Rogue Alpha: Wolf Shifter Romance (Wild Lake Wolves Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

them to Flood behind
me, his implication clear.
    “I’m good,” I answered. It was true and not true.
But, as I stood just a few feet from this man, I had a sense that every
question, every gesture he made was part of some kind of threat assessment. He
stood with his body angled toward the door, his legs slightly parted as if he
were ready for a fight. His eyes scanned the room from me to Flood then back to
the door.
    But, whoever he was, I needed him to know I could
handle myself. I don’t know why that was so important, but it was. “Are you
feeling hassled Professor Flood?” I emphasized the word Professor. The man was
in serious need of a reminder of boundaries. Might as well start there.
    His mouth set into a grim line, and his face had
drained of color. “Let’s just get what we need and get out of here. You’ve set
us behind schedule enough.”
    I’ve what now? Flood was seething rage. He brushed
fully past Devane and grabbed a basket from the wall, gripping it so hard he
bent the handle. He moved to the other end of the store and away from Devane
and me.
    “Didn’t mean to upset him,” Devane said. “Seems a
little touchy.”
    “We’re here for research,” I said stupidly.
    Devane raised his uninjured eyebrow. I looked in
front of me. I happened to be standing in front of the first aid supplies and
over-the-counter medicine. I grabbed a bottle of iodine and gauze and thrust it
into Devane’s hand. My skin flared hot where he touched me, sending a sensation
like a shock wave through me.
    “I think you might have a fever, Mr. Devane,” I
said, my mouth going instantly dry.
    “I’m not Mr. Devane. I’m Mal.”
    Mal. His name washed over me in ripples. Mal. It
suited him. Bad. Dangerous.
    “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Mal. But that eye of
yours might be infected.” I grabbed a tube of triple antibiotic cream and
shoved that in his hand next.
    His posture changed. His shoulders dropped and he
shook with low, rumbling laughter. He took the tube from me and held it up,
shaking it once. “I’ll take that into consideration.”
    “How’d you get that cut? It looks bad.” And it did.
A chunk of skin had been torn away just above his eyebrow. When it healed, the
hair likely wouldn’t grow back, so he’d have a permanent line running through
his brow to make him look even more dangerous than he already did.
    His face grew serious again. He looked over my
shoulder. I looked back. Flood stood at the checkout counter, his basket heaping
with supplies as he fumbled for his wallet to pay Mr. Fleeger.
    “Hunting accident,” Mal said, not taking his eyes
off Flood.
    “Hmm. You’d better be more careful next time. Wear
more orange.”
    “Thanks for the tip,” Mal said, his voice smooth and
deep.
    “Do you know him?” I asked, lowering my voice. He
kept his gaze locked on Flood, watching every move he took through the store.
    Mal’s eyes finally flicked back to me. They were
deep set, a golden amber color like scotch whiskey with gold flecks. Beautiful
eyes. Mesmerizing. But familiar. Recognition skittered across my skin, making
the tiny hairs on my arms stand on end.
    “Research, ” Mal said the word as if it tasted bad in his mouth.
“What’s he researching?”
    I shook the cobwebs from my head. “Chronic Wasting Disease
in the whitetail population around here.”
    “Hmm.” He shrugged his shoulders and jerked his
chin, almost scoffing at my answer.
    I meant to ask him what he meant by that but didn’t
get the chance. Flood pushed his way down the aisle, his arms laden with three
stuffed grocery bags. I turned and took one from him.
    “We need to go,” he said, physically putting himself
between me and Mal Devane. It seemed a risky maneuver. Mal looked like he could
squash him with one fist. Flood was by no means slight. He too was strong, with
sculpted muscles. But his were just that, sculpted. He’d earned them on weight
machines in a gym somewhere. Mal looked like he’d earned