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
It had been several days later when Bran finally woke up, and even though he tried to recount the events of what happened in his head, Bran could recall nothing.Two months, he had lost two months from his memories and he wondered if he was missing anything else aside from what Brianna had already told him.He was walking in the pasture, heading for the cows grazing the field, when a scent tickled his nose. The sweet intoxicating aroma of newly baked butter cookies teased his senses and he couldn’t help but follow.“Wait! Who are you?” Bran called out as he caught up to the person weaving between the trees, obviously trying to avoid detection.He was surprised to find a woman clothed in black, her hair tucked under a black beanie.“I don’t want trouble. I just wanted to see how you were doing.” “I’m okay. My memory is a little rusty, but everything will return soon enough.” Marina heard about his amnesia, and she wondered if he knew who she was. They were never officially introduced,
Bran had never been smooth with the ladies, but he never knew anyone who would knee him in the groin without provocation. He just asked for her name. Was that not allowed in society anymore?After recovering from his pain, Bran limped back to the ranch, spending time with the cows forgotten. He figured having a scraggly beard and mustache did not make him appealing to anyone. He probably looked like a hermit, foraging in the woods.‘Not ugly,’ a voice whispered.“Hello!” He called out behind him, wondering where the voice came from.A sharp pain stabbed Bran between his eyes, radiating to the back of his head. The intensity of his headache made him double over and fall onto the leaf-strewn forest floor.‘Bree!’ He called out before hitting the ground.At the ranch, Brianna was busy exchanging stories with Amelia when she heard Bran through their link. Eyes glazing over, she tried to pinpoint his location and failed. Without saying anything, she ran upstairs, only to find his room emp
“Brandon has burn marks on his back and they looks fresh.”“What? Where?” Bree tried to pull the blanket covering Bran’s body to see the evidence herself, but Grayson used his feet to sweep her aside.“You know that your brother is naked under the sheets. Do you think he’ll be happy to know that you saw him without his clothes?”“I’ve seen him naked plenty of times.”“Brianna,” Grayson scolded, and for a brief moment she had a reason to smile. “I didn’t see any fire at the site. Where did he get the burn marks?”“Must be a cattle prod, alpha. We found one lying around a few feet away from the site. They tried to hide it, but we were better.” Someone from the back replied.“Bring it to the kitchen. We can locate which ranch it came from.”Gray headed to Brandon’s room as Bree followed behind with worry.“Who would do this? Do you think Seth’s grandpa had found out what happened and sent someone for retaliation?” She asked, eager to know what happened and if they needed to be cautious.
I got up, yet my body remained on the bed. Am I still dreaming?I walked through the house and checked through the rooms, yet everyone else was asleep and nobody even felt that I was there.Downstairs, I heard some sound originating from the kitchen, so I went to investigate. A shadow opened the oven door and took out several biscuits that were still warming on the tray. I hid behind a post, afraid that the oven light would give away my position, but when the person passed by the island and grabbed a few chocolate chip cookies, I knew they were oblivious to my presence.Why would someone steal from the ranch kitchen when Amelia welcomed anyone who wanted to come over and eat? Curious about the person’s motive and identity, I followed the robber and was surprised the person led me to the barn. Keeping a safe distance, I followed several steps away and saw the person go up the stairs to the hayloft. There were no lights around, so I wondered how the person could see in the dark.Are
Bran wakes up the next day intending to head straight to the loft to learn more about his mystery girl, but when he stirred, so did his sister who had camped beside his bed.“Bran?” her voice was full of concern as she shot up on the couch and checked if he was awake. “Bree..” His voice and throat felt scratchy, so she handed him a glass of water while laying her hand against his forehead. She wanted to know if he had a fever.“Here, drink some water. We found burn marks on your skin. Do you know who hit you with a cattle prod?”He shook his head. “Don’t know. My memory is vague. I think I saw a hooded figure, but I don’t remember what I did.”“Grayson said you shifted into your wolf to defend yourself.”Bran frowned. Was the dream of shiting into a wolf real? He heard the voice inside his head telling him to shift and saw his paws take on another form immediately right after.“I saw you in my dreams. You were a white wolf.”“Yes, and so are you.”“My fur is white?”“No, I mean you
“Let him be. His powers will come back automatically once he shifts into a wolf.” “He can’t do it on command.”“He did when he needed to. Aiden volunteers to go with him if he wants to walk outside. We doubled up security around the perimeter. Nobody can sneak past us again.”Bree glared at Grayson. He appeared out of the blue, as if knowing the twins were talking about him.‘I didn’t need your input,’ she said vehemently through their link.“See, Grayson said we are safe. I promise not to go anywhere today.”‘Be with your man. He looks anxious. I think he needs to tell you something.’ Brandon discovered their twin bond still worked and he could still communicate with Bree through their telepathic abilities.‘Fine. Don’t go anywhere or I will kill you myself.’Brandon chuckled and slid lower down the bed, covering his head with the comforter to signal that he was done talking.-=-“What do you need?” Bree asked Grayson as she led the way out of the room and walked down the stairs to h
“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
“Hey, Marg,” Bran and Marina enter the bar, followed by ten of their new friends. “Can you give my new friends their first drink and charge it on my tab.”Marg raised her brow. “Friends of yours?” She was suspicious. Since when did Brandon have friends the pack didn’t know about?She tried to catch Marina’s attention, but the younger woman escaped to the ladies’ room. Who were these people and why were there so many of them? Why did they come?Are they here for peace or to cause problems?These are just some of the questions she needed answered. However, it was not her place to confront the individuals involved.Marg sent a message to Grayson through the pack link to alert him of the newcomers. Ten werewolves on a motorcycle can mean anything, and she wanted to err on the side of caution.Several minutes later, Grayson and Brianna appear at the bar as if they came casually. Like they were out on a date and had come to the pub for drinks.The jukebox was blaring an old song about the
“Brandon! Get out of the way! A truck is coming.” She yells while pulling him toward the trees. But Brandon did not budge and kept his ground. He did not want to confront the creature lurking behind the shadows unless necessary.It was too late, Marina thought. When the truck hit the rock, the momentum would crumple the vehicle and them at the same time. She did not want to lose Bran to an accident they could have prevented, so she decided to stay with him. Better die together than cry because of his loss.‘It’s okay. It’s not a truck.’ He communicated through their link as the lights came closer, halting a couple of feet before the rock, the sound of machinery louder than before.His range to hear and see things around him was more enhanced than Marina’s because of his alpha blood. So he knew way before she did that it wasn’t a big vehicle that was approaching.“Need help there young werewolf?” A deep voice boomed behind the light and Marina’s eyes widened in fear as she scented at l
Inside the vehicle, Marina could not sit still. How did Seth know where she was, and how did he know she would be on a date with Brandon?Brandon asked her about a song and she said yes instead of telling him she’d heard it before. She could not focus. Seth just thanked her for luring Brandon away from the pack and threatened to kill him.Marina needed all her faculties to detect any coming danger, so she tuned Bran out, slid the windows down, and listened to the sounds outside.They were halfway to the border between Silvercreek and the next town when her fears finally manifested.She saw glimpses of a werewolf running alongside their car hidden behind the treeline. He was running so fast she could hear him grunting as he ran. Like in a horror film, the hair on her arms stood on end and she knew it was only a matter of minutes before they met this wolf in person.The action was easy to miss by a regular human, but since she had enhanced hearing and could see in the dark, she was su
Marina walked down the stairs, and Brandon couldn’t help but hold his breath. He always knew she was beautiful, but with minimal makeup and her hair down, she looked younger.The thick foundation, black eyeliner, and red lipstick she wore most of the time made her look more mature, hiding her soft, smooth skin. Having all that armor made him wonder what she wanted to hide under all that facade.“You look so—” Brandon hesitated. He had no words to describe her.“I need to change.” Marina felt conscious and retreated up the steps, but before she could reach the top, Bran’s arm shot out to stop her.“You don’t,” he said after pulling her to his chest, lifting her off the ground and making her feet dangle.His face was positioned right on top of the V of her neckline, and he gave her a naughty smile. “I like this view too.” His eyes lowered, and she covered her breasts with her hands.“Let me go. This is inappropriate.”“Okay, I will let you go if you promise not to change. I like your o
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