange. Aster could see every movement, every twist, every turn as both wolves shifted from the naked, pink, vulnerable form of a human to the four-legged hellhound of nightmares.
    "Whoa," Rowan said, stepping back.
    Aster knew exactly what had taken his friend aback. Abaddon towered over Luke. His fur was an unnatural silver color, shimmering in the afternoon sun and nearly blinding Aster if he looked at it from the wrong angle. His two front fangs were larger than any wolves' fangs he had ever seen, looking more like butcher's knives than teeth. His eyes glowed a demonic red as they fixed on Luke.
    By contrast Luke looked like an old, haggard beast. His legs were shaking and he was barely able to stand. His brown fur was streaked with gray all over and he was still bleeding from numerous wounds. Fortunately his condition did not stop his ferocity. He snapped and leapt forward, intending to quickly deliver a death blow to his opponent. Abaddon reared up on his back legs and Luke did the same.
    The two wolves met, slapping and tearing at one another. It was a tornado of fangs and claws as they twisted and spun, trying to gain the advantage over one another. Aster's eyes grew wide with surprise as he realized Luke was easily holding his own and not allowing himself to be overpowered by the younger and bigger wolf.
    He glanced over at Rowan, who was smiling from ear to ear. He pointed enthusiastically. "That's my dad! I told you he wouldn't be beat by some skinny punk bitch!"
    Even Leena had pulled her face away from its hiding spot and was watching her father fight off the demon with a reverent smile. Maybe Aster and Rowan didn't have to get involved; maybe Luke would step up and protect them all, like he had promised.
    Unfortunately their joy and excitement was short-lived. Luke quickly began to tire, but the endless energy of the demon fueled Abaddon on. Luke began to back down as Abaddon snapped and slapped at him, causing more wounds to be added to the already deadly tally.
    "Dad!" Rowan screamed. "Dad, no!"
    Luke took a few steps back from Abaddon, unable to maintain his balance any longer. He slumped over onto the ground, his body refusing to allow defense any longer. He was a sitting duck, ripe for