“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
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
“Bree—help—Silver—having dreams—wolves—out of time—don’t come.”Beep! The answering machine recorded the message just as Bree opened the door. The key always stuck, and she always thought of fixing it but never had the time.Her heart sank when the last beeping sound signaled that the person on the other line had dropped the call. She heard Bran’s voice on the other side of the door as she wrangled with the stubborn lock.He never called during the week, knowing she was at work, so she felt disappointed that she made a last-minute decision to pass by the grocery store instead of heading straight home.Bree tried to call the number back by dialing *69 but it gave her the busy dial tone. It had been a couple of weeks since they last spoke and not having her brother nearby for more than half the year got her concerned. And after the puzzling message Bran left on the machine, she felt more anxious. Why would he ask for help, and then tell her not to come? He had been in trouble before, b
Days after Bree got that nagging feeling that something significant was about to happen in their lives, she made time to confront him.“What is happening, Bran? Why now? Why are you leaving? Aren’t you happy here with me?” She stood to level their stare, but he had grown more than a foot taller in just a year, making it hard to plead her case when he looked down on her.“I just want to find out who I am, Bree. See if I can do this on my own.” Bran stood by the bookcase in the living room, picking at the well-worn books on the shelf, ignoring her, so she sat back down.“Of course, you can do anything,” she said encouragingly. But then tried to pull at his heartstrings. “But why now? I’ll have no one.”He raised a brow. They were adults, and Bree had been always independent since they were kids. So he knew this was an attempt to make him stay.“Because we’ve always talked about this hiking trip with Mom and Dad, remember? And it’s time to conquer the great outdoors.”“I remember, but tha
“Bran, is it too late to convince you not to leave?” Brianna asked as she picked on the straps of his backpack. She was still hugging him and wouldn’t let go. They were at the airport and Bree took the day off to drop him off before his big adventure.“Bree, I’m just a few states over.” Brandon pushed her off his chest a few inches so he could see her face, but she had her head bent because she did not want him to see the tears in her eyes. He grimaced and kissed her forehead. “You can always hop on the plane and see me if you want.”He hugged her again, making her tear up more.“I know that. I guess I just don’t like being left behind.” She mumbled.“I’ll be back in six months and then you’ll tire of having me around the house. Enjoy your time without me. Grab a boyfriend or two while I’m gone.”Bree snickered. “Sure, let me flirt with the hot police officers while I’m training. That will do me good.”“As long as you like them, then I’m okay with that. Don’t let them intimidate you i
Bree paced at the car rental shop. The number of customers ahead of her could be counted on one hand, so there should be no reason for the delay when there were two employees present.She could hear the person in the front struggle with signing up. They were having issues with the mode of payment as the credit card company put a hold on the approval.Bree usually had the perseverance to stand on the sidelines and listen to people’s issues, but today she was getting short. As if sensing her anger, the other staff member finished making small talk with the person they were helping and directed them to another employee to get their car.When she got the approval to find her brother, Bree immediately booked the rental. The place he last called from was an hour away from the closest airport, so public transportation was definitely out of the question.Chicago had very awful traffic, and they had trains and buses everywhere, so there never was a need to get a car. And now she wondered if may
“What can I get you, honey?” A middle-aged lady asked as she sat on the counter.“A cup of coffee and pancakes if you have them.” Flying out early that morning made her miss breakfast, and because of the short flight, the airlines did not bother to serve any snacks.“You new around town or just passing through?” the woman inquired politely.“Actually, I am looking for my brother. He was here a week ago, using your phone to call me. I wonder if you’d seen him around.”“What does he look like? Lots of people come around here and I’m good with faces.” The lady looked sympathetic, which put her at ease.“He looks exactly like me, same brown eyes and black hair. Probably scruffier around the face because he has a beard by now and is more than a foot taller.”“Can’t say I’ve seen someone like that pass through here.”“Do you have any cameras we can check? Maybe you weren’t here when he came in?” “How are you so sure he called from here?” The old lady asked suspiciously. Bree noticed she had
`“Marg, I heard we have someone new in town. What do you think of our visitor?” Grayson sauntered into the diner and sat at the counter to get news about the newcomer.“Who told you? The office grapevine?” He smiled and shook his head while accepting a cup of coffee.“Hmm… I can’t put my finger on it. There’s something different about this one.”“Not your typical lost tourist?”Marg pursed her lips. “You’ll find out when you see her. Use your nose. I think she’s one of us.”“One of us? And she didn’t announce her affiliations?” She shook her head. “Pack?” “Don’t think she’s aware. Something is masking her scent. I barely caught it.” A growl began in his chest. It was one thing to pass through town undetected, but to stop by the dinner and not declare which pack she belonged to meant the person was a rogue or was trying to stir up trouble and did not want anyone to know where she was from.Grayson Walker, alpha for the Silvercreek wolves, kept the peace among the packs around the tri
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
“Brianna, is that you?” Amelia piped from the kitchen.“Hey, Mrs. Walker,” Bree nodded shyly at Grayson’s grandmother. Ever since they came back from the Nightshade raid, Brianna had avoided having a conversation with Grayson’s grandparents because she felt shy that the couple had welcomed them into their home while the twins had brought nothing but trouble.The older woman shook her head. “Come and sit down. Didn’t I ask you to call me Gran?”Bree wanted to hide in the bedroom until Grayson arrived, but it seemed his grandma had other ideas. She felt embarrassed that she just assumed her position as Grayson’s mate without his elders’ blessing, and Bree was apprehensive that they wouldn’t approve.“Uhmm, yes, Gran.” Bree did not realize she was hungry until her tummy grumbled upon smelling the food Amelia had laid in front of her.“You’re getting skinny. Eat this stew before you go back to watching your brother. Is he feeling better?”Brianna nodded and began munching on her food. “Th
“We found evidence of someone hiding in the hayloft in the green barn.” Rick motioned for him to follow.“What evidence?”“Comforters were laid out over several bales of hay.”“Those were Brianna’s blankets when she tried to hide up there.”“It’s not her scent on the sheets, and there are food wrappers and crumbs everywhere.”“Is it someone from the Nightshade pack? Have they returned?”“No, alpha. It’s better if you see yourself.”-=-“Marina, what are you doing up here?” She sneered, knowing what her verdict would be.“Leave us alone,” Grayson ordered Rick to give them privacy. He knew Marina would never talk if she felt humiliated.The alpha nodded for her to speak when the barn had been cleared.“I’m just trying to be close to Gran and Gramps.”“You are close to them. I heard you visiting downstairs several times already since they arrived. So why are you sleeping up here?”“I just don’t feel safe after you guys left to get the twins.”“Most of the pack remained to guard the town
“I have…”“About us?” He asked with a cocky grin, knowing what the answer would be.Bree blushed. “Maybe.” He heard her heart skip a beat. “Have you tried thinking about a happy memory before you go to bed and dreamt about it?”“Yeah.” “Isn’t that the same as controlling your dreams?”“I guess.”“Maybe tonight you can dream about us instead of that monster, and you can tell me all about it when you wake up tomorrow.”She nodded, understanding her assignment. The time to talk had passed, and it was time for them to mingle with the others. But now that she settled comfortably in Grayson’s lap, she didn’t want to leave.Bree missed snuggling with her mate, but the strain in their relationship had prevented her from asking him for any favors.She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. ‘I wonder if I should tell him to hold me tighter and rub my back.’Grayson kissed the top of her head, adjusted his right arm to hold her closer, and so his left hand could reach behind her to rub her