Haze of Heat Read Online Free PDF Page B

end that some asshole had taken something sweet and romantic and turned it into something vile. “For the passion, purity of love, and happiness she brought to his life.”
    “A beautiful sentiment, soiled by a psycho who found out where you were staying.”
    Rachel’s shoulders slumped. “He must have followed me and I never noticed.”
    Whatever was going on in Melinda’s mind made her head cock slightly in thought. “A possibility. Is that when you went to your grandfather’s pack for help?”
    Rachel nodded. “Grandpa actually suggested it. He went with me to his alpha’s house and things went downhill from there. Despite his age, Grandpa’s low on the totem pole and beta material to boot. It was also crystal clear that the current alpha holds a grudge against Bethany for, what he considers, turning her back on the pack and marrying a human. Since I’m a shifter and related to a current member, the alpha couldn’t turn me down flat. Instead he placed a condition on his assistance he had to know I couldn’t possibly accept.”
    “Jackass.”
    A shocked snort of laughter spilled free at the calm assessment, along with the remaining greasy, coil of nerves in Rachel’s gut. “That’s what my grandfather called him. After we’d left, of course.”
    “Of course. Now if I understood you correctly, the alpha’s son was the one who told you about us?”
    Another sharp nod. “Brody was in the meeting as well and I’m pretty sure the horror on his face at the conditional assistance mirrored my own. But the kid is sneaky, at least when it comes to getting around his father. He asked his dad for some privacy for the two of us, to see if we’re ‘compatible’. That’s when he told me thanks but no thanks and wrote the name of three packs I’d have better luck with.”
    Melinda tucked a fist under her chin. “I wonder how he heard of us. Our pack is really only made up of family, and a few lones we adopted. Somewhat unusual, but not shockingly so. There’s actually two larger, non-familial, well-led packs in Florida alone. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. But I do wonder why this Brody knew us.”
    Rachel shrugged. “I have no idea. Besides you, he listed a leopard pack in Texas and a wolf pack in Colorado.”
    Melinda’s eyes widened, then she started to laugh. “Rome.”
    Rome? As in her second son? The security Nazi? “Pardon?”
    “Hold on a minute.” Melinda slipped out her cell phone and when whoever she dialed answered, simply said, “I need you in my office right away.” She slid the device back in the front pocket of her summer blue pants. “Brody didn’t steer you wrong, honey. You can stay as long as you need to.”
    “But,” Rachel stuttered, “the baby. I don’t want...”
    Melinda looked pointedly past Rachel’s head to the wall behind her, making Rachel swivel to view the rows of screens once again. “Katie thinks it’s safe enough, and that’s all I can say on that subject as it’s not my story to tell. Just know you’ve come to the right place.” Rachel turned back in time to see Melinda’s lips curl in a cryptic smile. “Damsels in distress have become our specialty.”
    Rachel didn’t know what to make of that odd comment. She didn’t have time to ponder it as a perfunctory knock sounded on the closed office door before it was thrown open. “You rang?”
    The man who stood in the threshold was worth a second, and even third, look. Tall, dark, and handsome, he resembled Porter so much there was no mistaking he was a sibling. His chest rose with a deep inhalation, no doubt taking in her scent. The lack of surprise that she was a shifter only reminded Rachel that the man had run a background check on her before she even stepped foot on the property. Depending on how in depth his investigation was, he might very well know everything about her, including what type of underwear she preferred.
    That very possibility made her squirm in her seat.
    “Rome, this is