After the Moon Rises Read Online Free PDF Page B

this stretch of road, heading in this direction there were no cross streets for miles, which made it easier to track he supposed. Thinking about tracking Elizabeth gave him fresh chills as to what those men, particularly the giant one, wanted with his daughter.
    “Why would they take Elizabeth? Why would they come into the house and take her? It’s not like she was on a street alone or something. What kind of freaks break into a house and take a little girl? I don’t even know them!” He slammed his hand on the steering wheel.
    They’re werewolves. Like me.
    Tom’s lip curled, exposing his teeth. “You know them?”
    What? You think I hang with kidnappers?
    “Until tonight I didn’t even realize werewolves existed.”
    It was a surprise for me too.
    “What do you mean?”
    ****
    Vonda sighed. She might as well tell him. He was stuck with her until they caught up to Elizabeth. And judging by the whine of the engine, that shouldn’t be too much longer.
    I grew up in a foster home and didn’t know werewolves existed until I turned into one when I was thirteen.
    Tom faced her, mouth agape. “That must’ve been hard.”
    You have no idea. My foster parents thought I was doing drugs or something since I snuck out of the house every full moon. Figured it was easier for them to think I was snorting coke than to have them see me turn into a wolf.
    “Yeah, I can imagine. That would be weird. Can you change at will?”
    Vonda shook her head. Nope. Only on the day of the full moon, the day before and the day after. I turn when the sun sets on those days.
    Vonda licked her lips. What would Tom do if she ran her tongue over his ear? Maybe he’d reciprocate in kind. Yeah, she could deal with that. After the ear, he’d move on down...
    Tom turned to her, eyes raking her. She smelled the scent of arousal swimming through the truck’s cab, thick and heady. Hot damn, he actually found the wolf attractive. Not like she cared at the moment with the mating heat coursing through her body. She’d take him any way she could, but maybe this relationship wouldn’t end like the other one.
    Tom faced forward, hands tightening on the wheel.
    “Look up there. Are those taillights?” One finger pointed straight ahead.
    Vonda looked down the road, squinting. Yep, definitely taillights. Her lips peeled back from her teeth.
    I think we’ve caught the bastards.

Chapter 4
    Tom flipped the lights off as he rolled to a stop. He jumped out and tried the gate the kidnappers had driven through.
    Locked.
    The red of the taillights disappeared in the woods, swallowed in the shadows, leaving Tom alone with his failure.
    He kicked the gate a couple of times before yanking on it.
    Keep that up and the whole world will know we’re here.
    Vonda trotted to where he stood fighting the gate.
    “Well, what do you suggest? I can’t just Superman over the damn thing.” The gate stood at least seven feet tall, a wrought iron monstrosity, attaching to an equally impressive fence. No footholds to be seen. Whoever lived here didn’t raise cattle.
    And Elizabeth was behind those formidable walls.
    We can go under it. See, it doesn’t go too far into the ground. Look at that rabbit tunnel underneath.
    Tom looked to where Vonda gestured with her nose. The light seemed brighter than normal, and he saw the small hole a rabbit had dug under the fence.
    “Well, what are you waiting for? Dig!”
    Vonda shook her head and trotted over to the rabbit tunnel. Dirt flew as the hole deepened. What a woman, um, wolf. Tom ran back to the truck and grabbed his rifle. By the time he returned, Vonda stood on the other side of the fence.
    Hope you fit through. I tried to dig it large enough for you.
    Tom poked the rifle through the space between the bars before lowering himself into the hole. His head poked out the other side of the fence easily, but the rest of him didn’t want to pass through.
    A scream died in his throat, the only sound an escaped grunt.
    Back up and