Stone Predator by Kennedy Harkins (children's ebooks free online .txt) 📕

breath, he smelled of the forest. My mind was fuzzy and I couldn’t form a coherent thought. I just stared into is beautiful angry eyes.
A hand rested itself on Ace’s should. Michael.
"Ace, cool it. Let's not hurt my savior," he said in a calm voice and was very careful not to phrase it like an order.
“She saved you?” His voice was incredulous. I realized that a human rescuing a werewolf was a little far fetched, but hey, insulting! You don’t see me shoving it in his face that he gets held up chasing his own tail!
“This wasn’t exactly how I expected my night to go, either. If you had been doing your job I wouldn’t have had to step in,” I shot at him angrily.
His head snapped back to me. He growled with teeth and everything.
If I thought his power was overwhelming before it was nothing compared to now. It enveloped my mind and it felt like I was drowning in it. I couldn’t breathe it was suffocating. My mind went blank, my eyes rolled back in my head, everything was black, and the world fell away.
The Coleman Manner

I’m not sure how long I was out, but when I came round my eye lids felt like they weighed 5 tons and every part of me ached like I had taken a beating with a wooden bat.
I decided that opening my eyes was to much that heard whispering a few feet from me. I strained my ears to make out what they were saying.
“What did you do to her?” A males shocked voice breathed.
“Nothing! Well, I mean- nothing I meant to,” mumbled a familiar voice. Ace.
“Why’d you bring her here? The other guy sounded a little angry.
Wait, here? Crap, guess that means I’m not in my house anymore. Damn kidnappers...well doctornappers.
My mind started racing with all the possibilities, terrifying possibilities. I tried to keep myself in check. Werewolves smell fear among other things. And fear singles you out as prey. I am no one’s chew toy.
Sudden anger at being brought somewhere against my will gave me the strength to sit up and open my eyes.
I scanned my surroundings with care. It was a house, well kind of. If a mansion counts as a house. It all seemed so orderly and clean. I was on a comfy black leather couch in a larger living room that could sit at least 30. Through the double doors I could see a large dinning room that could hold even more. Past that, I could just make out part of a modern kitchen. Everything seemed to be decorated professionally and reminded me of a hotel. Only way more more homey, like a enormous family lived here.
Standing in the middle of the living room were two men. The first one was Ace with his tall dark handsomeness, not to mention his major fear factor. The second was just as well built as Ace and just an inch shorter. He on the other hand had golden shoulder length hair, hazel eyes, and were Ace’s face was hard and breathtakingly handsome this man’s was soft and attractive. He looked to be about 2 years older than Ace’s 28. Of course that’s just how old they were when they turned, who knows how old they really are. I know it’s creepy how I know Ace’s exact age. They taught me well. It was even on a quiz I had had to take to get a job at the hospital.
I focused my attention on the two werewolves who were staring at me. I’m not sure how I knew the other one was a wolf, just something about the vibes I got from him.
Ace took a step towards me, I met his eyes and gave him a look that said ‘back the hell up, homeboy’.
His eyes narrowed, I could tell it took a lot of his self control not to assert his dominance and force me to comply to his will- it’s a wolf thing.
He stayed where he was.
I averted my eyes from his. Sure I didn’t like him, but if he was willing to make an attempt; I could certainly meet him halfway.
The other man cleared his throat suggestively; both Ace and I moved our attention to him.
Ace shared a look with him, the man raised his eyebrows and his glance flashed to me and back.
I glared in displeasure, I didn’t like being out of the loop. Ace turned to me and took in my angered expression with one of amusement.
He stretched out a hand to me, I stared at it; unsure of what he wanted.
“My name is Ace Coleman, Alpha of the Local pack,” his voice was pleasant and polite, on the surface. I gave him a few points however, because his smile was genuine. I placed my hand in his.
“I’m Vivica Khan, doctor of the local hospital. You can call me Vivi,” I matched his tone. Perhaps the first part was snotty, but I ended on a good note.
His hand was rough and calloused like a man who wasn’t afraid to do his own dirty work. I released it quickly; my teachers had never gone into great detail about touching a werewolf, besides in the medical sense, but I assumed it was a big ‘no no’.
As soon as my hand was free of Ace, someone else grabbed hold. I turned to meet the eyes of the other man, who’s smile was friendly.
I’m Alex Ross, Ace’s second in command,” his voice was playful, but I could tell he was serious.
“Good to meet you,” I took a step back, so I could keep my eyes on both of them. “Now where is Michael?”
***
The second floor was all bedrooms and the one Michael was in was at the end of the hall. It truly looked like a hotel, each room I passed was decorated almost identically to the one before. I came to the conclusion that Ace got a lot of guests. (Alex had told me on the up the stairs that the whole place is Ace’s.)
I didn’t bother knocking on the door, manners weren’t as important as making sure Michael was alright. His super werewolf hearing would have already told him I was coming.
Michael was propped up in a plushy King bed with a red comforter under him. He looked much better, his color was normal and his eyes no longer held pain in them.
I strode over to the bed and glanced over at Ace and Alex. Correction- just Ace, Alex had apparently bailed when I wasn’t paying attention; leaving Michael, Ace, and me alone together.
“You can leave,” I directed my comment at Ace, while I examined Micheal's stomach.
I was momentarily shocked to that it was almost completely healed. Someone had taken the stitches out and it was nothing but an angry pink line.
A hard chuckle came from the foot of the bed, I looked up to see Ace staring at me incredulously.
“Clearly they taught you nothing in medical school- I can’t leave you alone with a wounded wolf. Without my presence he would hurt you.”
Now that I thought about it, I remembered something from school. When werewolves are injured, instincts take over. Instincts like kill anything that’s around you- it could be a threat to you while you’re hurt- or obey your alpha. You have to wait to treat them, until a more dominant wolf shows up to control them. Guess what I did-saving Michael- was more stupid than I had realized at the time.
“I wouldn’t...” Michael mumbled.
I ruffled his hair, I already felt a strong liking for him.
“Looks like you healed yourself. Guess I’m not needed,” I grinned at him.
A twinkle appeared in his eye and he opened his mouth to say something.
“I’ll take you home,” the words were harmless enough, but the way Ace said them was possessive and harsh. It made me want to slap his handsome arrogant face, I’m sure that would go over well.
I turned to face him and forced a smile. Everything would be much easier if he didn’t set me off like a box of fireworks. I’m not usually this suicidally reckless.
Without a word I walk swiftly pass him, making sure to only bump his shoulder with mine lightly. I was not about to let him get the best of me.
It was a long march outside, mostly because I could feel Ace fuming behind me. But I couldn’t risk a look back, not if I wanted to keep the upper hand.
Once outside I stopped, there was a large gravel drive way that lead to the road, and it had at least 15 cars in it. There went my plan of leading the way.
Ace however didn’t stop, he walked right around me and up to a huge black SUV.
Turning back to meet my eyes, his voice was amused and mildly irritated, “What, do you plan to do, walk home?”
I marched right up to him and gave him my ‘I mean business’ tone, “I’m driving.”
“Not a chance,” Ace breathed menacingly. His eyes were livid, his posture stiff and ready to pounce.
I had to struggle with my inner scared-y-cat to continue to meet his eyes.
“There is no was in hell I’m trusting you with my safety,” I stated firmly. Only after I said it did I realize my mistake; dominant wolves are protective, it’s one of they’re tools to take care of a pack. I’d said something really stupid.
In the blink of an eye I was crushed up against the car, Ace was pressed into me, his hand around my throat. His stare bore into me. I couldn’t look anywhere else. He made me want to obey. No, not want, need.
My hand gripped his of it’s own accord, prying it gently off my neck. He let me do it, there was no way I could have removed it if he had resisted. I’m no supernatural being with super strength. I’m just Vivi, the blond haired, blue eyed, 26 year old trouble maker from Wisconsin.
Ace closed his eyes and leaned away from me, making an attempt to breathe normally. I could see the outline of keys in his front pocket. Well, as long as I’m already being stupid, I thought as I reached to retrieve them He stiffened but made no move to stop me. I walked over to the drivers side with exaggerated slowness and put them in the ignition.
I heard the passenger door open and shut, so I put the car in drive and started accelerating out of the drive way.
When he didn’t say anything I risked a glance over. He
seemed to be a lot calmer and just as painstakingly beautiful. That’s when I saw something that made my blood boil.
Slamming on the brakes the car lurched and squeaked, Ace’s head snapped over to gaze at me with incredulous eyes.
“Put your seat belt on,” I snarled in obvious anger and disbelief.
He