“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 into doing what you do not want.”
“Oh, so now you agree with me having one-night stands?”
“Don’t go overboard. I did not say that.” He glared.
“I love you Bran,” she smiled, but her lower lip quivered. The overhead speakers had announced the last call for his flight, and though she wanted him to stay, she did not want him to miss his flight, especially since he was at the airport already. “Take care of yourself, okay?” She added.
“I will. Don’t be too sad. Before you know it, you’ll be picking me up here again.” Brandon grinned while strolling to the gate for check-in.
Brandon was on the first flight to New Mexico. He wanted to be on the trailhead before noon and at the first campsite before nightfall, so he had no time to waste. There was something about this trip he was excited about, and it was not just because he would be in the wilderness alone.
-=-
Brandon had been gone for half of the year already, and as he promised, the phone calls came often in the beginning. But as the weeks passed by, and the trails became more remote, Bree heard less from him.
He mentioned stopping at his favorite places longer than a day or two to capture the view and immerse himself in nature, prolonging his trip.
Bree teased him for being so sentimental, but he just chuckled and told her he missed her, which immediately shut her up, bringing tears to her eyes.
Going the route he chose extended the trip, throwing their schedule completely off the calendar, making her anxious.
‘When are you coming home Brandon?’ was the question at the forefront of her mind, but she didn’t dare voice it out, because she did not want to appear too needy.
They were adults and sooner or later he would find his home with someone else. He might have even met someone already and was spending more time with her, which is why he was delayed. And thinking about losing him made her sad.
Bree wanted more time with Brandon, especially now that they talked like they used to before he retreated into himself and shut her out of his life. He was opening up, and that’s what she wanted.
Work and training occupied her wayward thoughts about his absence, and though her heart ached, she knew letting him go on his soul-searching trip was for the best.
Brandon was an expert hiker and mountain climber. Otherwise, the county office would not hire him as a volunteer rescue ranger if they did not believe in his skills, but still, she worried. She knew Bran would be okay as long as he did not encounter anybody who would intentionally bring him harm.
For the past twenty-five weekends, yup she was counting, Brandon would call from a payphone or a borrowed cellphone to tell her which part of the trail he was on, regaling her with tales about his grand adventures and the kind people he had come across during his travels.
He was fortunate, as Bree had heard horrible stories on these trails, about animals going wild and attacking the campers, people robbing each other for money and gear.
He was in Montana, the last time Brianna heard from him, telling her he would reach his destination in a week or so, but then when he reached the Canadian border, he decided to trudge forward and do a side trip to the mountains in Washington.
Bree liked the outdoors, but sleeping on the hard, cold dirt every night and getting bitten by mosquitos repelled her from taking month-long trips as Bran did. The weekend was good enough to immerse herself in nature and sleep in her warm, soft bed for the rest of the year.
Brandon, on the other hand, was made of sterner stuff. He was tougher, and he loved the outdoors more than she did.
For Bree, the city was her home, and she liked the amenities it could offer. Flush toilets and ready-made meals.
Sure, her lungs were filled with disgusting smog and dust, but she was content.
As a police officer patrolling the streets at night, keeping the citizens safe, she felt needed, and it was where she belonged.
Someday, she would like to hike the Continental Divide with Brandon, but only if she could find him in time. The cryptic message he left on her machine had alarm bells ringing in her head, telling her to go to him immediately.
She’d never heard her brother scared that way before, not even when their parents passed away. He was the strong one, shielding her from bullies and even her own sorrow.
Now it was her turn to take care of her brother.
‘I will find you, Bran. Wait for me.’ She said to herself and prayed she was not too late.
A twin’s intuition is always enough reason for investigation.
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
In the car, Grayson did not hesitate to interrogate Bree as soon as he set the car in motion. “So you want to tell me why you were looking for me?”“I called and left several messages a week ago regarding my brother, Brandon Stone, and nobody called me back.”“Brothers disappear all the time. I take it this is not the first time he left home without telling you?”“My brother has been on this six-month-long hiking trip on the Continental Divide. He was supposed to come home two—no, three weeks ago when he decided to extend his trip, said he wanted to see the waterfalls here in Washington.”“Silvercreek is a long way from that trail. Are you sure he was in this area?”“Yes, I’m sure he was in this area because the last phone he called from was the diner’s landline.” The sheriff’s brows furrowed. “Bran calls me every weekend without fail and it’s been two weeks. I have a feeling something bad happened to him.”“Why did you wait two weeks?”“I called your office and the ranger station a fe
“It’s just me and him, so you know how important he is to me.”“I see. Family is important in this town, too, so I know what you mean. Here we are.”“I expected a bigger building.” She said upon alighting from the car. “There’s not much happening in this town, so we need only a few employees. Plus, we have a lot of volunteers to keep the peace.” “Like Margie?” He smiled, noting her good observational skills.“Yes… just like Margie.”“So why haven’t you returned my calls?” Bree asked as they entered the small building. She noted that inside, it held more space than the facade, and she glimpsed a hallway that led to the back of the building, probably containing a couple of cells for holding. “Hold my calls,” he instructed as they passed by the front, and Bree paused for a second, recognizing someone at the front desk.“Who was that?” She asked, after Grayson closed the door to his office. “She hissed at me when I first saw her at the diner.”“The girl at the desk? Marina, and she’s al
Grayson was in the backyard, chopping wood to eliminate the tension he felt on his shoulders. The forest felt too quiet, and the air too calm, even for a small town like Silvercreek. Instances like these spoke of impending catastrophe, but his wolf could not figure out what was causing it. Sure, there were animal attacks in the forest, but those were nothing to be concerned about. They were just wild wolves driven to the nearby cities out of hunger.As the big felled trunk split in two, he wondered if a rival pack had invaded their territory to cause trouble. It had been several years since the Washington wolf packs and the surrounding neighbors made a peace treaty. There was no way a group would violate those rules unless there was some altercation between the packs he was unaware of.Wolves were naturally territorial and would protect the lands handed to them by their forefathers, even to their deaths. Grayson knew most of the Washington packs were peaceful and they would never make
Bree sneaked a glance at the house to check if there was anyone else around and an ugly taste appeared in her mouth when she imagined someone else touching his body.When she saw the lights were switched off, she nodded with relief.He was alone.“Yeah, you’re right. I should leave.” She turned her feet the way she came and felt the wind stir the air. And there it was. The scent that tormented Bree during her run.She inhaled deeply and, like a puppet, turned slowly toward him. Taking heavy, deliberate steps with her eyes still closed, she came closer.Grayson sneered. It was the trick women played on him all the time. Feigning disinterest for one second, then coming back to seduce him.He knew what to do, and what to say, but he had not been ready when Brianna opened her eyes and he saw the golden glow shining brightly.“What are you doing?” He hacked the stump with his ax, embedding the entire blade into the wood from the force he applied in surprise.She closed her eyes again and in
“Don’t be stubborn, you’re probably dehydrated, and that run didn’t do you any good.”“I’m in good shape and I drank a lot of water. That run shouldn’t have affected me.”“Maybe it’s the altitude. You’re not used to being in higher elevations.”“You’re probably right.” She agreed as he stood outside her door. “You can let me down now. I think my legs are fine, then you can be on your way.”“Just open the door and let me lay you in bed.”Bree blushed at the comment, and it did not escape his nose when her mood changed. Conscious of his warm hands holding her legs and waist, Bree scrambled to get the key from the pocket wedged between his abs and her hip. “I need to—” She twisted and almost fell, but he quickly drew her back in. His hand moved up her ribs, grazing the bottom of her breasts and doing a number on her breathing. Bree knew he was affected by the huff she heard, his frustration expelling a different spicy scent.She sniffed his shirt while attempting to get the key out of h
The answer was yes. She wanted to have sex with Bran, to risk the wrath of their alpha and his mate, to try her chance at happiness. If she would get exiled, why not for her happiness? But now was not the right time and place, not at the barracks, where it felt impersonal and hurried.‘Let’s go on a date first, like you suggested.’ Brandon groaned silently against her neck, but the rumble in his chest told her how disappointed he felt.‘Then we can do all this and more after the… third date?’‘Third date?’ He whined through their link, yet his hand never stopped moving.‘Isn’t that the norm?’‘How about I show you what I can do with my mouth now?’‘Oh…’ How was she supposed to say no when his hands alone brought her to her knees? ‘I have no doubt it’ll be—aghhh…good—aghhh… Brandon, don’t stop.’ Marina fused their lips and clutched his hair as the feeling in her core intensified. There was no sound anyone could hear, but Bran could feel what she did through their link. She was about t
The couple awoke in the dark at the same time, clothes covering their bodies, and sweat running down their backs. They were back at the barracks on the bed they slept in, arms wrapped around each other.The dream had been so real he felt the slickness when their naked bodies glided against each other. He was having an erotic dream about Marina and he wondered if he walked into her dream or if he dragged her into his.Bran looked into Marina’s eyes as she rubbed their legs together, noticing they were clouded. Was she still asleep? Should he wake her up?He sniffed the air and scented her arousal. It was a big possibility that they had just shared every part of his sexually charged dream.‘What were you dreaming about?’ He touched the tip of their noses together and asked through their link. Her answer would mean she was awake.Marina shook her head. She had to erase the image of Bran covering her with his naked body. The dream was too racy to be shared.‘You were there.’ He captured h
Bran was in the shadows listening to their conversation, so when Marina stepped out to head to the barracks, he surprised her by appearing out of nowhere.“Is that true?” He asked.“What is true?” Marina feigned ignorance.“That you were in love with him before?” She walked away before speaking.“It was a childhood crush. He was the only handsome guy in town, so it was only right that every girl in this area was infatuated with him.”“And now?”“Now…” She looked over at Bran and smirked. “I have to check my options. Let me look at your face and check if you’re handsome enough.”Bran grabbed her arm and pulled her to his chest. “Are looks really that important?” He asked while tipping up her chin. He wanted to stare into her eyes while she gave her answer.“Yes... No...”“Are you saying you’d settle because there’s no one else but me?” Marina raised her brow as if insulted.“I have standards.”“And I’m below that?” Brandon wasn’t vain. He had no delusions he was handsome but didn’t thi
“I wanted to take Marina out for a date. Where do you think we should go?” Bree gave Grayson a knowing look.The guys had their mouths hanging open. “Her?” One asked, then stopped when Marina glared at him, beating Bran to come to her rescue.“There’s a steakhouse a couple of towns over.”“Why would you go to a steakhouse when you have the best beef here at the ranch?” He jabbed the guy beside him.“Go to the Italian place in Greenville, they make handmade pasta,” Gran interjects.“Yes, that place is nice. It gave me an excuse to hold your gran close when we danced.”‘Don’t do it. I will never forgive you.’ Marina’s voice conveyed in his head.‘Why not? I want everyone to know you and I are dating.’‘Please don’t do this.’‘You are mine and they better know it.’“It is decided then. So Marina, will you go out with me?” Bran asks with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.“Go ahead.” Gran chides. “The man has spoken. Will you leave him hanging?” The dinner guests went silent, eager to hear
Marina ran from the kitchen. She didn’t mean to get overcome by lust, but whenever she was near Brandon, her brain was clouded with their nightly visits. In her dreams, Brandon called her beautiful and made her feel special, but they were just dreams that she conjured to feel less lonely. She chose Brandon because he was from out of town and knew nothing about her past.His eyes did not hold pity or disgust when he looked at her. She felt wanted when he said things that made her heart skip a beat.‘I’m beautiful,’ she smiled while lugging feed for the ducks and chickens on both shoulders.“Chick, chick, chick, chick, chickens!” Amelia called to her egg-laying pets. “Good morning! It’s time to come out.”“They missed you when you were gone.” “You think so?”“Of course, because I missed you a lot,” Marina said awkwardly.“So why didn’t you call me?”“I figured you were enjoying yourself so I left you alone. I wanted you to have some fun. Plus, I wanted you to think I was grown up enou
“So, you haven’t given me an answer. What will it be?” Bran slides onto the bench beside Marina. They were alone in the kitchen again and as she stood up, he pulled her back down to sit.“Why do you want to date me?”“I think you’re special.”“You do know that I’m an orphan and homeless, right? What’s so appealing about that?”Brandon chuckled. “If you didn’t notice. I’m an orphan and I’m homeless, too. We are living in someone else’s house, eating someone else’s food so why not enjoy it while it lasts.”“We’re different. You have a sister and I am alone.”“We’re both werewolves and my sister can be your sister too. She’s nice. Not so much lately but she’ll come around.”“You won’t like me when you learn about my past.”“Then let’s not talk about it. Let’s make memories of our own, without all those nasty things that happened to us because we had no control over them.”“How?” Marina looked at him, wondering if he knew what she had done.“I want to know the real you without the distrac
That evening, Marina’s dreams were intense. The shadow figure had come to her that night with the passion of a lover back from a long absence.“I want you, Marina. You will be mine,” he said before covering her naked body with his. At least in her dreams, she could do what she wanted without consequences. So she gave in and surrendered her inhibitions to the wind.Brandon was an ardent lover, paying attention to every part of her body that made her moan. She had long since forgotten that when she first dreamed of Brandon, he’d always be between her thighs licking her pussy until she screamed in pleasure.How could she hold back when it was only in her dreams that she felt satisfied?“Marina! Enough of that!”Wanting her dream to continue, she ignored the knock on the wall. She was near climax and didn’t want to stop.“Yes, yes…” she moaned, as her body succumbed to the pleasure of Brandon’s mouth on her mound. His tongue licked and teased her clit while his finger delved deeper and t
“There you are.” Sean appeared after a few awkward minutes and saw Bran first. Then, when he came into the stall, it surprised him to see Marina in the corner. “Both of you.”He looked outside and wondered how Bran and Marina appeared in the stall when he checked the entire stable, bedding storage, and the surrounding areas, but never found them. Something felt off, but he kept his mouth shut, afraid Marina would cut his head off.“Is this the last stall, Marina, or do you guys need help?” He asked when no one acknowledged his presence.“I’m here to do her bidding. She just needs to instruct me what to do,” Bran said and Marina’s ears perked up with the double meaning.“Do the other stalls. I have this almost done.” She instructed without looking at Sean, afraid that her flushed face and kiss-swollen lips would betray what they did.“Okay, let’s go, buddy,” Sean grabs Bran by the shoulders, dragging him and the rake alongside him as they check the next stall.“What’s with the tension
“Let me prove it.” Their lips touched, and Marina moaned. It was far different from all the kisses they’d shared before. Those were all in her dreams, and nothing prepared her for the real thing.Soft lips peppered her with kisses as his insistent tongue drew her lips apart. Marina breathed in and she could taste the mint he was chewing on earlier. Brandon nibbled on her lips and Marina felt her legs weaken she had to grab his neck for support. She was heady with desire and didn’t even notice he lifted her from the ground until her back hit the wall. Marina wrapped her legs around Brandon’s waist and as their pelvis touched, she could feel the bulge in his pants. Were they moving too fast? Or was this normal speed? She was not sure what the norm was anymore because being with Bran was all she thought about. All he needed to do was utter the words, and she would willingly give up her morals.She saved herself for Grayson all those years by not sleeping with anyone, but having Brando