Pride Unleashed Read online

  Nova’s jerky nod takes me by surprise. Her thick, death-black hair falls forward and masks her features as I study her harder, struggling to figure out who she is, and how she knows me. Before the answer comes to me, Logan slowly climbs to his feet, and his voice gives way to soft persuasion as he coaxes her to follow him up.

  Her bones crack in protest as she stands and I wonder how long she’s been crouched in that same position. Looking badly beaten and frightened to the point of tears her eyes rake over the motley crew with detached interest. But when her glance lands on me and lingers for longer than what’s comfortable, I get the strangest sense that she’s sizing me up.

  Unease moves into my stomach and my hackles bristle. The dark warning shivering through my blood has my wolf growling. But I place my hand over my stomach to hush her.

  Logan curls a protective arm around the girl’s shoulders and pulls her against him to offer comfort. She melts into him and that’s when her identity hits me. I’d briefly met her at Logan’s house when he first introduced me to the members of his pack. That was close to four weeks ago, right after the last full moon—which, I can tell from the gnawing ache pulling at my joints, will be upon us again any day now.

  But thinking about Logan’s family has me worrying about Malcolm and the others who disappeared outside the master’s mansion. I swallow the knot tightening my throat and wonder if they were involved in this bloodbath, or if they’re still missing, either caught by the PTF or on the run from deadly, shape shifting panthers in California wine country.

  “We can’t stay here,” Logan says quietly as he moves past my father and me to lead Nova outdoors. The hard lines on his face soften and there is real relief in his eyes when he lowers his voice and adds, “Nova said most of our pack made it out alive. Some might even be at our den just over that peak.” He stops to jut his chin toward the eastern mountain. “She has more information but right now she’s in no shape to talk. She has to shift and heal herself first.”

  As I watch them step over the rubble, and make their way through the crumbling house, I get the oddest feeling that something’s not quite right here. Heightening my senses, I listen to Nova’s blood pulse effortlessly through her veins. As I take in the smooth, unrestricted flow, I quickly conclude that the steady, rhythmic beat of her heart belies her stricken expression. Maybe she’s not quite as frightened as she seems.

  When Logan disappears around the corner with her packaged in his arms, I think about canine self preservation. While I understand that she’s been through a great amount of trauma, I also understand shifting to heal is as inherent as breathing—so why hasn’t Nova done it already?

  What has her wolf been waiting for?

  About Cat

  New York Times and USA today Bestselling author, Cathryn Fox/Cat Kalen is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.

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  Also by Cathryn Fox

  A Wolf's Pride

  Pride's Run

  Pride's Pursuit

  Pride Unleashed

  Boys of Beachville

  Good at Being Bad

  Igniting the Bad Boy

  Bad Girl Therapy

  The Complete Boys of Beachville Trilogy

  Captured and Claimed

  YOURS: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours To Take Part 1: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours to Keep Part 3: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Yours to Teach Part 2: Billionaire CEO Romance

  Confessions

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Professor

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Cop

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Fighter

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Gamer

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Doctor

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Millionaire

  Confessions of a Bad Boy Santa

  Confessions of a Bad Boy CEO

  Confessions: Book 1-3 plus Bonus Book

  Eternal Pleasure

  Instinctive

  Impulsive

  Indulgent

  The Complete Eternal Pleasure Series

  Firefighter Heat

  Firefighter Heat Trilogy

  Fever

  Siren

  Flash Fire

  Burn

  In the Line of Duty

  His Obsession Next Door

  His Strings to Pull

  His Trouble in Tallulah

  His Taste of Temptation

  His Moment to Steal

  His Best Friend's Girl

  His Reason to Stay

  The Complete Series, In the Line of Duty

  In the Line of Duty

  Invitation to Eden

  Breaking Free

  Players on Ice

  The Playmaker

  The Stick Handler

  The Body Checker

  The Hard Hitter

  Pleasure Inn

  All Tied Up

  All Lit Up

  All Worked Up

  The Complete Pleasure Inn Trilogy

  Reform

  Betting Bad

  Stone Cliff

  Crashing Down

  Wasted Summer

  Love Lessons

  Wrapped Up

  Stone Cliff Series

  Sun Stroked

  Seaside Seduction

  Deep Desire

  Private Pleasure

  Sun Stroked Trilogy

  Whispering Cove

  Wet

  Brazen

  Silk

  Flirty

  The Complete Whispering Cove series

  Standalone

  Holiday Spirit

  Hands On with the CEO

  Knocking on Demon's Door

  Liquid Dreams

  Unleashed

  Web of Desire

  Pin Me Up Proper

  Hot for Santa

  Panther's Pleasure

  Breath of Fire

  The Right Moves

  Single Dad Next Door