Tempest by Dahlia Rose Page A

shorts and tank top she slept in. The pounding raindrops stung her skin as she moved through the d ark woods that separated her house from theirs. It was only the three of them that lived on the outskirts of Cormina and it seemed they were destined to be together.
     
    She finally broke th r ough the trees and bushes that lined their property. T hrough the rain and whipping leaves she could see the plantation house and a dim light illuminating the downstairs windows . Tempest climbed the old , rickety fence that they had obviously not thought to fix up and she sl i pp ed on the wet wood before she finally made her way over. It was a fight against the elements and nature’s fury as she moved across the pastures to the front door. Using her fist, she pounded hard , hoping that someone inside would hear . Tempest repeated the action twice before the door was flung open. Since she was leaning again st the door while pounding with all her might, she fell inside and landed flat on the braided rug. She was nose to nose with the hardwood floor it covered.
     
    “What do we have here? ” Dominic said, a deep timber resonat ed in his voice and held a hint of humor.
     
    “Whatever it is, it ’ s dripping all over my new h ardwood floors,” snarled Alex.
     
    Tempest rolled over on her back to look up at them . She’d seen them every once in a while in the small grocery store in Cormina. Or , sometimes , in the neighboring towns , when she really didn’t want to deal with the small-minded residents closer to home, she’d go out to eat and happen to see them there too . Outcasts form one pack . H er vision blurred and she saw a glimpse into the future once again. Quit it , will you ? J ust for tonight , she pleaded wit h her gift and closed her eyes tiredly.
     
    “I think she may be falling asleep on our floor,” Dominic said.
     
    “Well , by all means, let ’ s just get her a blanket . And how about a pillow while we’re at it? ” Alex snapped.
     
    “ I’m not asleep ; I’m j ust very tired . Y ou try running through a damn ed storm , plus seeing visions all night,” Tempest snapped right back .
     
    “Oh , so you believe your own myth?” Alex drawled.
     
    She open ed her eyes and glared at him. “You believe what you want , Alex Wakefield, dark wolf, A lpha to a pack with only two members.”
     
    He dragged her to her feet and shook her. “ Ha ve you been spying on us ? D amn y ou , answer me!”
     
    “Alex , you’ll hurt her . ” Dominic put his hand on his friend ’ s shoulder to restrain him.
     
    Tempest didn’t make a sound , and she refused to show weakness. If she was meant for them , so be it , but she refused to be anything she was not. She was strong enough to live alone and take the ridicule. And, b y G od , she could handle two men .
     
    “ Let me ask you a question . I f I was spying on you would n’t at least one of you have smelled me in the wind, even a hint?” Tempest said. “You know I live just through woods from you. When you run in your second skin I’m sure you’ve watched me. We know each other even though we’ve never really met. Have I ever , and I mean ever , seemed to be the gossipy type ? I live alone for a reason —as do you— and I keep my nose out of other people’s business. So how would I know , huh ? U nless I saw it in my head or are you just really bad at being a wolf?”
     
    Dominic laughed out loud while Alex growled low in his throat . T he sound terrified her , but she refused to look away.
     
    “Right now I smell fear,” he whispered. He was so close she could smell brandy on his breath.
     
    “ That you may , but you’ll never see me show it,” Tempest replied.
     
    He let go of her and she slumped against the w all and rubbed her shoulders. “ So you see visions. You may think we’re wolves , but we can always just call you crazy or a witch like everyone else does.”
     
    Now that stung ! Tempest lifted her chin. “You’re right ; I