Free The Werewolf Wears Prada (Entangled Covet) (San Francisco Wolf Pack) by Kristin Miller Page A

echoed through the store and pierced his sensitive ears. Someone shuffled around behind the curtain. Must’ve been Oz.
    He snickered inwardly at the thought.
    “You can’t believe everything you read about me in the magazines,” he said. “But you work for one of them, so I’m preaching to the choir.”
    “Tell me one thing we’ve gotten wrong.”
    “Only one?” He tapped his fingers on the counter, suddenly anxious to get today over with. Their banter only amplified their connection. “According to Celeb Crush , how many celebrities have I dated?”
    “This month?” Melina’s lips twisted into a smile.
    He stared, fighting the urge to kiss that smile.
    “Okay, okay,” she said. “Celebrities you’ve dated this year? Probably…twenty?”
    He rested his elbow on the counter. “Twenty? Really?”
    “What’s the real number?” she pressed. “Is it higher?” She shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Lower?”
    Before he could answer, a woman pushed through the curtain, living up to the name of the shop. She was a vision in white. Bleached white hair. Pale skin. White pantsuit. The only color on the six-foot-tall woman was her bright red lips.
    “Good to see you, Melina,” the woman said, shaking Melina’s hand. “Hayden Dean. I’m Ruby.” Her red lips spread wide as she set her sights on him. “Pleasure to meet you. I have to say, right up front, if you’re working with Melina, you’re in great hands.”
    Her hands really were great. Delicate and soft.
    Melina Rae is your Luminary.
    Being with her isn’t an option.
    Keep distance. Keep it business.
    “What’s the plan for today?” he asked.
    Ruby shifted her weight side to side, crossed one leg over the other, and then measured him up and down. “I’m thinking Armani. Black on black. A few inches cut off the top. Maybe a facial.”
    “Whoa.” He threw up his hands. “Nobody said anything about a facial.”
    Melina belted out a laugh, and then covered her laugh with a cough. “It’s up to you, but Ruby is the best.”
    “Yeah, I bet.”
    “It all boils down to how badly you want the position you’re after,” Melina said. “I bet the mayor of the city gets facials.” .
    Son of a…
    He was ready to rule, completely prepared to step into the position of Alpha and bring down the rogues threatening to terrorize his city. Angus wouldn’t have bent to pressure from rogues, and he wouldn’t either. Although they’d threatened to kill turned wolves if he ruled, he refused to live on their terms, fearful of their demands. If the council succumbed now, there’d be no limit to their influence over the pack. What demand would be next? Eliminate all turned wolves from the pack, or else?
    It wasn’t too far-fetched to image the slide in logic.
    He’d prove he could bring down the rogues before they harmed a single hair on an innocent’s head. If he had to overhaul his wardrobe, cut inches off his hair, and dance like a puppet to somehow demonstrate he was worthy to rule, so be it.
    “Fine.” Hayden rubbed his hands together briskly. “Let’s just get this over with.”
    …
    Two hours later, Hayden was seated in a chair in the corner of Elegance Salon. He went back and forth on the facial and manicure but finally refused. No matter how many times Ruby pressed after he’d made up his mind, he’d declined with a stoic expression on his face. He’d grumbled and cursed under his breath while Melina failed to control her laughter.
    Torturing Hayden was turning out to be her favorite form of entertainment.
    He squinted and rubbed his nose, as if the chemicals in the salon really bothered him. He looked downright miserable, staring into the mirror as Ricardo—hair stylist extraordinaire—snipped his hair. Ruby stood beside Ricardo, guiding him in his masterpiece. Hayden closed his eyes, scrubbed his hand beneath his nose, and winced.
    “How long has it been since you’ve been in a salon like that?” Melina asked, sitting on one