At the academy, her mentors commended Brianna for her interrogation skills, so while Aiden tried to coax information about her family, she turned the tables and interviewed him instead.Aiden’s family had been in the valley for at least a century. The patriarch of the pack ran away from his family because he disagreed with their practices. Werewolves, like their wild counterparts, were very loyal to their packs, and it rarely happens that a member leaves on their own.Aiden was never privy to the traumatic events that occurred between his grandfather and the original pack. But he knew his grandfather ran away with their grandmother and later established the Silvercreek pack.Brianna wondered if their story was the classic Romeo and Juliet plot where their parents did not agree to their union, so they eloped.It sounded romantic, but from the story Aiden imparted; it seemed like the couple struggled a lot.They’d been hiding in different places for a while before they ended up in the m
“You let her out?!?” Brianna felt his presence even before Grayson uttered the cutting remark.It had been hours since she’d taken command of the kitchen, making grilled cheese sandwiches and creamy potato soup, after Aiden revealed his inability to perform any task in the kitchen. Wolves ate constantly and in huge amounts to replenish the energy they lost when using their abilities. Aiden didn’t perform strenuous activities recently, yet he still felt hungry.Even without his request, Brianna would have done anything to stay in the kitchen because she fell in love with it instantly. The spacious area reminded her of being on a farm or a cattle ranch where everyone came to share their meals. A sliver of memory touched her mind briefly but was immediately lost when she tried to reach out to recall it. She could imagine people walking in and out of the house the entire day, asking for snacks, and trying to swipe newly baked cookies off the counter.For such an enormous house, she wond
Grayson wanted Brianna to say something to him, anything, just like how she was talking to Aiden, but when she laid back down on the bed facing away from him, he sighed.He had been too harsh with his greeting, but he was caught unawares when he saw her in the kitchen.Everything felt right at that moment, as if she belonged in his house. But then, seeing Brianna having an easy conversation with Aiden made him jealous. She had a smile on her face and was laughing at his antics. He wished she had been smiling at him instead.Grayson expelled another sigh. “How are you? Any progress on contacting your wolf?” He asked after hesitating outside her door for what seemed like a long while.“No. I’ll try again later.” She mumbled into her pillow, acting like a child that’s been scolded.“I can help if you want.” They were tiptoeing around each other as though caught in an awkward dance. “I’m okay. You don’t need to. I’ve bothered you enough.”“Let me change my clothes and scare up some dinner
Brianna had no food, tent, extra clothes, or a navigation device to guide her path. She did not need any of those things now that her connection with Serena was recognized. The wolf would keep her safe until she could find sustenance.‘We could always eat other animals.’‘Yuck! Serena, don’t even think about shifting and getting blood on my hands. We are not savage animals.’Serena had been in control whenever she sleepwalked, taking Bree to different paths that held Brandon’s scent. And now that they were one, there was nothing to stop Bree from finding him. Brianna wanted to check and see what happened to her expensive, slightly used camping gear, so against Serena’s better judgment, they returned to the campsite where she had last stayed, only to be surprised by a backpack and camping gear waiting for her.Had Grayson known what she would do and left her all the items in the forest? Did he really care for her that much?Thinking it might be true made her feel horrible for tricking
Nana always said she loved us, and caring for us was a gift, even though I could see being with us always made her sad. But why?Bree never thought Brandon paid attention to their grandma’s feelings, seeing as how he always got in trouble and dismissed her scoldings.Their nana was probably sad because the twins reminded her of her lost son and his wife, but she said nothing about this.Brianna continued reading, eager to learn more.I know Bree will want to read this diary one day. Maybe we’ll turn it into a memoir if I learn anything useful during this trip.Visualize the scene with me. I am looking at a majestic snow-capped mountain and a trail leading towards it. I still can’t believe how green it is out here. Everywhere you look there is vegetation and flowers.I can walk this road forever and not tire of it.This is just perfect, Bree. You would enjoy it too.This trip was a mission to learn more about myself, get the peace I could never find in the city, and learn about my orig
Brianna woke up disoriented. The sleeping bag was tight and cozy around her body and the diary neatly placed off to the side.Did she sleepwalk and tuck herself into the bag?‘Serena, did you do this?’The wolf remained silent.Everything felt surreal. Finding Bran’s stash and reading about his feelings felt like she had intruded on his inner thoughts. Now she had a deeper understanding of what was going on, because everything that happened to Bran was happening to her, too. From the moment she lost the pills, she too had been dreaming. But there was nothing like the troubling entry about their parents being attacked by wolves.Had she been too traumatized about the accident Bran labeled as a murder that her mind shut down and blocked out every memory concerning the accident?Or was it a lonely, scared child’s depiction of the past? Trying to get a grasp on what happened that horrible day.Lying in the cave, without distractions and anyone chancing upon her hiding place, Brianna tri
‘Bran? Are you here?’ Bree woke up surrounded by darkness in the middle of the night, aware that her brother was nearby. ‘Show yourself.’‘Bree, don’t be surprised, but it’s been a while since I took my human form and it’s been harder to shift back each time.’‘Why? Are you okay?’‘I feel stronger and powerful as a wolf, and I need to stay this way to protect you.’‘I don’t care what you look like,’ Bree adjusted her eyes in the darkness, the only ability she could call on immediately. ‘I just want to see you. It’s been so long.’He sounded so close, but she could see nothing else inside the cave. That was until Bran opened his eyes and the golden color shone in the darkness. She was surprised that he was lying near her feet, but she didn’t even notice.Excitedly, she didn’t bother to unzip the sleeping bag off her feet, instead crawled towards Bran and hugged him so tight that he made a choking sound.‘Wow, you’re black as night and taller than me when I’m sitting down.’‘The better
Bree peeked from behind the tree trunk, her heart racing. She had never shot at anyone before, so she felt nervous. But it was just a deer looking for a snack, so she ignored it and expelled the breath she held.She had been so preoccupied with the deer it was too late by the time she heard the heavy breathing of a wolf behind her. He was in midair when she noticed, and there was no time to move.The wolf was poised above her, and in a second, it had pinned her to the ground. Bree pulled the trigger, sending a bullet through the enormous wolf, but he was unfazed. He had her shoulders pinned, but her hands were free, so Bree grabbed his balls and squeezed hard, rendering him useless as he yelped in pain and shifted into his human form. ‘Bree, the path to town is towards the west. I’ll go to the east to lure them away. Let me know if someone is following you.’‘I will. Keep safe, Bran.’‘Remember, they don’t want to kill us. They want to capture us. Otherwise, I would have been dead a
Grayson laughed. “I can manage. Don’t worry about me.” He reached over and kissed her temple. “I’m going before I embarrass myself.”Bree reached out and held his wrist. “No. I don’t want you to go.” Her eyes swirled golden, and when a slight breeze came through the open windows, he got a whiff of her arousal.Brianna took control. Pushed him to the bed and crawled on top. Ever since she said yes to pursuing their relationship, she had been feeling more empowered. That night, she felt like all her pent-up emotions were released, giving her the chance to fully harness her newfound strength.“You are not leaving until I get what I want.” She warned.He grinned. “And I accept.” His eyes shined silver as he felt the warmth of her body touch his. Everything about her felt silky and smooth, he thought, as his hands glided over her skin.Grayson kissed her with so much tenderness Bree felt as if they were caught in a dream where everything moved in slow motion.She enjoyed the way he swirle
Outside, Bree could feel the temperature cooling down as they sipped their tea. She had ditched Grayson’s coat when she came into the house, and though she felt the cool breeze on her skin, it didn’t feel cold, thanks to the hot beverage that kept her warm.They talked about her mother, and Bree appreciated Grayson for being observant. She was bothered that there was so much of her father in her that her mother had disappeared.“Did I tell you that my parents aren’t both wolves, either?”Bree’s eyebrows narrowed. “They’re not?”“No, my mother and grandmother are both human.”“Do you think you have more werewolf or human blood?”“I’ve thought about that, and I think the werewolf blood is more dominant only because it allows me to shift and have all these exceptional abilities, but I’m still human. I have the same feelings and get hurt the same way. Why do you ask?”“Because I’m scared, there is no more of my mother left in me. I think Bran has some of her skills. But I acquired nothin
Dinner at a fine dining restaurant where food was served in different entrees, in names she could not repeat, or tastes she could not describe, was not her ideal evening. But Grayson took her out on a very nice date, so Brianna said nothing to disappoint him.They had pleasant conversations during the meal, trying to identify the items on their plate. Some of the food came in fancy little spoons, in clouds of smoke, under flavored bubbles, and so little bites that she did not have enough to savor it.They were served 15 courses and by the end of the meal; she was more tipsy than full. Her tummy grumbled after Grayson paid the bill, which embarrassed her more than anything.She did not want to appear ungrateful, but she was still hungry.“What do you say about going to the diner around the corner and getting burgers and a milkshake?” Grayson asked while ushering her to their vehicle. “I’m sorry about dinner. It was a very wonderful experience, and I bet they worked hard to come up wit
Brianna was nervous.How do you date someone you’ve slept with before? How does one step back and restart a relationship?Grayson instructed her to dress nice as they were going to dinner at a fancy place out of town, so she went to the only boutique in the area to find a pretty dress.She had been happily looking at the selections when disaster struck. Bree remembered her wallet was still missing and none of the credit card companies wanted to send her a replacement card in Silvercreek. They sent all the cards back to her address, but how would she pick them up when she was thousands of miles away?“Did you find what you’re looking for?” The lovely owner asked. They had met before when she was searching for Bran and she thought Violet had a very calming presence about her.“Well, I have a problem.”“I know. Your wallet is missing and you want that dress but don’t have money to pay with?”“How? Did Grayson tell you I was broke?” She leaned in to whisper.“No, I’m clairvoyant, plus I
Marina had been spying on Brianna the last few days and every time she came home, Marina noticed a shadow had been following her. At night when she lays in bed she pretends the shadow transforms into a man and makes love to her. Pathetic, right? But ever since Grayson found his mate, her fantasies about him weren’t giving her the same satisfaction. Marina sighed. When did she become such a shallow creature? Sure, she always pinned for Grayson, openly flirted when they were together, and tried to sneak in once or twice into his bedroom to give their relationship a jumpstart, so ever since Brianna came into the picture, she had become desperate. It was not something she was proud of.Marina did not want to be that person everybody despised, but jealousy and hate had taken over, and she couldn’t stop the hateful feeling she had for the other woman.Marina had been the town’s favorite before Brianna arrived, and though she must admit Brianna trumps her in her accomplishments in life, th
Grayson was in town early the next morning, checking up on everyone. He dropped by the office to see if anyone reported any injuries. The night deputy reported a very uneventful evening. This was weird because even though Silvercreek was a small town, there was always something happening to people in the area.There were always missing dogs and cats. Neighbors had disputes and the local bar always had people brawling.Next, he went to the cafe that was right beside the bakery and both women seemed cordial to each other. They were competing businesses and on regular days, they would annoy each other as soon as they opened the shop. But today, the owners were smiling and complimenting each other.“Ladies, is everything good today?”“Oh yes sheriff, we have more of those pastries I sent you yesterday. I hope you didn’t finish them yet.”“No, Patrice, but I will get two boxes of baked goods. Can you deliver one box to the station?”“Definitely, Sheriff.”“Do you want anything from the caf
Bree stretched out on the bed like a contented wolf, wondering what Grayson was up to. He wound her up earlier until she gave in and then just left her to deal with her pent-up emotions. Now that she was free to pursue her feelings, she wanted to unwrap Grayson as she would excitedly unwrap a Christmas present, tearing the packaging apart, not caring about getting it back together.Grayson had been going around, talking to people, calming them down. There was nothing else he could do but check on the pack and ensure nobody got hurt. Some houses found broken figurines or vases when the wolves began mating inside the house, but so far aside from being horny and wanting to shift. Everything in the compound looked good.Grayson used his alpha authority to calm everyone down and convince them to get back inside. He suspected the lust he felt for Brianna earlier transmitted when they were together, but that had never happened before. Did he cause them discomfort? He was the only person wh
It took Brianna a hot second to make up her mind. She could blame Grayson’s muscled body leaning against hers, or the feel of his breath as his lips hovered over her, but it was all her heart’s undoing.Why shouldn’t she fall in love with a handsome man who can cook and has a stable job? Why shouldn’t she stay in Silvercreek when Bran already gave her his blessing?It had always been her pride that kept her from Grayson.Marina could be a nuisance, but in reality, Bree did not consider her a contender because she knew Grayson belonged to her the minute their eyes met after she fainted in front of the grocery store that first day she arrived.Bree didn’t want to admit she was falling so fast because there was no such thing as fated werewolves. Well, werewolves didn’t even exist a month ago. But now everything was possible. So why not romance? Why not love?Embracing the possibilities of being with Grayson opened a new can of worms. The ball was in her court and it was her turn to dict
“She wasn’t?” He asked, intrigued.“No, my mother was a witch.” Now everything made sense to Grayson. He heard of witches brewing concoctions of every kind. So there might have been something out there that could suppress their wolf. Having this information made him wonder if Brianna’s mother stopped their wolf from coming out?“I knew wolves found their mates in humans, but this is the first I’ve heard of this. I guess everything is possible.”“Why do you sound skeptical? My parents were deeply in love with each other. Just like any other normal couple.”“Of course they were, but I didn’t know if you knew that fact.”“Grayson, if you’re going to insult my parents under their roof, then I suggest for you to leave.”“That’s not it, Bree. I wanted you to see that they are of different origins, yet they found each other. Don’t you think it’s the same for us? We were thousands of miles away from each other. There was no chance we would have met in this lifetime had your brother not gone