Untamed: An Alpha's Promise (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Evelyn Glass Page A

back and forth in his throat as if he was choking back tears.
     
    “I’m sorry. I know she would have wanted to tell you herself,” Parker said gently, “but with everything that’s going on with her family right now, we’ve got to keep things peaceful until I can convene the Councils and enter this into the Record of Special Exceptions. You can hate me all you want, but this is her life we’re talking about, not just her happiness. I’m doing everything I can to protect her, but if anything happens to me, she’s all alone.”
     
    “If anything happens to you, she’s got me,” Scottie countered. He straightened and stepped closer to Parker, his amber eyes challenging.
     
    He can’t let it go . He took a deep breath and forced his voice to remain conversational. “I appreciate what you’re saying, man, but you should know that—”
     
    But Parker never got to finish his thought, because an inhuman shriek echoed in the distance and both men went running towards it.

 
    CHAPTER NINETEEN
     
    Charmaine didn’t remember hearing anything after the doctor said, “I’m sorry.” The whole world suddenly became quiet and cold, as if under fresh snowfall. She could see Crystal’s twisted mouth, her hands clawing at Shannon, her wild eyes, but she couldn’t hear her mother screaming. In the distance an answering keening grew and grew and grew until it pierced through the blanket of silence and rang in her ears. It wasn’t until she felt Parker’s strong arms around her that she realized the horrible sound was coming from her.
     
    Parker scooped her onto his lap and cradled her, whispering her name against her hair while she wailed inconsolably. “It’s okay,” he crooned. “You’re okay.” He rocked her against him, and she sank into his protective embrace, her teeth chattering from the unforgivable cold.
     
    Parker scooped her onto his lap and cradled her, whispering her name against her hair while she wailed inconsolably. “It’s okay,” he crooned. “You’re okay.” He rocked her against him, and she sank into his protective embrace, her teeth chattering from the unforgivable cold.
     
    A nurse offered Parker a sedative but he shook his head. “She can’t have that,” Charmaine heard him murmur just before he thanked the nurse for the blanket she offered. Moments later she was swaddled tightly, snug against his chest, still shivering.
     
    “Give her something,” Shannon pleaded, holding out her bottle of pills.
     
    “No!” Both Scottie and Parker shouted in unison. Scottie nearly leapt out of his chair to snatch the bottle away from Shannon.
     
    “She’s fine without it, really, Mom.” He slid the bottle into her purse and rubbed Crystal’s shoulder. She had collapsed again in the chair, the Valium doing its job. She looked as though she’d aged fifteen years since the morning.
     
    After they’d tied up some loose ends with the hospital staff and Scottie had made all the phone calls, Parker stood and drew Charmaine to her feet. “I’m going to take her home,” he said quietly. “We’ve got a long drive and she needs to get some rest.”
     
    ***
     
    The highway stretched out into the stars as they drove home. About halfway there, Charmaine realized her Jeep was still at Vella. “Parker… I have to get my car,” she whispered.
     
    “I think it will be okay there,” Parker reassured her.
     
    Her mind overflowed with details all the way home. She’d promised to take Maddie dress shopping. She hadn’t run the laundry through the dryer. She couldn’t remember the date of her prenatal appointment. By the time they pulled into the driveway she was stretched to the breaking point. “I don’t think I can sleep,” she realized aloud as Parker led her up the front walk and into the safe cocoon of his bedroom. Her mind raced even though her body felt like cement. “Parker, I can’t sleep. There’s too much to do!”
     
    “There’s nothing to do but get some