The Alpha's Search (The Craven Trilogy, #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was seated in a green leather armchair. To his left, an open fire blazed.
    “Where are we?”
    “It doesn't matter. We should be safe here for now. Come and sit with me. You look—”
    “Shit?”
    “I was going to say tired, but I guess ' shit ' is about right.” He smiled.
    I still felt unsteady on my feet, so accepted his invitation to sit in the identical armchair at the opposite side of the fireplace.
    “He killed Alison,” I said. “That bastard killed Alison.”
    “I'm truly sorry about your friend.”
    “Who is he? Why did he kill her?”
    “His name is Lassiter. He came for you. Your friend got in the way.”
    “Got in the way? So he just kills her?”
    Craven nodded.
    “What does he want with me?”
    “I'm not sure. Maybe to kill you.”
    “Why?”
    “It's complicated.”
    “You keep saying that. Tell me.”
    “Are you sure you're ready to listen.”
    “Yes. Just tell me.”
    “Lassiter isn't human,” he began.
    “You're not kidding. The murdering bastard is an animal.”
    “Actually, he's a vampire.”
    “A vampire?” I laughed, and the pain shot up my back again. “I thought you were going to tell me what really happened.”
    “I'm trying to. I know this is difficult, but I'm telling you the truth.”
    “A vampire?” I snorted.
    “Your friend. Alison? She must have invited him in.”
    “He came to the flat earlier in the day. He said he had a parcel for Alison. If he was looking for me, why didn't he attack me then?”
    “Did you invite him in?”
    “No. He gave me the creeps, so I wouldn't let him in.”
    “He couldn't enter your flat without an invitation. Your friend must have asked him in.”
    “Why did he kill her if it was me he was after?”
    “He didn't need a reason. He's only interested in you.”
    “Why would anyone want to kill me? I haven't done anything to anyone.”
    “We are a threat to him and his kind.”
    “We? What we ? There is no we ,” I said.
    “Do you remember what I told you in the coffee bar?”
    “That we were mates forty years ago? Oh sure, I remember that. It's not every day I hear that kind of bollocks.”
    “Do you see vampires every day?”
    “Vampires? Says you. There's no such thing as vampires.”
    “What about shifters? Do you believe there are shifters?”
    “What? Have you been looking at my bookcase?”
    “I've never seen your books.”
    “Bullshit!”
    “So? Do you?”
    “Of course I don't.” I stood up—I was tired of listening to his crap. “I thought you were going to tell me what was going on.”
    “I'm trying to explain. Sit down—please!”
    We were in a log cabin—stuck in the middle of God knows where. I didn't want to be there, but how could I go back home if that murdering bastard, Lassiter, was still around. I needed to bide my time until I could get in touch with the police.
    “Do you have a phone?” I asked.
    “Too dangerous.”
    I sat down again. “Who are you really? What's your first name?”
    “I have only one name.”
    “Craven? Strange name.”
    “You used to like it.”
    “Forty years ago?”
    He nodded. Now I knew for sure—I was well and truly down the rabbit-hole.
    *********
    C raven volunteered to make dinner. I didn't object—I couldn't cook for shit anyway. While he busied himself in the kitchen, I had my first real opportunity to study him. He was a striking man—too handsome if anything. He had a presence which was difficult to put into words.
    “What's the plan?” I said before pushing a fork full of potatoes into my mouth.
    “We stay here for a while until you've recovered enough to travel.”
    “I'm okay. Just a few bruises.”
    “A couple of days should do it.”
    “Then what?”
    “Then, we go in search of a pack.”
    “Pack of what?”
    “Wolf shifters.”
    “How long do you intend to keep this up? Why don't you tell me the truth?”
    “Eat up. You need to rebuild your strength.”
    It was pointless trying to get any sense out of him, so I focussed on the food.