Free Night Critters (Collection) by Lena Austin Page B

mutt?"
    Corbin and Roni both looked at each other, dumbfounded. What had he just said? Roni wanted to hold Corbin. He'd told her how proud Duke was of being a pure. Had Duke or Corbin's mother deceived the whole pack? Why?
    Corbin let go of her hand and took a few steps toward his father. “I'm sorry, I must have missed that last part. What was that?"
    Duke sighed and fiddled with one of the golden pens on his desk. He looked pained. “Corbin, I should have told you sooner. Maybe it would explain why I am so hesitant to allow you to marry someone who is not purebred.” Duke looked at his son, and his stare never faltered. “We are not pure. Your mother was but I am not. My mother was a Labrador and German Shepherd mix. That's why I can pass as a black werewolf."
    Roni closed her mouth with a snap and promised herself to shut up unless Corbin needed backup. This was between them right now.
    Duke didn't spare her a glance. “Son, it's hell being a mutt. I'm lucky. I look like a wolf even if my mother wasn't pure. To hide what she was her parents even had her ears bobbed so they stood up like a proper wolf's."
    Roni winced, and Corbin's face reflected her disgust. Hadn't those ancient disfigurements died out when humans almost did? Most werefolk considered such practices torture unless for health reasons. In fact such surgery was considered illegal except in rare cases.
    Duke's son leaned over the monumental desk separating them. “We're not purebred, and you had the audacity to tell me that Roni is not good enough for me because she is not a pure breed?"
    "I do apologize, Corbin, I really do, but this girl is not good enough for you.” Duke turned his stare to Roni. “I mean, look at her. She is glued to the spot because I said we are not pure."
    Corbin glanced at Roni. “She is glued to the spot in shock, Dad. She can't believe it just as I can't."
    Roni folded her arms. Her voice dripped with contempt for his prejudices. “I'm trying to stay out of your family issues. I'm sorry you have a problem with mixed breeds.” She deliberately ignored the accusation that she wanted to marry Corbin because he was pure and a pack leader's son. She wouldn't even take notice of such a charge.
    Duke's voice boomed through the room. “I do not want you marrying a mutt!"
    Corbin looked like he would explode at the insulting change in decibel level. His face was red and his teeth sharpened to a fine point. He was halfway to full lupine and ready to spring.
    Duke's lip curled. His eyes turned golden, and his skin sprouted a fine dusting of night-black fur.
    Roni stepped back warily. Two Alphas going at it in a small room meant all non-combatants were in grave danger. Still, she wouldn't hesitate to defend Corbin if she felt it necessary. She swallowed hard. Interference on her part would destroy Corbin's pride. She vowed to do so only in defense of his life.
    At the last moment Corbin mastered his temper. “I don't give a fuck! I am going to marry the girl I love, and if you don't like it you can just die and stay out of my life.” Corbin turned and grabbed Roni's hand and pulled her to the door. He turned back to his father. “Don't bother coming to the uniting ceremony. I won't stand for it."
    Roni looked back over her shoulder just before Corbin pulled her out of sight.
    Duke had a calculating smile on his face. He raised his glass and his lips moved.
    Had she heard his whisper right? “Let the games begin?"
    Roni sat behind a tree in her lupine form and smiled to herself. She sat downwind and out of sight. The Chase was always the best part of a Uniting. She'd make it difficult for Corbin to catch her, at least at first. The point was to be caught eventually, after all.
    Corbin struggled to find her location. He sniffed in the right direction and looked around. The chase before the uniting ceremony proved that a united couple would be able to find each other no matter what.
    Roni stood up to move to another tree. A branch