Broken Moon: Part 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

their
closed community wasn't used to outsiders. The other werewolves
spoke in hushed tones whenever he was near, keeping to themselves
and sending suspicious glances his way when they thought he wasn't
looking.
    He could handle
suspicion, but something about the Highland Pack unsettled him. It
felt as though most of them had been cut off from the outside world
for so long that they barely even recognised him as a person. It
wasn't unusual for a werewolf packs to be insular, but this went
above and beyond the usual territorial instincts.
    He was eager to speak
with Ingrid again. The leadership structure they had here—three
elders and no alpha—intrigued him, and he was hopeful that another
conversation with April might help the others warm up to him.
    The only other person
he'd interacted with was Blackthorn, who treated him with
politeness and respect, even if the stern wolf did seem to have one
suspicious eye on him at all times.
    Cyan was shown to an
empty cabin at the end of a rocky ravine that led off from the main
area, sheltered from the elements by steep cliffs on either side
that sloped inwards. It was quiet and isolated, and that suited
Cyan just fine.
    He was uncomfortable
around the hubbub of the busy pack. It stirred too many unwanted
memories of a time when he'd had to deal with that many people on a
regular basis.
    After eating he slept
an exhausted, dreamless sleep on his hard mattress while the rest
of his clothes dried in front of the cabin's small fireplace,
waking mid way through the afternoon. As tired as he was, he could
never sleep for long, and his inner wolf was itching to be
acknowledged.
    He dressed and
extinguished the fire, washing his face with water from a jug that
some helpful soul had left outside his door while he slept.
    The snow was falling
thick and fast by the time he stepped out of the ravine and back
into the main camp. A heavy carpet of white flakes had already
settled despite the rain, and even the large fire from earlier was
beginning to sizzle and gutter as snow blew in beneath the creaking
gazebo.
    He hung back, watching
the camp for a moment as he caught sight of Blackthorn standing in
the middle of the main gravel path, blocking the camp's exit. April
and her mate-to-be were talking to him, but he seemed reluctant to
let them pass. Finally he relented, and the pair hurried off into
the gathering snow while Blackthorn turned his stern gaze back to
the few hangers-on around the main fire.
    Slipping off the path
and behind the nearest cabin Cyan made his way around the camp,
moving from tree to tree until he had circumvented Blackthorn,
hoping that the snow would cover his tracks before anyone noticed
them. He buttoned up the collar of his jacket, curling his fingers
into fists against the cold, and set off at a jog away from the
camp. His wolf was getting impatient.
    Just
wait, he told it. Not long now. I'll let you off your leash, but not near these
people. He grit his teeth and picked up
the pace.
    If only he'd had an
instinct as boring as April's.
     
    * * * * *
     
    "Maybe Blackthorn was
right," April called to her partner as she picked her way through
the snow, clutching at the insides of her mittens for warmth. "We
won't be able to find anything in this weather."
    "There's still time!"
Harper called back, flashing her a smile over his shoulder,
windswept flecks of snow peppering his hair. "Come on, we'll go up
to the bridge and see if there are any scents to follow."
    "That's a long way.
What if we get stuck out there?"
    "We'll stay in the
hunting cabin, then I'll have you all to myself till the weather
dies down."
    April smiled beneath
her scarf. She didn't like the idea of spending the night away from
the pack, but maybe some quality time with Harper would be good for
her.
    "You'll be lucky to
find any kind of scent in this weather," a deep voice called from
behind her, and April turned around to see Cyan striding out of the
snow, his jacket buttoned up to the neck, teeth