Pride Unleashed (a Wolf's Pride novel, book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

my stomach . I might have waited all night for a handler to come for me , to lead me to the master, but a fter learning Stone could be the father to Sandy’s pups, t he timing could n’t have be en worse.
    With my world tilt ing on its axis, I need a moment to compose myself, to desensitize , to concentrate on my mission . I look around frantically and when I spot my mother’s old den it helps me remember my purpose, my commitment to destroy the master and make him pay for what he’s done to us .
    With no choice but to force Sandy’s disturbing news to the back of my mind, I call on calm, and diligently struggle to get my head on straight. I’ll need all my wits about me when I face the master and the last thing I want him to know is how desperate I am to get into the courtyard before noon .
    I’m almost relieved when I see that it’s Mario coming to let the dogs out. Mario has always been nice to me, but I can’t ever forget he’s one of them.
    He stares at me longer than what’s comfortable and I see the strain in his eyes , a new weariness that wasn’t there three weeks ago. Holding his gaze I stare back, fully aware that Sandy is watching us with dark suspicion . I can only chalk her distrust up to her current condition , and th at she’s been beaten and broken by a man who I’m going to enjoy destroying .
    “Welcome back, Pride,” Mario greets and while his voice isn’t soft, it isn’t hard either. H is focus goes from me to Sandy, back to me again. H e studies me carefully , like he’s deliberating his next words. “ Are you prepared for today’s obstacles? ” he finally a sks but I can tell he wants to say something else as his tense glance f licker s from me to the padlock dangling on the outside of my cell .
    When the upstairs light glints on the shiny metal key, it occurs to me that the bolt is new. I’m not sure why that’s important. But some part of my brain registers that it is. I store that information away for later as Mario i nserts the k ey into the lock , but h is hand slows before he twists it . I can tell he’s waiting for my response , some kind of sign that I understand what he’s saying.  
    Instead of responding I take a second to digest his cryptic words . As they settle in my brain I get the distinct impression that he’s trying to war n me about something . Something that has nothing to do with the obstacle course we’re forced to compete on every day and everything to do with the master .
    Apprehension curls through me and o nce again my hackles bristle , my fearless wolf ready and anxious to face whatever danger lies ahead . As I acknowledge the strange new energy inside the mansion , I take a moment to wonder about the compound and all its secrets.
    W hat ’s happened here since I’ ve been gone?
    As I peruse Mario it occurs to me he’s being extra cautio us around Sandy. It’s clear that h e knows she’s been broken. But d oes he know I’m not? Is it possible that the handle r can be trusted? When I go for his throat to overpower him will he shoot to kill, or will he back away and let me take my freedom ?
    He grabs my chain and I follow him out of the cage . I pad softly behind him, the cement so cold on the sole s of my feet they begin to ache . Once he has Sandy leashed, he guides us up the stairs, and this time I fully expect him to take me to the master. When we reach the top, the cannon thunders outside the window and I take a moment to count the seconds between detonations . I checked the timing when I was outside scouting the estate, but it doesn’t hurt to check again, just t o be one hundred perce nt sure that the s chedule hasn’t changed since my escape .
    My stomach grumbles but I ignore the warm , enticing scents of bacon, eggs, sausage and my favorite, hazelnut flavored coffee , as they fill the mansion . Mario leads us into the kitchen, toward the back courtyard , and when it become s clear that he’s actually taking me outside, instead of