Downpour (Alpha Love - A Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance Book 1) by Olivia Stephens
Authors: Olivia Stephens
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her. For a petite woman, she has a hell of a grip.
“It’s better you stay inside, honey. This isn’t something you want to get involved in.” There’s a warning in her voice, but her eyes are kind.
“Like I said, ‘Wicker Man,’” Finn points out, looking like he’s spooked.
Sofie ignores him. “What’s going on? Why does it feel like this town is just one secret after another?” She levels a serious look at Lindsey, who remains silent. “If you don’t plan on giving me any kind of an explanation, then let go of me. Last time I checked, this was a bar, not a holding cell.”
Lindsey’s expression softens in defeat, as she slowly releases Sofie’s wrist. “Be careful.”
“What? Wait! Where are you going?” Finn looks between Sofie and Lindsey, clearly completely confused over what’s playing out in front of him. However, neither woman pays any attention to him.
“I can handle myself.” Sofie shrugs off Lindsey’s advice, setting her sights on the door.
“I didn’t mean that. Be careful that you don’t see something that you wish you hadn’t.” Lindsey looks at her meaningfully and then turns to Finn. “Let me buy you a drink Mumford & Sons.” Sofie feels gratitude flood through her, as Lindsey takes care of the curious Finn.
“Sure thing, Miley Cyrus,” Finn shoots back without a pause. Sofie hears them bantering as she walks out, relieved that Finn seems content to play with someone else and won’t be following her out of the bar.
Outside, the air is cool after the rain, and the sky is clear. Sofie takes a look around, hoping that Ashton and the others aren’t already long gone. She catches sight of one of the guys that she recognizes from the bar, a tall redhead taking a look around him before he walks into the woods. Without wasting a second, Sofie hurries after him, trying to creep as quietly as she can without losing him. She has no idea what it is that she’s expecting to achieve by following them, but it’s obvious to her that something is going on.
The wind has started up again, and as Sofie eases her way along the roughly trodden path, she sees the guy’s head go up. It almost looks like he’s sniffing the air. He stops dead in his tracks and does a 360 degree turn. It seems to Sofie that he looks right at her, she’s waiting for him to call her out of her hiding place, but instead he continues heading forward. She breathes out a sigh of relief, not knowing what she had expected him to do if he had realized that she was there.
The guy has started to speed up, and Sofie struggles to catch up with him. She feels a little like she’s wading through mud, and she’s glad she’s wearing the desert boots. They may not be the best fashion statement, but they were worth their weight in gold right now. After a few minutes, Sofie sees a clearing. The guy she has been following walks over to the man she recognizes as Gus. They exchange a few words and Gus nods, dismissing the younger man.
However, Sofie isn’t looking at him anymore. Her eyes are drawn to Ashton, who’s standing in the center of the semi-circle of people. Sofie counts ten, six men and four women. They all have the same look about them of grim intent. Directly in front of Ashton is a man, sitting on the floor. Sofie can’t see his face from where she’s hiding, but she can make out his words.
“Please, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me.” His voice is pitiful, shaking with fear, and the sound makes Sofie’s stomach turn. She wonders if this is some kind of cult ritual, the kind of thing you read about but never actually expect to see in real life.
“You knew what would happen if you came back here. We warned you.” Ashton’s voice is low, but there’s no mistaking the power behind it.
“I know, I know. I made a mistake. I don’t know why I did it.” Even from where Sofie is, she can see how
“It’s better you stay inside, honey. This isn’t something you want to get involved in.” There’s a warning in her voice, but her eyes are kind.
“Like I said, ‘Wicker Man,’” Finn points out, looking like he’s spooked.
Sofie ignores him. “What’s going on? Why does it feel like this town is just one secret after another?” She levels a serious look at Lindsey, who remains silent. “If you don’t plan on giving me any kind of an explanation, then let go of me. Last time I checked, this was a bar, not a holding cell.”
Lindsey’s expression softens in defeat, as she slowly releases Sofie’s wrist. “Be careful.”
“What? Wait! Where are you going?” Finn looks between Sofie and Lindsey, clearly completely confused over what’s playing out in front of him. However, neither woman pays any attention to him.
“I can handle myself.” Sofie shrugs off Lindsey’s advice, setting her sights on the door.
“I didn’t mean that. Be careful that you don’t see something that you wish you hadn’t.” Lindsey looks at her meaningfully and then turns to Finn. “Let me buy you a drink Mumford & Sons.” Sofie feels gratitude flood through her, as Lindsey takes care of the curious Finn.
“Sure thing, Miley Cyrus,” Finn shoots back without a pause. Sofie hears them bantering as she walks out, relieved that Finn seems content to play with someone else and won’t be following her out of the bar.
Outside, the air is cool after the rain, and the sky is clear. Sofie takes a look around, hoping that Ashton and the others aren’t already long gone. She catches sight of one of the guys that she recognizes from the bar, a tall redhead taking a look around him before he walks into the woods. Without wasting a second, Sofie hurries after him, trying to creep as quietly as she can without losing him. She has no idea what it is that she’s expecting to achieve by following them, but it’s obvious to her that something is going on.
The wind has started up again, and as Sofie eases her way along the roughly trodden path, she sees the guy’s head go up. It almost looks like he’s sniffing the air. He stops dead in his tracks and does a 360 degree turn. It seems to Sofie that he looks right at her, she’s waiting for him to call her out of her hiding place, but instead he continues heading forward. She breathes out a sigh of relief, not knowing what she had expected him to do if he had realized that she was there.
The guy has started to speed up, and Sofie struggles to catch up with him. She feels a little like she’s wading through mud, and she’s glad she’s wearing the desert boots. They may not be the best fashion statement, but they were worth their weight in gold right now. After a few minutes, Sofie sees a clearing. The guy she has been following walks over to the man she recognizes as Gus. They exchange a few words and Gus nods, dismissing the younger man.
However, Sofie isn’t looking at him anymore. Her eyes are drawn to Ashton, who’s standing in the center of the semi-circle of people. Sofie counts ten, six men and four women. They all have the same look about them of grim intent. Directly in front of Ashton is a man, sitting on the floor. Sofie can’t see his face from where she’s hiding, but she can make out his words.
“Please, please. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me.” His voice is pitiful, shaking with fear, and the sound makes Sofie’s stomach turn. She wonders if this is some kind of cult ritual, the kind of thing you read about but never actually expect to see in real life.
“You knew what would happen if you came back here. We warned you.” Ashton’s voice is low, but there’s no mistaking the power behind it.
“I know, I know. I made a mistake. I don’t know why I did it.” Even from where Sofie is, she can see how
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