Christmas Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

see what he’d become?
After Ari—” Her voice shattered on her daughter’s name and she
pulled away, rising to a stand, putting distance between Hunter and
herself. But he followed her and grabbed her hand, holding her to
him, and that strength was enough to let her continue on. “After
Arianna’s death, I just assumed he was grieving. That we were both
withdrawn, that there was nothing wrong.”
    “How old was she? Your daughter?”
    “Five. She was just a baby still. She was
killed by a rogue lion-shifter.”
    “I’m sorry.” Hunter squeezed her hand in
his.
    “After that, both Caesar and I needed time to
heal. We both buried ourselves in the job. I ran the pack from the
office; he was the acting alpha in the field. We were one of the
best Enforcement packs out there.” She tilted her head back,
blinking back tears. “I just wish I’d seen the signs.”
    Hunter stepped into her, the heat from his
body wrapping around hers. He let go of her hands to cup the side
of her face and tilt her head until she was looking straight at
him, tears in her eyes and all. “There might not have been any. But
even if there were, Breanne, you were grieving for your daughter.
No one blames you.”
    “No? Everyone blames me. The friends and
families of his victims. Enforcement. I was his superior. I was
supposed to see shit like that.”
    “He attacked his partner didn’t he? And she
was as close to him as anyone else in the field with him. She
didn’t see the signs either.”
    Lennox . Bree would never stop
regretting, but Lennox at least had managed to save herself.
    She didn’t even know she was crying until
Hunter swiped a tear from her cheek. “Is that why you haven’t
called Enforcement? You’re worried about what they think of you?
Between the vandalism and the phone calls, anyone else would have.
I would have.”
    “I know what they think of me.” She was the
widow of a rogue-Hound, too blind to see one of their own go bad
before it was flashed across the news. In Enforcement, that was the
unthinkable. The ultimate betrayal. “I just want to disappear.”
    At least, that’s what she had wanted when
she’d first come to White Pine. Now, standing in Hunter’s arms, she
wasn’t so sure that’s what she really wanted anymore.
    He leaned in and grazed a kiss against her
lips. “I don’t want you to disappear.”
    “It’s not up to you.” But she leaned in and
kissed him, letting her actions say what she couldn’t bring herself
to voice. That maybe, just maybe, she didn’t want to disappear
either. “I think my visitor is done for the night and I’m ready to
get some sleep. You should—”
    “Stay.” One corner of his mouth hitched up.
“I’ll sleep on the couch. But ex-Hound with a gun or not, I’m
staying. I’m not leaving you here alone tonight.”
    Bree nodded. She didn’t want to argue.
Something about Hunter made her feel safe, made her want more out
of life than solitary confinement. “You don’t have to stay on the
couch.”
    He winked. “Yeah I do. Now go get some sleep.
I think the throw pillows and afghan out here are enough for
me.”
    “Hunter...”
    “Night, Bree.”
    He nudged her out of the living room and
turned away, but not before she saw the flash of longing in his
eyes. He wanted more, and they were both adults here...
    But he didn’t move toward the couch. Instead
he stalked toward the large bay window in her living room and stood
there staring out into the darkness. Watching. Her protector.
    Bree smiled and strode back into the room to
grab her gun. Hunter turned, a slight frown creasing his face until
he saw her pick up her weapon. “I’m not a complete damsel in
distress. Get some sleep, wolf. I think we can have each other’s
backs tonight.”
    Gun in hand, she headed toward her bedroom,
but as she reached the threshold she heard Hunter’s soft chuckle in
the darkness, then the creak of the couch as he settled in for the
night. She smiled.

Chapter Five

    The