Free Werewolf Rage Book #2 in the Taming The Wolf Series by Katie Lee O'Guinn Page B

about Perry,” she said, taking his arm.
    Harry, glanced at his daughter curiously and smiled. “I’ve been expecting this to be honest. I don’t think it’s a secret that I like Perry. I’ve been thinking for a couple days now that I’d like to talk to her about, um . . . , maybe being together.”
    Ava looked down at her feet and grinned before glancing at her father. Harry Paskell was one of those men who just got better looking as they aged. Not that he’d done very much aging. His angular, patrician face that had made all her friends sigh, now looked nervous and hopeful and excited. She wasn’t the only one in love.
    “Dad, I know you like Perry,” she began but was interrupted when Harry cleared his throat and held up his hands.
    “Ava, it’s been over fifteen years since I’ve been in a committed relationship with a woman. I hope that you don’t feel threatened by my feelings for Perry. You haven’t really seen me with other women and I know that this could be awkward for you,” he said, looking at her nervously.
    Ava’s heart warmed and she turned and threw her arms around her father’s neck. “Oh Dad, you’re the sweetest man. No there’s no awkwardness. I really like Perry. I think she’s sweet and amazing and strong too. I totally support you being with her. But Dad, that’s why I need to talk to you. That’s why Perry asked me to talk to you first,” she said, pulling back and looking at her dad worriedly.
    Harry’s happy grin slipped as he stared down into his daughter’s eyes. He’d always been so attuned to her feelings that he could almost read her mind at times. Whatever he could sense or see in her eyes had him straightening up and his dark brown eyes going hard. They reached the bench and sat down, turning toward one another.
    “What is it Ava? Tell me,” he demanded, holding her hand.
    Ava nodded and gripped her father’s hand back. “Perry is mated,” she said softly and watched as her father’s face turned ashen and then red within seconds. He stood up, and put his hands on his hips as he stared at the ground, breathing hard.
    Ava winced and stood up quickly, grabbing her father’s arm. “Let me finish Dad. The man who chose her is Braxton Mayhew from Tanner’s Landing. He killed the last leader and then chose her. Against her will . Cole stood up for his sister, but Braxton sent five men to kill him. They almost succeeded. The night before her wedding, Cole and Perry escaped. They headed toward Manitoba because they were being hunted but circled back this way. Cole thinks it’s only a matter of time before they come here. Dad, I told Perry I’d stand for her. She hates Braxton. He terrifies her and she told me he likes to hurt her. She doesn’t want him ,” she said, her voice loud and shaking as she thought about what she’d do if she were in Perry’s position.
    Harry’s stared at his daughter, his face arrested and his eyes bright and gleaming. “She doesn’t want him,” he muttered softly.
    Ava moved to stand in front of her dad, looking up into his face. “Dad, this could get crazy. Cole said it’s tradition for werewolves to kill a man who stands between him and his mate. And after seeing what Cyrus just went through, I can sort of see why. People could die over this.”
    Harry nodded his head and bit his lip not saying anything as his mind whirled around the information. Ava smiled slightly and continued. “I told her we’d stand for her. But Dad, if you choose Perry as a mate, you’d be the man Braxton would kill first.”
    Harry blinked in surprise and stared at her before smiling. “No one’s killing me Ava. Besides, for a man to truly be mated, truly linked like Cyrus is with you, the bond has to go both ways. Braxton forced Perry to be his mate. He probably didn’t even feel any withdrawals when she left.”
    Ava nodded her head. “Okay, interesting. But then why is he hunting them? Why did he try to kill Cole?”
    Harry ran his hand