Free Feral Instincts (The Feral Series) by Erin Ashley

better be treated with respect or you will answer to me.” Victor
looked at them all menacingly and moved towards the office door, bringing the
meeting to an end.
    Joseph
eased his large form out of one of the chairs and walked over to Ava with a
strained smile. “You look like you’re feeling better.”
    “Yes,
much better thank you.” Ava smiled back at him, happy to see at least one
familiar face
    “Ava,
are you sure about this? We can find a way of getting to Salvatore without
putting you in danger.”
    “I’m
sure. I want to help. I need to help.” Ava smiled at Joseph reassuringly, she
could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn’t happy about her helping them.
    Ava
found it fascinating that such a huge, fierce looking man could treat her so
gently. He had been very patient with her, especially that first day that he
had brought her Claymore. Ava never would have expected it, judging him at
first glance. None of the men here looked like someone you would want to meet
in a dark alley. Never had she seen group of men that were as huge and fierce
as this bunch. They just didn’t make men like this in Eureka Springs.
    As
the guardians began to file out of the room, several of them stopped and
introduced themselves to her. Fortunately Joseph stayed by her side and helped
with the introductions. Unknowingly Ava found herself moving closer to Joseph
with each of the men that she met. She just couldn’t help herself, she was so new
to this world and completely intimated by the warriors.
    The
roughest looking of the men was one of the last to leave. His eyes hadn’t left
her since she entered the room and it had made Ava very nervous. Ava watched
him rise out of his chair, standing up he had to be over six foot tall. As he
moved towards the office door she couldn’t help but stare at him. She was
finally able to see him more clearly now that he had moved out of the shadows.
Focusing on his eyes, there was something so familiar about him but she
couldn’t place it. Just then the man that had been sitting next to him turned.
“Hey Teagan, why don’t we get out of here for a while and head down to
Madison’s for a couple of beers.”
    Ava
gasped. That was it! Teagan! Joseph had said the beast that had rescued her was
named Teagan. Ava had fuzzy memories of him finding her at Salvatore’s lair but
she definitely remembered those eyes. “Teagan!” He paused and looked back at
her. Ava left a frowning Joseph and hurried over to the werewolf. Standing in front
of him, she just stood looking up at him stupidly for several moments, trying
to connect the man standing in front of her with her fuzzy memories of the
werewolf that had saved her from Salvatore. The beast was now a man, a very
large man. Unfortunately she knew about as much about werewolves as she did
about vampires.
    Something
about his dark rugged face was so very attractive though. Ava briefly admired
his smoky blue eyes and dark shoulder length hair. Without thinking she boldly
reached her hand up to his cheek and rubbed her palm against his chiseled jaw.
Teagan tolerated her curious touch and looked down at her in confusion. His
cheek was lightly covered in just a hint of a beard. Ava liked how the feel of
it tickled the palm of her hand.
    Standing
this close to him she suddenly found herself enveloped in his warm Lykan scent.
She remembered his scent and how much she had liked it. Somehow it helped her
to connect both the beast and the man standing in front of her. Someone cleared
their throat behind her, jerking Ava back to reality.
    Embarrassed,
she pulled her hand back like she had been burned and held it behind her back.
Her cheeks flushed a pale pink. She didn’t know what had come over her.
    Daniel
gave Teagan a sly wink. “Hey Joseph there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask
you about. Why don’t we talk out in the hall for a minute.”
    Joseph
scowled at Daniel and growled. “Make it quick.” He knew Daniel was playing
wingman for