Destined For The Alpha: Six Heart-Racing Shifter Romances (Werewolf's Harem Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

awkward.
    “Thank you,” she replied, giving him a warm smile. Ben was adorable, leaner and less uptight than the other two. His wrinkled jeans and band tee, the dark brown hair that spilled over his forehead, his shy smile… oh, yeah. He had a hot geek thing going on, for sure.
    “Nice,” Walker snapped.
    Walker was giving Ben a serious scowl. Walker was huge, the biggest of the three. Chestnut hair clipped close to the scalp, deep brown eyes that held no little bit of anger. He swaggered when he moved, and he was intimidating to the max, but Aurelia sensed something deeply wounded inside him. The man was hurting, and neither of his friends seemed to acknowledge it.
    “Guys?” Lucas said, prompting them.
    “Food?” Walker asked without preamble.
    “God, yes,” Aurelia admitted. “I could have slept for another whole day, but I woke up ravenous.”
    “Grilled chicken, asparagus, butternut squash,” Walker said. He was obviously a man who didn’t waste words.
    “That sounds amazing,” Aurelia said.
    Walker went into the state-of-the-art kitchen and started making her a plate. Aurelia started towards him, but Lucas shook his head.
    “Join us,” he suggested. “Just tell Ben what you’d like to drink.”
    “We’ve got fresh juices, your fancy bottled water, beer, soft drinks…” Ben offered.
    “I’d love some juice. Do you have apple?” she asked.
    “Totally, and it’s sooooo good,” Ben said, his simple enthusiasm infectious. Aurelia grinned at him, unable to help herself. She didn’t miss the glare Lucas shot at his friend, but she ignored it.
    In a couple of minutes she was seated with a tray of food, a huge icy glass of apple juice, and three hunky men staring her down as she ate. She looked around at them, biting her lip as she picked up her fork.
    “Um… do you think we could turn on the TV or something?” she asked, hesitant. 
    Ben laughed, and Lucas nodded. The remote was found, and soon a rerun of The Daily Show was on the den’s huge projection screen. Walker’s attention went to the show, and Lucas and Ben make an effort to hold a conversation with one another so that she could relax a little.
    Aurelia ate with relish, enjoying the fare very much.
    “Did you guys cook this?” she asked. “It’s awesome.”
    “Ben,” Lucas said, shrugging. “He’s a great chef.”
    Ben blushed again, ducking his head.
    “I like eating, and I like watching people eat what I make. It’s satisfying,” he said.
    “Well it’s great, thanks. I wish I could eat more, but I’m afraid I’ll burst and ruin this beautiful dress,” she teased. 
    Ben looked thrilled, and Aurelia smiled to herself. At least she’d won one of them over. He whisked away her tray, leaving the juice on the coffee table.
    While Ben was preoccupied and Walker was staring at the TV, Aurelia cocked her head at Lucas.
    “Do you want to show me the back porch?” she suggested, tilting her head at the sliding glass doors.
    Lucas gave her a mega-watt grin, standing and offering her a hand. When she slid her hand into his, a burst of warmth spread from the contact just as it had the first time they’d touched.
    She could feel his gaze as he escorted her outside, but she kept her eyes down as she walked. She needed a moment to gather her thoughts, piece her words together. Words were all she had to offer him, just now.
    Sweeping her gaze up, she walked out to the cedar railing and took in the view. The forest was all around them, lush and verdant and beckoning to her wolf. The land sloped away from one side of the house, dropping dramatically to showcase the breathtaking mountains. 
    “We’re in the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Lucas said, propping an elbow on the railing next to her and giving her a considering gaze. Taking her measure, maybe waiting to see if she’d run.
    Aurelia wasn’t planning to run, not from a place like this. Even if she’d wanted to, she had nowhere to go.
    “It’s beautiful,” she commented,