Free Abducted by the Alpha (Wolf Shifter Romance) (The Crestwood Chronicles) by Julia Chase Page A

Daisy was on the couch texting, and Dad was on the back porch for a smoke. It felt good how few things had changed. It felt like I hadn't been gone a day.
    My rang the bell for dinner, a relic of her childhood, and we all gathered around the dinner table. Dad said grace, and we all dug in.
    It tasted just as amazing as I remembered. Creamy. Salty. And oh so warm. And there was a basket of fresh baked dinner rolls. I was trying to diet, so I decided to limit myself to a single serving.
    "So," said Mom, "How was everything?"
    "We have talked on the phone," I said, making eye contact with Daisy. She giggled a bit.
    Mom stared intently. "But I need more details. I want to see your face while you talk about it."
    "That's kinda creepy Mom," said Daisy. Then it was my turn to giggle. It was like we were kids again.
    "I'm serious," she said. "How were your classes?"
    "They were great," I said. "A couple of very interesting profs. Lots of hard work though."
    "Which class did you like best?"
    I stalled with a mouthful of potatoes while thinking about my answer. Finally I swallowed and said, "Anthropology?"
    She tilted her head. A stay at home mom. Her and my dad are basically a couple from the fifties.
    "It's the study of humans and human culture."
    "That sounds real neat," she said. "You are going to be a very smart woman."
    I smiled as I grabbed for one of the rolls. "Dad, could you pass the butter?"
    Looking up at him, I saw that he hadn't even heard the words I'd said - he was completely zoned out. I looked at the other two, not sure how to react.
    "Honey," said Mom in her shrillest inside voice. He turned to face her. "Ruby needs the butter."
    "Right," he said, sliding it over. "Sorry."
    "What's up?" I asked, feeling it was a natural point to ask. It didn't seem like I'd noticed any darkness in his eyes. Just wondering why he'd been distracted.
    He looked at the other two, then at me. "It's the cows," I said.
    I was relieved. This meant that gran and gramps were still alive.
    "They've been... well they've been thinned out a bit," he continued. "Found a couple of carcasses near the back of the lot. Next to the forest."
    "My God," I said.
    "Language!" said Mom.
    "Sorry," I said. "What's happening to them?"
    "I couldn't tell ya," said Dad. "Something's killin' 'em. Tearing the meat right off the bones. Leaving a bloody mess at the back of our property."
    "That's awful," I said. We aren't poor or anything, but cows are worth a lot. Then a thought occurred to me. "It's safe for us though, right?"
    "Right," he said. "Whatever it is, I don't think we need to be worried. No one's reported any sightings of anything us humans need to watch out for."
    "Oh good," I said.
    "If you do see anything though, let me know. If I knew what, or who, it was then I'd be able to deal with it."
    "Will do," I said.
    "So what's this anthronology stuff about?" said Mom.
    "Anthropology," I corrected. Then I explained as best I could and answered all the questions that she had.
    We finished up dinner without incident. Afterwards I ended up on the couch with Daisy and Mom, watching this makeover show we like. Normally I liked to read before bed, but I didn't want to be away from my family on my first night home.
    Eventually the sun was setting, and I decided I'd been social enough. I wanted some fresh air. I wanted to check out the field. Someone who grew up on a field can only last so long without one.
    "I'm going for a walk," I said.
    "Have fun," said Daisy. Mom was too glued to the show to notice that I'd even spoken.
    I walked out onto the back porch, where Dad was. "Going to patrol the property?" he asked.
    "Sure am," I said.
    "Be careful out there," he said.
    He said those four words every single time me or Daisy went into the yard. He also said it the day I'd left for university. And when I left on my first date with a nice white boy he'd vetted. But tonight it felt more ominous than it had in the past. It carried a bit more weight.
    I walked through the