Filthy rich werewolves by Taylor Caine novel Chapter 76

JASON

Grace meets my gaze for a brief second and then barrels into my body. I don’t think twice. I just wrap my arms around her.

Her arms sling around my waist and her head burrows against my chest.

I’m slightly stunned.

It’s the first time she’s initiated full-body contact like this.

I’m not saying I don’t like it, just…”You okay, Grace?”

She nods against me.

Grace raises her head slightly and looks to her side. Then, she heaves a sigh of relief. She looks up at me, "Have you paid the bill?"

“Mm-hmm. I have."

"Then let's go," she says picking up her bag and walking out of the restaurant with me as if she was running away from something.

I stop her on the street. ”What's wrong? Are you hiding from someone?"

She flushes guiltily. "My former colleagues came here to eat too, I... I don't want them to see me.”

Is that all?

I rub my chest.

My wolf prowls beneath my skin looking to come out.

It’s a frequent issue with my ‘other half’ and given the high-stress situations at work, the constant threats from would-be Alphas who’d love to step into my shoes, and near-constant drama that surrounds Grace, it’s a wonder I’m not in wolf form more often than human.

“Oh no,” she whispers. “I don’t mean to get you riled up.”

She doesn’t.

My damn wolf is …oddly protective of this female.

He growls again as if annoyed with me.

Grace bites her lip."It's ridiculous, isn't it? In fact, they all know what I've been through and they probably can guess how miserable I must be right now, but I still don't want to see them face to face."

Her self-deprecating look makes a sudden pang shoot through my heart. I don’t want to see her unhappy.

I want to see her eyes bright and shining and that same glow of joy I had only a few minutes ago. Happiness that came from something so simple as me putting some food on her plate.

I catch her hand and pull her into a jog. "Then let's avoid them.”

She laughs and falls into step beside me.

“One day in the future, you will shine more beautifully than anyone else,” I promise her.

She swats my arm and runs faster.

My wolf growls appreciatively.

I run faster to catch her.

And her laughter is like music to me.

* * * * * * * * * * *

SEAN

"I heard from Lily that you wanted to help Grace Cummins find a job. I'm warning you, don't get yourself involved in that woman's affairs again. Back then, she killed Lily's sister, who was also Alpha Reeds fiancée! Our Pack cannot afford to offend Jason!"

My father's warning comes from the other end of the phone, and I expel a deep breath. "I understand, sir.” And I do.

No one understands how precarious our position is better than me.

"Our family cannot afford to offend this Alpha,” my father emphasizes again. It all comes down to money and business with my dad. To hell with anyone’s happiness. “Pack comes first, Sean!”

I’ve heard those words my whole life.