Free Under the Alpha's Protection (Steamy Werewolf Shifter Menage Romance) by Willow Wilde Page A

couldn't help but smile at each other.
     
    “Alex, hush it!” Ben laughed as he came back over. “I don’t need you butting in about my shifter legends.”
     
    But I noticed the way they were looking at each other out of the corners of their eyes…as if there was another layer to their banter that we weren’t getting. It was the look that people shared during an inside joke. Wonder what’s going on?
     
    I was ripped from my thoughts as they wandered away, lost in conversation, leaving me with Jenn. We curled up in front of a television and put some cable. If we’re trapped up here, we might as well do SOMETHING , I thought to myself. And the boob tube sort of qualified.
     
    The time started to fly by as we watched re-runs of old sitcoms, finishing our hot chocolates and trying to salvage the trip. At least the view was a little different.
     
    *              *              *              *
     
    “I think I'm going to turn in for the night,” Jenn told me sheepishly after a couple of hours.
     
    “Oh, come on! Isn't this just so exciting , though?” I asked sarcastically. My attention still wandered back to the storm – I knew it would be morning at the earliest before it broke, but I was still dedicated to dissolving it with the power of my icy stare.
     
    “Jess, it's...it's already 11:30,” she mentioned to me, following my gaze. “I don't think there's anything that can be done about that mess tonight. Maybe we should just turn in early?”
     
    “I would, probably, but I'm just not too tired,” I told her. Strangely, it was true. Normally, I'd be all tuckered out right about now, given the type of day we'd had. For some reason I was as awake as ever, and the idea of SLEEP? There was nothing really to do here this late, but I couldn't help but feel like I should stay up.
     
    “I'll go to bed later. You go get your rest.” I got up to wander back to the window again, settling down in the chair.
     
    “Alright,” she reluctantly told me. “Don't stay up too late. If this is gone by morning, I don't want you exhausted and bitchy all day.”
     
    “I'll be bitchy whenever I damned well please. Now scram !” My devious smirk made her shake her head with a smile, and she disappeared around the corner and upstairs.
     
    My gaze returned to the window. I couldn't help but think about Ben's story...I mean, it was totally irrational. That kind of stuff, the whole “shifter”, “natives up in the mountains” thing...I'd stopped believing in crap like that when I grew up. The most spiritual experience I'd ever had was getting my hands on a vibrator. But I couldn't get the thought out of my head...how cool would it be if that was the case? An old tribe with a bunch of paranormal bear dudes around, fighting the mountain lions and lording over the peaks.
     
    Well, it would also be a total pain in the ass to get out of this storm , I thought to myself. What did the natives need to break it again?
     
    The answer pinged into my head. Oh, right . Women.
     
    “Care for some company?” I heard the deep voice of a burly man behind me, and turned my head. Ben was standing close, a pair of tumblers in his fists. He extended one out to me, and after a brief moment of hesitation, I took it from him.
     
    “I'm not 21,” I frowned, my eyes focused on the portion of dark, telltale fluid in my glass.
     
    “So don't tell anyone,” he smiled warmly.
     
    I flitted the tumbler beneath my nostrils. I didn't recognize the amber liquor, but it wafted a light, earthy scent that had a tinge of something sweet.
     
    “Don't worry, it's fine. Just a little something I rummaged up from the basement. Among other important things, there's a stocked liquor cabinet down there...for times like this.” He sipped from his drink and took a seat in the armchair beside me.
     
    “So, you guys aren't guests,” I noted.
     
    Ben chuckled. “No, we aren't.” His warm smile spread beneath