Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) E. Hall (best fiction novels of all time .txt) 📖

In turn, they measure me up—Avril with her facial piercings, Heather who’s pale and wiry, and Harper, who is tan and sturdy. Hannah stares at her hands.

“I don’t think we’ve all officially met. I’m Kenna Slade.”

A beat passes. I have the urge to rush from the water.

“Slade, huh?” Heather asks. “As in Greyson Slade.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” I answer honestly at the reference to my absentee and controversial father.

“I guess you took his place as Magical’s Most Wanted,” Harper says.

“I didn’t know that was a thing, and I’m certainly not competing for the position. Unless there’s a prize of some sort. Like a lifetime supply of doughnuts or—” My joke falls flat.

“As far as we’re concerned, he may as well be dead so you can take his place,” Avril says.

The words cut the air from the room.

“Lucky for you, you have Corbin on your side, otherwise I have no doubt the Council would already have sent you to the Iron Tower,” Heather adds.

I hadn’t thought much about my father’s legacy simply because I know so little about him, but I never thought I would be the target of so much venom.

Avril snickers. Up close, the others look a little younger than her. Wolves can be old, but fully synthesize with their magic at eighteen and stop aging.

I also hadn’t thought about how Corbin managed to keep the Council off my tail all summer. He’s the Alpha wolf, so maybe he had some leverage. Whatever the case, I’d like to find out...and why my father is such a problem.

“What did Greyson Slade ever do to you?” I ask.

Avril’s expression darkens. She leans closer, so she’s inches from my face. Pulling her hair from her neck, she reveals scars like she once wore a collar. “He’s a monster, and so are you.”

Anger starts to boil inside. If these were shark-infested waters, the temperature would be going up a few degrees. My wolf edges closer to the surface.

“I can’t take responsibility for what Greyson did. But I’m sorry, whatever it was that happened to you.” I get to my feet. “I don’t know what I am, but I know I am not a monster. I wouldn’t do anything like that to hurt you or the rest of the pack.”

I leave the room, trying to shake off the anger and ache. But also not quite believing what I said. I don’t know what I am, and depending on what happens, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hang onto who I am.

Chapter 2

Corbin

Kenna can only use the wolf-way of communication with me, but I’m tuned into my pack. I don’t like the way the others are behaving toward her—I didn’t have the heart to tell her Avril tossed the muffins.

I have to focus on the meeting in the den right now and not that or the way the starlight illuminates her pearly skin when we meet at night and before we shift. Not the way her smoky gray eyes are as full and as alluring as the sky, or how her hair cascades around her bare shoulders after we shift, her smooth curves, or the way she tastes when we kiss.

I tell my wolf to shut it down...at least for now.

Baker briefs me that the Alpha Guardians and Warriors Council called a summit. Of course, it’s about Kenna. Since her identity was exposed at the Mate Call-Out, the Council has been on my back about putting her on trial. The thing is, she hasn’t committed any crimes.

According to what we’ve been taught, her existence as a tri-magical is unlawful. Having gotten to know her, I’m certain she wouldn’t harm anyone intentionally. However, she must train and learn how to use her power. The trouble is, whoever volunteers to do that might exploit her or she could fall into the hands of the Klave.

I’ve been able to stave off the Council because we’ve been busy trying to track down the renegade werewolf. If anything, she’s of greater concern. Months have passed without any sign of her presence, but John Stafford hiking with a rifle suggests she’s afoot. Humans’ senses pale in comparison to wolves, but they do have gut instincts. I can’t ignore that John thought it was a good idea to take a hike with a gun in hand.

Baker urges me to gain a few more weeks before I meet with the Council so he can continue his database analysis to determine the identity of the rogue wolf. However, the conversation earlier that Avril, Heather, Harper, and Hannah had about Kenna gets loud in my ears.

If this were any other pack, a fight would’ve already broken out if anyone stupidly threw words around as Avril did. There’s a reason she’s not at the den meeting. My fists flex the same as they did when I gathered how poorly she treated Kenna and threw the muffins away. When I won the Alpha role, I put unnecessary violence behind me. The key to the success of Pack Hjalmor is that we’re family first. Warriors second. That’s how it works.

“Corbin, you seem distracted,” Trigg says.

“Tell your girlfriend to back off,” I grind out.

He startles. “What do you mean? She’s not even here.”

Of course, he’s not tuned into pack communication like I am. “I overheard her and some of the other girls being nasty. I don’t dig how cliché that is. We’re better than that.”

He exhales long as if he knows all too well about Avril’s attitude.

“I’m questioning her role as beta,” I tell him.

“She thinks you’re entranced by Kenna and vying to get her into position among the betas.”

I bark a laugh. If they only knew Kenna is an Alpha. “Nope,” I say shortly. “The reason Avril isn’t here is that she’s