Free Pride's Pursuit (a Wolf's Pride novel, book three) by Cat Kalen Page A

comforting heat wrapping around me like a tight glove.
“I don’t know.” My hackles spike and I shoot Logan a weary glance.“Something isn’t
right.”
Logan places his hand on the small of my back, but I quickly sever the intimacy, unable to
take comfort in his affectionate contact because I need my wolf sharp, focused fully on this
mission and not on how nice it is to be touched by him.
Logan’s voice is a coarse rasp when he says, “Maybe we should go back.”
Wind hums around me and the fine hairs tracking along my spine stand on edge, but my
wolf isn’t about to turn back now, isn’t about to surrender even if I want to.
Which I don’t.
I’m driven by a need to find the pack of wolves who once stood behind me, a pack that
could very well be dead because they fearlessly crawled into my personal hell without fully
understanding the consequences.
With that last thought urging me on, I take a few more steps and brace my hands on a
decaying log as I carefully climb over it. Insects scurry about beneath my palms, and the
pungent scent of wet moss reaches up to greet my nostrils as I glance up to see Stone inching
forward. He looks back to check on me and the darkening of his eyes as he scans for hidden
enemies and possible threats makes me strangely uneasy.
Nova moves in beside me, her breath coming in hurried gulps as shewhispers, “Do you
think Malcolm and the others areinside?”
I watch her for a minute and don’t miss the urgency in her eyes. Her blood is pounding
hard, rushing faster than a wolf on the prowl, and I wonder what’s elevating her heartbeat—
anticipation? Or fear?
“There is only one way to find out,” I answer.
“You’re going in?” she asks, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow arching inquisitively.
I’m about to answer, but Stone waves us forward and we all push past the low hanging
branches and step up to the pitch black cabin. I sniff the air, and when a breeze washes over my
face, the deadly stench of sulphur and silver thickens my throat.
“PTF,” Logan says coming up beside me. Pewter punctures the blue in his eyes as he scans
the tree line.“They’re nearby.” He sweeps his hands through his hair to push it off his face and
says, “It’s not safe here, Pride.”
My heart begins to beat faster because I know we can’t run away. Not yet. Not without first
checking to see if Malcolm and the others are caged inside. Besides, even if I’m suddenly
feeling ill prepared, isn’t facing the PTF part of my pursuit? I just wish I was facing them on my
grounds, and not theirs.
I stalk closer to the cabin and try to scent the inside. When my efforts prove futile, I turn to
Logan.“Do you—?” I begin to ask.
“I can’t tell. The place is locked up tight.”
I go up on my tip toes to peek inside.It’s dark, and I can’t detect any movement, but that
doesn’t mean it’s empty.
When my wolf growls, Logan moves closer, his body caging me between the cabin and his
chest.“What do you see?” he whispers.
“Nothing, and that’s the problem. I have to get inside.”
“Pride—” he begins.
Just then Nova comes up from behind, looking windblown and nervous, her eyes wide, and
her blood is rushing so fast I fear her heart is about to explode.
“I found a small window around back.It’s open,” she hurries out and there is an intensity
about her that makes my feral wolf want to crawl out of my throat and snap at her. Her glance
fixes on me.“It’s tiny. Only big enough for you to fitthrough, Pride.”
I narrow my eyes and peer at her.“Did you see anything inside?”
“It looks like a small bedroom, and it’s empty.”
“Okay,” I say, and work to strategize my next move, but when Stone joins us and his anger
hovers like a dark rain cloud, it pulls my focus.
Wild eyes lock on mine, and an untamed sound gurgles in the back of his throat before he
says, “You’re not going through it, Pride. I’ll break down the door first before I let you go in
there