Scorched Heart (The Firebrand Series Book 4), Helen Harper [free ereaders .txt] 📗

Devereau felt his anger hardening into something colder. ‘Since when did we care about the law?’

‘Boss,’ Gaz whispered, ‘nobody else wants to be a werewolf.’

The door swung open and Alice stomped in, pigtails whirling. She threw herself onto the sofa and reached for the remote control.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ Devereau asked. She didn’t answer immediately. He nodded at Gaz, who got the message and withdrew, relief written all over his face at his temporary reprieve from further questioning.

Devereau walked over and sat beside his niece. ‘Alice,’ he said gently, ‘has something happened?’

Her bottom lip trembled. ‘I was supposed to be going swimming with Becky and Chloe. I got up early especially.’

Until recently, when her cancer had gone into remission, Alice hadn’t been able to go swimming. Being healthy enough to go out for the day with friends and do normal kid things was a big deal for her.

‘They’ve changed their plans?’ he prodded.

‘Chloe’s mum said they were going to visit family instead.’ She threw him a baleful glance. ‘But I saw their bags. They’re not going to see family. They’re still going swimming.’ Her mouth set into a mutinous line. ‘They just don’t want me to go with them.’

The cold rage in his veins turned to brittle ice and his right eyebrow started to twitch and spasm. ‘Go back to your mum, Alice,’ he said. He considered himself Alice’s guardian as much as his sister Natasha was her mother. Being a werewolf didn’t change that, but he wasn’t best placed to look after Alice right now. ‘Stay with her today.’

Her hurt was palpable. ‘So now you don’t want me either?’

He took her hands in his and squeezed them gently. ‘I’ll always want you. But I’m going to take a shower and head out.’

‘Where are you going?’

He set his jaw. ‘To see a woman about a wolf.’

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About the Author

After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time, thanking her lucky stars every day that's she lucky enough to do so!

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.

She currently lives in Devon in the UK with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere.