When a Pack Dies Read Online Free PDF Page B

was...getting the paperwork and...and measuring for curtains,” she added with a dull laugh.
    Cutler shifted uneasily in his chair and let go of her arm when she leaned away from him. He hated the pain in this woman’s voice...hated any pain she might feel and the strength of his sense of possession, his protectiveness for a wandering stranger startled him.
    Fina threw her napkin on the table and lay her forehead in her palms. “I was so stupid...preoccupied with a dozen stupid things that didn’t mean a damn thing.” She sighed, trembled and stared up at the ceiling. “It was nighttime when I got home. I just walked in like I didn’t have a care in the world and they were there.”
    “Who?”
    “The rogues.” Fina trembled again. “I could smell the blood...” Her voice trailed off and when Cutler set his hand back on her forearm, this time, her trembling stopped.
    “Excuse me, miss, but my husband and I were wondering...”
    Trudy, a member of Cutler’s pack and the mother of the boy playing with Ryan, stood beside their table. She glanced back at her husband.
    “We’d be real pleased if you’d consider staying with us. Maybe for a little while,” she added with that warm, open smile that Cutler had almost fallen in love with back when they were in grade school together. They’d played with each other so much as kids it felt like they were brother and sister and Trudy had never held back on speaking her mind around her Alpha because of it. Cutler hadn’t offered the stray wolves sanctuary—not yet anyway. Trudy wouldn’t have a problem voicing her opinion on whether or not their pack should take them in. “Motels are fun for awhile but there’s nothing like a home. We’ve got three little ones of our own,” added the tall, harried-looking woman, glancing back at her mate with open affection. “Room might be a little tight but we’d be thrilled to have you stay...for as long as you like,” she added, lifted a dark brow in Cutler’s direction and headed back to her table.
    Cutler shot her a look then turned his attention back to Fina. He ran his thumb over her forearm, enthralled by the smoothness of her skin and the delicacy of the muscles beneath.
    “What happened then?”
    She stiffened beneath his hand. The scent of numbing fear rolled out of her pores and coated the insides of his nostrils like oil.
    “I walked out early the next morning. They must have thought I’d...that I’d bond with them because they’d killed everyone else. Bonded females stay put,” she added unnecessarily.
    Cutler smelled the missing pieces in her story. Some pretty nasty scenarios came to him but he decided to respect her silence on the matter. For now.
    “I just got in my car and drove. I spotted Ryan sitting in front of his school. He says his father hid him up in a tree house. Ryan spent the night there then when nobody came to get him, he just headed to school on his own when the sun came up.” Fina laughed hollowly and brushed tears out of her eyes. “Brave kid, huh?”
    “He’s not the only one.”
    Fina looked up at the big sheriff. As frightened as she was—for her and Ryan—she felt better sharing her story with someone. Anyone. She forced a smile and was glad she did when his stupidly beautiful aqua eyes brightened in response.
    Cutler leaned back from her and let his fingers slip away from her arm when Dorothea Pike stepped up to the table. She poured coffee in their cups without asking.
    “It’s Fina, right?” Dorothea asked with a brightness that almost masked the concern in her eyes. “My husband and I have a house not far from here. Just a small spread with a couple head of cattle. Does your little one like to ride horses? Reason I’m asking is we’ve got space now that our own kids have grown up. I know he’d be tickled to have a young’un back around the place. Maybe teach him how to feed chickens...ours loved helping out when they were little,” Dorothea added with an