Bemused, Brandt cherished every change in her facial muscles and relished her wild, musky scent. He craved a time when they would finally run free side by side.Snapping his head up, a scent grazed his nostrils interrupting his thoughts. Against his direct orders there was another werewolf coming toward them. It was Clem's brother Zeb and without breaking stride, he walked within twenty-five feet of Brandt and Emily. Showing no submission, he glared into Brandt's eyes.Brandt's rage flared. Emily's look of fear and uncertainty increased his fury. Channeling his anger, he focused on the other werewolf. "What the fuck are you doing?" He said and followed his words with a low deadly growl."I'm here to challenge." Zeb could feel the hot violent pressure swirling around his alpha but he wasn't backing down and he wasn't lowering his eyes."You're a dead wolf.""It won't be easy to kill me. I'm not my brother." Spitting on the ground, Zeb's loathing and resentment exuded from his voice

Brandt tried to keep Emily busy. They took fifteen minutes and straightened up the cabin for guests. Clothing was another problem, knowing she had nothing appropriate for company he stayed in sweats so she would feel comfortable. He brushed her hair and because of the earlier braid, it flowed down her back in gentle ripples. It was pure silk and the color of white gold.His voice was gruff when he spoke. "Dominique will keep her eyes down. She gets nervous easily and your scent will worry her. The power that makes you alpha is growing; I can feel it and smell it. If you stay calm, she will too but any agitation will cause upset. This will happen with most wolves you encounter. They look to me for security and soon, they will look to you for the same."Emily's eyes conveyed a slight understanding and he felt she would be okay. The power that made her alpha, oozed from her pores and made it instinct to protect those weaker.He unlocked and opened the door when Cheri let him know they

The sunlight peeked through the curtains while they ate breakfast. Then Brandt grabbed the comforter off the bed. Taking Emily's hand, he led her outside and down the steps of the porch. A direct patch of sunlight fell through the trees where he shook out the blanket. Pulling her down beside him, he lay back.It was early in the day but the summer heat made it warmer than most wolves liked. He didn't think it would bother her. Rolling over he drew her close and then without warning rolled them off the blanket onto the pine needles.Giggles spilled from her lips. His hand came up and with gentle fingers he picked the long pokey needles from her now ruffled hair. "I want you to smell the soil and feel it in your pores. This smell is freedom and magic. The earth feeds the magic and we need to spend time outdoors being wolves. After you are good and dirty, I want us to change. You need to explore the differences in our wolf forms. It's miraculous and the only way to explain is to show yo

The day continued and thoughts swirled through Emily's mind. Unrelenting fear for Brandt terrified her. She needed him, wanted his touch, and wanted him to teach her everything in this strange new world. With him she was no longer evil or unwanted. She knew he was going to die.He read from Call of the Wild trying to soothe her, knowing she was afraid.His voice wrapped around her and she remembered.Running through the woods after killing her mother, she saw the large beast from the corner of her eye when it attacked. The pain from his bite was almost welcome because it brought the horrific killing of Carolynn into focus. When the huge wolf stood over her, pain from the injury kept her from moving. Black dots confused her mind, but there was something in his scent that broke through the dark shadows.Even now, while he recited the wolf story, his intensity was overwhelming, troubling, but calming at the same time. His touch caused her heart to accelerate and desire to flood her se

Zeb's brothers carried his body away and the wolves dispersed into the surrounding trees.She turned in his arms and his palms trailed down her sides and then to her backside cupping her bottom. Sinking to his knees, with Zeb's blood streaked on his face, he tilted his head forward resting against her stomach and the cool silk of her dress. His body trembled beneath her fingers. She feathered them softly through his sweat dampened hair."I couldn't think straight without you here. My focus was on the mate bond. I needed you and here you are." He slowly drew air in through his nose, breathing in her scent.Tipping his head back, his black irises matched the now dark outer color and met hers. Strong arms pulled her closer. He inhaled deeply, again."You no longer have a table and chairs," her words were hesitant.Rough, choked laughter spilled past his lips. She was his. He'd waited lifetimes. A thick growl came from deep in his throat. "I have an idea why but let's destroy the bed.