Free Curves & Courage by Christin Lovell Page A

He was driving my wolf back down inside me, forcing him to recess. The alpha had spoken and he wasn’t permitted freedom right now.
    Part of me wanted him to be free, because I knew we would hunt down her father and make him pay for every-
    I breathed deep, the intense pressure throughout my body easing. My vision cleared; the inflammation in my gums reduced. By physical appearances, I was calm, collected. Inside spoke a different story though. I was holding tight to my ire, waiting for the moment I could harness it for the greater good of my mate.
    Chapter 23
    Sophie
    Dominick had shredded his clothes partially shifting on the fly. His emotions had gotten the best of him. His reaction to my body was…haunting. You were only angry over your mate being hurt if…
    He cared about me.
    This gorgeous male specimen standing unashamedly naked cared about me. No one had cared about me since I was twelve. In two months, on my birthday, it will be five years since someone cared about me.
    “Get dressed,” Dom’s dad stated before walking out of the bedroom. He closed the door behind him, never looking in my direction. I knew it was out of respect for me and nothing more. From the little I’d observed, he was a quick and efficient alpha.
    Dom turned for his dresser. He glanced back at me over his shoulder. He winked, smiling charmingly. “You like what you see, baby?”
    I could help but laugh. He was so confident and unashamed. And he was mine.
    My smile fell at that thought. When did I become possessive? I didn’t own anything or anyone.
    His smile turned wistful. “I love your laugh.”
    I met his gaze, studying him closely. He was telling the truth. There was something about me that he loved.
    “I need to take a look at your midsection, Sophie. Whatever happened to it was bad enough to cause significant blood loss,” Dr. Charles said.
    A flash of the puddle of blood on the floor snuggling me when I awoke in the apartment hypnotized me. It hadn’t been a small amount of blood, but certainly not enough to warrant a transfusion or anything. Then again, I wasn’t aware of the blood coating my shirt and jacket until recently…
    I blinked several times, processing the information.

Dom grabbed a pair of athletic shorts from his dresser and slid into them. He was at my side the second the doc began lifting my shirt.
    As more of my stomach was exposed, he stiffened. He’d been angry before, but that was nothing compared to now. The stone cold expression on his face said he could kill without a second thought. His eyes darkened quickly; a dangerous glow touched the edge of his irises. His wolf was reacting in kind. They both could murder without regret.
    Dom’s jaw was clamped tight as it rocked to every grind of his teeth. His nostrils flared as his lips curled in a terrifying snarl. His blackened gaze was locked on the side of my stomach, and whatever was there had killed the cheeky boy who’d teased me moments ago.
    What had happened to me? This was the first time that I was regretting going to my safe space, to my quiet retreat inside myself. I wished for the first time I’d remained conscious during my father’s episode. At least then I would have faced it all; I’d be cognizant of what they were all dumbstruck by.
    But I didn’t. I was a coward. I was weak. I’d tucked my tail between my legs and shut down.
    “I’m…” The doctor blew out a breath. Dr. Charles appeared flush, apprehensive. It left me uneasy in turn. “I’m sorry, but I’ll need to bring Daniel in on this one. You’re a part of his pack now. They will take this as an attack on their own, but he’ll need photographic evidence in case he’s challenged by the counsel.”
    Counsel? Challenged? Part of his pack? Thank God no one could hear my stupid repetitive thoughts. It was overwhelming. It was… I was… Stupid. I couldn’t even form a coherent contemplation. I was useless, just like my dad said.
    Dom snapped out of his trance. He took