Fate of the Alpha: The Complete Bundle Read Online Free PDF Page B

looked to Ainsley as he answered.
    “Ainsley is learning formal magic. It requires hard work, study and sacrifice, but it will give Ainsley control and precision. It’s a little different from cottage magic.”
    Ainsley sighed in exasperation and tromped toward the cul-de-sac.
    Too late he realized that what he’d said might offend Grace.
    “Though of course, cottage magic can be very helpful in its own right.”
    “It was nice to finally meet you.” Grace gave Julian a tight smile and headed after Ainsley.
    A jolt of sweetness that almost made him feel faint followed their brief eye contact.
    Mortified, he realized he was sick with love for her.
    And now she hated him.
    But surely everyone knew that formal magic was preferable to cottage magic? It wasn’t snobbery, it was a fact. Cottage magic was unpredictable and took its toll on its own terms. Formal magic was powerful and reliable.
    He turned back to the pool. It felt like even the frogs were giving him the stink eye. Who could blame them when he had managed to screw up love-at-first-sight?
    He tried not to imagine making love to Grace Kwan-Cortez on the abandoned brick patio, or in the tall grass as he trudged away from Happy to set up tomorrow’s lesson.

Chapter 4
    E rik hummed as he tapped out the next morning’s agenda on his iPad. He didn’t spend much time in his trailer - he much preferred the fresh air and blue sky, but at least in here he was surrounded by blueprints.
    A bad feeling broke his concentration. Something was different.
    He put down the iPad to listen for the sounds of trouble.
    Silence.
    There should never be silence on the site.
    He flew out the door of the trailer, praying that there hadn’t been an injury, and ready to tear into whoever was holding things up if there wasn’t.
    His eyes took in the familiar acre of overturned ground, auburn as his mate’s fur. His men stood around looking nervous, but there was no sign that their medical emergency plan had gone into effect.
    An unfamiliar man approached. He was short, with round wire-rimmed glasses. His white button down shirt and khakis looked like they came from a cheap department store. A clipboard jutted from beneath one arm.
    Government.
    Shit. What could be wrong?
    “Erik Jensen?”
    “That’s me. What can I do for you?”
    “This site has been closed down indefinitely.” He tapped the clipboard with a cheap Bic pen. “I’ll need you to sign here, here and here to acknowledge that you received this cease and desist and that you understand your obligations.”
    “May I see some ID?” Erik asked.
    That got the little guy’s attention.
    “Excuse me?” The man blinked behind his thick glasses.
    “If you work for the government, I have the right to request your identification and even your pay grade. Just identification will suffice, for now at least.”
    The man shook his head as he pulled a lanyard with an ID out of his pocket and handed it to Erik.
    Leopold Pruitt - Environmental Protection Agency.
    “EPA, wow.” Erik returned the ID card. “May I ask why the EPA is interested in this site? We’re on private college property. I think you’ll find all our papers are in order.”
    “It’s all right here,” Leopold pointed at the clipboard again.
    “I intend to fully review that document with an attorney. Can you explain it in layman’s terms?”
    “We’ve had reports that this site is a habitat for the endangered short-eared owl.”
    They looked together over the already treeless lot.
    “This was an athletic field, Leopold. We dug up the grass and removed 6 trees that had been planted to screen the field from the road. I don’t really see how it could qualify as an owl habitat. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”
    Leopold looked down at his clipboard.
    “Is this ‘The Proposed Site of the Tarker’s Hollow College Inn and Bookstore’ ?”
    Erik nodded.
    Leopold shrugged.
    “Then please sign, here, here and here.” Tapping the clipboard