Mated To The Alpha: A Standalone Wolf Shifter Romance, стр. 6
Emma stepped forward, squaring her body to face the slowly approaching wolf. She drew herself up to her full, considerable height, and stared the wolf down.
"Don't turn your back on it."
She said the words over her shoulder, warning the others. Then she added, "Back up slowly. And whatever you do- do not run! If you run, it will chase. It's instinct."
She felt her dad's hand settle into the small of her back.
"Emma,” he said. “It's Ok. I know that wolf, it's..."
A deep voice rang out nearby, making the on-edge girls jump.
"She is protective by nature, that one."
Emma's voice shook as she turned to address the man who had just stepped into view.
"I see that,” she said back to him. “Why do you keep a wolf here? Is that legal? You said she, is she tame?"
He laughed at her in answer.
She didn't know why he was laughing at her, but she knew she didn't appreciate it. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him.
She couldn't help but notice how tall he was. He was taller than her, by several inches. She looked him up and down, and felt something in her respond. Anger? Embarrassment? A little bit of lust?
He was very handsome. Powerful was the word that came to mind. Rugged, with dark blonde hair and deep, laughing brown eyes.
He spoke again, "I was talking to your father. About you."
Her dad laughed a quiet laugh as well, and said, "Yes, she is a protective one."
The newcomer turned to look at Emma again, still talking to her father, "Just like her mother. It's in her blood, isn't it?"
"Excuse me?" Emma was confused, as well as angry. Who the hell did this guy think he was?
The blonde turned, and addressed the wolf by name.
"Galen,” he said. “Stop scaring our guests and come introduce yourself."
Emma and Kate stared in shocked silence as the wolf sat back on its haunches, and with a deep, popping sound and fluid, liquid movements, started to flow, stretching but shrinking, into something else.
Before their eyes, the wolf became a man. A very tanned, golden, naked man. He was also very handsome, tall and rugged, only this one had hair as black as night, and deep, brooding eyes. He looked like he'd enjoyed his little performance of shifting in front of the shocked and disbelieving girls very much.
Emma heard Kate exclaim, "Holy fuck!" behind her.
Then she heard, quieter, "Damn, that was kind of hot!"
The wolf/man obviously heard her, a small smirk twisted his mouth as he focused all of his brooding stare on Kate.
The blonde shook his head, and turned back to the group.
"Ladies,” he said. “That's Galen. Galen, the redhead is..."
Galen cut him off saying, "I know who she is. Emma, it's an honor. You look just like your mother."
Galen shook Emma's hand, still as naked as the day he was born, and then he turned to face Kate, shaking hers as well.
"And you must be Kate. It is definitely a pleasure to meet you, too. I didn't expect you to be so... Hmm, interesting."
Galen finally pulled his hand from Kate's and waved at Henry, saying, "Henry, it feels like just yesterday I saw you."
"It was yesterday, Galen."
"Right," he said, winking at Kate before he turned and started walking away.
His bare ass drew the girl's stares. His gluteal muscles bunched and released as he walked, throwing his parting words back over his shoulder.
"I'll go tell dad you guys have finally arrived."
4
"Holy shit, Emma. It's like we walked in on one of those old shows your dad watches. The Twilight Zone or some shit."
Kate whispered the words into Emma's ear as they all sat around a large table to eat. There really was no need to whisper, no one would have heard her if she'd shouted it.
The large picnic table was full of people; a celebratory dinner was being held in honor of their arrival.
After their initial greeting, Elam, the very tall, blonde man who had first welcomed them on the rise just outside of the small village, had led them down the hill and into this large clearing. A few huge, obviously handmade, wooden picnic tables stood in the clearing, surrounding a bonfire.
Emma knew they were handmade, because she'd never seen store-bought picnic tables this large before. They were built to hold tall, muscular people, and lots of them.
People packed most of the tables, and a few large wolves were also in attendance, walking around, mingling with everyone like this was an everyday occurrence.
Looking around, Emma guessed that for them at least, it was.
Even her dad seemed comfortable here, laughing and talking with people, like a wolf hadn't turned into a man right in front of them, just a few minutes before.
"We've been waiting for you. Father probably won't be joining us. He's not doing well."
Elam spoke that part to Henry as they all settled into a place around the table, and then he turned to the girls to explain.
"Thomas, our Alpha and my father, is old. He ordered a welcome celebration for your arrival, but I'd be surprised if he put in an appearance. My brother, Galen, went to let him know you've arrived."
"Your brother?" Kate asked him. "Does that mean you can do what he did? Change into a wolf?"
Elam answered her question, but his eyes were locked on Emma instead.
"Yes, I am a wolf as well. Most of us are," he said, still looking Emma over as he answered Kate. His eyes seemed to take in everything about her.
"Is he seeing anyone?"
At that question, Elam's eyes did swing to Kate.
"Galen? Is he...? Oh, I understand. Yes, he is seeing a few of the females, but he is not mated yet. So if you meant is he still available, yes he is."
"He's never...mated...before? Is that what you call