The Alpha Men's Secret Club 4: Intrigue: A Shockingly Hot BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

for it?” his father said.
    Rust pulled in a deep breath. “Yes. But do you think we should wait till . . . after?”
    “I don’t know if you killed him, son. I won’t lie to you. It’s possible that you did and you left some clue with your DNA at the crime scene.”
    “Our DNA changes when we shift.”
    “Most of it remains intact. There are very few differences between human DNA an d animal DNA, as you well know.”
    “But still – ” Rust was adamant. “They wouldn’t be able to identify it was me.”
    “I think they found more than animal DNA, Rust.” His father’s eyes met his. “That’s why they took the swab from you.”
    With a sinking feeling, Rust knew it was true.
    Connor said, “ I don’t know how long the DNA analysis will take. I don’t know if you’ll be arrested tomorrow or the day after. But if you don’t do this, the seed will grow inside you. It has already taken root and it will take over you – just as it has taken over your great-grandfather and your Uncle Sam.”
    “But what if I forget?” It was the thing he had been dreading. What if I forget . . . her ?
    “That’s the risk you’ll have to take,” Connor said. “You’ve already left her behind. No w it’s the only thing left you have left to do.”

10
     
    Here she was with New York at her feet. She should be thrilled. She had an expense account – not unlimited, but still considerable – to shop and dine in style as she pleased. She could go to Broadway shows and museums and art galleries. She should be living it up before it all went away.
    But all Kate could do was to stare out of her window.
    It had been three days. Three whole days since she had last seen Rust.
    It was getting unbearable.
    Didn’t he know that he was like a drug to her? Didn’t he know that she couldn’t live – couldn’t breathe – without him? Here she was, restlessly pacing up and down her suite. She wasn’t even eating anymore. Not properly. She only sometimes remembered to drink. She hadn’t washed her hair in three days. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a bath.
    She didn’t even blink properly anymore.
    Was this depression?
    She couldn’t even cry. She had no tears to cry. She suspected she was dehydrated, but she was too listless to get up and do something about it. She wouldn’t even let the maid come in to clean.
    When the hotel phone rang, she jumped. Rust! she immediately thought. He has come for me!
    Hope gave her strength to leap for the phone.
    The voice on the other end was not Rust, however, but someone who gave her a huge surge of elation.
    Incredulously, she said, “Michaela?”
    “I’m down here, girl. When are you gonna invite me up?”
     
    *
     
    When Michaela swept into the room, Kate fell into her arms. She felt truly alive in days, and if she didn’t have tears before, they now crept into her eyes and ran freely down her cheeks.
    “Hey, girl,” Michaela was filled with concern, “I was so worried about you. You never returned my calls and your phone ke pt going to Voice Mail.”
    Oh . . . she had let her cellphone battery die and she didn’t charge it.
    Michaela held her at arm’s length and took a good look at her.
    “Girl, you look awful,” she declared. “You smell awful. I’m going to order enough food for ten people . . . just for the two of us . . . and I’m going to run you a hot bath. Then you can tell me everything.”
    “How did you get here?” Kate said.
    “I flew. It’s kind of difficult to drive cross country when you don’t have a car.”
    “No . . . I mean, don’t you have classes or something?”
    “I do, but I skipped them.” Michaela winked. “No one will even know I’m not there.”
    “Of course they will.”
    Michaela rolled her eyes. “Yeah, rub it in, girl. It’s because I take up half the room.”
    “Where did you find the money for your air ticket?”
    “Why the third degree? Aren’t you glad to see me? Don’t badger me with all the questions