Free Kalen by Tianna Xander Page B

naked. Ally frowned. She knew she wasn’t perfect, but she’d never had a man get angry because he saw her in her birthday suit. A few had gotten angry because she wouldn’t let them see her sans clothing, but that was understandable. This was not.
    Ally stole a glance at him. His expression still grim, Kalen carried her through the woods growing closer to her home. She watched as they approached, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She saw nothing other than the gardening tools laying in a heap in Milly’s front yard. She frowned. That was unlike the older woman. Usually fastidious with every area of her life, Milly never left anything undone, even if it meant putting her gardening tools away with a broken bone.
    “Something’s wrong.” She wriggled in Kalen’s arms, wanting him to put her down.
    “What’s the matter?” he asked with a groan.
    “Look, if I’m too heavy, put me down.” Geeze, the least he could do was let her stand on her own two feet before he started groaning about her weight.
    “You aren’t too heavy.” He winked at her before adding, “Do I look as though I’m straining to hold you? Do you see perspiration? Are the muscles in my neck bulging?”
    “Well…no.”
    “Then shut up about your weight. You’re perfect.”
    “Uh… I wasn’t fishing for compliments either.”
    Setting her down, he turned to face her. “I know that. I also know that whatever is wrong, you’re right. Something doesn’t smell quite right.”
    Ally took a deep breath. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
    “Something here reminds me of the hotel. I’m not sure what. I only know it isn’t you.”
    “Oh.” Ally bit her lip and stared out at Milly’s house. “Whoever, or whatever is setting off your inner alarm has something to do with Milly.” She pointed to the right half of the yard in front of their duplex. “See that pile of gardening implements?” At his nod, she continued, “Milly never leaves anything like that undone. She would have put them away before going inside. Even if it was just to go to the bathroom, she never would have left them in the middle of her yard like that.”
    Kalen glanced at her, then back to the house. “If what you say is true, then the doctor’s men must have her. Let’s pray she is still unharmed.”
    “She’d better be, Kalen. I swear, if anyone has touched even one hair on her sweet head, I’ll kill the bastards myself.”
    “I believe you.” Kalen began to undress.
    “What are you doing?” Ally said with a hiss. “You can’t undress here. Someone will see you!”
    Kalen turned to face her and stared deep into her eyes. His expression, while grim, also helped calm her a bit. How could he be so calm when he knew someone had invaded an old woman’s home and perhaps harmed her?
    “I fight and heal better in my wolf form, Ally.” He turned toward the house, his gaze on the house as he tried to hear what was going on inside the structure. “I can’t hear anything from inside, but that means nothing.” He turned back to face her. Just remember one thing. If I’m injured in my wolf form, I won’t be able to change back into my human form until I’ve healed. It’s some sort of safety measure. We can’t shift shape if we have a serious injury such as a broken bone, or a large open wound. You’ll have to take me to a safe house where I can receive medical attention from another were.”
    “Don’t worry. We’ll manage to get you there somehow even if I’m constantly changing into a damned wolf.” She placed her hand over her stomach as if that alone could hold off the inevitable change. “We’ll get you to safety if something happens to you. Just…” she paused and rested her hand on his upper arm. “Try not to get yourself killed, will you?”
    Ally watched nervously as Kalen changed and made his way toward Milly’s house. She didn’t know what she would do if someone harmed her dear friend because of her. She also didn’t