Free Hunger of the Heart (Wolves of Ravenwillow Book 1) by Magenta Phoenix Page B

slightly to the left, in the mirror she surveyed the second scar leading from the back of her right shoulder and sloped diagonally down to her right hip.
    She could hear Eric’s voice droning on about the dangers of being alone with strange men. Looking at the eternal brand on her skin, she knew she would never make the same mistake she did years before.
    “I’m a big girl, Eric. I can take care of myself.”
    “I need to see you tonight.”
    “Not happening, Eric.” Shaking her head at his persistence, she shoved her arms into her sleek blouse, buttoning it up as high as needed to conceal her wide scars. Pulling her hair out of the collar, allowing the chocolate strands to fall over her shoulders.
    “Where is he taking you? Is it public? Just don’t get in the car with him. I’m sure women like you prefer driving yourself, so he doesn’t know where you live. Right?” his questions sot reassurance; whether for Rebecca or him was undecided.
    Unwilling to answer any of his questions about her date with Damon, she mischievously replied, “Oh look at the time…got to go!” without another word she quickly hung up and tossed it on her bed, Smiling impishly at how she’d hung up on him and envisioning him snarling in rage at being ignored.
    Take that, wolf man! Looking at the time; she raced from her room, slipping her black heels on as she went. This was one date she refused to be late to, especially when it would annoy Eric endlessly.
                 
    * ~ * ~ *
     
    Eric’s elongated claws bit deep in the armrests of his brown leather recliner. Staring at the far empty wall, his sport’s program playing on the widescreen in the corner was all but forgotten. At this very moment; Rebecca was on her date with some unknown man. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t understand why he felt such rage at the thought of Rebecca with another man. He supposed somewhere he’d become possessive of his human. He was more than willing to deny that she was anything to him. She wasn’t his mate. He couldn’t explain why she had his wolf all riled up.
    However that didn’t mean that he would willingly step aside and let another have her. He couldn’t stand the thought of her sharing her warming smile and laughter with another male. With every image of her with someone else that floated in his mind, he could feel his beast rising higher and higher to the surface. If he didn’t get more control over his emotions, Rebecca would find an unrestrained werewolf crashing her beloved date.
    Rebecca may just work for him, but somehow he’d imagined her as a permanent fixture of his home. His children loved her and though he wouldn’t admit it; he loved the fire that would flair in her eyes when her temper rose. She had somehow wormed her way into his mind and he wasn’t beginning to see her as a simple human nuance any more, she was simply…his.
    What did that even mean?
    Just as he was seconds from leaping to his feet and searching out his wayward human, the phone hanging on the kitchen wall began its high-pitched ringing. Striding quickly from the living room, he nearly jerked the entire stand off the wall with his urgency. Jerking the phone to his ear, he answered with bated breath. “Rebecca?”
    “‘Rebecca’? Have you been holding out on us, Alpha?” Chris’s voice floated out with mischievous waves.
    Sighing heavily, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “This better be good.”
    “Actually; I just wanted to tell you about an interesting development that I just discovered as we speak.”
    “Is it about work?”
    “No…” Chris said hesitantly.
    His breath huffed out with irritation. “Is it about Pack business?”
    “No.”
    “Good night, Chris.” Pulling the phone away from his face, Chris’s rushing voice assailed his lupine ears.
    “Wait! Wait! Wait! You’ll want to hear what I have to say!” rolling his eyes, Eric pulled the phone back to his ear, waiting patiently for his Beta to