Sweet floral lilacs and moonlight incandescence washed over me, drowning me in her essence. I mumbled, "Brinley? What are you doing here?"
She looked equally stunned, mossy green eyes wide, flecks of gold swirling in their troubled depths. "I was working early today...I have...to go into town," she trailed off, her gaze now firmly on the floor. Her lip quivered. My Wolf paced in my head. His urge to comfort her was almost overwhelming.
"Oh," I muttered through clenched teeth, careful not to inhale through my nose again. I stared at her, mesmerized, frozen. I had no desire to move from the place I stood. I would have been happy just to sit and watch her succulent lips and the way her auburn hair fell over her shoulders.
I hadn't seen her in two weeks.
I'd assumed all I needed was time to get over her.
I realized the depravity of that lie now.
I was a fool.
No amount of distance or length of time would lessen my captivation with her. It was preposterous to think I could overcome the Moon's ordained attraction between us with tools so impotent as time and space.
Calla tried to snap me out of my trance, tugging me forward as she stepped around Brinley. I didn't want to go.
Abruptly, my panic turned into full-blown horror.
I knew the instant Brinley smelled me on Calla because her head snapped up, eyes flashing full of fire. Dread ran through me, causing a pit in my stomach. The very last thing I wanted Brinley faced with was my release on Calla. Fuck!
The Wolf in Brinley's eyes glared. A deep growl rumbled through her chest, an unmistakable challenge, signaling her intention to stake her claim over me.
She gave no other warning. Shockingly fast, her fist shot out and connected with Calla's face.
Calla yelped and stumbled back.
"Stop!" I ordered.
This confrontation couldn't happen, not here, not now.
Brinley turned her icy gaze on me, her Wolf looking at me with contempt and disgust. I hated that look in her eyes...
...but I deserved it.
She needed to hate me. It would make her stronger, help her move on.
Without warning, Calla darted around my body and connected with Brinley's shoulder. The crack of bone filled the air. Calla added viciousness to her assault, sneering, "He doesn't want you!"
Just hearing those words caused revulsion to swirl in my belly. I had to fight the bile that rose in my throat. My Wolf roared inside my head at the ugly lie. I locked my jaw shut, so the words on my tongue couldn't escape how much I loved her, how much I wanted to hold her in my arms-if only just once.
Who was I kidding? Once would never be enough to satisfy me. Touching her would only fuel my addiction. I would always want more.
Brinley reacted to Calla's assault by dropping on all fours. Black and white fur erupted through her skin. Her snout elongated revealing razor-edged white fangs. Her entire frame vibrated with aggression, her bloodlust tangible in the air.
I was stunned once more. Fuck, Brinley was a beautiful wolf.
But I couldn't just stand there and stare. I needed to calm her down, and end this before it got any further out of hand.
Next to me, Calla shifted.
Fucking hell.
Now, I had two bloodthirsty beasts to contend with. I snatched both of their ears, applying pressure to the point of pain, to force them into motion. I didn't need either of them losing control and taking a snap at me. If they did, I wouldn't be able to contain my Wolf, and then all hell would break loose.
I strode through the hallway, my face twisted into a grimace, knowing the danger. If it happened, if my Wolf broke free, Calla would be on the losing end. He tolerated Calla because on some level he understood we had to defeat Alpha before he could win Brinley.
But if it came to a fight between the two females, his choice would always be to protect Brinley and take out any wolf that was a threat to her. If I was going to keep Brinley alive, I couldn't afford to let him reveal our true emotions by taking a bite out of Calla, or worse.
I didn't let go until we were out the door, and bellowed, "This is not going to happen!" It wasn't a request. It was a command. This challenge ended now.
However, apparently, our sweet little Wolf did not like taking orders from me, because she stood with her fur all riled up, and released growl after growl, her dissatisfaction clear.
My head snapped in her direction, my eyes utterly black as my Wolf stared back at her now. Her blatant challenging display would not be tolerated. Regardless of our circumstances, I was the future alpha, and she would learn her place. My Wolf would guarantee it. He clawed to get out.
I turned so that we faced each other directly, and took a purposeful step forward, invading her personal space. She blinked a few times, startled by the presence of my Wolf in my eyes, but shockingly, she held her ground.
In my head, my Wolf smiled wickedly at her antics. He appreciated her fire but enjoyed, even more, the lesson he was going to give her in submission. Her obstinate behavior would never be allowed against him. He quivered with his desire for release.
I shuddered hard, forcing him back.
Without warning, Calla attacked Brinley from behind, her blind spot. Fury crashed over me. Not only had she disobeyed a direct command, but she also struck without proper warning of a challenge.
Growls erupted into the air. Both wolves tangled into a solid, writhing mass of hair, teeth, and claws as they rolled, kicking up the dirt around them.
Calla's teeth sank deep in Brinley's thigh, causing Brinley to yelp. The smell of blood filled the air, iron oxide and copper. Even if we hadn't been watching, I would have instinctively known the scent of Brinley's blood.
My Wolf almost lost his mind, the smell driving him to the edge of madness. My body quivered hard as he pushed forward, the line between skin and fur becoming blurred. He howled, fighting me to get to his mate, fighting to end the assault against her.
It took every ounce of my strength and determination to keep him at bay. There was no doubt he could end the conflict, exacting the punishment he deemed deserved. But his actions would start a war, a war we couldn't win, a war that would end in Brinley's demise. Tension ran through my entire frame, causing me to shake. Brinley wrenched free, bucking Calla off. She spun around and lunged forward, her canines finding purchase in Calla's shoulder. How quickly the tables turned. Now, Brinley held the position of power. She stood over Calla, who writhed and fought beneath her. Brinley shook her head viciously, her teeth sinking deeper into Calla's flesh. Calla stopped fighting, whining out her submission. My Wolf puffed out his chest as we watched, pride in his mate flowing through us. Brinley was shockingly fast and strong. She lacked training. Her strength and speed were a gift from nature. He moaned out his pleasure at seeing her dominating the other she-wolf. Heat burned inside of
BRINLEY’S POV I was numb. I'd gone into town, as required, and returned with the list of supplies Lena had given me. It was dark. I trudged up to the two bedroom rundown house. Lena stood in the little kitchen and barked, "Once you put away the supplies, strip and be on your way. Your clothing will remain here. Each morning, you will report to me, get dressed and go to work. When finished, you will return, get undressed and get out of my sight." "Yes, ma'am," I mumbled. I kept my head down. I didn't have to look at her to know she was smirking. She was thrilled not to have to deal with me anymore and even more excited at my suffering. She took special satisfaction in my pain. Silently, I put the supplies away and walked into the small bedroom I used to call mine. Tears washed down my cheeks as I realized there wasn't anything in there that I cared about losing or leaving behind. Except one... I reached under the bed and pulled out a small teddy bear. It was a gift from my mothe
Another long week passed. My new schedule was becoming routine. Alpha had decided I would no longer clean the packhouse, thus eliminating me from Coal's presence altogether. Instead, I was sent into town on a daily basis to gather supplies, clean homes or run errands for pack members who lived there. It was a ten-mile trek each way, but I didn't mind the walk, and I was thrilled to be away from the pack.I was weak, but thankfully, my Wolf had been successful in hunting a few rabbits. We didn't eat every day, but it was enough to keep us alive.Today, the last house on my list, belonged to a member of a neighboring pack, Onyx Moon. Frankly, I'd been surprised to get the assignment, because relations between Ravenswood and Onyx Moon were not always the best, aggravated by a fierce rivalry for land. And their alpha, Alpha Wilder, was known to be a ferocious man. Of course, I couldn't imagine a man worse than Alpha.I pulled the address out of my pocket, checking it again and turned righ
BRINLEY’S POVMy head hurt. My world was a haze. I struggled to bring myself to consciousness, but couldn't quite grasp it. I was lying on my stomach, but my body was limp, I had no control. Abruptly, hands from behind lifted my hips. I startled in the strange male's grip, but my effort was pitiful as the drug-induced haze pulled on me. With shocking horror, I realized I was naked with a gag in my mouth. My heart pounded in my chest. No, no, no!! Rough fingers invaded my body, entering where no one had ever been before. Pain shot through me. My back arched of its own accord. A scream ripped from my chest, but no sound came out, muffled by the gag. His fingers withdrew, and claws dug into my sides as he pulled my hips back, thrusting himself into me at the same time. Red hot searing pain tore through me. My insides felt ripped apart. Torture so intense, I couldn't even scream. I desperately willed my body to work, trying to scramble away from the monster behind me. But it was n
CoalI had to stay away from her. I told myself that a hundred times a day. And a hundred times a day, it was just as hard as the last time to keep from seeking her out. My muscles ached from the constant tension in my body.I turned up a beer, letting the cold liquid slide down my throat. It did nothing to quench my thirst for the one thing I couldn't have- Brinley.Daylight was waning. Vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows followed the sun over the horizon, fading away into the dusk of night.Another day without her.My Wolf whimpered in my head.She should be returning from work right about now. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to see her from a distance......I just wanted to smell her sweet scent. That was all. I told myself. And then I would leave.I pushed up from my chair and stealthily made my way toward Lena's, careful to stay in the line of trees, covered in shadows. I didn't want to catch that old bitty's attention.When Brinley came into sight, I sucked in a deep breath, my gaze trans
Her tears finally ended. Still, we didn't move. She lay completely relaxed beneath us. After several minutes, he began to lift. She whined and rolled onto her back to face him, her fingers twining into his fur to keep him close to her.He froze, entranced by both of them as her Wolf surged to the surface, mossy green eyes darkening into deep pine.She slid her fingers through his thick fur.He'd never been touched by a female in skin.He shuddered, deeply affected by her tender ministrations. He tolerated other females when we were in my skin, but he had no use for them when he was in control. But not so with Brinley. With her, he craved her skin side to touch every part of him.She continued to stroke his face gently, gazing up at him. The transparent love in both her and her Wolf's eyes tore through me.Because she loved him......not me.I would never get to see her gaze at me with the same softness. She would never show me the vulnerability she gave to him, laying beneath him nake
CoalI walked away from Brinley in the woods. There wasn't anything else I could say. Shoulders hunched forward and footsteps heavy, I trudged back to the house.My thoughts tumbled over and over with the story of her assault. I'd demanded details, and she'd given them to me, not holding back. It was what I'd asked for, but now the images of what that bastard did to her, rolled through my mind on repeat.I entered my room and slammed the door shut, the hinges shuddering with force. I needed to take a shower, and then I wasn't sure what I was going to do. My Wolf was equally on edge, pacing back and forth in my mind, growling his desire to hunt. We both wanted to taste the coward's blood.Making my way into the bathroom, I stepped into the shower and let the liquid rain down on my flesh. The water was cold. There was no other option. I scowled.My horndog of a wolf just hadn't been able to contain himself, licking the heat between her legs. Between the scent of her arousal and tasting
He took a swig of his drink. "It's been more recently. I think I didn't want to believe the rumors of what he's capable of, what he's done." He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "But I'm older now. And I'd be a fool to ignore the proof right in front of my face. Including how he's treating you."I stared at him dumbfounded.A waitress interrupted my confusion. She sidled up to the booth, looking us both over like something she'd like to eat. Older, probably in her thirties, or maybe a hard life had aged her prematurely. Her blonde hair was swept up in a ponytail. She pushed a stray strand out of her eyes as she purred, "Can I get you another?"Hell yes, I wanted to scream. Instead, I just gave her a stiff nod without taking my eyes off of Ryder. He shook his head, "No, I'm good."But she couldn't seem to take a hint and persisted in a wheedling tone, "Are you sure there isn't anything else you want?"I didn't have the time or patience to let her down easy and growled, "Not in