Savage Moon: Wolf Shifter Romance (Wild Lake Wolves Book 4) by Kimber White

the northern part of the state. Other
than running the ranger station, their stock dividends were how Kane’s pack
survived. Though Kane himself had no part of the day-to-day operations, I
learned Alec’s Alpha, Sebastien Lanier, served as CEO. So Kane was happy to
take the money Bas doled out, and yet seemed to resent him for it behind his
back.
    Kane answered Alec’s questions. Laughed at his jokes. For once, I felt grateful for the distance Kane put between Alec and me.
He sat at the far end of the table near Cole and Daniel. I couldn’t reach him
with my hands, but my whole body seemed tuned to his presence. I craved his
touch. If I’d been able, I knew my fingers might travel under the table in
search of his. If I felt that electric spark with Kane so close, surely he’d
sense it too. God, as much as I wanted Alec close, I knew the danger it put us
in. How could Alec ever take on six wolves at once? And if they tore him to
pieces right in front of me, I didn’t think I could survive it either.
    How did I get to this point? I met him days ago on
the lake’s edge. He was trouble to me. And I was to him. And yet, something
linked us stronger than the bond Kane had forced on me. But it felt so
different. Kane’s touch was a violation. With Alec, it felt . . . like fate. I
shuddered as the word took shape in my mind. Fate. It couldn’t be that. I
couldn’t let it. If and when I broke free from Kane, I never wanted to feel
drawn to something I couldn’t control, even if it felt so good.
    Kane touched me, and my body went rigid. I plastered
a smile on my face as Kane rested a hand at the center of my back and nudged me
toward him. Alec’s knuckles went white where he gripped his fork. His eyes
flashed, but he got himself under control as Kane’s lips pressed against my
ear. Careful. I couldn’t let Kane or any of them notice anything. Doing so
would put Alec’s life in danger and maybe even my own.
    “You’re doing well. Keep it up.” I brightened my
smile and put a hand up to touch his cheek. I locked eyes with Alec. He looked
ready to shift. None of the other pack members seemed to sense his distress.
Only I could. I steadied my heartbeat and tried to will Alec’s to calm. God.
Don’t do it. Stay with me. I need you.
    “How about a hunt after dinner?” Kane said, nearly
shouting it. He framed it as a question, but no one at the table would have
even considered disagreeing with him. Except of course, Alec. But he seemed
ready to go berserk with Kane’s hands still on me. He clenched his jaw hard and
a muscle jumped near his temple.
    The meal ended. The pack would hunt. Fear flared
behind my chest as I worried Kane might chain me again. Tonight, though, he had
other ideas. He leaned forward again and whispered in my ear.
    “You stay put here. I’m going to make sure our
friend heads back to his area of Wild Lake before the sun rises. I’ll send Wade
back to check on you. Don’t give me a reason to regret trusting you. And more
importantly, don’t make me have to do anything that would make your brother regret
that I trusted you.”
    I nodded and touched his cheek again, playing the
faithful hostess, the loving girlfriend. In my mind I envisioned stabbing my
fork through the top of his hand where he rested it on the table. I rose and
cleared my plate and Kane’s. The others got to their feet, banging chairs and
clanging silverware as they made their way back out into the courtyard. Wade
and Brandon shifted immediately, antsy for the promise of another hunt. Kane
hung back and said something to Cole and Christian. A warning perhaps, like the
one he’d given me. Behave. Or else.
    As I walked by Alec, he reached out and grabbed my
wrist. That bolt of lightning went through me, nearly dropping me to my knees.
Each time he touched me, the connection seemed to grow stronger. My want deepened.
The mark on my neck pulsed a warning. But, Alec was quick, he drew me to him.
His voice against my ear sent