Free Hale: Love Me Harder - Alien Paranormal Romance by Serena Simpson Page A

ponytail inside the back of his shirt.
    “I prefer not to waste time on useless words.” Hale smiled.
    His final opponent walked towards him with the cat like grace of a trained fighter.
    Tori’s gut tightened and her frightened eyes swung up to meet Dante’s. A shake of his head kept her silent. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans and commanded her heart to slow down.
    The first kick started the fight. She was right, he was trained probably in some sort of martial art. Hale blocked the kicked and met him hit for hit. They seemed evenly matched as far as she could see.
    Every now and then Hale would get in a lucky punch and then his opponent would counter with a lucky punch. It looked like a draw until his assailant drew a knife plunging it deep into Hale’s stomach with a twisting move.
    A roar emerged from Hale as his body shifted, becoming unhuman. The beast tore open the throat of his opponent. The body dropped slowly to the ground with eyes opened in amazement.
    “That’s what happens when you turn a fair fight into a dirty one.” Dante spoke up in a loud voice speaking to the man dying on the ground.
    “How many times have I told you not to play with your opponent, Hale?” Aran stepped out of the shadows followed by the rest of his brothers.
    Nicolas walked over to him. “Change back, I need to treat the male.”
    In a blink of an eye Hale stood where the beast had been.
    Tori looked around with wide eyes wondering how she could escape.
    “Don’t run, Tori.” Dante said softly in her ear.
    All she could see was Hale’s body as he started to fall over. His warning of no matter what happens don’t run, was ringing in her ears. She took a deep breath and waited for the worst. How could they let her live after she saw their secret? They weren’t human.
    “Dante.” Aran called out to him.
    “I’ll collect Hale’s car with Tori and meet you all back at his place.” Aran nodded his head.
    Dante took Tori by the arm and started walking before he stopped. “Where are the females?”
    “They’re on their way to Hale’s.” Aran’s mouth quirked in a smile. “Even though I told them all to stay still and not move. Seems Rena wants a thick steak on the grill. Looks like we are having a cook out.”
    “Of course none of the other females stopped her,” Dante gave a laugh.
    “She’s about to have the baby at any moment. It seems she must be catered to. Which of course means that when all the other females become pregnant they will expected to be catered to also,” Aran replied with a light voice.
    There were groans and huge smiles on the faces of the brothers who were mated. Even Hale groaned and smiled which looked more like a grimace as Nicolas started probing his wound.
    Tori frowned and started walking out of the alley without Dante leading her. Looking around she realized no one was paying her attention. Why wouldn’t they stop her? Duh, Tori, what would happen if you walked into the police station to tell them you saw a fight and the person who killed six men turned into a giant monster? Strait jackets for all.
    Dante seemed to be the best choice she had right now. Foolishly she took one last peek at Hale.

Chapter Ten

    The house was in chaos. Everyone was there. The kitchen was full of brothers and mates making dishes and laughing when Tori finally made it to the house.
    Dante took the long way to Hale’s house, never saying anything. He simply gave her time to slow her heart beat and think about what she’d seen.
    Now she looked at all the brothers, not one of them had been surprised. That’s because they’re all aliens her inner voice chimed in. She needed time to process what she had seen.
    Tori was looking for Hale. He had some explaining to do. He killed six men her inner voice reminded her. Maybe we should run long and hard. Too late for that, we should have done it before we got back in the car. True.
    “Tori.” Hale approached her.
    She jerked and turned around. She was