Read Layla Nash - A Valentine's Chase (City Shifters: the Pride) for Free Online

the sound away completely. "I will grind your bones to make my bread, and there is not a pack in this world that could save you from my wrath."
    The wolf started to growl, uncertain, and for a moment, the room flickered around them and Rafe wondered if Smith somehow teleported them away to some place more dangerous. But the familiar bar felt warm and solid under his hands as he tried to straighten, and Rafe cleared his throat. "I get it, Smith. She's my mate. I would never risk her safety. Ever."
    The room grew dark around the edges as Smith's expression creased and his eyes narrowed. "Your mate?"
    Shit. Rafe wanted to hold his breath but there wasn't any air left in the room for him to gulp, and his fingers went cold as ice rimed the bar and the table and everything Rafe could see. He struggled to form words, a denial or a threat or a command to his wolves, but nothing came out.

Chapter 6
    I 'd never been into that particular bar before, mostly because it looked like a dive and Olga didn't hang out in dives, but when Uncle Smith suggested getting a bite to eat after we left the emergency room, I didn't mind. Whatever kind of pain medication they gave me sure helped me not give a shit as I hobbled in on crutches and everyone stared, but I brushed it off. They stared at Smith, too, and it didn't seem to bother him. So I propped my foot up on an extra chair, wincing as the heavy cast nearly threw my back out, and ordered some sort of appetizer, covered in cheese and bacon.
    I surveyed the bar, intrigued. It seemed like a cool place to hang out, with a pool table, a lot of younger people at the far end of the bar, and some couples eating dinner at tables near the door. I sipped a soda, not willing to mix a beer with the magical painkillers they gave me for fear that would mess with my memory, and studied Smith. "How did you find this place?"
    "I know the owners," he said, glancing down as his phone rang. He silenced it and folded his hands on the table. "I'll introduce you. How is your leg feeling?"
    "I almost forgot I have one," I said, laughing. "I'm sure it will wear off, but for now, I'm good. Well, almost good. I need to excuse myself for a moment," and I tilted my head at where a battered sign pointed at the bathrooms.
    Smith got up immediately to help me, handing over the crutches and steadying me as vertigo rolled through me and I wobbled. I smiled and leaned to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Uncle Smith."
    "You're most welcome. Take your time, my dear." He picked up his phone and started catching up on business, and once again a wiggle of guilt struck me, that I'd taken him away from his business for an entire day. And he'd already gotten me crutches and helped pick up a handful of prescriptions and even some groceries, chilling in the trunk of his car.
    I nearly tripped over my good leg as I swung towards the bathroom, so focused on the door to the ladies' room I almost didn't notice as a door opened on my right. For a split second I thought I saw Rafe standing there, but when I glanced up, only a dark-haired woman with several piercings looked at me. I chalked it up to the pain meds and gratefully accepted her help opening the door to the bathroom so I could navigate my way through. Until I looked back and saw him, silhouetted by the brighter lights in the main bar — Rafe. Rafe, even more gorgeous in jeans and a sweater with his hair mussed and carrying a bag of something, stood there and stared at me. Stared at me as if he couldn't believe what he saw.
    The door swung shut and it was just me and the woman in the bathroom, but I kept staring at the door, imagining Rafe must think I was some kind of a stalker. My cheeks burned. I took a shaky breath and hobbled into the stall, cursing as I maneuvered the crutches and almost fell into the commode. The woman snorted and said, "Let me hold something, hon."
    I gritted my teeth as I handed her the crutches and held on to the handrail on the wall as I tried to maneuver my