Free Taken by the Alpha Wolf by Bonnie Vanak

Chapter One
    Florida Everglades, 1997
     
    “There she is.”
    Crouched down, Etienne Robichaux peered
through the thick trees at his target. On a narrow path cutting
through thick brush of the Florida Everglades, the sleek white wolf
nosed through the bay head.
    A thicket of cocoplum, red bay and wax myrtle
provided excellent coverage. Overhead the March sun was brilliant
and warm, no clouds in the sharp blue sky.
    Perfect day for an abduction.
    Green camouflage pants, an olive T-shirt and
jungle boots protected his body against branches and sharp
sawgrass. Etienne ran a finger along the bandana covering his light
brown hair. Hunkered down beside him also in camouflage, his two
younger brothers studied the prey.
    Three Draicon werewolves on recon… for
another Draicon wolf. The image would’ve amused him, had the
situation been less grim.
    “You sure that’s her?” Alexandre
wondered.
    “I know her scent, could pick it up in a
garbage chute.” He drew in a deep lungful of the delicate fragrance
of fresh raindrops on lilies cutting through the swamp’s more
earthy smells.
    Gabriel shook his head. “She may fight
you.”
    “Doesn’t matter. The intel said they could
come after her at any time.” Etienne’s pulse raced.
    Getting caught in heavy crossfire during the
Lebanon op had been nothing compared to hearing that news. Hell he
could take all the tight situations threatening his ass when he’d
been a U.S. Navy SEAL and retained his usual calm, tight control.
None of them compared to the gut-wrenching fear of losing
Cindy.
    Before even having her, so to speak.
    “Her father,” Alex began. “You warned him,
tried to reason with him?”
    Etienne snorted. “Wouldn’t listen to me.
Damnit, it was like talking with a rock. This is the only way. I’m
taking control.”
    Alex looked up, his lean face tight.
    “Screw it, mon frere . Go for her,”
Alex said, growling.
    Gabriel’s eyes flashed amber, signaling the
emergence of his wolf. “Do it.”
    The white wolf loped down the path toward the
open plain. Now.
    Bolting out of his cover, Etienne leapt onto
the path. He charged and tackled his prey. The white wolf snarled
and struggled, but he pinned her down, one hand wrapped around her
muzzle. Careful not to hurt her, he kept her subdued by superior
strength and weight. Still the wolf fought to be free.
    His brothers raced toward him. Gabriel and
Alexandre stood guard at the entrance to the bayhead, their sharp
eyes scanning the flat plain of sawgrass. The white wolf twisted
suddenly, and nearly escaped. Etienne tightened his grip, smelling
fresh panic and animalistic fear as he tussled with her.
    “Cindy, it’s me, Etienne. Shift back.”
    The wolf’s struggles eased, but she did not
Change. He tried for the telepathic link they shared as destined
mates. All he got was a whining buzz of angry terror.
    Etienne let loose a rich Cajun curse, causing
his brothers to turn.
    “She’s not shifting back. You sure that’s
her?” Alex asked.
    “Or an escapee from Metro Zoo?” Gabriel
added.
    A frustrated growl tore from his throat.
“Cindy, c’mon, sweetheart shift back!”
    Beneath his heavy weight, the white wolf
panted, her energy expended. Made no damn sense. “Cyn, stop playing
games. I’m here to protect you.”
    “I hear the zoo is nice,” Gabriel drawled.
“Maybe you could set up housekeeping there.”
    “Shut up.” Etienne partly eased off the
now-dusty white wolf, turning her muzzle to face him.
    Blue eyes burned like lasers as the white
wolf glared. With a flare of iridescent sparks, a lovely blonde
woman replaced the Draicon werewolf. Finally.
    He felt himself melt as he stared into her
deep blue eyes. Damn, she was so pretty, such a lady. When she
wasn’t a wolf.
    “Etienne?”
    The melodious timbre of her voice stroked his
senses. Then her gaze sharpened with fury. “Get off me.”
    Warm female flesh had replaced fur. Etienne
felt a surge of hot desire raged as he realized he cupped a