Grayson tapped into the pack link and was met with silence. The only people who responded were the ones already in the clearing with him. Aiden, Rick, and Rob looked around as they held their positions.Around them, pack members had dropped like flies after being shot by tranquilizer darts. And just like Brandon, the medicine took effect immediately, reducing their chances of overpowering the Nightshade pack.Seth laughed even though Grayson still had his sharp claws digging into Seth’s neck. “It’s ten against four. I would say you should surrender.”Grayson growled. He warned everyone to be alert and watch their back for any sneak attacks, but they never expected the other pack to come more prepared.‘They’ve all been shot.’ Aiden reported.‘Are they dead?’ Grayson asked, to confirm the fate of his pack members.‘No,’ Aiden growled. Seeing the injections on the bodies made him hyper-aware. He opened his senses to the sounds of the forest, so he was prepared when one whizzed past his
Brianna finds herself waking up in an unfamiliar location. Gauzy curtains flutter in the breeze, bringing in the crisp mountain air as she comes to her senses. “Gray,” she sat up in bed, hoping the events were just another nightmare, but then she felt a collar on her neck. The thing dug into her skin when she tried to pull it apart.Bree snickered. A dog collar, really? They think this will keep me down?The minute her eyes opened, she felt something was different. An intrinsic knowledge that shifting into her wolf would be easier.Earlier, Grayson had given her the extra push needed to boost her confidence, making it easy to change. But when she initiated the shift into her wolf form, Bree realized the spikes digging into her neck, preventing her from completing the transformation. “Agghhh!” she screamed as the metal points pierced her skin. Bree fell on all fours and panted while her body returned to its original form, the skin on her neck healing rapidly.Her shoulders shook as
‘Brandon. Wake up!’‘Bree! Where are we?’‘Don’t move too much. You’re hooked on these things that are supposed to make you sleepy. Keep pretending you’re not awake.’‘I’m not. I can’t move anything.’‘You will be okay soon. I turned off the flow regulators on all of them without removing the needles in your arms.’‘That’s smart. But where are we? Where are the others?’‘Seth took us from the pack and now he wants to keep me because they say the white wolf can tell the future.’‘Can you?’‘No, but I can still manipulate the people’s thoughts around me. I was able to see you because the man guarding me agreed with my suggestion.’‘Where are you now?’‘In another bedroom. They want me to mate with Seth and become one of their pack members.’‘How about me?’‘They plan to keep you sedated, so I’ll be compliant.’‘They won’t kill me, so just escape. Use your wolf abilities.’ ‘You have to get out, Bran. I can’t leave without you.’‘Don’t be stubborn. I’ll find a way.’‘How?’‘Brianna, am I
Something felt wrong, but Bree couldn’t stop from sighing and leaning into the lips that were kissing her neck. She felt a soft hand caress her hip down to her thighs, and she moaned.It had only been a day since she last saw Grayson, but there was a hunger inside her whenever they came together. Would it always be like this?She had never been with a man so generous with his affections before. There was no guessing about his feelings when Grayson was concerned. Bree could always tell what he was thinking, even without probing his mind. And that was usually sex when she was concerned.Bree was glad to be back in Grayson’s arms, in her home, with nobody to hear her moan and pant when he gave her pleasure.She was going through all the motions of seduction, but why could she see Brandon in the corner of her eye?‘Get out of here, you pervert.’ She hissed, scolding her brother through their link.‘That’s not Grayson, Bree. You have to wake up or you’ll regret this for the rest of your li
“Grandpa, what are you doing here?” Grayson was holding a meeting with the Silvercreek pack elders, which included the werewolves, all the magical individuals, and other shape-shifting creatures that called Silvercreek their home. “I know you are the alpha of this pack, grandson, but it’s not frowned upon to ask for help from your elders when you are in a bind.” All the elders gathered around the table nodded. Earlier, most of the group had expressed that Grayson should have asked them for help before meeting with Seth in the clearing, so the kidnapping could have been avoided. “Attacking another pack should be the last option.” Victor Walker, the pack’s retired alpha, had flown on the red eye from Florida when he learned about the abduction. He wanted to get there first thing the next morning to scold Grayson for not coming prepared.“I am sorry. I know I should have consulted you sooner, but I thought we had it under control.”“How could you let a woman string you along and lead
Every wolf hoped to have a mate fated for them to love until the end of time. And when this event happens, nobody could intercede, unless one of the couple decides to reject the bond.“I have a fated mate,” Victor replied, challenging James’ statement.James sneered. “Brianna rejected your bond and has mated with Seth, my most promising alpha, and he deserves it.” Grayson remained impassive. “Our bond goes beyond the physical. I would have felt if it had been severed.”“Which only means there is no such thing.” James sneered.“Just because it never happened to you, it doesn’t mean it’s not true. Do you want to remain obstinate by keeping the twins?” Victor inquired.“Leave one of them to show good faith.”“No! The twins are better off together.” Victor replied.“What are you talking about? Never in wolf history did anyone have twins because they often eliminate each other in the womb. So these two will eventually kill each other, whether you like it or not. Why not separate them now
Grayson and their group looked out of place. Muscled men coming out of several sports utility vehicles in a hiking area in the middle of the woods didn’t look like a friendly hiking expedition.The sunlight was fading fast in the mountains, and the pack knew the darkness would help camouflage their identities when they shifted. They can’t have reports of multiple untagged and undocumented wolves running around the park when it wasn’t necessary. It could give away their entire existence.But time is of the essence. Seth had intentions of severing the mating bond between Grayson and Brianna. They figured Seth wouldn’t dare kill her, but he could always take her against her will, and that could damage her confidence and reject her bond with Grayson because of her mental state.Not having the exact location for the turnoff marker and the cabin could be troublesome, but they had to do everything for Brianna, or he would never forgive himself.‘Grayson, where are you?’ He almost toppled o
Baked bread, grilled meat, and fried bacon teased the senses as Brandon regained consciousness. A warm, soft hand pressed against his forehead before brushing the hair away from his face.“You’re going to be okay,” an old woman’s voice tickled his ears. Stirring him from slumber.“Nana? I’m sorry…I failed you.”The cushion by Bran’s hip dipped low. “No, you didn’t. You did good. Brianna, Grayson, and the rest of the pack are safe because of you.”Bran struggled to open his eyes, it had been only hours since he had been rescued and his werewolf blood was supposed to wipe out the toxins from his body easily, but the people who captured them dumped too much of the concoction into his body that it would take several more hours to be completely gone.“Do you know you were able to mask every pack member’s presence as they waited outside for their chance to attack?”“What?”“The pack members who were present said the forest appeared like something from a horror movie. Everything was inky bla
“Marina, wait up! I rarely see you during meal times. Is everything alright?” Brandon had just come down from his room and found Marina on her way out. Like the last few days, she’s been having breakfast later to steer clear of the breakfast crowd. In reality, she was trying to avoid Grayson and Brianna most of all. Brandon wanted to join everyone for breakfast, but lately, he had been too tired. They played tag every night to tap into his werewolf abilities, which depleted most of his energy, and then when his head hit the pillow, dreams of wandering around the farm in the dark drained him to the last drop.He’d never heard of dreams sucking out a person’s energy before, but that is how it felt.“Oh yeah. Dinner with everyone present is too much for me sometimes. The noise level gets too high and it’s difficult when you hear everything.”“I get you, I’m still weirded out when I hear people’s hearts beating too loud.” Marina looked at Bran, wondering what he thought about hers speed
“I know your grandmother.” Victor looked at Brandon and Brianna while he delivered the big secret he’d been keeping since he learned of their arrival at Silvercreek.“You do?” They asked in unison.“Yes. Your grandmother sought refuge in Silvercreek for a while when she first ran away, but our pack was smaller then and though we offered her sanctuary she didn’t stay.”“But my parents came back. Did they know Nana was here before?”“We told them she was here, but to ask her about our encounter.”“I wonder why Nana didn’t bring us here directly after our parents passed away?”“She must have been scared. The accident site wasn’t too far from here and we suspected foul play when we found werewolf tracks.” “We tried to talk to your grandma at the hospital, but she disappeared and took both of you with her.” Amelia sat beside her husband. “She must have found the same tracks on the site and it spooked her.”“We had no idea our family was a bunch of werewolves. I always considered Nana to b
“Brandon, I see you’ve finally come in. Are you happy rolling in the hay all day and getting acquainted with the animals?” Brianna was alone in the kitchen, peeling and chopping vegetables for dinner.“That’s an insult to the cute animals, but even though I wanted to hang out with them all day, I got to muck out the stables for the horses. Have you ever seen one up close before?”“No. They are majestic, but you are wearing more of their dung that you cleaned out.”Bran laughed. “It’s amazing here. Who knew such a place existed? I made up my mind.”“About what?”“Staying in Silvercreek.”“I thought you were unsure.” “I didn’t think there was a life for me here.”“What do you mean? They’ve welcomed us with open arms and we have a house that mom and dad paid for over the years.“I know, but what happens after you’ve settled in? I don’t want to be the third wheel forever.”“You’re family—”“I know that,” he sighed. “But now I have more than one reason to stay.”“Why now? What happened?”
Gran glares at Grayson. “You don’t need to be so mean to her. You know how tragic it was to lose her parents to hunters, and she’s just craving for attention.”“She’s used that card for far too long and it’s time she grew up. We’re not kids anymore and I have a good reason not to let her sleep in the house.” He said, taking his stance.“Bree, are you bothered by their relationship?” Gran turned her focus to the other person in the room.“Marina and I don’t have a relationship.” Grayson interjected rudely before Bree could reply. “Don’t worry too much, dear. It’s a harmless crush. She used to follow my grandsons around when she was younger, and I guess she never grew out of it.”‘Are you going to tell your grandma the real reason or will you let me look bad in her eyes?’ Bree asked Gray with annoyance.“Don’t argue with me, Gran.”“Why don’t you let Brianna speak?”“I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me for stealing Grayson from her.”“Oh, that child, she’s still a selfish little girl
“I heard Gran call my name. I’ll see you at the house.” She used her werewolf ability to run from Bran, thinking she would get there first because she got a head start, so she was surprised when he ran beside her, yelling for her to go faster.He made the task look easy. The distance from the barracks to the house spanned several acres of land. To a normal person driving a truck or a golf cart would be ideal to get around the property, but werewolves have the speed and strength to use their own feet which would definitely get them to their destination faster, and if they couldn’t use their feet, they could use all four paws.Both got to the house at the same time and Marina did not know if she was really that fast or if Bran made adjustments, so she didn’t feel bad.“What is your ideal breakfast?” Bran changed his choice of topic, seeing she would never talk to him again if he kept broaching the same subject. “Whatever gran makes. Everything tastes good.”“You don’t have that one thi
“Brandon! I thought you left?” Marina almost jumped out of her skin when the object of her dreams manifested when she opened the door.She made sure everyone had left before getting up and starting her day. Using her enhanced hearing, Marina listened to every movement and every conversation, training her ears to detect Brandon’s voice.Aiden knocked on his door. “Bran, we’re heading out. Don’t delay or you’ll have no food to eat. Gran’s breakfast won’t last long.”“I’m right behind you.” Brandon got up, shuffled around to pick up his clothes, peeled the sheets off the mattress, and followed the other pack members.And as soon as the main entry door banged shut, Marina was sure everybody had left.She got up, stripped the sheets from the bed and pillow, then wrapped a towel around her body. There was no way she’d go to breakfast without removing the sweat and evidence of what happened while she was dreaming about Bran.It was time to wash the sheets and take a shower so she could go b
For the rest of the evening, Brandon bonded with the men through alcohol and poker. They drank more than necessary and Aiden was unwilling to stumble in the dark, so they picked an empty room and stayed over.Aiden was concerned that there might be someone waiting for them between the house and the barracks, and he’d rather not risk Bran’s safety.As soon as Bran closed his eyes, he began dreaming about Marina. The setting from his other dreams was different. The deep, dark void was gone, and in its place was a cabin, much like the one his parents left for him and Brianna.Marina was sleeping on her stomach on the king-sized bed, the lower half of her body covered with a sheet. He was right. She had come to bed naked and lust surged within him as he thought of ways to wake her up so they could make love.Naked as the day he was born, he slid in next to her sleeping form, hugged her torso, and nuzzled her neck. Something about the dream felt familiar. As if he’d visited her like this m
Brandon smiled, appreciating Aiden’s sensitivity. His parents’ death was still a sore topic and now that he had less of his memories, he would rather talk about something else.“Where are we going?” Brandon asked.“To the barracks, where we can hang out with the guys and watch a movie. They have enough bunks available if you want to sleep over.”“Okay, I guess there’s nowhere else to go, right? Like a bar?”“Nah, the barracks would be better. We won’t need to watch our words here. Plus, the guys are eager to see you. They’re afraid you must have forgotten about them, too.”“What if I did?”“Then it’ll be cool. We’ll have stories to tell and you’ll think they’re all interesting.” Aiden smiled as if Bran, forgetting the last few months of his life, was nothing to be concerned about. “Don’t worry too much. Werewolves are resilient, so you’ll get your memories back in no time.”“You keep saying werewolf, is everyone at the ranch a werewolf?”Aiden nodded. “The humans at the ranch know abo
Brianna felt weird about having sex in a house full of werewolves with special hearing, especially with Gran and Gramps sleeping a few bedrooms away.Even a small whimper or moan would be equal to blasting a steamy, erotic audiobook on a loudspeaker. Aiden had mentioned before that sex was natural for the cycle of life and though werewolves could hear what happened behind closed doors, they should just do it anyway, otherwise they’ll both be sexually frustrated for never having the chance. But still Bree felt self-conscious, so she went to bed that night, said goodnight to her mate, and ignored the craving she felt.Grayson smiled and pulled her into her arms, molding their bodies together like spoons in a cutlery drawer. “I want you,” he whispered in her ear as his chest rumbled in frustration.Bree leaned into his embrace, her neck feeling the touch of Grayson’s nose as he caressed her skin.‘Yes,’ she answered through their bond as her legs intertwined with his. “You are wearing