Esher: Winter Valley Wolves #7 Read Online Free PDF

fix. I say, “Dr. Sand has a new plan.” I stop and regroup. “Let me start at the beginning. Esher Wakefield injected a vial of his blood into my veins seven years ago to cure me of leukemia, but now it’s back.”
    Mia’s eyes widen. “Wow.” She frowns as she places her hand on my arm. The werewolf heat of her is hot enough that it burns through my shirt quickly.
    “I can’t think about me right now. I’m sure your mind is racing with this news on so many fronts, and I promise I’ll answer all your questions, but we have something way more important to discuss. Dr. Sand knows about my cancer and has plans to capture Silver Lake wolves and test their blood on me.”
    “Oh my god. Does she—”
    “No,” I say. “She doesn’t know that I’ve already had werewolf blood in my system.”
    “Good. So what’s her plan?”
    Mia is aware that the government signed off on Dr. Sand, so I explain to her the doctor’s new approach using private funding. When I’m done, Mia is the one who paces in an effort to control her anger. She says, “You have to get out of there, Andi. Once we get you more werewolf blood she’s bound to figure out what you’ve done.” She stops moving to look at me. “Do you have a draw kit here?”
    “No.” Realization hits me. “Oh, Mia. Were you going to give me your blood?”
    “Of course, if you think it will work.”
    I shrug. “That’s the thing. We don’t even know if Esher’s will work again, but we’re going to try tonight.”
    “Okay, good. What can I do?”
    “Tell your alpha what I’ve told you. Dr. Sand said it would be next week before they go after the wolves, and that will give you time to prepare.”
    “Okay. I’ll go see Paul, our alpha.” The couch sinks when she sits next to me. “How do you know my mate’s older brother?”
    “He was my boyfriend in college.”
    She frowns for a second, and then her mouth opens a bit before she says, “You’re the one.”
    Now it’s my turn to frown as hot shame floods my face. “I know. I’m the reason the wolves are in danger.”
    Mia shakes her head as she says, “No. That’s not what I meant.” She stands and says, “I should go to Paul. But before I do, you have to promise me you won’t return to the lab, Andi. It’s not safe, even for you.”
    I answer automatically, “Yeah, sure.” I’m the one? The one what? What exactly am I to Esher?

8
    W hen Mia leaves , I’m so tired I lie down for a nap. But I don’t sleep as well as I had hoped, because my dreams are about wolves in cages, and I finally get up for a long, hot bath instead. The light floral scent of the salts I pour in float to my nose, and I lower myself into the warm water. My muscles relax as reality sinks in. I could die. And with that reality the tears come.
    At first I cry because my life might be over, and I’ll never get married or be a mother. But that makes way to the idea that my career was ruined by Dr. Sand, and that after all I’ve done to fix my mistake, I may not be able to save the Silver Lake wolves after all. By the time my bath is cold, I’m a snotty mess, but I clean up and climb out with the relief a good cry can lend.
    Even though my life is falling apart, I can’t help but be excited that I’m going to spend my evening with Esher. The slinky fabric of a light knit dress caresses my skin as I pull it on, and I smile at my reflection in the mirror when I sweep my hair up into a tousled-looking updo. I hope it makes the sexy werewolf want to thread his fingers through it.
    Fifteen minutes later I turn onto the dirt road that leads to Esher’s house on Silver Lake. I descend down a hill and enjoy a beautiful view of the water as I drive. A dock extends in an L shape, and a small motorboat is next to it. Esher must have heard me pull in, because he steps through the door before I get to it.
    I pick my way carefully across the gravel because of my heels, and Esher smiles as he comes to meet me. I say, “I