Home (Running With Alphas Book 7) Read Online Free PDF

that much, especially venison. Caim says I get it from our mother.”
    Snow was still smiling, but Taylor recognized the way the girl’s eyes had darkened. In spite of all the resentment she’d been building up over the past week, Taylor just couldn’t help but like Snow.
    “You must wonder about her a lot,” Taylor said, scooping a spoonful of stew into her bowl. “Which parts of you are you and which parts come from her.”
    Snow shook her head. “I don’t like it when people compare me to her. That’s why I usually don’t complain when all we have for dinner is meat.”
    Taylor nodded, but was unable to offer a response as she’d just spooned a large chunk of overcooked meat into her mouth. She chewed quickly as Snow continued to speak.
    “I think I smile like my mom,” she said, her voice lowering. “Whenever I smile, my dad seems a little sad. I’ve practiced smiling a different way, but it’s not something you think about until you’re doing it, you know?”
    “My mom and I are total opposites,” Taylor told her. “But we have the exact same laugh. I didn’t actually meet her until I was a little older than you, but somehow, I always knew that if I ever heard her laugh, she’d sound just like me. I think I spent half my life wishing I could hear her laugh.”
    Snow appeared mystified. “What was it like when you did? Was it everything you’d hoped it would be?”
    “It was great,” Taylor said, giving a small shrug. “But…it was just a laugh, Snow. At the end of the day, she wasn’t the person who had taught me how to cook or had taken care of me while I was sick. There’s a huge difference between a ‘mother’ and a ‘mom’.”
    Now, Snow was nodding her head. Her bottom lip quivered. “Sarah was my mom. I love her so much… I don’t know if I’m ready for all of this. I always wanted to grow up so badly, but now my body is changing and there’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t be a kid anymore.”
    Taylor set her stew aside and reached over to squeeze Snow’s hand. “Your mom loves you so much. You’ll always be her daughter, no matter what.”
    She could hardly imagine what Snow was going through. Her own transition into adolescence had been a difficult and confusing time, and that was with all the resources modern society had to offer. Shifter society wasn’t equipped to deal with a girl like Snow.
    “It must have been hard to talk to Sarah about this. Probably even harder to talk to Alder.”
    Snow inclined her head. “The only other person I’ve talked to is Silas… I know it wasn’t safe for me at Whiteriver and I’m glad I’m back, but sometimes I miss him.”
    Taylor smiled knowingly. “Well, I’m not a super hot alpha wolf, but I’m here any time you want to talk.”
    Snow’s face colored. In a hushed voice, she asked, “You think Silas is hot, too?”
    “Don’t tell your father.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Taylor had just finished combing her hair when Alder entered the cabin, bringing with him her new favorite thing—venison. She was happy to see that he had brought an extra large portion, indicating that he’d be joining her for dinner.
    She climbed to her feet as Alder set the meat down on the fireplace grate.
    “How was the hunt?” she asked.
    Rather than answer, Alder swung an arm around her hips and pulled her in for a kiss. Taylor let out a muffled laugh and eagerly reciprocated. When he drew back, she was grinning ear to ear.
    “The hunt went well,” he said, his voice husky. “Have you looked outside yet?”
    She arched a brow. “No, why?”
    Lips twitching, he motioned towards the window. “See for yourself.”
    Reluctantly leaving his arms, Taylor made her way to the window. She pulled back the curtain and her mouth fell open. In the hour between when she’d woken and now, a heavy layer of snow had fallen, covering the ground. Large, fluffy snowflakes were still drifting down from the sky as she opened the window. So far that winter,