Untamed: An Alpha's Promise (Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance) Read Online Free
Author: Evelyn Glass
if she were at her childhood home as a guest. She passed the little cottage she’d moved into when she was eighteen and spent the past couple of years making her own. The windows gaped at her and she felt guilty for not even checking on her plants. Though she hadn’t officially moved in with Parker she’d been back only a handful of times, and only to grab more clothes.
Her mother hadn’t said much when she’d called that afternoon, just that she needed to be there, and Charmaine’s stomach sank as she saw all the cars in the driveway. Clearly this went beyond the family unit to official pack business, because all the important members were there. Her first instinct was panic - had they somehow found out about Parker? Was this going to be some sort of trial? Then she realized it probably had something to do with her father’s conveyance of his role as Alpha. Scottie’s father, Kevin, had led the Vella pack with César for two decades, the two men as close as brothers. Her father must have decided it was time, then. She relaxed in her seat as she parked the Jeep and went inside. Nothing to worry about.
She was a bit surprised that Scottie hadn’t come, but thought that perhaps he hadn’t wanted to see her again so soon. Maybe he needed some space. After all, Kevin’s ascent had been planned for years. This was more a formality than anything, and Scottie had never been interested in pack politics. She wove through the crowd of men gathered in the great room and found her way to her mother’s side. Crystal’s cheeks glowed pink and her blue eyes sparkled as she greeted her only daughter with a cry of joy and a kiss on the cheek.
“Have you been drinking?” Charmaine teased. Her mother was downright giddy.
“Of course not! This is just very exciting.”
Her mother’s comment was puzzling, since just last week she’d complained that the changes were making her nervous and that if it wasn’t for César’s health she’d have him run the pack forever just so things would stay as they were. Why the change of heart, then? She was way too animated considering the circumstances.
She followed her mother’s gaze to her oldest brother, who straightened his tie and smiled confidently. She watched as Christopher whispered in César’s ear and heard her mother exclaim, “He’s ready, don’t you think? He’ll be just like his father.” But it still took a minute to catch on to what was happening.
How could I have been so blind?
Charmaine’s veins filled with ice as she realized it wasn’t Kevin who was to become Alpha, it was Christopher. She didn’t know how or when that had been decided, but there was no mistaking her father’s intent as César slung his arm around his oldest son’s shoulders, beaming at him, as he made the announcement that Christopher Vella was the pack’s new Alpha and the CEO of Gillis-Vella, Inc. As she looked on, stunned, Kevin gave a brief speech to the other men about how honored he was to support Christopher after César’s retirement; how he was an old man who wanted to retire soon himself but would be happy to help Christopher in his first year as was the custom; how Christopher would bring new leadership and with it a new future for their pack.
As the crowd broke into applause, Charmaine heard a familiar voice over her shoulder. “Did I miss the big announcement? Sorry, I thought I had more time.”
She turned to find Scottie at her side, dressed in a crisp shirt and pants that showed off his toned physique. He was even wearing a tie, which he hadn’t done since their high school graduation two years earlier.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Charmaine grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
He relaxed into her embrace and murmured huskily against her ear, “And ruin your surprise? Nah.”
She pulled back with a quizzical look and her father spoke again, interrupting them. “We do have one more piece
Her mother hadn’t said much when she’d called that afternoon, just that she needed to be there, and Charmaine’s stomach sank as she saw all the cars in the driveway. Clearly this went beyond the family unit to official pack business, because all the important members were there. Her first instinct was panic - had they somehow found out about Parker? Was this going to be some sort of trial? Then she realized it probably had something to do with her father’s conveyance of his role as Alpha. Scottie’s father, Kevin, had led the Vella pack with César for two decades, the two men as close as brothers. Her father must have decided it was time, then. She relaxed in her seat as she parked the Jeep and went inside. Nothing to worry about.
She was a bit surprised that Scottie hadn’t come, but thought that perhaps he hadn’t wanted to see her again so soon. Maybe he needed some space. After all, Kevin’s ascent had been planned for years. This was more a formality than anything, and Scottie had never been interested in pack politics. She wove through the crowd of men gathered in the great room and found her way to her mother’s side. Crystal’s cheeks glowed pink and her blue eyes sparkled as she greeted her only daughter with a cry of joy and a kiss on the cheek.
“Have you been drinking?” Charmaine teased. Her mother was downright giddy.
“Of course not! This is just very exciting.”
Her mother’s comment was puzzling, since just last week she’d complained that the changes were making her nervous and that if it wasn’t for César’s health she’d have him run the pack forever just so things would stay as they were. Why the change of heart, then? She was way too animated considering the circumstances.
She followed her mother’s gaze to her oldest brother, who straightened his tie and smiled confidently. She watched as Christopher whispered in César’s ear and heard her mother exclaim, “He’s ready, don’t you think? He’ll be just like his father.” But it still took a minute to catch on to what was happening.
How could I have been so blind?
Charmaine’s veins filled with ice as she realized it wasn’t Kevin who was to become Alpha, it was Christopher. She didn’t know how or when that had been decided, but there was no mistaking her father’s intent as César slung his arm around his oldest son’s shoulders, beaming at him, as he made the announcement that Christopher Vella was the pack’s new Alpha and the CEO of Gillis-Vella, Inc. As she looked on, stunned, Kevin gave a brief speech to the other men about how honored he was to support Christopher after César’s retirement; how he was an old man who wanted to retire soon himself but would be happy to help Christopher in his first year as was the custom; how Christopher would bring new leadership and with it a new future for their pack.
As the crowd broke into applause, Charmaine heard a familiar voice over her shoulder. “Did I miss the big announcement? Sorry, I thought I had more time.”
She turned to find Scottie at her side, dressed in a crisp shirt and pants that showed off his toned physique. He was even wearing a tie, which he hadn’t done since their high school graduation two years earlier.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Charmaine grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
He relaxed into her embrace and murmured huskily against her ear, “And ruin your surprise? Nah.”
She pulled back with a quizzical look and her father spoke again, interrupting them. “We do have one more piece
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