Forbidden Hope: A Werewolf Wars Prequel Novella Read Online Free

sighed, chancing a glance at Marcus. He sat, relaxed in the plush, green chair. She leaned back and tried to focus on the movie, but every so often her eyes drifted to the wolf on her right. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.
    ***
    E mily tiptoed down into the kitchen. The house was quiet and dark; all the occupants were sound asleep. She’d developed a routine long ago of stealing a few moments to herself, and now, she couldn’t sleep until she took advantage of the freedom. For a few precious moments every night, she could wander about the house and not have her every movement tracked. Usually, it was her brothers who followed her around, but she craved time just to herself. She grabbed a can of Coke from the fridge and crept outside.
    As she stepped onto the front porch, the crisp air touched her skin, sending a chill up her spine.  She pulled her plush purple robe tighter, slightly regretting her choice of a cold beverage in this weather.  But only slightly.  Coke is worth it.  The she-wolf popped the tab on her soda and took a long gulp of the bubbly liquid.
    Headlights bounced in the distance as a car turned down the long gravel drive. The tires crunched over the rocks and she could make out a green Civic in the distance.  The garage door opened, filling the quiet night air with a soft hum.
    She watched as Devon’s vehicle pulled into the building. A moment later, a door clicked shut and she could hear Marcus and Devon talking as they left the garage. Devon veered to the left toward the guesthouse while Marcus made his way toward the main house; the newest pack member was now staying in the quarters of the large guesthouse.
    Emily took another sip, watching curiously as Marcus jogged up to the porch.
    “Did you forget where your room is?” she teased as he clamored up the wooden steps.
    Marcus paused, his eyes darting to her. “I didn’t see you there,” he smiled.
    She shrugged. “Just enjoying the night air. Did you have fun tonight?” She regretted the question as soon as she asked. She didn’t want to know. It was obvious that her twin had enjoyed himself—and still was since he hadn’t returned home.
    “It was okay. It’s nice to get out and unwind a little.”
    “I bet,” she blurted, rolling her eyes, she would give anything to have a night out of the house. He hadn’t meant any harm by his comment, but it reminded her that she couldn’t go out and just chill. A part of her understood the reasoning, but it didn’t take away the craving for freedom.
    “I was going to run inside and get my laptop. I left it in the front room. I like to check up on things before going to bed. It’s how I unwind,” Marcus said after a long moment.
    She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Her mother had mentioned something about Marcus doing work for Emmett. “I heard my dad is letting you balance his books and work the stock market.”
    “Yeah,” he grinned.
    “You like that type of thing?”
    “It’s what I was going to school for. And I’m really good at it. It’s always a pleasure to watch your earnings grow and know that you were responsible for it,” Marcus explained with a toothy grin.
    Emily nodded. She understood what he was saying, even if she had no idea how stocks and bonds worked.
    “What are you doing up so late?” he asked. He finished climbing the steps and strolled over to the swing, sitting next to her. A chill of anticipation ripped through her. He was so close—too close. She needed to distance herself before her body reacted even more to his.
    “Couldn’t sleep.” She stood up and suppressed a yawn.
    “My mom used to always make me a tall glass of warm milk when I was a kid and couldn’t sleep.”
    “My mom read to me.”
    Marcus used the heels of his feet to sway the swing back and forth. “I could make you a glass of milk.” He looked pointedly at the red can in her hand. “I doubt that will help you sleep.”
    Emily laughed. “Probably