Free Animal Desire: A Paranormal Romance (Werewolf and Shapeshifter) (The Animal Sagas) by Susan G. Charles Page B

you kidding me?!”
    Ben stepped into the kitchen just then with Clay right on his heels. One sharp clearing of his throat was enough to make Kateri quietly lower her head. Sonya, on the other hand, ignored the warning completely.
    “Would you believe she just told me to hunt a squirrel?” she asked Ben incredulously as she turned to face him and Clay.
    Clay had already bowed his head slightly in deference to Ben, an act of respect that was completely lost on Sonya, until Ben’s damning gaze locked to hers. Sonya quickly pursed her lips in resistance of bowing, but she knew better. Ben was a good leader and he never lorded his dominance as the alpha of the pack over someone unless it was necessary. But Sonya really didn’t want to see what happened when it was necessary. So she tipped her head downward just slightly.
    “Seems to me that you have a little too much time on your hands Sonya,” Ben said thoughtfully, and tried to hide the smirk that was playing at the corner of his lips.
    Then he glanced over at Kateri. “And as for you, young lady, if you’re going to ban anyone from anything, you might want to check with your Alpha first,” he reminded her gently with a hint of respect for her age and seniority in the pack.
    “Yes ,Ben,” she nodded slightly, her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry, Alpha… I lost my temper.”
    “It’s alright,” Ben allowed his smirk to fully rise. “We all have those moments with Sonya from time to time.”
    Sonya shot him an annoyed grimace, but quickly looked back down when Clay glared at her again. But something that Kateri had said inspired an idea within Ben that seemed like a perfect solution to all his problems.
    “So Sonya, I’d like you to do something for me,” he said calmly as he turned toward her.
    “What? I am NOT hunting any squirrels. You can count me out on that!” Sonya said suspiciously. She had no idea what he would command, but she knew that as Alpha he could get away with just about anything.
    “Well, I need you to do something incredibly important for me. And you’re the best person for the job. Watch the babies tonight?” he said in a more conversational tone that didn’t make Sonya feel any less commanded.
    “Uh,” Sonya hesitated at the thought of being left alone with the two squalling infants.
    “Ben? Are you sure? I… I don’t know…” she said.
    “Sonya,” Clay warned through gritted teeth.
    “Clay… Alright, I know, Alpha and all that. But what do I know about taking care of babies?” she demanded with sharp annoyance.
    “We’ll only be out for a little bit,” Ben assured her. “I feel like Lynda’s getting a little -”
    “Nuts?” Sonya suggested.
    “Stir crazy,” Ben corrected sternly. “I think she needs to go out on a run.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Clay nodded.
    “Be at the house by sunset,” he instructed Sonya. Sonya opened her mouth to protest once more, but Clay stepped to her side and gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders to subdue her.
    “It’ll be fine,” Clay assured her. “She’ll be happy to do it. Good practice too.”
    “Practice?” Sonya looked up at him sharply. “Just because my sister broke the curse, doesn’t mean I can,” she pointed out. “Or that I want to.”
    “Mmmm hmmmm,” Clay nuzzled the side of her neck, causing her to purr slightly.
    “Okay then,” Ben chuckled. “Sunset, remember, okay? Don’t forget,” he turned and walked out of the kitchen. As he headed back to the cabin that he shared with Lynda he braced himself for the next battle that he knew he would be facing.
    Luckily he was able to avoid it for the moment, as Lynda and the babies were sound asleep. Lynda woke only a few times that day to tend to the babies, until it got closer to sunset. At that point it was Ben that woke her. He kissed her neck softly, and then her lips, until he summoned her into full awareness. Her body naturally curled toward his, ready to please him, but he pushed her