Free Eyes on the Pride (Awakening Pride Book 8) by Lacey Thorn Page A

man, prepared to rip out his throat.
    He’d avoided groups since then, sticking to the fringes and only interacting when no other option was allowed. He’d traveled from place to place, content to move on, until he’d seen Darby. One look and he’d realized she was his destiny. Part of him had known he’d been searching for her all along.
    He glanced over at her, enjoying the way the sun spilled in around her, seeming to pick up the red in her hair and make it shimmer. Even in slumber, there was a sexiness about her. From the tilt of her lips to the bare toes that peeked out from under the blanket, she was all that was beautiful and perfect to him. She was also the only reason he’d ever head where he was. For her and only for her.
    He eased the truck around a curve and wasn’t surprised to see the gated entryway ahead or the men standing by it. He was sure the pride had heard about his arrival as soon as his truck had been spotted. The town wasn’t that large, making it easy to distinguish any vehicle that didn’t belong. Smart of the pride to locate here. It would make spotting a hunter so much easier.
    He eased the truck to a stop and wasn’t surprised when Darby’s sultry, russet eyes blinked open.
    “We’re here,” he said as he put the truck in park and opened the door. “Sit tight.”
    He shut the door on her sputtering, grinning as he realized the hell he’d have to pay when he slid back in. She was definitely unhappy he’d let her sleep through the last leg of their drive.
    “Calloway,” Gideon acknowledged as soon as he stepped toward the front of the truck.
    “Gideon.”
    “This is Reno.” Gideon indicated the man with him.
    The other man nodded at him as if aware Calloway wasn’t much for physical touch, which included shaking hands. Reno was close to his height. His blue eyes showed intensity, intelligence. His stance said he was a man to reckon with, one who could back up any threat he made. Calloway was surprised when his beast didn’t rise up to assert itself. Instead, his cougar seemed relaxed.
    “Good to meet you,” Reno offered. “Tah’s up at the house, waiting for you. Follow us then we’ll show you inside.”
    With that command, they walked away. No demands. No interrogation before they could enter. Just an open-armed welcome. What the fuck? Other than Gideon, they didn’t know him from Adam or Darby either, for that matter. He certainly hoped they didn’t make a habit of accepting people this easily or his mate might be in more danger here than he’d expected.
    “What did they say?” Darby asked as soon as he opened the door. She’d scraped her hair back in a loose ponytail and was fussing with her makeup.
    “I like your hair down,” he said.
    She blinked a few times then glared at him. “I’m wearing it back. Now, what did they say? I saw Reno Esponetti speaking with you.”
    “You know him?”
    “As much as I know about anyone in the pride. I’ve read about him. At least the bare bones of information the watchers have been able to accumulate. Raised by a single mom he was very close to. She was killed in an accident while he was in the military and unreachable. He served in the Marines with Utah Pearce and several of the others. Left the service around the same time they all did. Wandered around the country with Logan Dobson, another member of the pride. Reno was shot when he stepped in to protect a woman from assault. As soon as he got out of the hospital, he and Logan headed out to find the alpha, and they’ve been with him ever since. Reno’s mated to the daughter of a hunter, Amia Blane.”
    Calloway slammed on the brakes. “They have a hunter here?”
    “Amia was born a Blane, but she’s never been a hunter. Keep driving, Calloway. You’re drawing attention.”
    He noticed the truck in front of him had stopped, as well, and eased off the brake while she continued talking.
    “Amia Blane escaped her father when she was a teenager. She made it her life