Rise to Embrace [Rise of the Changelings, Book 3] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) by Lynn Hagen

if the shit hit the fan, Willow was coming with them whether she knew it or not. There was no way he was leaving her behind. She feared the alpha, and Brooke wasn’t leaving their woman behind, especially with someone she was terrified of.

Chapter Six

 
    Willow was a bit startled when the female werewolf walked over and grabbed the tray in Willow’s hands, giving her a pleasant smile. Willow hadn’t expected that.
    “I just thought you could use the help.”
    “Yes, of course.” Willow released the tray she had been holding and turned to grab the other one. “Thank you.”
    Willow couldn’t get the promise out of her head. Brooke had told her he and Deluca would protect her and keep her safe. Why would he do that? They didn’t even know her. Why would they care what happened to her?
    “I’m Isabelle,” the female said politely, pulling Willow from thought.
    “Willow,” she replied. “And this is Trisha.”
    Trisha smiled at Isabelle. Even though the alpha had filled her head with lies about the werewolf breed, Trisha was civil. If everyone believed rumors, then Willow knew these people thought the werecoyotes were untrustworthy and deceitful. Aside from the alpha, Willow thought her breed of changeling was kind, but fierce. They were like any other breed. All they wanted was to protect those they loved and live a happy life.
    That thought only reminded her of Harmony. Willow missed her niece desperately. She wanted to demand that Garrett bring her little peanut back to her, but Willow wasn’t foolish enough to demand anything from their alpha. She tried demanding something from him once before, something that was the most important thing in her life, and had learned that Garrett had no heart.
    Garrett may have the young ones fooled, and he may even have some of the other pack members believing he was only looking out for their best interest, but Willow knew the man for what he was.
    “Can you grab a tray?” Willow asked Trisha as she glanced over toward the two humans who were making her forget she shouldn’t be interested in them.
    “Sure.”
    Garrett was as treacherous as they came. There was no doubt the man was plotting a way to make a profit off of this group of highly sought werewolves. Knowing how he was only made her want to warn Brooke and Deluca, but Willow couldn’t take that chance.
    Too much was at stake for her to be killed.
    Willow knew she had to walk a tight line. If Garrett even suspected her of lusting after the two humans, or even conspiring with them, he would have her killed. She should have told Brooke no when he asked to speak to her. Willow shouldn’t have talked with him privately. It only made her look guilty of plotting against her pack.
    As she set the bowl of stew down in front of the man she knew to be Isabelle’s mate, Willow caught her gasp. This man was not a werewolf changeling. His scent told her he was indeed changeling, but there was something more there, a hidden scent just below the surface and very faint.
    Wererat and werecougar. What an odd combination. But there was a third scent, something with a different flavor than changeling.
    “Are you done prying into my DNA?” the man asked.
    Willow quickly looked away and then moved on to the next gentleman. Lusting after Brooke and Deluca had occupied her thoughts to the point that she hadn’t noticed there was more than werewolves here. The large man in front of her with midnight black hair and big blue eyes was a jaguar changeling. He gave her a polite smile as he took the bowl from her.
    “Thanks.”
    She nodded and then found herself standing in front of Deluca. She hadn’t spoken to him yet, and as he fixed his light-grey eyes on Willow, she felt her womb contract and her breasts tighten. He stood, taking the bowl from her. Her breath hitched slightly when his fingers grazed hers. Deluca maintained constant eye contact as she stood there feeling her pulse begin to pick up and her pussy clench at the sight