Free AlphavsAlpha by Francesca Hawley Page B

go for a run to clear her head.
Barely noticing her nudity, she opened her bedroom door and ran down the stairs
and out onto the front porch.
    Serena surveyed the pack compound, no one was about yet, but
they wouldn’t regard her nudity either because shifting required it. Anyone
running around naked out here was either going to shift into a wolf or had just
returned to their human form. It was so much easier to be herself among her
family…her pack…than in the city. Out here she didn’t have to hide her wolf.
    Serena concentrated, forming her animal self mentally before
shifting into the golden wolf form. She stretched then padded down the porch
and loped west…toward the mountains. To escape everything for a little while.
    When she returned to the house an hour later, Serena felt
calmer. Well, only a little. Because now she knew with certainty that Damien
was coming for her. She’d felt a sense of determination from him. It had been
brief and then gone, but it was enough for her to know he was on his way. So
she’d better get ready to face him…soon.
    As she climbed the stairs her mother called out, “Get
dressed, Serena. Breakfast is almost ready.”
    “Yes, Mom,” she responded with a sigh.
    She’d have to shower again because she smelled a little like
wet dog after her run, and her mother hated that kind of stink at the breakfast
table. It didn’t take her long, but she dithered over what to wear—knowing
Damien would be here today, she wanted to look her best. Then again. Why should
she dress up for him? He could just take her as he found her, damn it, but she
still put on one of her favorite outfits, knowing she looked good.
    When she walked into the kitchen, her father stood up from
the table, wiping his mouth on the napkin. Ginger turned from the stove, her
gaze locking with her husband’s. He grunted, nodded once and walked over to
her.
    “I’ll be in my office if you need me. Need to figure out
what to do with Quillen today.”
    “Yes dear.” He smiled gently down at her and gave her a soft
kiss on the cheek.
    He turned to Serena. “Call if you need me, yes?”
    “Yes, Daddy.”
    “Good.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead in passing and
left the kitchen.
    “What would you like for breakfast, dear?” her mother asked
as she cleaned her father’s dishes off the table.
    Serena took a deep breath of the homey smell of eggs, bacon
and pancakes that still hung in the air and swayed, her stomach twisting in her
gut. She felt like vomiting. Was she getting the flu?
    Ginger put the dishes in the sink and pointed to the table.
“I think you should sit down. You’re green.”
    Serena settled herself at the table and grabbed a glass of
water to take a drink. Her mother pursed her lips.
    “Toast, I think.” Her mother made her fresh toast, buttered
it lightly and set it in front of her. She hoped she’d be able to choke it
down.
    Her mother sat down and poured herself some coffee. Serena
reached for the pot.
    “I think you would do better with some milk, dear.” She told
her daughter as she took a sip of her coffee.
    “Milk?” Was the female out of her mind? That sounded
nauseating.
    “Water then.”
    Serena took another drink of her water. “I must be getting
the flu.”
    Ginger chuckled. “Bullshit.”
    “Mother!” Serena’s eyes widened. Ginger rarely swore around
her.
    “You’re pregnant, Serena. So when are we going to meet him?”
    “Him…who?”
    “Your new Mate. You know, the wolf who impregnated you?”
    Serena bit her lip, wanting to lie. Ginger watched her
calmly as she cast around for a diversion. “Where’s Quinn?”
    “At the clinic, and he dragged Quillen with him. Said it
would be good for him to get used to doing some work.”
    “Oh.” No reprieve then and her mother could be relentless.
    “Well?” Ginger asked again. “We’ll want to meet him. Unless
he’s one of those wolves who doesn’t do right by their pups?”
    “Don’t be silly,” she growled