Captive Wolf (Werewolf Erotic Romance) (Amber in Darkness #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to show through his normally cool demeanor. But she'd spent enough time with him. She could tell.
    The sun was setting over the hills, casting rays of orange light over the sky, bathing the old multistory building in elongated shadows. The pooling darkness reached for them, grasping, encroaching on Austin's car—the only vehicle that ever parked in the driveway.
    "We're pretty late." Amber stepped out onto the worn cobblestones. "Will we get in trouble?"
    "Doubtful." He frowned as he closed the car door. "They don't rise this early."
    She let out a breath of relief. Every time they did this, her heart raced with anxiety. But after being cooped up in the dark for so long, their rare excursions were the only times she truly felt alive.
    Most of the time, she saw herself as some kind of wraith: a distorted image of herself, lost in the shadows of the huge, empty house. That is, if she even remembered herself clearly, as she had been, before. Honestly, she wasn't always sure if she did.
    Everything had been brighter for sure, every acute pang of emotion, both her own and people around her. It had been chaotic and exhilarating, not to mention maddening. Part of her didn't miss that at all. But another part of her despised the silence, and the seductive apathy that chewed away at her soul.
    Yet the veil had been lifted, and the light had spilled into her sensitive mind with one blinding thought: I'm not alone . But she'd flinched away from him, her senses burning from the savage maelstrom swirling off the dark stranger. And though she'd run, fought, even bitten him, she couldn't stop thinking about him now. She hadn't been this electrically-charged in like, well, ever.
    Truthfully, she didn't know what she wanted. Not now, and not for a long time. And meeting another werewolf had just made that worse. Of course, she'd told herself before that there must be others out there. Maybe she hadn't expected him to have such a strong presence: fierce, intense… sexy. She stopped herself, wincing.
    The real problem was that he put the whole situation into sharp relief, casting a bleak light on just how much trouble she was in.
    She dropped her gaze to the ground, following Austin along the winding stone path as he strode up to the house.
    He heaved open one of the large double doors. "Don't worry about it. If they find out, I'll take responsibility."
    But as the heavy door slammed closed behind them, she knew something wasn't right. Hell, she could smell it—like ashes mingled with a thick layer of dust.
    Candlelight flickered from the wall sconces and fat tongues of fire licked in the hearth. Austin tensed, his jaw tight as he gave her a brief glance.
    Amber's mouth went dry. Her stomach clenched in a tight ball of fear.
    "You're late." The resonant voice drifted through the dimly lit room. "Did you have fun while you were out?"
    Next to the fireplace, sat a dark figure in a bright red velvet-covered chair, his body shrouded by a heavy, hooded cloak. Firelight reflected off the gleaming sword laid across his knees.
    "Lucius." Austin's voice cracked as he stepped into the room. "I apologize for my tardiness."
    The man rose to his feet, carefully sliding the sword to his side. Then he pushed back the cowl, exposing a round, bald head and sharp ears. Amber shivered as his ghostly pale eyes swept over her.
    "Where did you take my pet while you were out?"
    Austin's eyes flicked to her. "We just got some ice cream, master. Surely it wouldn't hurt to let her see the sunlight occasionally."
    Lucius sneered, exposing his sharpened teeth. "It's cute how you pretend to be sentimental about the beast."
    He strode forward and with only a few quick steps, he loomed over her. His fingers curled under her chin, his sharp nails scratching over her skin.
    "Curious that my little birds say you visited the library."
    Amber held his stare as he lifted her face. Who was it? She wondered idly, trying not to flinch from his claw-like nails and reptilian gaze.