Alpha Brock

six-pack series book four

C.J. Primer
 Copyright © 2022 C.J. Primer Romance

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or
dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written
permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 9798408276523

Cover design by: Design & Cover

Title Page
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Afterword
 “Some girls are full of heartache and poetry
and those are the kind of girls who try to save wolves instead of running
away from them.”
- Nikita Gill
 CHAPTER ONE

Brock
“Hey man, you good?” Jared asks me, furrowing his brow.
“Yeah.” I scrub a hand over my face. “Just fucking exhausted.”
Jared holds up a hand. “I’ll drive.”
I give him a nod, tossing the keys to the Escalade toward his waiting palm
before I head around to the passenger side of the vehicle, throwing the door
open to climb in. I let my head fall back against the headrest as Jared gets
into the driver’s seat, firing up the engine. Wordlessly, he shifts the gear into
drive, pulling away from the curb and down the street.
I glance out the window as we make our way out of Norbury, the town
quiet and the houses dark at this hour. It’s home to Alpha Vaughn’s pack and
I’ve only ventured out this way a handful of times. It’s the last place I
expected to be tonight.
Norbury is a good twenty-minute drive from Riverton, where my own
pack resides, and just a few hours ago, I was running with my pack under the
full moon. As wolf shifters, it’s a ritual for us to get together for the full
moon run every month, and as my pack’s Alpha, I lead the run. I’m new to
the Alpha gig- my old man stepped down a couple months ago to hand the
reins over to me- but I’ve already settled into my new role well. After all, as
my father’s eldest son, I was born to lead our pack.
Typically, after we get together to run on the full moon, we’ll spend time
together as a pack. We celebrate any new mate bonds that were established or
confirmed by the moon, eat some food, and hang out. That post-run bonding
time was cut short tonight, though, when I got word from my buddy Gray
that he was calling an emergency meeting of the six-pack council. Gray is the
alpha of the Goldenleaf pack, and the six-pack is the alliance that we’re all
part of. The council- comprised of the alphas of each of the six packs and
their betas- only gets together once a month unless there’s an urgent security
issue. Given what full moon nights mean to our packs, calling an emergency
council meeting on a night like tonight means that there’s an urgent fucking
issue.
 It came as no surprise to me that the security threat we were called
together to discuss involved the shadow pack. After all, they’re the reason
that our six packs came together to align in the first place. Years ago, Alpha
Xavier started leading attacks against other werewolf packs, taking out their
leaders and absorbing their ranks into his shadow pack. His end goal is to
overtake and absorb every pack in the United States- the guy is power
hungry, ruthless in his objective. It has been over five years since this all
started, and while other packs have fought back, nobody has been able to take
him down.
Hopefully we’ll be the ones to change that. Earlier this year, we formed a
relationship with a large shifter pack in Denver- or I should say, Gray
brokered an unofficial alliance with them. We’ve been sharing information,
tracking the shadow pack’s movements with our IT specialists, trying to
anticipate when the shadow pack may come knocking. Based upon our latest
information, the time is now- we learned a few weeks ago that the shadow
pack is targeting Denver, and tonight they sent in scouts to test Denver’s
security systems, meaning an attack is imminent. Hence the emergency
council meeting to decide what our next move is.
The council meetings have been a shitshow lately with the mix of old
blood and new- we’ve got Gray, Reid, and myself, all in our twenties and
alphas of our packs, and then we’ve got Anders, Damian, and Vaughn, three
older guys as alphas of the remaining packs. I’m not sure if it’s the
generational gap or what, but we often seem to disagree as to what’s best for
the six-pack as a whole when it comes to this latest conflict with Denver.
Miraculously, we were able to come to a unanimous decision tonight, though.
We’re going to go to Denver to join the fight.
I assume the older alphas will probably sit this one out, but Gray, Reid,
and I are all going, as well as our friends Jax and Theo- the sons of Alpha
Damian and Alpha Anders, respectively. The five of us young alphas run the
six-pack’s security squad, a group of skilled fighters trained to protect our
territory. We’ll be bringing the squad to Denver with us, as long as they’re
willing, and hopefully with the combination of our ranks, we’ll be able to
take out the shadow pack once and for all.
Or die trying. This plan isn’t without risks, and we all know it. It’s high
risk, high reward.
Jared takes a turn once we reach the outskirts of town, pulling onto the
long forest road that connects the three northern territories of the six-pack:
Norbury, Stillwater, and Riverton. I’m glad he volunteered to drive back to
Riverton tonight, because I wasn’t lying when I said I was exhausted. These
council meetings always leave me feeling drained; he stomachs them a lot
better than I do. As my beta, Jared is part of the council- but admittedly, even
though every alpha’s beta is also on the council, the betas don’t speak up
much during the meetings. They generally each defer to their Alpha.
“You sure you’re alright?” Jared asks me as my eyes slide closed. I draw
a deep breath, rubbing my temple and concentrating on my breathing.
Keeping my wolf at bay. The truth is, I’m not alright- I’m agitated as fuck,
and it’s not because of the Denver situation.
I open my eyes, staring intently at the road ahead even though I can feel
Jared’s eyes on the side of my face. The nice thing about Jared’s
companionship is that he knows me well and respects my boundaries. He can
tell when I’m in a foul mood, and he doesn’t push if I don’t wanna talk about
it. We ride in silence for a few minutes, my gaze focused on the forest road. I
get my wolf to calm the fuck down. And then, finally, I heave a sigh.
“It just fucking figures, doesn’t it?” I grumble. My hand goes to my
temple again, rubbing away the tension.
I don’t have to elaborate; Jared knows what I’m talking about. I flick my
gaze in his direction and he’s swallowing hard, his eyes sympathetic.
“It can’t be easy,” Jared breathes, rubbing a hand over his buzzed head.
“Especially because Jax is the same age you were, when you and…”
“Don’t,” I growl, cutting him off. I snap my head in his direction, my
eyes narrowing. “I don’t even want to hear her name.”
Jared holds up one hand in surrender, the other remaining on the steering
wheel. “Hey, I’m not trying to piss you off. I just imagine that seeing another
one of them find their fated mate must be a tough pill to swallow. Might open
some old wounds for you.”
I grunt in response, turning to look out the passenger side window at the
blur of the dark forest. He’s talking about my buddy Jax- when we walked
into the council meeting, we also found out that tonight’s full moon
confirmed that Jax and the girl he’s been seeing are fated mates. He’s now
the third one of my close friends to find their fated mate within a matter of
months- first there was Gray, who found out this summer that his mate is
Fallon; then Theo, who discovered soon after that he’s mated to Fallon’s
identical twin, Brooke; and now Jax, who is mated to none other than Theo’s
younger sister, Quinn. At twenty-five, I’m older than all of them, yet they’ve
all been lucky enough to find their fated mates before me. And they’re all
blissfully fucking happy.
In shifter communities, we don’t do relationships the same way as
humans. We don’t get married in the traditional sense, but instead find a
mate, either by choosing one or finding the one that fate chose for us. Such is
the elusive ‘fated mate’- a soulmate that fate has hand-picked as our other
half, our perfect match in every way. Sounds great, right? Except they aren’t
easy to find; the two of you have to be within proximity of one another under
a full moon for the mate bond to be recognized and snap into place. And even
then, you have to mark each other by the next full moon in order to seal that
bond. Basically, fate makes it so fucking difficult to find your fated mate that
many people give up by the time they’re my age and just choose a mate
instead. They don’t completely miss out, because they can mark under the
full moon and seal a bond to one another, but apparently it’s not nearly as
strong as the fated mate bond, and in doing so you’re basically giving up your
soulmate. It’s a concession that a lot of people make because the reality is,
not everyone will be lucky enough to find their fated mate in their lifetime.
How three of my four closest friends got so lucky, I’ll never know. It’s
hard not to be bitter, seeing them all so happy with the mates that fate chose
for them. Years ago, I was the happy, lovesick one that they all teased. They
were sowing their wild oats while I was planning a future with the one girl
who meant everything to me, and they gave me a hard time for wanting to
settle down. The old wound that Jared’s referring to being opened by Jax’s
happy news tonight? It’s the gaping fucking hole inside of me that Annalise
left when she walked out three years ago.
“I get it if you don’t wanna talk about it,” Jared murmurs from his seat
beside me.
I blow out a breath. I know I should talk about it. Bottling up emotions
will only make them fester, but I’m basically the fucking king of keeping my
shit to myself.
“Can we just wait till we get back?” I growl, staring at my own reflection
in the passenger window. “You know Brent’s gonna be nosy as fuck and I
don’t wanna rehash it all over again.”
“Of course.”
After Jared’s clipped response, we’re silent the rest of the way back to the
packhouse in Riverton. Silence is something I’ve always been comfortable
with- most of the time, I prefer silence over conversation. I’d rather be alone
with my thoughts or zone out than fake niceties when I’m not in the fucking
mood. These days, I’m rarely in the fucking mood.
~
“Hey, you guys are back,” my brother Brent comments as Jared and I
walk in through the front door of the packhouse, craning his neck to look
over the back of the couch he’s sprawled out on.
I kick off my boots, shrugging my jacket down my shoulders as I look his
way. He’s the picture of comfort in a ratty old t-shirt and a pair of grey
sweatpants, his hand buried in a bag of barbecue potato chips. Brent and I
look a lot alike- we both have the same olive skin, green eyes, and wavy
brown hair, except while mine hangs a few inches past my shoulders, his is
cropped to a few inches above his own. I keep mine long enough to pull back
when I’m training, a problem that Brent doesn’t have because he tends to be
lazy when it comes to fitness. Honestly, with the way the guy eats and how
inconsistently he works out, it amazes me that he’s in such great shape. He’s
not as bulky as me, but he has a lot of defined muscle. Guess he can thank
our genetics for that.
“You shouldn’t be eating this crap,” I grumble, snatching the chip bag out
of Brent’s hand as I round the couch.
“Hey!” he protests, still chewing.
I roll my eyes, reaching into the bag and popping a couple of chips into
my own mouth before handing it back.
“Beer?” Jared asks, heading toward the kitchen.
“Please.” I nudge my brother’s leg with my knee, and he moves to sit up
so I can flop down onto the other end of the couch.
“Me too!” Brent calls after Jared, turning to me and shoving a handful of
chips into his mouth. “So how was it?” he asks, crunching away.
I lean back, heaving a sigh. “Fine. The council agreed on sending aid to
Denver, so I’ll be going out there in a few weeks.”
Jared walks back into the living room, handing a bottle of beer to each of
us before sinking into the overstuffed recliner beside the couch.
“You already knew that though, right?” Brent cocks a brow. “So why is
your wolf looking at me like he wants to murder me right now?”
Fuck. My wolf has been so close to the surface for the past hour that I
kinda forgot about him- and the fact that the metallic swirls in my irises
would be a dead giveaway of my agitation. That fucker’s always outing me.
Beside me, Jared chuckles, taking a swig of his beer.
 I swivel to face him, shooting him a glare, and the two of us have a silent
conversation with our eyes. Jared and I have this Alpha and Beta thing down-
we’re totally in tune with one another. It’s no surprise since we grew up
close. My father’s beta didn’t have an heir, so when he was ready to step
down a few years ago, Dad asked me to choose his replacement. Choosing
Jared was a no-brainer.
“You know he won’t let it go,” Jared laughs.
“He’s right,” Brent quips, grinning. “I won’t.”
I turn to my brother, narrowing my eyes. “You don’t have to live here,
you know.”
We both know that’s an empty threat. While it may be outside of the
norm for my sibling to remain residing at the packhouse after our parents
have moved out, I like having Brent around. He’s one of the few people that
really get me.
I turn and give Jared a nod, taking a long swig of my beer.
He swallows a gulp of his own before speaking. “Alpha’s a little touchy
because another one of the guys found his mate tonight.”
Brent’s eyebrows shoot up. “Which one?”
Jared raises his beer bottle to his lips. “Jax.”
As Jared takes another sip, Brent looks to me. “Jax is the young one,
right?”
“Yeah,” I breathe.
He’s not the youngest- that would be Chase, Alpha Vaughn’s son, who is
only seventeen and hasn’t even joined squad leadership yet. Of the five of us
who run the squad and will all run our own packs someday, though, Jax is the
youngest at twenty-two.
“So he’s the same age as you were when Anna…”
“Yeah.” I down the rest of my beer.
“Shit.”
We’re all quiet for a moment, and I take the opportunity to get up and
grab another beer from the kitchen. I pop the top off and take a sip, walking
back into the living room as Brent and Jared are exchanging glances.
I heave an annoyed sigh, slumping onto the sofa again. “Just say it,” I
mutter, my gaze sliding between my brother and my beta.
“I mean, it’s not Jax’s fault that he found his mate,” Brent says
cautiously.
“No shit,” I bark. “Doesn’t mean I can’t be fucking bitter about it.”
 Jared sighs, leaning forward so that his elbows are resting on his knees.
“You could fall in love again, you know. I know after Anna, you won’t go
the chosen mate route, but you’ve gotta have faith that your fated mate is out
there somewhere waiting for you.”
“To have faith, you have to believe,” I grumble, shaking my head. I take a
long pull from my beer bottle, swallowing it down before flopping my head
over the back of the sofa and staring at the ceiling. “I don’t believe in any of
that anymore.”
 CHAPTER TWO

Astrid
I squint against the sunlight spilling in through the floor-to-ceiling
windows in the hallway as I step out of my bedroom, stretching my limbs. It
looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day in Denver, but I can’t fully
appreciate it until I get my morning coffee. And speaking of, I can already
smell it brewing. I breathe in deeply as I pad barefoot down the long hallway,
following my nose to the packhouse kitchen.
“Good morning!” I chirp as step through the doorway, finding my brother
Cole and his beta Sam, perched in their usual seats at the table closest to the
coffee pot. I reach up to sweep my unruly curls into a messy bun as I
approach them, securing my hair atop my head with an elastic.
Upon my entry, Sam shoots up from his chair, tossing a smile my way as
he heads for the coffee pot on the counter and starts pouring me a cup. By the
time I reach the table he’s back, holding the mug out in my direction.
“Thank you,” I breathe, taking the coffee from his hands greedily and
bringing it to my lips. The hot liquid warms my insides as I swallow it down,
my eyes sliding closed. “Mmm…”
Sam chuckles, slipping an arm around my shoulders and dropping a kiss
atop my head. “Morning, lovely,” he murmurs, his voice still gravelly from
sleep. He steps back over to his chair, sinking down onto it as I take my usual
seat at the end of the table between Cole and Sam, sipping on my coffee.
Despite all the craziness that happened last night, it’s nice to wake up to
the same ol’ morning routine I’m used to- sitting with Cole and Sam and
sipping coffee in my pajamas in the packhouse kitchen. Given the impending
attack from the shadow pack, we’re dealing with some pretty heavy shit right
now. Our defenses need to be shored up and big decisions need to be made.
We’ve always had a motto in this house, though: the worries of the day can
wait until after we’ve had our morning coffee.
“How’d you sleep?” Sam asks, picking up his own cup. As he looks over
the top of it at me, a wisp of steam curls in front of his face.
I sigh, leaning back in my chair and pulling a leg up underneath me.
“About as well as you two did, I’m guessing.” I dart my eyes between the
two of them, not missing how heavy their eyes look this morning. During our
pack’s full moon run last night, we were alerted to multiple border breaches-
scouts from the shadow pack infiltrating our territory. Needless to say, we
were all a little too amped up to get much sleep after that.
“Maybe you should’ve taken me up on that offer to cuddle,” Sam teases,
waggling his brows and flashing me a devilish grin.
“Maybe,” I snort, and my brother rolls his eyes beside me.
The dynamic between Sam and I would probably seem a bit strange to an
outsider, like we’re a little too close. Too familiar. And in a lot of ways,
that’s probably true. Cole, Sam, and I grew up together in the packhouse, and
the three of us were basically raised like siblings. My brother Cole is five
years older than me, Sam two years younger than him. My father was the
alpha of our pack, and Sam’s was the beta, hence the cohabitation. As
children, the three of us played together, got into mischief, and fought with
one another. I always looked at Sam like another brother… until I didn’t.
When we were teenagers, I suddenly started to see Sam differently. He
was my first crush, with his bright blue eyes, golden hair, and sharp jawline;
broad-shouldered and boyishly handsome, a dead ringer for Sebastian
Valmont from the movie Cruel Intentions. It turned out I wasn’t the only one
whose feelings had shifted, and we endured an entire year of ‘will they, won’t
they’ before actually admitting our feelings for one another and dating.
A year in, I turned eighteen and the full moon confirmed that Sam and I
weren’t fated mates. Up until that point, we’d convinced ourselves that we
were, so the realization was a huge blow- we didn’t know how to get past it,
so we broke up. A couple of years later, though, we drifted back together
again and dated for another year. It was easy to do, because things with Sam
have always been comfortable, familiar. That second round lasted until I was
twenty-one, when we mutually split, deciding we were better off as friends.
I’d like to say it was completely over between us after that, but in the
three years since, we’ve slipped up and slept together a few times. What can I
say? Old habits die hard, and it’s almost too easy to fall back into something
that’s so familiar- especially when you live under the same roof. Despite our
slip-ups, the two of us have an understanding and we don’t expect anything
more from one another. So yeah, to an outsider, this thing between Sam and I
might seem weird- but for us, it works.
“Have you heard back from Alpha Gray?” I ask, sliding my cup onto the
table as I turn to my brother.
“Mm,” he nods, swallowing down a gulp of coffee. He turns his dark eyes
to me. “He called shortly after you went to bed last night. They’ve agreed to
send their warriors here to fight.”
A sigh of relief slips past my lips as my head falls back. “Oh thank god.”
“Do we know how many?” Sam asks, sitting up straighter and leaning his
elbows onto the tabletop.
“Over a hundred,” Cole supplies. “And they’re going to take in our pack
members that can’t fight so we can get them out of the territory and out of
harm’s way.”
I quirk a brow. “Really? That’s so… generous.”
Sam brings a hand to his chin, squinting. “Too generous?”
Cole cracks the hint of a smile. “You two are far too suspicious for your
own good.” His gaze slides between Sam and me. “Hasn’t it ever occurred to
you that they need our help, too? We know how large the shadow pack has
grown… let’s face it, neither of us stand a chance unless we join forces.”
I grab for my coffee mug again, wrapping my hands around it and
shrugging my shoulders. “I guess that’s true. And I’ve never picked up any
weird vibes from them… then again, I’ve only met Theo and Brooke, and
what was going on between them at the time overshadowed anything else.”
I glance up as a few of our pack’s warriors shuffle into the kitchen,
helping themselves to coffee and breakfast. I haven’t made it over to the
buffet table yet, but the metal trays of food lined up on it are practically
calling my name. The packhouse here in Denver is huge, and it’s always
busy- not only do Cole, Sam, and I live here, but also several of my brother’s
advisors and about twenty of our pack’s highest ranking warriors. Then
there’s the live-in staff, including our chef, who cooks a feast for breakfast
and dinner daily, and two maids who do laundry and keep the place tidy.
I sip down some more coffee as I watch the warriors slide into seats at
another table across the kitchen, eyeing the bacon, eggs, and toast piled on
their plates.
“What’d you get from them?” Sam asks, touching my arm to get my
attention.
I turn back to him, setting my cup on the table in front of me again.
“From Theo and Brooke?”
Sam nods.
“Just their connection,” I say with the wave of a hand. “I felt it the first
time they came to visit, and it was way stronger the second time. And that’s
when Brooke told me the fated bond had snapped in between them.”
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that I’m not your average werewolf?
When I was little, I started to realize that I was different- that I could sense
things about situations and people that others couldn’t. Sorta like gut feelings,
only they always turned out to be right. My parents picked up on it, and that’s
when they told me that I had a gift, one that must’ve been passed down to me
from my grandmother; I’m an ‘intuitive’. My grandma was also a seer, but
I’ve never had visions manifest, just the feelings. I can’t control how or when
they happen, they just do.
“And you never picked up on any reason not to trust them?” Cole arches
a brow in my direction.
I give a little shake of my head.
“Good.” He tips back his mug, gulping down the rest of his coffee and
setting his mug on the table. “So as I was saying, every able-bodied pack
member will stay to fight, while those who can’t will seek refuge with the
six-pack.”
I nod slowly, eyes wide. Allowing the reality of the upcoming battle to
settle over me.
On my other side, Sam slurps down the rest of his coffee, rising to his feet
and reaching over for Cole’s mug. “Want some more?”
Cole gives him a nod, then looks back to me.
I blow out a breath, reaching for my own cup again. “So what’s this exit
strategy look like?” I ask as I raise it to my lips.
“Gray and I briefly discussed it,” Cole replies. “Each of the six packs are
going to take people in, so we’ll split ours up into six groups and send them
in waves, so there isn’t one big mass exodus from here that’ll draw
attention.”
I nod again and Sam returns with their fresh cups of coffee, passing one
to my brother and settling back into his chair.
“But I’d like someone to go down there ahead of time. be there when our
people arrive to be their point of contact and get them settled in,” Cole
continues, staring at me intently. “Someone the pack trusts.”
“You mean me,” I mumble, glaring at him over the top of my coffee mug.
He nods.
I’m not thrilled about the idea- being away from my pack in the weeks
leading up to the biggest battle we’ve ever faced is definitely less than ideal.
I’ll miss out on crucial strategy sessions with the warriors, intel gathering
with our IT specialists at the hive… basically everything, if I go. But at the
same time, Cole’s right- someone has to do it. The pack knows me; they trust
me. I’m probably the best person for the job.
Damn him for being right.
I heave a sigh, setting my cup back on the table again. “Yeah, I’ll do it.”
“Atta girl,” Sam grins, placing his hand over mine and giving it a
squeeze. He flicks a conspiratorial glance in Cole’s direction.
I glance between the two of them, shaking my head. “Oh please. You
guys knew I’d say yes.”
“I mean…” Sam sucks his bottom lip between his teeth, looking from
Cole to me before chuckling. “Yeah, of course. Who else would we send?
The pack loves you, you’re like their unofficial Luna.”
I turn to Cole, who shrugs and says, “you know it’s true.”
“You know,” I sigh, pushing off of the table to rise to my feet. “Someday
you’re going to have to get an actual Luna.” I smirk at my brother, tossing
him a wink before spinning around and heading for the buffet table.
I load up a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast and return to my seat
between Sam and Cole, sliding back into my chair. I pick up a piece of bacon
between my fingers and start nibbling on it when I catch Sam trying to steal a
piece off of my plate, swatting at his hand.
“Go get your own!” I laugh, scooching my plate farther away from him
on the table.
“C’mon,” Sam urges playfully, tilting his head and giving me puppy dog
eyes. He knows damn well that the face he’s making always works on me.
I roll my eyes, giggling softly and moving my plate back toward Sam to
give him access. “Fine.”
He grins triumphantly, snatching a piece of bacon from my plate and
taking a bite.
“You two done?” Cole teases, helping himself to some of my bacon.
“Can we get back to logistics for this evacuation?”
“I don’t know, can we?” I arch a brow in Sam’s direction.
He shrugs, swallowing the bacon he stole. “Of course, Alpha.”
I throw him another exaggerated eyeroll, picking up a piece of toast and
turning to Cole again. “Go on,” I say, smiling sweetly.
Cole chuckles, leaning back in his chair. “Alright. So once we identify
and split everyone up, I think we can send the first group as early as this
weekend, and then stagger the others three or four days apart from one
another.”
“So when do you want me to go?” I ask between bites of toast.
“When can you?” Cole fires back. “Tomorrow? The next day?”
I shrug. “Sure. Probably the day after tomorrow. Then I can get the lay of
the land a few days ahead of the first group arriving.”
Sam places his hand over mine. “Do you want to take anyone else? Chris
or Sasha maybe?”
He’s referring to two of Cole’s advisors that reside in the packhouse, but I
give a little shake of my head. “Nah, they should be here for strategy
sessions. I’ll be fine on my own for a few days until our pack members start
arriving.” I flash him a smile, then turn back to my brother. “Well, I guess I
should get packing, huh?”
I push my chair out from the table, rising to my feet. Before I go to walk
away, though, Cole reaches out for my arm.
“Astrid.”
“Yeah?” I ask, looking down into his dark eyes.
He presses his lips into a tight line, giving me a little nod. “Thank you.”
In my brother’s eyes, I can see his apprehension hidden just under the
surface. He conceals it well- if you didn’t know him, you’d think that he has
it all together all the time. He’s tight-lipped, all business. He’s a pro at
remaining calm under pressure. I know him better than anyone, though, and I
can see it- the little sliver of hesitation beneath his cool exterior. He’s scared
of what’s to come.
And I’d be a fool if I wasn’t scared, too.
 CHAPTER THREE

Brock
“Is she gonna be here soon?” I ask, agitated, as I glance down at my
watch.
Jax looks my way, arching a brow. “Why, you in a hurry or somethin’?”
I blow out a breath, kicking at the ground on the practice field where I’m
waiting with Jax, Reid, Gray, and Fallon for the Denver Alpha’s sister to
arrive. “Yeah, I’ve gotta get back to Riverton. I’ve got shit to do.”
“I’m sure it’ll still be waiting for you when you get there,” Reid chuckles,
stepping up beside me and clapping me on the shoulder. “Besides, what could
be more important than meeting…” he trails off, squinting, looking to Gray
over his shoulder. “What’s her name again?”
“Astrid,” Brooke supplies, approaching us with Quinn in tow. Quinn
immediately makes a beeline for Jax, slipping under his arm and winding her
own arms around his waist.
Reid snaps his fingers. “That’s right. Astrid.”
Seeing Brooke, it suddenly dawns on me that her mate is conspicuously
absent. “Where’s Theo?” I ask, glancing in the direction Brooke came from.
“He drove out to the lodge to meet Astrid and bring her back here, so her
driver didn’t have to try to find it on his own,” Brooke says.
I guess that makes sense since the squad complex isn’t exactly searchable
on GPS and Theo has met Astrid before. Still, I don’t know why the rest of us
have to wait out here for this chick like we’re the six-pack’s fucking welcome
wagon. Also…
I fold my arms across my chest, arching a brow. “Her driver?”
“Yeah, what else did you expect from the princess of the Denver pack?”
Jax chuckles as his mate elbows him.
Brooke rolls her eyes. “She’s not like that. Things are just different there.
Bigger pack, more money. She’s cool, though, you’ll see when you meet
her.” Brooke’s lips spread into a smile as she looks toward the gate.
“Speaking of…”
I turn over my shoulder to follow her gaze, and it feels like all the air
whooshes out of me at once.
Fuck. Me.
I’m not sure what I expected, but this Astrid chick is a total knockout.
She’s a tiny little thing- Theo probably has a foot on her, height wise,
towering over the girl as he leads her in our direction. Despite her small
stature, she’s got curves in all the right places, and she’s flaunting them in her
dark skinny jeans and tight white sweater. It contrasts against the caramel tan
of her skin tone- a color so gorgeous, so unique that it makes you want to lick
her just to see what she tastes like.
The closer she gets, the more I can make out her features- her heart-
shaped face, her high cheekbones, and her cute little nose. Dark eyes framed
by thick black lashes and full, plush lips. She looks like Zendaya with a little
bit of Jessica Alba thrown in there, all wrapped up in a petite little package,
her light brown curls bouncing as she walks. Drawing closer, her lips spread
into a smile, and of course her smile is stunning, too- two rows of straight,
white teeth and a shallow dimple on her left cheek.
I’m practically in a trance watching her, until my view is suddenly
obstructed by Brooke rushing forward to greet her with a hug. As Brooke
pulls her in, I snap out of it, releasing a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Goddamn, what the hell am I doing? I haven’t been this affected by someone
at first glance since…
Quinn bumps my elbow as she pushes past me, heading toward Astrid
right as Brooke is releasing her from the hug. “So glad to finally meet you in
person!” Quinn gushes, going in for a hug of her own.
“You too!” Astrid chirps, throwing her arms around Quinn and returning
it eagerly.
Fucking girls, man. Always so excitable.
When Quinn steps back, Astrid looks over her shoulder to Fallon, her
brows shooting up. “Wait a minute…” She looks from Brooke to Fallon and
back again, blinking. “Am I seeing double? You never told me you were an
identical twin?!”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that?” Brooke asks coyly, waving her sister
over. “This is Fallon.”
“Damn, that just doesn’t seem fair.” Astrid looks between the two of
them and laughs, the sound of it so light, almost melodic.
Fallon also greets Astrid with a hug- what’s with these girls and all the
fucking hugging?- pulling back with a grin. “Okay, we may look alike, but
just so you know, I don’t know the first thing about the IT stuff that you two
work on together.” She cocks a hip and rests a hand upon it.
Astrid giggles again. “No worries, I do more than just IT.”
“So is it true that you’re a psychic?” Fallon blurts.
Brooke swats Fallon’s arm, scolding her sister with her eyes.
“Not a psychic,” Astrid smiles, running her fingers through her curly hair.
“An intuitive, actually. But it’s not nearly as cool as it sounds, I just get
random feelings about things and people. Being a psychic would be a lot
cooler.”
“Damn, we could really use a psychic right about now,” Fallon chuckles.
Astrid grins. “Tell me about it.”
Theo steps up beside her, once again drawing attention to how small
Astrid’s stature is in comparison to his own. I wonder what it’d be like to be
with a girl that small. I bet it’d be fun to throw her around.
I mentally scold myself for that thought, pushing it out of my brain. I’m
not going down that road again, especially not with some spoiled rich girl.
The ‘princess’ of the Denver pack, give me a fucking break.
“You’ve gotta meet the guys,” Theo says, and for the first time, Astrid
looks past the girls to where Reid, Jax, Gray, and I are standing.
As Theo leads her over, I watch her chocolate brown eyes briefly slide
between the four of us. Her gaze catches on mine for a moment and I quickly
avert my eyes, looking down at the little black ankle boots on Astrid’s feet.
Her feet are fucking tiny, and wait a second, are those heels? There’s no way
she’s even shorter than she looks…
“These are the other squad leaders, Gray, Jax, Brock, and Reid,” Theo
introduces, my eyes flying back up when my name is mentioned. Again,
Astrid’s eyes meet mine, and again, I look away.
Yeah, she’s hot- you’d have to be fucking blind to miss that- but I’m not
a sucker anymore. I’m older and wiser than I was when Annalise stepped off
that bus at training camp four years ago, and hell of a lot more jaded. I can
already peg Astrid for the type of girl she is. She’s the type that you pine
over, obsess over, only to be left holding your heart in your hands. The kind
that looks sweet but will fucking eat you alive.
“Hi!” Astrid greets cheerfully, extending a hand to Gray first. He takes it,
shakes it, and she moves down the line to Jax. The next thing I know, I’m
looking down at a slim hand held out in front of my chest.
I look up, and I immediately wish I hadn’t. Those big, dark eyes of hers
threaten to pull me into their depths. She’s standing right in front of me now,
and her scent hits my nose- sweet, with hints of cinnamon, peaches, and
something else that reminds me of a springtime storm or fresh morning dew
on the grass. Frustratingly delicious.
“Hi!” she chirps, that bright smile stretching her cheeks.
I grunt, bringing my hand up to take hers.
Now my mind is definitely fucking with me, because I swear I feel sparks
dance between our palms on contact. Her hand is fucking tiny in mine, and as
I shake it, there’s a flash of something in Astrid’s eyes- it’s like they change
for a moment, her smile faltering. Before I can make sense of it, though, she
quickly regains her composure and the smile’s back in full force.
“Brock, right?” she asks as she pulls her hand back.
This girl is annoyingly perky.
“He’s the one you’ll be staying with,” Theo supplies.
Gray clears his throat to speak. “We thought you’d be more comfortable
at one of the packhouses as opposed to the complex,” he adds.
“Sure,” Astrid nods, and it’s then I realize that my eyes haven’t left hers
since she stepped in front of me.
I turn away, and she takes that as her cue to move on to Reid, offering
him a handshake.
When I agreed to put up Alpha Cole’s sister in my packhouse, I didn’t
expect her to look like… well, that. The guys and I all discussed where
Astrid should stay, and we decided that it would be best for her to stay at one
of the packhouses so she could remain accessible to her pack- after all, we
don’t want a bunch of random people coming and going from the complex
while we’re trying to train and strategize. We figured that she’d probably
prefer to stay with Brooke or Quinn, since she knows them from IT, but they
both live at the complex. That left Gray, Reid, and me as options for hosts-
and both Reid and Gray’s betas have small children that live at the packhouse
with them, making it a little chaotic. So, I became the default option, and I
was fine with it… up until about five minutes ago. I didn’t think it’d be a big
deal to host her, but too late I’m realizing that I clearly didn’t think this
through.
“So what now?” Astrid asks cheerfully, looking to Gray. She must’ve
gathered that he’s the ringleader of this circus.
Gray tucks Fallon under his arm, offering Astrid a small smile. “Well, we
figured you might want some downtime after your trip here, so Brock will
take you up to the packhouse in Riverton and you can get settled in. Then
tomorrow morning you can come back here and get the lay of the land, work
with IT…” he shrugs. “Whatever you want.”
“Sure, sounds good,” Astrid replies.
She looks to me again, and it takes me a second to realize why she’s
staring at me, as well as an elbow to the ribs from Reid.
“Uh, you ready?” I ask, flicking my head toward the gate.
She sinks her teeth into her lower lip and nods, her curls bouncing around
her face. “Lead the way!”
 CHAPTER FOUR

Astrid
When my brother said he was sending me up here, he conveniently forgot
to mention how fucking hot the guys who run the security team are. I’m
talking breath stealing, heart stopping, reality defying hotness- when I got
dropped off here, I had no idea I was practically stepping into a
Chippendale’s calendar. Sure, I might’ve been a little resistant about leaving
Denver and missing out on battle preparations there, but now that I know I’m
going to be shacking up with a Jason Momoa lookalike for the next few
weeks? I’m suddenly okay with it.
I just met Brock, but I can already tell that he’s the strong silent type. I try
to make conversation on the ride over to Riverton, but all he gives me in
return are grunts and one-word answers. It doesn’t bother me, though- we
don’t really know each other yet, and I’m sure he’ll warm up eventually. I’ll
just kill him with kindness until he does.
We arrive at the packhouse in Riverton and Brock hauls two of my four
large suitcases out of the trunk of his Escalade, leading me up the front walk
and inside. As I step over the threshold, I look around, taking it all in- the
packhouse in Riverton is a lot smaller than Denver’s, but it’s well maintained
and far cozier. There’s an enormous great room straight ahead full of
comfortable looking furniture, likely for pack gatherings. The open concept
kitchen and dining room sit to the right, and to the left there’s a staircase and
a lower hallway- both likely leading to the bedrooms.
“Brent! Jared!” Brock barks out, and I jump a little bit, startled.
A few moments later, two guys appear from a corridor between the
kitchen and dining room that I hadn’t noticed before- and seriously, are all of
the guys here just drop dead gorgeous? One of them is definitely related to
Brock; he’s got the same olive skin tone, emerald eyes, and harsh jawline.
There are some distinct differences, though. Brock’s taller and more built, his
wavy brown hair is longer, and the most notable difference is the devious
smile that this other guy is sporting- I haven’t seen Brock smile yet, but with
his prickly demeanor, I’m guessing it isn’t a regular occurrence.
 The second guy doesn’t appear to be related to Brock and guy number
one, but he’s handsome in his own right- buzzed dark hair, deep brown eyes,
and a killer body. His smile is so warm; it’s one of those smiles that has a
way of immediately putting you at ease. My eyes slide between the two guys
as they come closer, and I suddenly feel like I need to do a drool check.
“This is Brent and Jared,” Brock grumbles, gesturing to the two of them.
“My brother and my beta.”
Hold up- these are my new roommates?!
I blush, lifting my hand to give an awkward little wave. “Astrid. Nice to
meet you both.”
“Astrid,” Brent repeats, raking his eyes up and down my body slowly.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
My blush deepens when he tosses me a wink.
“Nice to meet you,” Jared says, approaching and sticking out his hand for
me to shake. As I do, it strikes me how kind his eyes are, and I get a warm
feeling that spreads out through my limbs- my ‘gift’ at work. Good vibes
from Jared.
“You guys wanna grab her other bags from the trunk?” Brock asks
gruffly, throwing a thumb over his shoulder.
Brent looks to the two huge suitcases that Brock carried in, his eyes
widening. “There’s more?”
I raise my brows and sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “Sorry… I don’t
exactly pack light.”
Brent and Jared exchange smirks, shuffling past me to retrieve my bags
from the Escalade in the driveway. I glance around again, surveying my
surroundings as Brock clears his throat to get my attention.
My eyes meet his, and I feel it again- that strange pull that I felt toward
him when our gazes locked on the field at the squad complex. His eyes are
like magnets that my own can’t leave.
“Uh, so there’s the kitchen,” he says, glancing in that direction as he runs
a hand through his hair. The break in eye contact cuts off the feeling I was
still trying to get ahold of- it isn’t one that I recognize and I’m struggling to
discern what my intuition is trying to tell me about Brock.
“None of us really cook, but the pack takes good care of us,” he
continues. His voice is low and growly, tickling something deep inside of me
and sending butterflies scattering in my belly.
“There’s always someone bringing meals by,” Jared adds as he hauls
another one of my overstuffed suitcases inside. “We typically just leave it on
the counter and everyone helps themselves.”
I nod, offering him a smile. It sounds similar to how we do meals back
home, though we have a chef preparing them and groups of us usually sit
down to dine together. I guess these guys are more… laid back? It feels a
little bit like a frat house.
“Is it just the three of you?” I ask.
“Yup,” Brent supplies, coming in behind Jared with my last suitcase.
“Riverton’s most eligible bachelors.” He waggles his eyebrows, setting my
bag down. “What the hell did you bring with you, girl?”
I tuck my thumbs in the belt loops of my jeans, shrugging my shoulders.
“Just clothes and stuff.”
“That’s a lot of fuckin’ clothes…”
“Leave her alone, Brent,” Jared scolds, rolling his eyes.
“What?” Brent holds up his hands innocently. “I’m just sayin’.”
“He’s got a point,” Brock grumbles in agreement.
Jared nudges me, flashing a friendly grin and leaning in. “Don’t mind
them, Astrid. These two were raised by wolves.”
“Weren’t we all,” I smile, appreciating his pun. Yeah, I’m gonna like
Jared.
Brent steps over, inserting himself between Jared and I and throwing an
arm around my shoulders. “Wanna see your room?”
“Sure,” I laugh. “Lead the way.”
Each of them grab a suitcase- Brock taking two- and I watch
appreciatively as they start hauling them down the hallway off the kitchen,
their muscles rippling beneath their t-shirts. I follow behind, peeking into the
open doors along the way, familiarizing myself with my surroundings. The
first two rooms we pass are clearly offices, but as we continue on, I quickly
realize that this must be the guest wing; the rest of the rooms have beds, and
all but one of them are decorated simply and don’t look lived in.
Reaching the end of the hallway, the guys drag my suitcases into the last
room on the right. I follow them inside to find a large, tastefully appointed
room with a couple of dressers, a full-length mirror, and a king-sized bed
with crisp white linens.
“Hope this is alright,” Brock says, dropping my suitcases against the far
wall. He glances over at me, watching me carefully as I take in my
surroundings.
 “It’s great!” I chirp, noticing the two open doors to my left- what looks to
be a walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom.
Brent sets down the suitcase he was carrying beside the others, turning to
me with a mischievous grin and throwing his thumb over his shoulder. “My
room’s on the other end of the hall, just FYI. In case you need anything.”
Brock and Jared both roll their eyes from their positions on either side of
Brent, and I can’t help but crack a smile. Brent’s cute, and the man is
definitely a smooth operator. I know I shouldn’t even consider hooking up
with any of these guys- that whole ‘don’t shit where you eat’ thing- but
there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the view.
“Noted,” I chuckle, flashing Brent a smile. Nothing wrong with a little
harmless flirting, either.
I feel the weight of Brock’s stare on me- those eyes drawing me back in. I
glance his way and our gazes lock. My tummy flips.
I quickly regain my composure, settling my hands on my hips. “What
about you?” I ask, tilting my head in question.
“What about me?” he scowls.
I smile coyly. “Your room.”
Brock furrows his brow, his eyes darkening. Like he’s annoyed by my
casual flirtation.
Uncomfortable with the tension building between us, Jared speaks up.
“Brock’s upstairs, and I’m down the other hall on the first floor across the
way,” he supplies. “Towels are in the bathroom, and we’ve got a girl that
comes in once a week to clean up and do the laundry, so just leave anything
you want washed in the basket in the bathroom.”
I turn to Jared, nodding my head. “Got it. Thank you.”
“Sure thing.” He looks around for a moment awkwardly. “Well, you
probably want to get unpacked and settled, so we’ll leave you to it.”
I smile, realizing that I’m blocking their access to the doorway and
stepping aside.
Brent passes by me first, winking, followed by Jared, who offers me
another warm, friendly grin. Brock’s last, and he’s averting his gaze. I’m still
trying to figure out why the heck he’s so stand-offish.
“Hey,” I say softly, reaching out to touch his arm.
There’s that feeling again- the same one I got when I shook his hand on
the field at the complex. A weird zing, followed by a rush that leaves me a
little lightheaded. My intuition is trying to tell me something, but I still can’t
quite put my finger on it…
Brock yanks his arm away, and as soon as the contact is broken, so is the
connection. Strange.
He’s peering down at me curiously, and I realize that I must’ve had what
my brother and Sam call ‘the look’- they say that when my ‘ability’ is at
work and I get those feelings or intuitions about things, my eyes kinda glaze
over for a minute.
“Sorry,” I breathe, shaking my head as if to scatter my thoughts. He
towers over me as I look up at him, and damnit, those eyes… they’re moss
green, with little flecks of honey brown and… gold? My wolf pushes forward
as it dawns on me that his is peeking out.
Get it together, Astrid.
“I, uh, just wanted to thank you,” I stammer, bringing my hands together
in front of me and wringing them as I shove my wolf back. “For your
hospitality.”
“No problem,” Brock grunts. Then he bolts for the door, like he can’t get
out of the room fast enough.
As soon as he’s gone, my brain is less scrambled and I can form a
coherent thought again. I’m a little embarrassed that I was so thrown off by
him and practically babbling.
I listen to the sound of the guys’ footsteps retreating down the hall as I
push the door to my new bedroom closed. Seriously, what the hell was that?
I’ve gotta make sense of what my intuition is trying to tell me about this
Brock guy, stat.
I heave a sigh as I make my way over to the bed, sinking down onto the
edge and pulling off my black leather ankle booties. As soon as I’ve tossed
them to the floor, I flop backwards, my body bouncing against the springy
mattress as I stare up at the ceiling.
I comb through my mind, seeking to identify another time that I had the
same feeling I got today from Brock- but I keep coming up blank. It’s a new
feeling, something that I can’t quite tap into. Not knowing what it is makes
me feel a little bit uneasy. There’s one thing I do know, though- that there’s
definitely something different about this guy. And I intend to figure out what
it is.
 CHAPTER FIVE

Brock
I slept like shit last night. Something about that girl being here under my
roof has both me and my wolf on edge, and I woke up with the sunrise to let
him out for a run this morning. I feel marginally better when I return, pulling
on a pair of grey sweatpants that I left hanging off of a tree branch behind the
packhouse and tugging them on.
When I walk into the packhouse through the door off the back patio, I
immediately hear Astrid’s airy little giggle and I’m right back where I started.
Annoyed. I take a couple of tentative steps forward so I can see into the
kitchen, spotting her perched on a barstool at the kitchen island wearing a
tiny pair of shorts, one bare leg crossed over the other. A baggy sweatshirt
hides the rest of her slim physique, and her curly hair is piled on top of her
head in a messy bun. She’s clutching a steaming cup of coffee in both hands,
still giggling softly.
Brent and Jared are standing across from Astrid on the other side of the
island, leaning toward her with obvious interest. The way these two are
fawning over this girl is pathetic- she’s all they could talk about last night
when we were hanging out. At present, Brent’s regaling Astrid with some
sort of story or joke -which she must find hilarious, judging by her giggling-
and Jared is just shaking his head with a big, goofy smile on his face. I can’t
help but roll my eyes as I head toward them, Astrid being the first to notice
my presence.
Her head whips in my direction, eyes wide like a baby deer caught in the
headlights. They immediately drop to my bare chest, and I don’t miss the
blush that forms on her cheeks as her gaze slides from my pecs to my eight-
pack abs. By the time her eyes make their way back up to my own, I can’t
stop a smirk from tugging at my lips.
For a moment, she seems a little flustered- but I’m quickly learning this
girl is a pro at concealing her emotions. Within seconds, she’s got a bright
smile on her face, any trace of unease buried. “Hi!” she chirps, way too
fucking chipper for this early in the morning.
 Jared immediately straightens when he sees me, setting his coffee cup
down on the counter. “Morning, Alpha.”
Brent leans a hip against the kitchen island. “Good morning, Alpha,” he
repeats mockingly. The guy thinks it’s funny to tease me about my title for
some reason- I think it’s how he copes with his jealousy over the fact that I’m
now technically his superior thanks to our birth order. “Out for a run?”
I nod, stepping closer as I comb through my hair with my fingers and pull
it back, securing it with an elastic.
“Coffee?” Jared offers, nodding toward the pot.
I shake my head. “I’m good. Gotta get up to the complex.”
“Now?” Astrid asks, a little bit panicked. She sets her coffee mug on the
island. “I’ve just gotta change quick…”
Fuck. It didn’t occur to me that I’d have to drive this girl around, too. I
heave a sigh, flicking my gaze in her direction. “So I guess you need a ride?”
She hops down off of the barstool, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip
and staring at me with that doe-eyed look again. “Yeah, is that okay?”
“Fine.” I mean, what the hell else am I gonna say?
Astrid scurries out of the room, and I resist the urge to steal another
glance at her bare legs as she retreats.
“Guess I’ll have that coffee after all,” I grumble, stepping over to the
barstool that Astrid vacated and sinking down onto it.
I push Astrid’s abandoned cup of coffee out of the way, watching Jared as
he grabs a fresh cup from the cabinet and starts to pour me one.
“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to be a little bit friendlier to our guest,”
he says, shooting me a disapproving look.
“I just didn’t realize I’d be stuck being her personal chauffeur, too,” I
growl.
I see movement out of the corner of my eye as Astrid suddenly appears
beside me, darting out a hand to grab her coffee mug from the island.
Fuck.
Her eyelashes flutter as she looks up at me timidly. “Um, sorry,” she
mumbles, taking the coffee and spinning back around, rushing off toward the
guest wing again.
Well now I feel like a fucking asshole.
I look back to Jared, and he’s still giving me that look of disapproval.
“Bro…” Brent breathes, shaking his head.
“Don’t,” I snap, shaking my own head and pushing up off of the stool. I
don’t need to hear it- I already know that was a dick move. It’s not like I did
it on purpose, though.
I snatch my coffee cup off of the island and stalk over toward the stairs,
heading up to my room to get changed. Now I feel bad, and I’m annoyed that
I feel bad. Having this girl staying here is already cramping my style. I hate
that she’s up in my space, throwing off my daily routine. I hate the perky
little-miss-sunshine thing that she has going on. I hate that I’m fucking
attracted to her, that I can’t stop looking at her. These next few weeks might
just kill me.
~
A half an hour later, I’m parking the Escalade in my usual spot at the
squad complex, glancing over at Astrid as she unbuckles her seatbelt. The
ride here sucked- I thought she’d be quiet after overhearing me talking shit in
the kitchen, but instead she was just as chatty and bubbly as she was when I
drove her to the packhouse yesterday. And I fucking hate forcing smalltalk.
“So should I just call you later on to bring the car around?” Astrid asks,
looking up at me and arching a brow.
I freeze, eyes narrowing. Slowly, her lips spread into a smile.
“Kidding,” she giggles.
I just stare at her blankly.
“You know, the chauffeur comment earlier? I was just trying to make
light of it…”
“Oh I got the joke,” I grumble, opening my door and climbing out of the
Escalade.
Astrid shimmies out of the passenger side, and I’m already heading down
the sidewalk when I hear her door close and her quick footsteps scrambling
after me to catch up. I don’t bother slowing down for her, but somehow she
keeps up- even though she’s gotta take at least two steps for every one of my
long strides.
We round the corner of the complex and I head for the gate, Astrid’s little
head bobbing beside me in my peripheral vision. She’s so fucking small-
good thing I’d never give into my attraction for her, because I’d break the girl
in half.
“IT is that way,” I mumble, pointing at the second-story windows across
the field. I start to walk away when Astrid pipes up.
“Actually, I think I’m gonna train with you guys this morning, if that’s
alright.”
 I stop in my tracks, turning to look at her over my shoulder. “Huh?”
Astrid nods. “Yeah, I mean I’ve gotta keep in shape, right?”
I blow out a breath, turning to face her. “Sure, but we don’t just do
endurance workouts here. We do a lot of combat training. Sparring.”
“And?” she arches a brow, a smug smile on her lips as she folds her arms
across her chest. “What, did you think I was gonna sit out on the fight when
the shadow pack comes knocking?”
My jaw goes slack- because yes, that’s exactly what I thought the princess
of Denver would do. I’m at a loss for words, but thankfully Quinn sweeps in
at that moment, whisking Astrid away to join some of the other females.
I find my way over to the guys and we get practice started with a few laps
around the track followed by some circuit training. After the first hour, we all
pair off to spar. I pair up with Gray because the guy always gives a hundred
and ten percent, and I’m not planning on taking it easy today. I need to blow
off some fucking steam.
As fighters, Gray and I are pretty evenly matched, and we give each other
hell. Twenty minutes in, I’ve got blood dripping from my eyebrow, some
killer road rash on my right forearm, and a gash in my left knee. Gray doesn’t
look much better from his position across from me as he swipes his bloody
knuckles off on his t-shirt, glancing across the field.
“Damn…” Gray breathes, and I follow his gaze to see what has caught
his attention.
It’s his mate, of course- Fallon is one of the squad’s fiercest warriors, and
she’s currently rolling around on the ground with her opponent, attempting to
dodge her blows. It isn’t easy to take Fallon down, but it looks like whoever
has is giving her a run for her money.
“No fucking way,” I murmur when I see a tangle of light brown curls and
the realization dawns on me that it’s little Astrid on top of Fallon, pinning her
down with an elbow.
I shoot Gray a sideways glance and a smile of amusement crosses his
face. He folds his arms, continuing to spectate the matchup.
I turn back to see Fallon still trying to wriggle free, to no avail. She
finally concedes, tapping the ground to signal to Astrid.
“Well that’s unexpected,” Gray chuckles, looking to me again. “Did
you…?”
I shake my head. “I had no idea she could even fight. I mean look at
her…”
 I glance back in Astrid’s direction to see her brushing off her leggings, a
triumphant grin stretching her cheeks. This girl is full of fucking surprises.
So I guess she’s not just some pampered princess- she’s actually a warrior
princess. Why does the thought of that get my dick hard?
“You ready to go again?” Gray asks, taking a few steps back and
crouching down.
I’m still staring at Astrid, and my breath catches when her eyes meet
mine across the practice field.
“Brock?”
Gray’s voice knocks me out of whatever fucking trance I’m in and I look
toward him, shaking my head. Pushing out every stupid fucking distraction
and focusing in again on what matters- training.
“Yeah, sorry,” I mumble, crouching down into a defensive position, ready
to get back to sparring. I smirk at Gray, giving a little flick of my head to
beckon him forward. “Bring it.”
 CHAPTER SIX

Astrid
“So this is the hub,” Quinn says as she leads me into a large room full of
desks and computers. “I’ve heard that ours is puny compared to Denver’s, but
what we lack in size we make up for in heart.” She spins around, a goofy
smile on her face. “That was really fucking corny, wasn’t it?”
“Nah,” I laugh, waving her off. “I liked it.”
“Astrid!” Brooke calls, beckoning me from the back of the room. Her
glasses slide down the bridge of her nose and she pushes them up with a
finger.
“C’mon.” Quinn spins back around, leading me toward Brooke.
I was grateful when she found me on the practice field this morning- as
much as I’m enjoying this little push and pull with my broody roommate, it’s
nice to talk to someone who will actually talk back. Training with the squad
was a lot of fun, and I even learned a couple of new moves from Fallon. I’m
no stranger to combat training; we start young in Denver, so I’ve been doing
it for half of my life. Suffice to say that I may have taught her a few things,
too.
I stuck by Quinn for lunch in the dining hall after training and met a few
of her friends, including a tattooed hunk that she introduced as her best friend
Logan. I guess I don’t get out enough, because I feel like every guy I meet
here is ridiculously attractive. Maybe I just need to get laid.
Quinn brought me up here to the IT unit right after lunch. As I follow her
back to Brooke’s workspace, I take it all in- seven neat rows of desks on
either side of a center aisle, a conference table in the back, and a large screen
in the center of the far wall. It’s definitely a lot simpler than what we have
going on in Denver, but obviously just as effective considering the amount of
intel the six-pack’s IT unit has been able to garner. I’m excited to be here and
finally meet everyone in person.
“Hey!” Brooke greets with a bright smile as we approach. She’s dressed
in what I’ve gathered is typical Brooke fashion- chuck taylor sneakers, ripped
up jeans, a Queen t-shirt, and a flannel tied around her waist. She pulls off the
punk rock/nerd combo flawlessly, even makes it look sexy, which is no
surprise since the girl is supermodel gorgeous. “You ready to jump right in?”
I grin. “Absolutely.”
Brooke pushes out of her desk chair, stepping over to the conference table
and sinking down into one there, instead. “Have a seat,” she urges as she
clicks a remote to turn the large screen on, pulling a wireless keyboard and
mouse closer to her.
I take the chair next to Brooke’s, watching as she logs onto the
conference computer.
“So as you can see,” she mumbles, clicking into an application once she’s
logged on. “We’re now fully integrated with Denver’s systems, and vice
versa. We’re sharing all of our information in real time.”
She pulls up an activity log that I saw briefly before I left Denver- our
head of IT, Rico, walked everyone through it the day before I left.
“Everyone’s been adding any updates and new information they find to
this log so we’ve all got access… but you’ve probably already covered this,”
Brooke continues. “I’ll get you set up on this computer to work after we
conference with Denver. And speaking of…” her voice trails off as she looks
over her shoulder, toward the rest of her IT colleagues seated at their desks.
“You guys ready for this meeting or what?” she calls out.
There are a lot of mumbles in affirmation, and slowly, the other people in
the room begin to make their way over and crowd in around the conference
table. Quinn drops into a chair beside me as we wait for everyone to
assemble. I don’t think that the six-pack’s IT unit has an official leader, but it
seems that Brooke has unofficially stepped into that role since she’s mated to
a squad leader and spearheaded the joining of their systems with Denver’s.
“Guys, as you know, this is Astrid,” Brooke says by way of introduction,
gesturing to me. “She’s gonna be here with us for the next few weeks, so let’s
try to make her feel at home.”
I smile at Brooke appreciatively, then listen as she points around the table
naming people off. I’m actually terrible with names, so I doubt I’m going to
remember half of them. I’ve totally got the girls down, since there are only
four, but the ten guys’ names have already escaped me.
“Alright, you ready to conference with your pack?” Brooke asks after
she’s finished introducing everyone.
“For sure,” I nod.
Brooke clicks around the screen with her mouse to connect the video
chat, and moments later, I see Rico’s face on the screen set against the
backdrop of the Denver hive.
It’s so nice to see a familiar face that I get really excited, giving a little
wave and calling out “hi, Rico!”
His face splits into a wide grin. Rico has always liked me- he took me
under his wing when I started dabbling in IT and the two of us get along well.
Plus it’s fairly obvious that he’s harbored a little crush on me for a while.
“Hey Astrid, nice to see you,” Rico replies smoothly. “We miss you here
already.”
“Aww, I miss you guys too!” I gush. Seeing a glimpse of back home tugs
at my heart. I’m rarely away from my home in Denver.
“How’s it going over there?” Rico asks.
“Pretty good so far,” I smile. “Still settling in.”
I give Brooke a side-eyed glance, suddenly realizing that I’ve totally
hijacked her meeting. Whoops.
“Guess we should probably get to it,” I say, turning to Brooke and
effectively handing the reins back over to her.
She smiles at me like she didn’t even mind my interruption, then turns to
Rico and starts to speak. “Do you have your whole team together?”
He nods. “They’re here, they’re just off camera.”
“Perfect.” Brooke straightens her glasses, leaning back in her chair. “So
going forward, I think we should probably check in once a day to confirm
that we’re still on target with the timeline.”
“Agreed,” Rico says. “And right now we’re still at two to three weeks,
correct?”
“That’s what we’ve got. Twenty days, give or take.” She looks around the
conference table at her colleagues. “Any timeline updates that we should be
aware of?”
Nobody speaks up, and after a moment, Brooke looks back to Rico.
“We’ll just have to keep a close watch on it. Let us know if anything
changes.”
“Will do.” Rico nods again. “And same on your end.”
We go over a few more things before disconnecting, including our intel of
the shadow pack’s current position and their projected movements over the
coming weeks. When it comes time to say goodbye, I find myself feeling a
little sad. I can’t believe I miss home this much already.
“Bye, Rico!” I call, waving as the video feed ends. The rest of the IT staff
disperses back to their desks until it’s just Brooke, Quinn and I left at the
conference table in the back of the room.
“So how are you settling in, really?” Brooke asks, pushing her chair out
and turning to face me fully.
I push my own chair back so we’re in more of a triangle formation and I
have a better view of Brooke and Quinn on either side of me. “Everything’s
good!” I chirp. Then I lower my voice a little bit, leaning in. “Though I have
to ask, what’s up with Brock?”
Brooke tilts her head questioningly. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just… everyone else has been so friendly, but he’s been kinda stand-
offish.” I bring my hands together in my lap, lacing my fingers. “Like, is it
just me? Or…”
Quinn laughs, shaking her head. “It’s not just you. Trust me.”
I let out a little sigh in relief. For a minute there I wasn’t sure if I’d done
something to offend the guy.
“He’s always been prickly,” Quinn continues. “Well, at least as long as
I’ve known him, which is only like a month. So take that with a grain of salt.”
“I haven’t known him for much longer, but Theo’s said before that’s just
how Brock is,” Brooke adds. “Kinda grumpy, straight to the point.”
Quinn jumps back in. “I actually asked Jax about it just the other night
because Brock didn’t seem very happy when we shared the news we were
fated mates. Well, he acted like he was, but he was totally faking it.” She
waves a hand. “Anyways, Jax said that Brock was hurt by some girl in the
past and he’s never been the same. He’s just a cynical prick now.”
“Quinn!” Brooke turns to her, wide-eyed.
Quinn cracks a smile. “Okay, he didn’t use those exact words, but that
was the basic gist of it.”
Brooke rolls her eyes, sighing and turning back to me. “You could ask
Fallon about him, she might know more. She used to run patrol with Brock
when she was a recruit.”
I nod slowly. “Yeah, maybe I’ll pick her brain a little. Thanks.”
Brooke pauses, searching my face. “Is he making you really
uncomfortable? Because if he is, I could talk to Theo about getting you a
room here to stay in…”
“No, no,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “It’s totally fine, I promise.
And the other guys that live at the packhouse are lovely.” I look from Brooke
to Quinn, but neither seems convinced. So I go on. “I’m just trying to figure
out how to get him to let me in a little bit, that’s all. Get to know him. Since
we’ll be spending so much time together.”
That seems to work because both girls nod in understanding.
“Maybe you should just sneak into his room one night,” Quinn suggests
after a beat, waggling her eyebrows.
Brooke’s eyes fly wide. “Q!”
“What?” she laughs. “The guy clearly needs to get laid.”
“I mean… he’s definitely easy on the eyes.” I shrug innocently, winking
at Quinn.
All three of us laugh. I like hanging out with Quinn and Brooke- I don’t
get nearly enough girl talk like this back at home since I’m typically with
Sam and Cole. I’ve always had close friendships with guys, but deep down,
I’m a girl’s girl. It’s fun to gossip with the girls, to laugh and joke with them.
Though that last comment wasn’t entirely a joke. I can’t deny that I’m
attracted to Brock, which boggles my mind a little bit since he’s so surly.
There’s just something about him, something behind those eyes that makes
me want to reach deeper to see what I find. He may be trying to keep me at
arm’s length, but I have no doubt that I can get a little closer if I put in the
effort. I’m pretty damn charming, after all- and it’s now my mission to melt
Brock’s icy exterior.
 CHAPTER SEVEN

Brock
I wake up panting, my body covered in a thin sheen of sweat that has the
sheets sticking to my skin. The dream I was having felt so real- the shadow
pack showed up without warning, ready for war. They outnumbered us four
to one, and while we kept going down, they just kept coming. I was fighting
off three wolves at once when I woke with a start, blinking into the darkness,
realizing it was just a dream. I take a few deep breaths, throwing the sheet off
of my body and staring up at the ceiling while my eyes to adjust to the dark.
I bolt up in bed when I hear something downstairs, looking quickly to my
alarm clock for the time. It’s the middle of the night- nobody should be
awake right now. Is my mind playing tricks on me, or did I hear something?
My wolf is on high alert and when I hear another sound, I’m out of bed in an
instant, moving toward the door of my bedroom silently.
Creeping through the hallway and down the stairs, I listen intently to what
sounds like rustling as I draw closer. I’m already on edge after that nightmare
about the shadow pack and my mind is jumping straight to the worst case
scenario- a break-in at the packhouse. When I hit the bottom of the stairs, my
head snaps toward the sound and I see a soft light coming from the kitchen.
I silently stalk closer, quickly realizing that the source of the light is the
ajar refrigerator door. The kitchen island obstructs my view, but over the top
of it, inside the fridge, I can vaguely make out a tangle of curly hair. Astrid.
As if this girl wasn’t causing enough of an upheaval in my life during the
waking hours, she’s now robbing me of sleep, too.
I blow out a breath, relaxing slightly upon the realization that it’s her and
not someone breaking in. What the hell is she doing, though? I make my way
closer, rounding the edge of the island.
It’s a mistake. I freeze in my tracks when Astrid comes fully into view-
she’s bent at the waist, rummaging around in the refrigerator. Wearing
nothing but a threadbare t-shirt and a lacy pair of panties that only cover half
of her round little ass. The light coming from inside the fridge illuminates her
slim silhouette, and she wiggles her hips as she digs around for something in
the back.
I shouldn’t be watching her, but I can’t look away either. I grit my teeth,
my hands drawing up into fists at my sides. I can’t stand this girl. I hate how
much she throws me off my game. I hate how fucking perky she is. I hate
how tight her ass is, how shapely her thighs are. How she has my dick
instantly hard.
Astrid retrieves a carton of apple juice from fridge and tilts back on the
heels of her feet, straightening. She turns to set the juice on the counter, and it
nearly slips from her hand when she catches sight of me standing a couple of
yards away from her in the dark. She jumps, startled.
“Oh gosh,” Astrid breathes, pressing a hand to her chest and drawing a
breath. “You scared me.”
“I could say the same thing,” I growl. It takes great effort for me to keep
my eyes on her face rather than letting them drop down to her hard nipples
pressing against the thin fabric of her t-shirt.
“What?” she blinks, a little giggle escaping her lips. “I’m not scary.”
“And I am?”
Astrid sucks in a breath, her eyes roaming my form. I’m basically naked,
save for a pair of black boxer briefs that aren’t doing much to hide my partial
boner. Her eyes sear my skin, traveling all the way down to my toes and back
up again. She slowly drags her gaze back to mine, a playful smirk tugging at
her lips. “Well sure you are. You’re the big bad wolf.”
“You have no idea,” I mutter under my breath.
My mind runs away with me for a moment. I imagine grabbing her by the
waist, lifting her to the edge of the counter. She’s tiny, I bet she’d feel
weightless in my arms. I’d tear those lacy little panties off and spread those
gorgeous thighs. Get a taste of her. Give her my dick right here in the
kitchen, pound into her like there’s no tomorrow…
“You want some?” Astrid asks.
I almost choke. What the fuck is she asking?
She holds up the carton of apple juice, giving it a little shake. The liquid
inside sloshes around.
Of course. I blow out a breath, shaking my head. “No thanks.”
“Suit yourself,” she chirps, shrugging her shoulders and turning to the
cabinet. She reaches up to open it, rising up on her tiptoes to retrieve a glass.
The girl is so fucking short that she can’t quite reach the tall glasses on the
second shelf.
 “I’ll get it,” I grumble, striding over to her.
Another mistake. I prowl up behind Astrid, reaching over her head into
the cabinet. Her scent hits my nose and it’s fucking intoxicating- my eyes
practically roll back in my head in delight as I lean forward to grab for a
glass, breathing her in.
Her skin brushes mine. Her ass against my upper thigh, her back against
my chest. Sparks. I hear her suck in a breath in response to our contact, and I
almost drop the fucking glass.
What the fuck am I doing?
I slide the glass onto the counter in front of her, then quickly move away.
I slink back into the shadows, trying to get it the fuck together as I watch her
pour herself a glass of juice. My eyes feast over her bare legs, the curve of
her ass. I can’t fucking stop, I’m like a man possessed.
Astrid sets the carton back down on the counter, picking up the glass and
taking a sip. Swallowing it down. “You sure you don’t want some?” she asks,
licking her lips and glancing my way.
I shake my head, tearing my eyes away from her. “Get back to bed,” I
grumble, turning away.
I don’t look back as I head out of the kitchen, straight for the stairs. I take
them two at a time and make my way back to my bedroom, shutting myself
inside again and climbing back into bed.
My mind goes straight to Astrid, and my hand goes straight to my dick.
I don’t know why she has this effect on me- I can’t fucking stand this girl.
I doubt she’s ever had a hard day in her life; she’s all smiles and cheeriness
and obnoxious energy. Still, I find myself sliding the front of my boxers
down, thinking of her as I grip my shaft in my hand and start stroking.
My cock is hard as fucking concrete and my breathing quickly becomes
labored as I think of her bent over in front of the refrigerator, the pale purple
lace of her panties contrasting against her caramel skin. The way she wiggled
her hips while she was digging around for that juice…
A groan escapes my lips as I pump my dick harder, imagining myself
fisting that curly hair in one hand, lifting her hips with the other. Sinking into
her from behind right there at the refrigerator. I bet her pussy would feel So.
Fucking. Tight.
I grunt, my balls tightening as I come all over my hand like a fucking
teenager.
As soon as I blow my load, I’m immediately overcome with guilt,
regretting every filthy thought about my hot little housemate.
Fuck.
I catch my breath, blinking up at the ceiling.
I’ve gotta get this girl out of my fucking house before I do something
stupid.
 CHAPTER EIGHT

Astrid
“Good morning, Alpha!” I greet cheerfully as I spot Brock descending the
stairs.
He looks up at me as he hits the bottom step, grunting something muffled
and barely audible in his typical response. It’s only my third morning at the
Riverton packhouse, but one of these days I’m going to get a solid ‘good
morning’ in response, damnit.
I feel like I’ve already fallen into a routine here- instead of my morning
coffee with Cole and Sam, it’s morning coffee with Jared and Brent every
day before catching a ride with Brock up to the squad complex. Then it’s
training with the six-pack’s security squad in the morning followed by
afternoons with IT. That routine changes today, though, because the first
evacuees from Denver are set to arrive and I’ll be welcoming them.
“Coffee?” Jared asks as Brock enters the kitchen.
“Please,” he growls, running his hands through his hair. The man’s hair is
gorgeous- it’s chocolate brown, though the sun has lightened some of the
strands to more of a coppery color. It falls a few inches below his shoulders
in loose waves and looks like it would be silky soft to the touch. As Brock
reaches up to secure his hair back in a quick man bun, his t-shirt rides up and
I get a glimpse of his lower abs and the tantalizing V shape of his Adonis
belt. This guy’s body is unreal- I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I
saw him in the kitchen the other night wearing nothing but his boxer briefs.
His body is all three T’s: tanned, toned, and tattooed. Totally drool worthy.
Brock’s whole look gives me major Jason Momoa vibes and I’m 100% here
for it.
Then there are the other vibes that I keep picking up from him; the
feelings that I can’t quite put my finger on. My ‘gift’ is still trying to tell me
something about Brock and it’s driving me a little crazy that I can’t figure out
what it is. It’s different than the typical good vibes feeling I get about people-
I know that one well, it comes across like a warmth that starts in my chest
and spreads to my limbs. There’s a little bit of that sensation with Brock, but
it’s paired with something else; something intense. Full-body tingles that
break out like tiny fireworks exploding over my skin.
While I don’t know what it means, exactly, I do know one thing for sure-
that some part of this feeling is telling me that Brock and I are supposed to be
something important to each other. What that is, I still have no idea, and
don’t ask me how I know; I can’t explain how this intuition thing works. I
wish I could and that I was able to control it somehow. I’ve tried for years,
but I’ve never been able to get a handle on it.
It’s times like these that I wish my grandmother was still alive. She was
like me, only more- she had full blown visions of the past and future. She
learned how to focus her energy and control her intuitions and visions. I wish
I knew how she did it- by the time my gift began to manifest, she was gone.
But that’s a story for another day.
Brock settles onto a stool at the kitchen island as Jared slides him a cup of
coffee, leaving an empty stool between us. It seems like he’s always
purposefully leaving space between us, keeping me at arm’s length both
physically and emotionally. The guy is a tough nut to crack.
“You about ready to get going?” Brock asks me once he’s had a couple
sips of his coffee.
I finish my own, setting my mug onto the granite surface of the kitchen
island. “Actually, I don’t need a ride to the complex today.”
That catches him off guard. He’s bringing his coffee to his lips when he
stops, the cup suspended in midair, and he actually turns to look at me.
Those eyes. They pull me in like a vortex every time he looks my way.
“Huh?” Brock furrows his brow.
“The first wave of evacuees from Denver are arriving this morning,” I
explain. “That’s why I’m here, remember? To greet them when they arrive,
help get them settled in. Today’s group is going to Stillwater.”
Brock nods slowly, his green eyes leaving mine as he takes another sip of
his coffee and swallows it down. “So you want me to take you to Stillwater,
then,” he grumbles, more as a statement than a question.
“Actually, no.”
I hop down from my barstool as Brock’s eyes come back to mine,
narrowing.
“The alpha from there said he’d give me a lift,” I continue, sweeping my
unruly hair out of my face with a hand. “Gosh, why can’t I remember his
name?”
 “It’s Reid,” Brent supplies. He’s sitting on the countertop across from the
kitchen island, and I look over at him with an appreciative smile.
“That’s it,” I say, snapping my fingers. “Thanks.”
Brent grins back at me and I make my way around the island to the
kitchen sink.
“He’s the other unmated alpha, right?” I ask casually as I set my empty
coffee mug in the sink.
“He is,” Jared nods. He’s leaning idly against the counter beside the
coffee pot, his eyes going to Brock seated at the island across from him.
I follow his gaze to see Brock frowning, looking down at his phone.
Guess he’s no longer interested in this conversation.
I turn back to Jared and Brent, flashing a bright smile. “I’m just gonna get
changed quick. Would one of you mind hollering when Reid gets here?”
Brent opens his mouth to speak, but I hear Brock’s voice instead.
“I’ll take you to Stillwater.”
I snap my head in his direction, my eyes meeting his. “But…” I start,
trailing off as I search them, nearly drowning in the emerald depths.
“It’ll save Reid a trip,” Brock says gruffly, looking away and shrugging
his shoulders.
“You don’t have to do that,” I reply with a wave of my hand. Brock has
made it pretty darn clear that he doesn’t like being inconvenienced, and I
don’t want to give him another reason to resent my presence here. “Besides,
he’s probably already on his way…”
“He’s not.” Brock sets his phone down on the island, picking up his
coffee cup again. “I just told him I’d bring you. I’ve got a few things to
discuss with him anyways.”
I just stand there for a moment, lips parted, unsure of what to say.
Watching him as he takes a long sip of his coffee.
He swallows it down before his eyes come to mine again. “You gonna
change so we can get going?”
“Uh, yeah,” I stammer, suddenly a bit flustered. Those little tingles break
out all over my skin again, my cheeks heating.
I spin around, making a beeline for the hallway that leads to my room.
Still trying to dissect what the heck this damn feeling is supposed to mean.
~
We pull up to the Stillwater packhouse a half an hour later and Brock
leads the way up the front walk as I struggle to keep up with his long strides.
I’m still not sure why he offered to drive me, considering he barely said
anything on the ride over. Then again, nothing about this guy seems to make
a whole lot of sense.
When we reach the front door of the packhouse, Brock pulls it open to let
himself in like he owns the place. “Anybody home?” he calls out, looking
around as I follow him inside.
“In my office,” Reid shouts out in response from somewhere off to the
left.
Brock shoots me a sideways glance and gives a little flick of his head,
beckoning me. I follow him down a hallway, nearly running into his back
when he stops abruptly at an open door, turning to look inside and leaning a
shoulder against the doorframe.
I peer past Brock into what is evidently Reid’s office, spotting him seated
in a large leather chair behind a sturdy wood desk covered in tidy stacks of
paperwork.
“Perfect timing, I just finished up the list of placements for the Denver
wolves,” Reid says, grabbing a piece of paper off of his desk and pushing his
chair back, rising to stand. He looks to me, grinning. “You excited to see
some of your pack?”
I nod enthusiastically. “Can’t wait! Thanks for getting everything
organized.”
Reid starts toward us, rounding his desk. He holds out the paper to me as
he approaches. “Wanna double check my count for your people?”
“Sure,” I breathe as I take it from him, skimming the neat lines of text-
names of wolves from my pack beside names of families from the Stillwater
pack that will be taking them in temporarily. I provided a list to Reid
yesterday denoting which members of my pack should be housed together.
“So what’d you wanna talk about?” Reid asks, looking to Brock and
arching a brow. “In your text, you said…”
“It can wait,” Brock replies dismissively. “You guys can go ahead and get
this stuff sorted out first.”
I give the list a cursory once-over before handing it back to Reid. “This
looks good. Are you going to have them come here, or…”
I don’t need to finish because Reid is already nodding his head.
“I’ve staggered the host families the same way you’ve staggered the
evacuees’ arrivals into three different groups,” he says. “My people should be
here soon, just one from every family so that it isn’t overwhelming for your
people. I’ll introduce you to each of them so you can direct your pack
accordingly.”
“Perfect,” I nod. I’m a highly organized person, and Reid and I are cut
from the same cloth in that regard. I’m really hoping that as long as we stay
organized, everything will go smoothly this morning.
Brock and I step aside so Reid can exit his office, leading us back through
the hallway and into a large room just off of the foyer. It’s full of comfortable
looking furniture; clearly the gathering place for this pack’s meetings. It isn’t
long before members of Reid’s pack start trickling in- eight of them in total
to be matched with this first group from my pack. The Denver evacuees are
traveling up here in large passenger vans, grouped in twos and staggered
thirty minutes apart. The first two vans are carrying twenty-six refugees; the
children, elderly, pregnant women, or those that are otherwise unable to fight.
True to his word, Reid introduces me to the eight members of his pack
that will be hosting members of my own, so I’ll know what direction to send
my people in once they arrive based upon the list that Reid created. I’m
terrible at remembering names, so I’ve gotta ask each of them multiple times
before I get them down- and even then, I’m still blanking on one or two. I’ll
definitely need Reid’s help for this.
“They’re here!” one of the Stillwater residents announces, glancing out
the large picture window at the front of the packhouse. I think her name is
Martha- or was it Maria? Like I said, I’m shit with names.
Excitement bubbles up inside of me as I rush for the front door of the
packhouse, yanking it open and bounding out onto the front stoop. As the van
doors open and people start spilling out onto the driveway, I wave
enthusiastically, a big grin spread across my face.
“Astrid!” a couple of the children call out when they see me, darting in
my direction. It isn’t long before I’ve got a child hanging off of each leg.
Being part of a pack is like having a very, very large extended family. It’s
dysfunctional at times, but we’re generally always looking out for one
another, and we’ve all got love for each other. Being away from my pack for
the past few days has been tough- just seeing some of them now has me
feeling more whole again.
Reid comes up beside me as my people circle up in front of us, awaiting
instruction.
“Welcome to Stillwater, everyone!” I say cheerfully, looking around at
the members of my pack before turning to Reid with a smile. “This is Alpha
Reid, he’s been kind enough to host all of you in his territory for the next few
weeks with members of his own pack.”
Reid gives a wave in greeting, glancing around at the group on the
packhouse lawn. “Welcome! We’ve paired each of you with host families
from my pack and hopefully you’ll feel right at home with them. I know this
is a tense time, but we can definitely turn it into something more positive,
right? Make some new friends? So why don’t you come on in and you can
meet them.”
Reid’s good with people- I can see the members of my pack visibly relax
as he flashes them a grin, turning and gesturing for them to follow him inside.
He tosses me a wink in the process, and I can’t help but beam back at him.
As I turn to walk back inside the packhouse, I spot Brock standing off to
the side of the interior hallway, leaning idly against a wall with his arms
folded over his chest. Staying out of the way as he observes everything. He’s
looking right at me- watching me- and there’s something in his expression,
something unreadable that makes my belly tighten and my cheeks flush.
Before I turn my attention back to my pack, I swear I see it- just for a
fraction of a second, so quick that I almost miss it. So unusual that it almost
doesn’t register. I’m almost positive that for the briefest of moments, the
corners of Brock’s lips actually tip up into a smile.
 CHAPTER NINE

Brock
The first members of Astrid’s pack arrive in Stillwater around 9 a.m., and
she immediately snaps into action, greeting them on the packhouse lawn. I
hang back inside the packhouse and just watch her work. I’m not sure what I
expected, but I quickly see that Astrid’s a natural leader and she’s good with
her pack- really good. It’s clear from the moment they arrive that they all
respect and adore her.
Not that I’ve changed my mind about her, but it does strike me how
Astrid basically acts like she’s her pack’s Luna, and her pack responds to her
like that’s what she is. One of the little kids actually slips up and calls her
Luna at one point, but she just laughs it off and ruffles their hair, leading
them inside. She glances my way as she makes her way back in, eyes
searching mine like she’s still trying to figure me out.
Good luck with that one, sweetheart.
I linger on the periphery as Reid and Astrid facilitate introductions
between their pack members, sending the refugees off with their assigned
hosts. While most of them head out pretty quickly to grab their bags and
check out their new digs, a few stick around longer than the others, hitting
Astrid with a slew of questions.
As she fields them effortlessly, Reid joins me on the sidelines, taking a
spot on the wall beside me. “Hey, you alright?” he asks as he leans back
against it, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his slacks.
“Fine,” I murmur, tearing my eyes from Astrid to look his way. “Why?”
He shrugs. “Don’t know, you’ve just seemed off for a few days.”
“Hmph,” I grunt, shooting a sideways glance in Astrid’s direction. Trying
not to notice how good she looks today in her skin-tight jeans and fitted black
long-sleeve shirt, or how sweet she is with the little kids from her pack, or
how much it fucking irritates me that the more I learn about her, the more I’m
realizing that maybe I’ve had her pegged her all wrong. “I’m fine,” I grit out.
“Little miss perky has just been driving me insane.”
“Oh, c’mon,” Reid laughs. “I like her, she’s spunky.”
 I roll my eyes. “She’s something.”
Reid glances her way, and I go back to watching her, too. For some
reason I’m finding it difficult to take my eyes off of Astrid this morning.
She’s got an air of authority with her pack, and I have to give credit where
it’s due- the ease with which she fields their questions and makes them feel
comfortable is damn impressive. I see why she was the one sent up here to
get her pack settled.
“She’d make a hell of a Luna,” Reid mumbles to himself as he watches
Astrid intently.
I don’t know why that comment has my wolf pushing forward, but he’s
suddenly on high alert, close to the surface.
Reid turns to me, a devious smile stretching his lips. “Don’t you think?”
I flicker my gaze to meet his, then back to Astrid. I don’t know why that
question irritates me so fucking much, but I try to play it cool. “Seems like
she’s already got the gig,” I shrug.
“For now, maybe. Not once her brother finds a mate.”
He pauses, though I can still feel his eyes on the side of my face. Slowly,
I tear my gaze from Astrid and turn to face Reid again.
“C’mon, bro, you’ve gotta think about it sometimes,” he says, nudging
me with his elbow.
“About what?”
Reid rolls his eyes. “Finding a mate.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I look away as a brief silence settles between us-
and once again, my gaze wanders to Astrid. What is it about this girl?
“She wouldn’t be a bad choice,” Reid continues, glancing over at Astrid
himself. “She’s got alpha blood. And she’s pretty damn hot.”
My wolf charges forward, rattling my cage. What the fuck is his deal
today? Maybe he just needs to be let out for a run.
I shove him back quickly, turning to Reid again. “Sure, if you can get past
the whole cheerful, little-miss-sunshine act,” I grind out. “Trust me, it’s
twenty-four seven, and it’s annoying as shit.”
“Says mister fuckin’ doom and gloom.” Reid shakes his head, chuckling.
Then he pulls his hands out of his pockets and claps me on the shoulder.
“Y’know, most people actually look at a positive attitude as a good thing.”
I shrug his hand off and roll my eyes. Hard.
“Hey, if she’s annoying you that much, I could take her off your hands,”
Reid offers. “I’ve got plenty of space here for her to stay…”
 And there goes my wolf again.
“Nah,” I reply quickly, shaking my head. “I’ve gotta do my part. It
wouldn’t be right to pawn her off on you.”
He shrugs, watching Astrid with obvious interest. “It’s really no big deal.
I don’t mind at all.”
I shake my head again, more adamantly this time. I don’t know why the
hell I’m suddenly fighting to keep Astrid under my roof; the girl’s been
driving me fucking crazy. “It’s fine. Really. Besides, Jared and Brent like
having her around.”
“I bet they do,” Reid laughs, sweeping his eyes over Astrid’s form
appreciatively.
A long pause settles between us, most of which I use to shove my wolf
back. I don’t know why he’s suddenly so fucking wily, but the more he
pushes forward, the more agitated I get… and the more agitated I get, the
more he tries to surface. It’s a vicious fucking cycle.
He’s obviously defensive over Astrid for some reason, which makes zero
fucking sense in the context of how much the girl irritates me. I’ve tried to
push the other night as far out of my brain as possible and just keep my
distance- but at the same time, I’m having trouble letting her out of my sight,
which doesn’t do much for said distance. It makes no sense, but neither does
my head right now. It’s all fucked up.
Thankfully, Reid doesn’t push further. Instead he sighs, scrubbing a hand
over his face and changing the subject. “So what do you think about the Jax
and Quinn thing?”
I’ll bet he’s been waiting to ask me about this. Reid and I have always
had a lot in common, being the oldest of our friends and having similar
personality traits. That, and while Jax and Theo were fucking around with all
sorts of women and Gray was mister ‘I don’t need a female’, Reid and I were
the ones that actually wanted to find someone to settle down with. Of course,
that changed for me a few years back, after I got burned. But still. Now Reid
and I have even more common ground as the only two unmated alphas in our
group.
I draw a deep breath and exhale, combing over his question in my mind.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “I’m happy for them, but a little fucking
bitter.”
“Yeah,” Reid murmurs. “I get that.”
Out of everyone, Reid’s probably the only one who gets it. I don’t know
how he’s not even more bitter than I am at this point. Then again, he wasn’t
stupid enough to fall in love and get his heart trampled on like I did years
ago. He doesn’t carry the same baggage or have the same cynicism about
love that I do.
After a beat, I turn to Reid, narrowing my eyes. “Does it ever bother you
that all those guys have found their mates and we’re still waiting?”
He presses his lips into a tight line. “Of course it does, man. But what the
hell am I gonna do about it?”
He’s got a point. It’s not like it’s as easy as deciding you want to find
your fated mate; the stars have to align for you to actually find her. I’ve pretty
much given up on hoping they’ll align for me. After all, if you don’t hold out
hope, you won’t be disappointed.
“When’s the next group supposed to arrive?” I ask, glancing down at my
watch. Changing the subject again before I start thinking about it too much
and wind up in even more of a funk.
“Ten. And about that, there’s something you should know,” Reid says
quietly, leaning in.
“What’s that?”
He blows out a breath, pausing. Hesitating. “Wes and Annalise offered to
host some of the refugees from Denver.”
I swear I feel a stab of pain in my gut upon just hearing her name. Even
after all these years.
“Of course they did,” I grumble, my head falling back against the wall.
“Just wanted to give you a heads up,” he sighs. “I don’t know which one
of them is going to show up here, but they’re on the list for the next group.”
I don’t respond- instead, I just gnaw on my lower lip, turning to watch
Astrid with her pack again. Still fascinated by her air of authority with them.
Trying to focus on that rather than the fact that the girl I once loved may be
headed here, and how I’d better clear the fuck out if I want to keep my sanity.
“How is she?” I ask. Even though I shouldn’t ask. Even though I
shouldn’t care.
“She’s good,” he replies simply. Reid turns to me, his eyes sympathetic.
I try not to ask him about Annalise often. It was awkward enough when
she joined his pack after she left me for her fated mate- a guy from Stillwater
named Wes. I’ve only seen her a few times since then, and each time it has
taken me by surprise how much she still affects me; how fucking painful it
still is to come face to face with what I lost. You’d think my heart would’ve
healed by now, but apparently there’s just a gaping fucking wound where it
once was. Because she tore it out and stomped all over it.
“Ah, I should probably get going then,” I grumble.
He gives me a little nod. “Whatever you wanna do. Like I said, I just
wanted to give you the heads up.”
“Yeah, I appreciate it.” I blow out a breath, pushing off of the wall.
“Hey,” Reid nudges me. “Didn’t you have something you wanted to
discuss?”
Fuck. My text message. Because when Astrid said that Reid was picking
her up this morning, I didn’t like it. I needed an excuse to take her here
myself and keep an eye on her, so I told Reid that I wanted to talk to him
about something. Only I didn’t say what, and now I’ve gotta think fast on my
feet.
“Yeah…” I bring an arm up behind my head and rub the back of my
neck, contemplating. “I, uh, wanted to ask how you were organizing the
pairings between the Denver evacuees and your pack,” I lie. “Thought it’d be
helpful to see how it worked out here before it’s my turn.”
Reid shrugs nonchalantly. “I just asked how many each had room to take
in and matched them up that way. My beta did some of the legwork on that,
you could probably pass it to Jared.”
I nod. “Thanks, I might do that,” I murmur.
Reid arches a brow. “Was that all?”
“Yeah. Think I’m gonna get started on it today.”
He nods. “Sure. Let me know if you have any questions along the way,
I’m happy to help out.”
“Will do.” I force a wry smile, clapping Reid on the shoulder. “You
wanna let me know when to come back for Astrid, or…”
“Nah, I’ll just give her a lift.”
My wolf claws at the inside of my chest, fighting against me again.
“Ah, are you sure?” I ask, glancing over at Astrid for the hundredth time.
This time, though, she flickers her gaze my way and we lock eyes.
“Yeah, of course,” Reid says, and my attention snaps back to him.
“Alright, sure. Yeah. I’ll see ya, then,” I mutter, turning to head for the
door. I reach into my pocket and pull out the keys to the Escalade, turning
them over in my hand. Fighting the urge to look back.
Part of me is reluctant to leave Astrid here- especially knowing that
Reid’s interested- but my sense of self-preservation prevails above all else.
The fight with the shadow pack is coming, and already my head isn’t where it
should be. Seeing Annalise would make matters worse, and I can’t afford to
lose my shit right now.
I’ve gotta walk away. Get my head on straight. And keep it together.
 CHAPTER TEN

Astrid
I’m sinking a spoon into a container of yogurt when I feel it- the full-
body tingles that have started hitting me more and more frequently when
Brock’s around. I’ve never had my intuition be so persistent about a feeling
before, like it won’t give up until I’m able to work out what it means. I
usually pick up my ‘intuitive’ feelings about people when I touch them or
when I’m right in front of them, and they don’t typically repeat whenever I’m
in their proximity. With Brock though, it’s like the rules have suddenly
changed- I don’t know what to expect from my intuition anymore, and it’s
making me wonder whether my gift has gone haywire.
I spin around, peering through the dark toward the staircase. I still have
the refrigerator door propped open with my hip, and it’s giving off enough
soft light to cut through the darkness and illuminate the outline of a figure at
the bottom of the stairs- a tall, broad-shouldered silhouette that I could
recognize anywhere.
Brock strides forward, and with every step he comes into clearer view.
He’s got a pair of grey sweatpants on over his boxers tonight, riding low on
his hips. He’s shirtless, shadows dancing over the dips and curves of his
muscular chest and abdomen as he makes his way closer to me. His long hair
hangs loose around his face, brushing the tops of his shoulders with each
step. And when he’s close enough that I can see his intense green eyes in the
refrigerator light- phew, my heart skips a beat.
I bring the spoon I’m holding to my lips, licking strawberry yogurt off of
the tip as I sidestep away from the refrigerator and lean back against the
counter. “We’ve got to stop meeting this way,” I tease, a smirk tugging at my
lips.
“Don’t you ever sleep?” Brock fires back as he rounds the kitchen island,
his voice gravelly. His gaze trails over my form, lingering on my bare legs. I
probably should’ve thought to throw on a pair or shorts or something- this is
the second time he’s caught me in my underwear.
“I was hungry,” I shrug, dipping my spoon into the yogurt and bringing it
back to my mouth.
Brock sighs sleepily, leaning a hip against the kitchen island and folding
his arms over his chest, watching me. “Is this your thing or something?
Raiding the fridge in the middle of the night?”
“Maybe.” I grin.
“It’s…”
“Quirky?” I suggest, arching a brow. “Endearing?”
He frowns. “Alarming. I thought someone was breaking in.”
I giggle softly, shaking my head. “Again? Why so paranoid?”
It’s a dumb question, I realize after I ask it. The shadow pack has all of us
paranoid lately.
“It’s my job to keep my pack safe,” Brock replies matter-of-factly. “That
includes the packhouse.”
“Ever consider an alarm system?”
He rolls his eyes. “How did your housemates in Denver put up with
you?”
I swallow down another spoonful of yogurt, shrugging again. “I’ve been
told it’s because I’m so witty and charming.”
“Oh yeah?” For a second, I swear the corner of his mouth quirks up into a
smirk. “Who told you that?”
“Lots of people,” I smile coyly. “A bunch of people live at the Denver
packhouse, it’s always busy. This place is like a ghost town in comparison.”
“Sorry we’re not meeting your high standards,” Brock scoffs. Okay,
that’s definitely a smirk on his lips. “Hate to break it to you, princess, but this
isn’t the Ritz Carlton.”
“Now that you mention it, I had noticed that the turn-down service was
lacking.” I grin, swallowing another spoonful of yogurt. I’m thoroughly
enjoying this banter between us; this playful side of Brock that I didn’t think
existed.
He yawns, stretching his arms over his head, and damn do I appreciate the
way his chest muscles ripple. “Get back to bed, huh?”
“Is that an order, Alpha?” I challenge, raising a brow.
Brock rolls his eyes again, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Just don’t
want to you to wake anyone else.”
“You’re the only one who has ever woken up and interrupted my late-
night fridge raid.” I point my spoon at him before dipping it back into the
container and scooping out a little bit more yogurt.
 He stares at me dubiously. “Nobody in Denver has ever heard you
creeping around at three a.m.?”
“If they have, nobody was ever curious enough to come check it out. You
just can’t seem to stay away from me though, can you?” I wink, licking pink
yogurt off the side of the spoon seductively.
I know I’m in the danger zone here. I’ve got no business hitting on the
alpha who is hosting me in his packhouse, and there are a lot bigger things
going on with our packs right now than this intense sexual tension between
us. Because make no mistake- that’s exactly what it is. Brock may act like
he’s annoyed with me most of the time, but I see the way he undresses me
with his eyes. Boy wants a piece, and I can’t deny that I’m attracted to him,
too.
Brock’s eyes darken, dropping to my mouth and tracking the movement
of my tongue as I lick the spoon. “What are you doing?” he rasps, and I
swear his voice has lowered an octave or two.
“What do you mean?” I ask innocently. I blink at him, eyes wide.
He takes a step toward me. Then another.
I suddenly feel like a fox being hunted; frozen in place, paralyzed by the
feral look in his eyes.
Brock stops when he’s standing right in front of me- or over me, rather;
the guy is at least six-foot-four. “You know what you’re doing,” he growls.
His deep, masculine scent batters my senses and my heart races in my
chest as I peer up at him through my eyelashes, dropping the spoon into the
yogurt container and sliding it onto the counter beside me. Then I lift a hand,
reaching forward. Pressing a palm to his bare chest.
He doesn’t stop me. His nostrils flare, his wolf swirling gold in his irises.
His skin is warm underneath my palm and it feels like electricity is zipping
between us, a transfer of energy.
Then it’s like I’m hit by a freight train- my vision tunnels and I’m
slammed with an overwhelming feeling of desperation, rage, betrayal,
hopelessness. Suddenly I’m not in the kitchen of the Riverton packhouse
anymore, I’m in a forest. It feels like summertime- I can sense how warm the
earth is under my feet, hear the sounds of insects chirping. It’s like a movie
playing out in front of my eyes, except I’m actually there; I’m a part of it. I
see a girl pulling her hand away from someone else’s, though I can’t see her
face. All I see is a blur of strawberry blonde hair as she whirls around and
starts walking away. Then I hear Brock’s voice, sounding tortured, broken as
he calls after her, “Anna, please…”
My hand drops from Brock’s chest and as soon as it does, it’s like the
connection is broken. I come crashing back into the present, back to reality.
The forest falls away and I’m in the packhouse kitchen once again.
What the fuck was that?!
I blink, dumbfounded, staring down at my open palm, then looking across
from me at Brock’s chest. I slide my gaze up to his eyes, and they’re alert;
curious. Concerned.
“Are you alright?” he asks. “What was…”
“Who’s Anna?” I interrupt, blinking up at him.
I don’t know much about Brock, but I do know that he’s a master at
hiding his emotions- I can rarely tell what he’s thinking, and there’s never a
crack in the façade. When I say that name, though, he immediately pales, his
impenetrable mask slipping. There’s no concealing his reaction: he’s caught
off guard. He knows someone with that name.
Holy crap, I’m pretty sure I just had a full-blown vision!
My mind is reeling, excitement bubbling up inside of me at the
realization. My grandmother was a seer, but I’ve never had a vision before,
so I always just assumed that I couldn’t. Maybe my gift hasn’t been going
haywire lately, maybe it has been developing into something more,
something beyond being just an intuitive. Maybe the change in scenery or the
stress of the impending attack spurred it on? Either way, holy shit!
“I think I just had a vision!” I gush excitedly. “I’ve never had one before,
but that’s totally what it was… it’s like I was here in the kitchen one second,
and in the woods the next… it felt like I was actually there!” I’m talking a
mile a minute, practically jumping out of my skin.
Brock’s just staring at me like I’ve sprouted a second head, but his
confusion does nothing to tamp down my enthusiasm over this new
discovery. I had a fucking vision!
“It was summertime, and I was in the forest… you were there, and some
girl with reddish hair,” I continue, barely pausing to breathe. “She pulled her
hand away from you and started walking away and you said ‘Anna, please’…
who’s Anna? I mean I guess it could’ve been a vision of the future, but it felt
like it already happened…”
I’m so enthralled by this new development, so engrossed in my own
excitement that I miss how quickly Brock’s demeanor changes. He bristles,
his eyes widening, his jaw twitching.
 “Was it something that happened in the past?” I press. “How long ago?
And were you thinking of it for some reason? Maybe if I tried again…” I
reach out to touch his chest, but he recoils from me like I’m poison.
“Stay the fuck out of my head!” he growls, eyes wild. He slowly starts
backing away, like he’s suddenly wary of me. Shaking his head in disbelief
as a deep scowl forms on his face.
“Brock…” I should realize from the way he’s acting that he doesn’t want
any part of this, but I can’t help it- I’m still freaking out over the fact that I
just had my very first vision. I’m a seer! I have to know more; I need to
determine whether I can peek into the past or the future or both and what the
implications of this newfound ability may be. “Can you just… can you tell
me if it’s something that already happened?” I ask cautiously.
It’s the wrong fucking move. He’s angry, furious, and my question only
tosses fuel onto the fire. Brock drops his hands to his sides and balls them
into fists. “No, I don’t want anything to do with your freaky psychic shit,” he
spits, venom in his tone.
Ouch. That one hurt- it’s not like I asked for this gift to be bestowed upon
me. It’s just part of who I am.
“But…” I start to protest, but Brock cuts me off, shaking his head again.
And just like that, the mask is back in place. He stares at me, deadpan.
“Just leave me the fuck alone, Astrid.” His voice is so cold, devoid of any
human emotion.
Brock turns away, stalking toward the stairs. Reaching them in a second
flat and then taking them two at a time, ascending into the darkness.
Leaving me standing there in the kitchen feeling like an absolute
freakshow.
And considering the fact that I just chased him off by having a psychic
vision, I guess I kinda am.
 CHAPTER ELEVEN

Brock
When my alarm goes off the next morning, I feel like I’ve barely just
closed my eyes. Another fucking restless night’s sleep, if you can even call it
that- I was tossing and turning and thinking about the vision Astrid said she
had. Of course her first vision would be of the worst night of my life.
Hearing Astrid describe the scene dredged up all of the painful memories
associated with how things ended between me and Annalise. I remember the
white tank top she was wearing and how her strawberry blonde hair looked
almost pink that night under the light of the nearly full moon. I remember
how fucking helpless I felt when I begged her to stay, to keep the promises
she’d made and choose me, but she still walked away and ended it all. Except
that wasn’t really the end, not even close- she’s continued to torment me ever
since, relentlessly haunting my dreams and memories. Because I thought she
was the one, and I was a damn fool. Because I believed in her, and in us, and
belief is a dangerous thing when placed in reckless hands.
I’m in a foul mood when I drag myself out of bed, and I’m so fucking
exhausted that I can barely drag a brush through my hair. I tie it back and slip
on a t-shirt and a pair of athletic shorts, ready to take out some of this
frustration during morning training with the squad. I toss on a hoodie for
good measure, yanking up the hood, sliding my phone in the front pocket,
and heading downstairs.
“Damn, you look like shit,” Brent comments as soon as I hit the kitchen,
his eyes widening.
Guess the dark circles under my eyes are a dead giveaway of the night I
had.
“Thanks,” I mutter, heading for the coffee pot.
Before I can reach it, Jared is already pouring me some. “Did you want to
finish up the list of placements for the Denver wolves today?” he asks,
thrusting a full cup of black coffee in my direction.
I take it from him gratefully, raising it to my lips and swallowing down a
couple of gulps before responding. “Yeah, after practice with the squad.” I set
my cup down on the kitchen counter, looking around. “Where the fuck is
Astrid?” I growl. “We’re gonna be late.”
“She’s already gone, bro,” Brent says, hopping up to sit on the counter.
“Didn’t she tell you?”
“What?” I blink at him as his words register. “Gone where?”
“The complex,” Jared supplies, sipping his own coffee. “One of the twins
came to pick her up earlier. I figured you knew.”
I shake my head, frowning. “No.”
Fuck. I scrub a hand over my face, thinking back on last night. Did she
mention she was getting a ride from someone else?
No, I would’ve remembered that. And because she didn’t mention it, I
somehow doubt this was pre-planned. I’m willing to bet that her disappearing
act has everything to do with what happened between us last night.
I swallow down a few more gulps of coffee before stepping over to the
sink and pouring the rest down the drain. “I’m gonna get going,” I grumble to
the guys. I look up just in time to see the two of them exchanging glances,
but I don’t have the energy to call them on it- not when a heavy, guilty
feeling is starting to settle in my gut.
I grab my keys and hit the road, driving a little faster than normal down
the forest streets. Listening to Astrid’s constant chatter every day on the drive
to the complex is annoying as fuck, but being alone with my thoughts this
morning is even worse.
I’m probably just reading into this. I don’t even know why I give a shit. I
shouldn’t care.
Arriving at the squad complex in record time, I pull the Escalade into my
usual parking spot and climb out, heading for the practice field. Squad
members are still trickling out of the doors from the barracks, while many
others are scattered on the field already, stretching and warming up.
I quickly spot the other squad leaders circled up together, and as usual,
Quinn, Fallon, and Astrid are with them. I head their way, lifting my chin in
greeting as I approach and pulling an arm across my chest to stretch.
“You wanna pair up again today, little sis?” Theo asks Quinn, waggling
his eyebrows and ruffling the top of her hair with a hand.
“Ugh, what’d I tell you about doing that?!” Quinn protests, elbowing her
brother and sidestepping away from him with a scowl. She smooths out her
hair before folding her arms across her chest. “Sure, I’ll partner with you. If
you wanna get your ass handed to you again.”
 “Ooooh!” Jax laughs, coming up beside Quinn and sliding an arm over
her shoulders. “You know, Theo, I kinda like having a mate who can kick
your ass,” he teases.
“Make that two of us,” Gray chuckles, glancing over at Fallon adoringly.
“I’m pretty sure my mate could kick all of your asses.”
Fallon grins deviously. “Absolutely. Who wants to be my next victim?”
She raises a brow and looks around at all of us. “Any takers?”
The fact that nobody’s jumping at the chance is a testament to how good
Fallon really is. And to how possessive Gray is. Then again, all of these guys
are fiercely protective of their mates.
I shoot a side-eyed glance at Astrid, who is unusually quiet this morning.
Typically, we all group up before squad training and shoot the shit for a few
minutes until we get started. Jax and Theo rib one another, Fallon threatens to
kick everyone’s butts, and for the past few days, Astrid has teased me, giving
me a hard time about my cynical attitude or subdued demeanor. Today,
though… crickets.
Yeah, this is definitely about last night. I try to look her way, but she’s
actively avoiding eye contact with me. Instead, she plops down on the ground
in her navy leggings, sticking her legs out on either side of her and stretching
her body sideways over the top of one, her light brown curls spilling over.
That unpleasant, guilty feeling takes root in my gut again as I watch her,
taking in the curve of her spine and the gorgeous caramel color of her smooth
skin as her white t-shirt rides up. Unable to tear my eyes away.
I decide to bite the bullet and break the silence between us by suggesting
that we partner up to spar today, but before I can, Fallon beats me to the
punch. I think she likes sparring with Astrid because she picks up new things
from her every time- and although the girl’s small, she can hold her own,
even against the Barbie Beast herself. I wind up partnering with Theo, which
works out because I can take out all of my aggression on him without feeling
bad. Chances are high that he’s said or done something lately deserving of a
punch.
We train for a few hours and after we call it quits, I look around for
Astrid only to hear that she’s already gone off to IT to make a call to Denver.
It’s for the best, really. I’m not sure where things would’ve gone last
night if it weren’t for Astrid’s vision interrupting things, but surely no good
could’ve come from where they were headed. I shouldn’t allow myself to be
distracted from the upcoming battle. I collect my keys, water bottle, and
phone, jump in the Escalade, and head back to Riverton for the afternoon.
Except all afternoon, as I work with Jared on pairing up the Denver
refugees with members of our pack that have offered to house them, I can’t
stop thinking about it. I was freaked the fuck out last night when Astrid asked
me who Anna was- I felt like she’d violated my mind by sneaking a peek at
my most vulnerable moment. Can you blame me for going on the defensive?
All I could think was that Astrid had no right poking around in my head like
that.
I typically react first and ask questions later, which maybe isn’t the best
approach. Because now that I’m thinking about it, Astrid clearly didn’t intend
to have that vision; she was just as surprised as I was about it. She wouldn’t
have known how sensitive of a subject Annalise is for me, or how significant
that night in the forest was. Damnit… I fucked up, didn’t I?
I shouldn’t have let myself start feeling guilty about this, because now I
can’t let it go. I should’ve just pushed it out of my mind and forgotten about
it, but instead I’m driving back up to the complex, parking the Escalade, and
making my way to the IT unit. Hanging around in the hallway until they call
it a day and people start filing out.
Astrid’s walking out with Quinn and when she looks up to see me
standing there, slumped against the hallway wall, she’s like a deer in the
headlights, those big brown doe-eyes widening.
“Wh… what are you doing here?” she breathes.
I push off of the wall, taking a step toward her. “Had to come back for a
meeting,” I lie through my teeth. “Need a ride?”
Astrid looks to Quinn, then back to me. “I mean, Quinn was gonna take
me, but I guess since you’re here…”
“C’mon then.” I gesture for her to follow, starting down the hallway. I
don’t look back, but I hear Astrid say her goodbyes to Quinn before jogging
to catch up with me.
I don’t know what the fuck to say to her, so I don’t say anything- I just
lead her silently to the parking lot, clicking the key fob to unlock the
Escalade and climbing into the drivers’ seat. I mean, it was enough that I
came back here for her, right? That should show that I’m remorseful for how
things went down last night, shouldn’t it?
Astrid climbs into the passenger seat, closing the door behind her and
fastening her seatbelt. I’m expecting her to launch into her incessant
chattering like she always does, but she’s quiet as I reverse out of my parking
spot and pull out of the lot and still silent when I turn down the forest road to
head to Riverton. I never thought her silence would drive me even crazier
than her constant babbling, but here we are.
“What’s your deal?” I finally blurt, gripping the steering wheel tight and
shooting her a sideways glance.
Okay, maybe not the most tactful approach to a conversation…
“Nothing, just leaving you alone like you asked.” Astrid purses her lips,
staring out the windshield at the road ahead.
Fuck. So she’s pissed about last night. A tense silence falls over us again,
and I let it- because I don’t know what the fuck to say.
“I didn’t mean it, alright?” I grumble after a beat, white knuckling the
steering wheel.
I’m met with more silence.
“Alright,” she finally replies, so quietly that I almost don’t hear it.
The way her voice sounds so small has a knot forming in my stomach,
and I feel like even more of a fucking douche.
I heave a sigh, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Listen, I’m… I shouldn’t
have said what I did.”
I glance over at her beside me, but she’s turned away, gazing out the
passenger side window. I look to her reflection and our eyes meet in the
window glass.
“I’m sorry, okay?” I mutter. “Fuck.”
She stares back at me through her reflection in the window. “Okay.”
I have to tear my gaze from hers to look back to the road, and she makes
it easier on me by leaning back in her seat and turning her head to face
forward.
When I look over at her again, she actually looks back at me. She’s still
not talking though, which frustrates me to no end.
“So… do you forgive me or what?”
It comes out all wrong, but to my surprise, she responds with a simple
“yeah.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah?”
Astrid gives a little nod of her head.
It can’t possibly be that easy, right?
“Just like that?” I press, glancing over at her again.
“Just like that.”
There’s gotta be a catch here. In my experience with women, they’re
never this forgiving.
“Why?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“Because what’s the point in holding a grudge?” Astrid sighs, raking a
hand through her curly hair and turning to me. “Honestly, we could all be
dead in a week or two. Life’s too short to stay mad.”
“Well shit, when you put it that way…” I chuckle wryly.
She shrugs her shoulders, adding, “besides, I’m not really a grudgey
person.”
I press my lips into a tight line, waiting for the catch. Because there has to
be one, right? If I said something half as cruel to Annalise as I did to Astrid
last night, she would’ve made me suffer for a week. There’s no way Astrid is
letting me off this easy.
“Sorry,” I mumble again, and I actually mean it. Now that a few more
hours have passed and I’m thinking clearer, I realize that I was a real dick to
the girl in response to something that was no fault of her own. I fucked up,
and I’ll own it.
“It’s okay, big guy,” Astrid replies, the corner of her mouth turning up
into a half-smile. “You obviously went through something, and hey, I get it.”
She reaches over, patting me on the bicep. “Just don’t take it out on me again,
huh? I know the whole psychic thing is weird and hard to wrap your head
around, but it’s not like I can help it. It’s just part of who I am.”
I swallow hard, past what feels like gravel in my throat. Yeah, I was a
colossal douche last night. This girl’s too nice for her own good.
“I didn’t mean what I said about your ability or whatever,” I growl.
She waves me off with a hand. “It’s fine, seriously. I know it’s a lot.”
“It’s not. It’s just that when you said…” I trail off, suddenly unable to say
it. Her name. I don’t do this; I don’t get vulnerable with people. I don’t slice
open my scars and let anybody else see me bleed. I’ve built a wall a mile
thick around myself and I don’t let anyone in.
“Yeah, I should’ve realized I struck a nerve,” Astrid murmurs, gaze
transfixed on the road ahead. She turns to me, wide-eyed, tucking a wild curl
behind her ear. “That was my bad.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I mutter. The sincerity in her eyes is too much.
This is getting too personal, too far outside of my comfort zone. I grip the
steering wheel tight as I take the turn off of the main road to head into
Riverton, gnawing on the inside of my cheek. We’re both quiet for a few
moments, until I finally tie a nice little bow on our conversation by asking,
“so we good?”
Astrid smiles softly. “Yeah, we’re good. No hard feelings.”
And just like that, the heavy feeling in my gut lifts and I feel less shitty
than I have all day. I’ve never met a girl that forgives as quickly as Astrid
does, but then again, I’ve never met anyone quite like her.
Apologizing was selfish- I should’ve let her stay mad at me. I should’ve
told her to run.
 CHAPTER TWELVE

Astrid
“I’m not taking no for an answer, we’re going,” Brent says, throwing an
arm around Jared’s shoulders as I emerge from the hallway into the
packhouse kitchen.
“I never said I wouldn’t go,” Jared laughs, shoving him away playfully.
“Go where?” I ask, shuffling past them to get to the refrigerator. I’ve been
shut in my room since I returned from the squad complex today, digging into
some IT stuff and video calling my brother and Sam. I know it’s silly to say
since it has only been just shy of a week, but I miss those guys like crazy.
Plus, I was dying to tell someone about the vision I had the other night.
“To the bar in Stillwater,” Jared supplies, picking up an open beer bottle
from the kitchen island and bringing it to his lips.
I pull the fridge open and glance inside, searching for something to eat as
my stomach rumbles in protest.
Brent polishes off his own beer, setting the bottle down and looking my
way. “Hey, you should come with us. It’s ladies’ night so chicks drink for
free.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask over my shoulder as I lean into the fridge, lifting the
edge of the tinfoil on an aluminum pan inside. It looks like a casserole of
some sort.
“You’re gonna want to try some of that,” Jared comments, watching me.
“Luna Emma made it, it’s kind of her specialty.”
“What is it?” I ask, scrunching my nose as I peer under the foil, trying to
determine what it is that I’m looking at.
“Tater tot casserole,” Brent says, grinning. “And trust me, it’s better than
it sounds. It’s one of the few dishes that my mom does well.”
“Okay,” I shrug, replacing the foil and pulling the tray out of the
refrigerator. I turn to set it on the kitchen island, nudging the door of the
fridge closed with a hip.
Jared turns a dial on the oven to pre-heat it. “Let’s just warm up the
whole damn thing,” he mumbles. “We’ve gotta put something in our
stomachs before going out drinking.”
“So you’re coming, right Astrid?” Brent urges. I turn to see him giving
me puppy dog eyes and I can’t help but laugh.
“Sure, I’ll tag along,” I say, grabbing onto the edge of the counter behind
me for leverage and hopping up to sit on the surface. “I could use a little bit
of fun.”
“Atta girl,” Brent grins, holding out his beer to toast me. He quickly
realizes that I don’t have one and pulls open the fridge beside me to fish out a
couple more. “You’re gonna love it,” he adds as he twists the tops off of them
using the hem of his t-shirt, handing one to me. “It gets pretty wild there on
Wednesdays.”
I take the beer from him graciously and bring it to my lips, giggling.
“Sounds like fun.”
I look toward the staircase as I hear Brock’s heavy footfalls, watching as
he descends them and comes into view, looking better in a t-shirt and sweats
than anyone has a right to. He runs a hand through his hair and starts making
his way over toward the kitchen.
“Are you coming, too?” I ask Brock as he approaches, taking another
little sip of my beer.
He arches a brow, green eyes locking on mine. “Coming where?”
“Don’t bother,” Brent sighs, rolling his eyes. “He never comes out with
us anymore.”
“The bar in Stillwater for ladies’ night.” I smile sweetly, holding eye
contact.
“You’re going?” he asks.
I give a little nod. “Yeah, why not?”
“Hm,” Brock grunts, striding over to the refrigerator. Closing the distance
between us.
He gets in my space as he pulls it open, his arm brushing my thigh as he
reaches inside for a beer. I get those full body tingles again- my intuition still
trying to tell me something about Brock- as well as delightful little sparks
from the contact of his skin against mine. He closes the refrigerator and leans
back against the door, lifting the hem of his t-shirt and using it to twist off the
bottle cap. And of course I sneak a side-eyed peek at his lower abs as he
does, because I’m still fantasizing about that insane body of his.
“Fuck it,” he says, tossing the beer cap into the sink on the other side of
me and raising the bottle to his lips. “I’ll come with you guys.”
 Brent and Jared exchange glances with one another, then look to Brock.
“Really?” Jared asks skeptically.
“Sure,” Brock shrugs. “It’s been a while.”
He shoots me a side-eyed glance as he takes another swig of his beer, and
suddenly I’m feeling positively giddy.
The oven beeps to signal that it’s warm enough to add the food, and
fifteen minutes later we’re all digging into the tater tot casserole that Brock
and Brent’s mom made. Not gonna lie, I’m pleasantly surprised- as weird as
it looks and sounds, it tastes awesome. Then we all go to our respective
rooms to get ready, and I decide to go all out for my first bar experience at
the six-pack with a pair of skin-tight pleather pants, a skimpy hot-pink
bandeau top, and a pair of hot-pink stiletto heels to match.
I leave my hair down, my curls bouncy and wild, and go for a smoky eye
look with my makeup. By the time I’m finished, the guys are all waiting for
me in the living room, ready to go. I don’t hear any complaints about taking
my sweet time to get ready once they see me, though- Jared’s face splits into
a goofy, lopsided grin, Brent whistles and catcalls me, and Brock just silently
rakes his eyes up and down my body, the hungry look in them telling me
what his lips won’t.
The ride over to Stillwater seems quick, especially with Jared DJ’ing the
best pump-up tunes from his spot in the passenger seat. Once we arrive at the
bar I quickly see that these guys weren’t exaggerating about this place being
busy on Wednesdays- it’s packed. A few dudes look my way when we enter,
but quickly avert their eyes when they see that I’m flanked by three huge
guys. Story of my life- most of the Denver males won’t look my way because
of Cole and Sam, and now it seems I’ve wound up with a new set of
bodyguards in the six-pack.
“What’s your poison?” Brent asks, leaning in so I can hear him over the
thump of the music. The center of the bar has turned into a dance floor, and
there’s a DJ playing music off to one side, surrounded by flashing party
lights.
“Gin and tonic,” I reply, cupping my hand around my mouth and leaning
toward the shell of his ear. “If it’s ladies’ night though, shouldn’t I…”
“Nah.” Brent shakes his head. “I’ve got this.” He grins, backing toward
the bar. “I’ll just point you out!” he yells over the music before spinning
around, disappearing into the crowd.
“Wanna grab a table?” Jared asks Brock and I, pointing out a vacant high-
top table on the opposite wall from the bar.
"Sure!” I chirp.
The crowd’s thick, so Brock leads the way- people just part for him like
the red sea. It must be his domineering stature or the big alpha energy that
rolls off of him in waves that has people scampering to get out of his way.
It’s kinda nice- I’m so small that I usually have a hard time fighting through
crowds. Maybe I should go out with Brock more often.
When we reach the table, I slide onto a stool and Brock takes the seat
beside me, effectively trapping me between the wall and his large body. Jared
takes the stool across from me, looking to his alpha.
“Did you tell Reid we were coming out?” he asks.
I turn to Brock, who shakes his head. “Nah, didn’t think of it.”
That strikes me as a little odd, considering we’re in Reid’s territory.
“You think he’ll show?” Jared asks.
Brock shrugs, and before he can respond, Brent appears with a gin and
tonic for me and beers for them.
“Drink up, I told the bartender I was here with three women so I could get
these for free,” he winks, doling them out.
Brock furrows his brow, looking appalled. “You what?”
Brent throws back his head and lets out a laugh, clapping Brock on the
shoulder. “I’m kidding, bro.” He takes the open seat across from Brock and
reaches for his beer. “I do have another round coming in five minutes,
though, so like I said…” he raises his bottle toward the center of the table.
“Drink up!”
I giggle, picking up my glass and lifting it to clink with Brent’s.
I should take it easy- I’m small, and though alcohol doesn’t affect shifters
like it does ordinary humans, we can still get drunk off of copious amounts.
Especially little wolves like me. Before I know it, though, I’ve put down five
drinks and I’m rolling on a solid buzz.
The bass beat thumps as the DJ transitions the song, and I let out a little
squeal, throwing my hands up. “I love this song!”
Brent and Jared both chuckle at me from across the table, shaking their
heads. They’re amused by buzzed Astrid, while Brock… not so much.
I turn to him, a bright smile on my face. “Dance with me.”
Brock arches a brow in question.
“Come on…” I urge, reaching out to grasp his bicep with both hands.
Holy crap is it firm! “Dance with me,” I repeat, sticking my bottom lip out in
a pout.
“No thanks,” he grumbles, shaking his head. Dude’s too cool to dance
apparently.
I look to Brent, releasing Brock’s bicep and pointing a finger in his
direction instead. “How about you?” I grin, crooking my finger. “Wanna
dance?”
“Hell yeah,” Brent laughs, chugging the rest of his beer and depositing
the empty bottle on the table.
I let out a little ‘whoop!’ in a victory cheer, sliding off of my barstool and
shimmying past Brock. He stiffens as I pass him, shooting me a grumpy,
disapproving glare over his shoulder. I mean, I did try to ask him first…
Brent holds out his hand to me and I place mine inside, allowing him to
lead me out to the dance floor.
~
Brock
I bring my beer bottle to my lips, draining the rest of it. The carbonation
tickles my throat as I swallow it down, slamming the empty bottle on the
table and wiping my mouth with an arm.
“You alright, Alpha?” Jared asks, raising a brow.
“Never better,” I mutter, clenching my jaw. Fighting the urge to look
toward the dance floor to see what Astrid and my brother are getting up to.
“You boys want another?” a raven-haired cocktail waitress asks, sidling
up to our table.
I nod, watching her as she collects our empties onto a tray. She’s
attractive- pretty face, slim build, and full boobs spilling out of her black v-
neck t-shirt with the words ‘Stillwater Tap’ emblazoned across the front. She
just doesn’t do it for me, though. Few women do.
As the waitress runs off to fetch our beers, I finally sneak a glance toward
the dance floor, because I can’t fucking help myself. Astrid’s out there
shaking her little ass on Brent, who has a big dumb smile on his face. I
immediately clench my fists, my blood pressure skyrocketing.
I snap my head back around and scrub a hand over my face, trying to
keep it the fuck together. Jared’s studying me as he polishes off his beer.
“You sure you’re alright?” he asks- though I really wish he fucking
wouldn’t.
I shoot him a death glare as the waitress returns with our beers, setting
them on the table. I yank my wallet out of my jeans pocket, tossing the girl a
twenty without even making eye contact and muttering for her to keep the
change. She takes both the cash and the hint and scampers off as I reach for
one of the fresh beers.
“You know…” Jared sighs, reaching for the other. “If you like her…”
“I don’t.” I take a long swig of my beer.
“You sure?”
I swallow it down, frowning. “I’m fucking positive.”
And then my eyes involuntarily wander to the dance floor again. Now
Astrid has her arms looped around Brent’s neck, shaking her hips as she
dances against him. I grit my teeth as he slides his hands down the sides of
her waist, to her hips, to the curve of her ass…
I whip my head back around to face Jared, slamming my beer bottle down
on the table.
He eyes me with amusement. “Seems like you like her.”
I scowl, staring down into my beer. Foam is rising up the neck of the
bottle from its impact with the table. “You know I don’t get involved.”
“So?” he challenges. “That doesn’t mean you can’t.”
I know what he’s suggesting, and it’s out of the fucking question. After
Anna, I swore I wouldn’t open myself up to that kind of heartbreak again-
and ever since, I’ve been doing a damn good job at shutting people out. No
sense in changing that now.
I shake my head adamantly, picking up my beer again and draining the
fucking thing. Once I’ve swallowed it all down, I slide the empty bottle back
on the table. “I won’t,” I grumble.
Brent and Astrid come walking back up to the table, covered in a thin
sheen of sweat and laughing. Holding fucking hands. The air inside of the bar
suddenly feels thick, like it’s hard to breathe.
I shoot to my feet, snatching my jacket off of the stool. “I’m outta here.”
“What?” Astrid’s smile falters as she drops Brent’s hand, moving toward
me. “Where are you going?”
“Back home.”
She looks to Brent and Jared with confusion, then back to me. “Well
we’ll come with you…”
“We will?” Brent asks, his disappointment evident in his tone.
Astrid shrugs. “Sure, how else are we getting back?”
My brother heaves an exasperated sigh, throwing his head back. “Do we
have more beer back at the packhouse?”
 “Yeah,” Jared says, getting to his feet and clapping Brent on the shoulder.
“Fine,” Brent huffs.
I don’t say anything else, just make a beeline for the exit, clicking the key
fob to unlock the Escalade as soon as I get outside. I finally feel like I can
draw a deep breath now that I’m out of that place and its stiflingly thick air,
and I take a few before Brent, Jared, and Astrid pile out behind me. Then the
four of us make our way to the Escalade.
Astrid is clearly buzzed, shaky on her stilettos as we cross the parking lot.
Brent holds her arm to help her walk, still shamelessly trying to flirt with her,
and I don’t know if she’s giggling so much because she’s actually enjoying it
or because she’s been drinking or because she’s just nice. Either way, it’s
getting on my last nerve- so when Jared opens the passenger side door, I
make eye contact with him across the interior of the vehicle, giving a little
shake of my head.
“Jared, why don’t you let Astrid have shotgun this time?” It’s not a
question, it’s an order- and from my tone, Jared knows it. He opens his mouth
like he wants to protest, but snaps it closed again, moving aside and gesturing
for Astrid to get in.
“Oh, I don’t need…” she starts to say, but Jared is a good fucking soldier-
he grabs her by the waist and lifts her into the passenger seat, closing the
door behind her before he gets in the back.
She looks over at me with that wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look
before buckling herself into the passenger seat. It looks like she wants to say
something, but she’s clearly picked up on the fact that I’m not in the mood,
so she must think better of it.
Once Jared and Brent are in, I fire up the engine, pulling out of the lot.
Jared and Astrid are both quiet at first, sensing my tension, but Brent’s half
drunk and completely oblivious, so he starts talking loudly and joking
around. Before long, he’s put both Jared and Astrid at ease and the three of
them are chatting while I white knuckle the steering wheel. I try to keep my
cool, but listening to my brother try to flirt with Astrid does little to tamp
down my agitation. Every time he drops a cheesy line, I grit my teeth. Every
time Astrid lets out one of her airy little giggles, I grip the steering wheel
tighter.
I breathe a sigh of relief when we get back to the packhouse and I slide
the Escalade into park, cutting the engine and unfastening my seatbelt. Jared
and Brent are both quick to climb out of the back seat, and I look over at
Astrid, who has that doe-eyed look again.
“You okay?” she asks, blinking.
In this close of proximity, it feels like her scent is all around me.
Strangling me. It’s hard to think straight.
“Fine,” I growl, leaning toward her over the center console.
Her breath hitches as my hand brushes her bare waist- the girl is showing
way too much fucking skin in that skimpy outfit of hers; it has my wolf on
edge. I reach for the buckle of her seatbelt, clicking to release it. I flicker my
gaze to meet hers, those deep brown eyes threatening to pull me into their
depths.
“You guys coming or what?!” Brent shouts from the front stoop of the
packhouse.
I roll my eyes, slumping back in my seat, and Astrid giggles and reaches
for her door handle. We both climb out of the Escalade and head for the
packhouse, my brother not-so-subtly checking Astrid out as she strolls up the
front walk. Damn he’s annoying when he drinks.
As soon as we’re inside, he slides an arm around Astrid’s slim shoulders,
leading her toward the fridge. “You’ll have another drink with me, won’t
you, doll?”
“Oh gosh, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Astrid giggles. “I’ve probably
already had one more than I should’ve.”
“So?” Brent challenges, dropping his arm from her shoulders and pulling
open the fridge. “Let’s keep the party going, babe! Kick those heels off.”
I can’t watch this for another fucking second- my wolf just keeps rising
closer and closer to the surface, threatening to tear through and tear my
annoying-as-fuck brother to shreds.
I shrug my jacket off and toss it on a hook near the door, striding toward
the stairs.
“Are you not having another?” Astrid asks, and I pause to turn to her,
finding her gazing in my direction.
I shake my head, dragging a hand through my hair. “No.”
She leans one hip against the island, resting her hand on the other and
giving me major fuck-me eyes. “You sure?”
This girl is definitely testing me. My eyes wander down her small frame,
drinking her in. She may be tiny, but she’s got curves in all the right places.
Her body is sexy as fuck, and the way she’s looking at me right now is
difficult to walk away from.
 But I’m going to. Because it’s who I am.
“Gotta get some sleep,” I grumble, looking past Astrid to my brother as
he cracks open a couple of beers. “You two should do the same.”
I turn back for the stairs, stalking toward them and ascending them
quickly. Heading for my room, for the comfort of my bed. Though I doubt
I’ll get much sleep tonight.
 CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Astrid
I’m groggy when I wake up the next morning, and the first thing I notice
is the throbbing pain in my left temple. This is exactly why I try to pace
myself when I drink- because even shifters can get hangovers, and they
fucking suck.
The second thing I notice is the snoring coming from the other side of the
bed. It catches me off guard and I sit up abruptly, peering down beside me at
a still sleeping Brent. What the hell did I do last night?
I pull the sheet tight to my chest, pressing my eyes closed and rubbing my
temple with my fingertips. My memory is a little hazy, but it slowly starts to
come back to me. Brent kept me up drinking with him, and even when I
insisted on going to bed, he followed me to my room, still chatting away. I
went in the bathroom to change into pajamas, and when I came back out,
Brent was sprawled out on my bed. He propositioned me, I politely declined,
and then I guess we just kept talking until we both passed out?
I squint my eyes open and look down to see that I’m under the covers,
while Brent is on top of them beside me. We’re both fully clothed- except
he’s wearing the jeans and t-shirt that he was in last night, while I’m dressed
in the pajamas I changed into. That at least provides confirmation that, while
hazy, my memory of last night is intact. Brent may have had other ideas
when he first came into my room, but in truth, we both just fell asleep.
Something else comes to mind about last night, too- I had another vision!
Right after Brock went upstairs, his brother grabbed my arm to get my
attention, and BAM! It hit me like a semi-truck, another full-blown vision.
This one was definitely of the past- of Brock and Brent as kids. Again, it felt
like I was there; for a moment I was transported to the well-manicured
backyard of a packhouse in the springtime. It wasn’t this packhouse, though-
it must’ve been the one that the brothers grew up in, before they moved to the
six-pack territory.
When the vision started, I was hit with an intense feeling of fear and
sadness, which I must’ve been picking up from Brent’s side of the memory
because the child version of himself was sitting on the ground crying with his
face buried in his knees. A young Brock was crouched down next to him,
trying to console him.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Mom and Dad,” young Brock said,
stroking his brother’s back.
Brent looked up at him, sniffling. “You promise?” he asked.
“Of course,” Brock nodded. “I’m your big brother, I’ll always have
your back.”
Brent wiped a tear from his cheek. “Even when you’re Alpha?”
Brock smiled. “Especially when I’m Alpha.”
Then, just as quickly as it started, the vision faded away. I was back in the
kitchen, blinking at Brent, trying to decipher what I’d just seen. Given the
trainwreck that my first experience of having a vision was, I decided to keep
it to myself rather than letting Brent in on what had just happened, and he
was so drunk that he didn’t even pick up on the fact that my mind had slipped
away for a moment.
I guess last night’s vision proves that the first one wasn’t just a fluke,
though I still don’t know what they mean. I’m not sure if the peeks I got into
Brock and Brent’s past are formative moments in their lives or just random
memories. It seemed like the vision I picked up from Brock struck a nerve,
but then again, maybe he was just freaked out that I peeked into his head. I’ll
have to ask both brothers more about the visions I had to determine their
significance, but I suppose I should probably try to get a handle on this
newfound gift of mine before delving deeper into what it could all mean.
I throw back the covers and climb out of bed, my head still throbbing.
Coffee. I need coffee, stat. And maybe some water. And Tylenol. With any
luck, my shifter healing will catch up within the next few hours and I’ll be as
good as new, but this morning is going to be rough.
I glance at the bedside clock, thankful that I at least didn’t oversleep. I’ve
still got about thirty minutes before it’s time for me to head out - plenty of
time for coffee. I leave Brent snoozing in my bed and head for the kitchen to
get my caffeine fix.
As I turn from the hallway into the kitchen, I’m surprised to see Brock
already posted up next to the coffee pot, sipping a cup. While I’m sure I look
like a disheveled mess right now, still in my pajamas, he’s looking nicely put
together in a pair of athletic shorts and a hoodie, his long hair tied back neatly
in a man-bun. I smile when I see him, even though he’s wearing his
trademark frown.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I chirp, pulling open a cabinet and grabbing a
mug. I move over to where Brock’s leaning against the counter, reaching
beside him for the coffee pot and peering up at him as I fill my cup. He’s
looking more surly than usual this morning, his nostrils flaring as his eyes
meet mine.
“Did Brent fuck you good last night?”
I’m so caught off guard by his question that I almost drop the coffee pot. I
manage to set it down instead, my eyes flying wide. “Excuse me?”
Brock turns away, sipping his coffee and staring off across the room.
“You heard me.”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
He turns to face me again with an icy glare. “So that’s not my brother’s
scent on you?”
I let out an exasperated sigh, shaking my head. “He just passed out in my
bed, nothing happened.” I’m more than a little annoyed at Brock’s
accusation- though even if I had hooked up with his brother, what business
would it be of his?! It’s not like he’s acted on this obvious attraction between
us, despite my best efforts. I was giving him all the signals last night, and he
just peaced out and went to sleep. And now he’s got the nerve to act like a
jealous lover?
Brock grunts, stepping away from me to set his coffee cup in the sink.
“I’ll be in my office,” he grumbles. He shuffles past me to head that way and
though he purposely doesn’t make eye contact, his body brushes against mine
and I know he has to feel it too- this combustive energy that’s crackling
between the two of us.
He can run from it all he wants, but I don’t need to be an intuitive to
know it’s only a matter of time before it explodes.
~
Brock
I wish I had time to let my wolf out to run before the squad’s morning
training session. When Astrid came in and I smelled my brother all over her,
I nearly tore through my clothes and shifted right there in the fucking kitchen.
Now my wolf and I are both agitated as fuck and it’s taking everything in me
to keep from losing my cool.
Turning down the hallway to head for my office, I spot Brent striding
toward me from the other end, dressed in the same clothes he was wearing
last night. Doing the walk of shame from Astrid’s room back to his own, no
doubt.
Bile rises in my throat. “Did you have fun?” I snarl.
Brent chuckles, raising a hand and raking it through his disheveled hair.
“Yeah man, I fuckin’ wish.”
I tuck my hands into fists, gritting my teeth. My wolf is dangerously close
to the surface.
“Whoa, bro, what’s your deal?” Brent asks as he draws closer, no doubt
noticing the telltale signs of my wolf’s presence in my eyes.
“You shouldn’t be trying to hook up with her,” I growl.
Brent narrows his eyes, studying me. “Why, you want her for yourself?”
Yes.
I frown. “No.”
My brother laughs again, throwing up his hands. “Well then you can’t
blame a guy for trying! I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the girl’s hot as
hell…”
I take a deep breath, shoving my wolf back. Gritting my teeth. “Just leave
her alone, Brent.”
His smile fades and he arches a brow. “Is that an order from my Alpha?”
The guy thinks he’s fucking cute, using my title against me. Ever since
my dad stepped down a few months back and I became our pack’s new
Alpha, it has been somewhat difficult for my brother to adjust to my new role
as his superior in pack standing. Honestly, I feel like this has been a point of
contention between us for our whole lives. We’re close in age and
competitive as hell, and becoming Alpha is something Brent could never best
me at, no matter how hard he tried. He can’t change the fact that he wasn’t
born first.
I fold my arms over my chest, glaring at him sternly. “It’s a request. She’s
our guest, so try to keep your dick to yourself. I don’t want any problems
under my roof.”
Brent snorts. “Sure dude, that’s what this is about,” he scoffs, rolling his
eyes.
I narrow my own. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know.” He pushes past me, bumping me hard with his shoulder in
the process.
I spin around, calling after him. “No, I don’t. Why don’t you fucking
enlighten me, little brother?”
 Brent stops in his tracks, wheeling back around. He takes a couple of
steps in my direction, sticking out a finger and poking at my chest. “You
claim you don’t want her, but it’s pretty fucking clear that you don’t want
anybody else to have her, either. So why don’t you just grow some balls and
fuck her if you want to? Get it out of your system? It has been three years
since Anna, the scorned lover thing is getting pretty damn old. And it’s not
like you haven’t fucked anyone since, so just do it and put us all out of our
misery.”
I glare at Brent. If looks could kill, I’d be guilty of fratricide. “First of all,
back the fuck up,” I growl, shoving at his chest. Harder than I intend to,
because he stumbles back- but I take a step forward and get right in his face
again. “And second, you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, so
why don’t you just shut the fuck up and stay out of my way?” I stand over
him menacingly, daring him with my eyes to make a move. I’m not looking
for a fight with Brent today, but I won’t back down from one, either.
My brother rolls his eyes, taking a step back. “Whatever, bro,” he
mutters. Apparently he’s not in the mood to duke it out, because he just
shakes his head and turns around, continuing down the hallway. Toward the
kitchen, no doubt, since his room is the other direction. He flips me the bird
over his shoulder.
I storm into my office, slamming the door behind me. Even though we’re
brothers, I don’t fight with Brent often- so why does this fucking girl
suddenly have me at my brothers’ throat? What is it about her? I walk around
my desk and throw myself into the leather desk chair, sulking. Trying to get
out of my fucking head.
Okay, so they didn’t hook up- but why the hell does the thought of them
hooking up bother me so much? It’s not like Astrid and I could ever be
anything- though that doesn’t stop me from wanting her. How could I not,
with the girl strutting around my house wearing next to nothing? Since she’s
been staying here, my head’s been a fucking mess. It’s been anywhere but
where it needs to be- focused on the battle ahead.
Once I’ve calmed down a bit, I pull some papers out of my desk- the lists
that Jared and I put together for placements- and go over them. At the very
least, I can get some work done this morning. Twenty minutes later, I’m
sufficiently calm enough to leave my office, and I make my way down the
hall, back toward the main area of the house.
I immediately spot Astrid sitting cross-legged on the couch with her
laptop resting on her lap. She’s pulled her hair back into a ponytail and
changed into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, and even dressed down
she’s frustratingly beautiful.
“You ready to go?” I ask, eyeing her attire as I approach. She isn’t
exactly dressed for a workout with the squad.
“Huh?” Astrid looks up at me, blinking those big brown doe-eyes of hers.
“I’m not going to the complex this morning.”
I frown, furrowing my brow. “Why not?”
Astrid sighs, lifting her hands from her laptop keyboard and leaning back.
“Brooke and Theo are picking me up to take me to Summervale, remember?
More members of my pack are arriving this morning.”
Fuck. I do remember. She mentioned it yesterday, but I’d completely
forgotten until right now.
“Fine,” I growl, turning away. I head for the front door, grabbing the keys
to the Escalade off of the little table in the foyer on the way. I walk out of the
packhouse in a huff, not looking back. And for some reason, with each step I
take putting distance between Astrid and me, it feels like she’s slipping
further away.
 CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Astrid
It’s early afternoon by the time Theo and Brooke drop me off back at the
packhouse in Riverton. The arrival and placement of the second group of
evacuees from Denver went off without a hitch- the Summervale pack is one
of the larger ones in the six-pack, so we were able to place over eighty
refugees there. Greeting my pack members and the placements themselves
didn’t take long, but I hung around with Brooke for a while afterwards to
catch up on some developments with IT that she discovered late last night.
I’m not sure when the girl finds time to sleep.
According to what Brooke uncovered, the shadow pack coordinated an
attack on a smaller pack in a neighboring state just last night. It seems they
may be making a last-ditch effort to increase their numbers even further in
preparation for taking on Denver, which doesn’t exactly bode well since
we’ve already called in all of our backup. Brooke is staying in Summervale
for the day, but we’ll discuss what she learned with both the six-pack’s IT
unit and Denver’s hive tomorrow and weigh how it could affect the battle
ahead. Since she’s skipping the afternoon with IT today, I decide to do the
same- I still have a little bit of a lingering headache from this morning and I
could use some downtime.
The Riverton packhouse is quiet when I walk in; there’s nobody in sight
as I kick my boots off and shrug out of my jacket. Though I’m typically up at
the complex at this time of day, I know Brock returns to Riverton to handle
pack business in the afternoons- meaning he’s likely around here somewhere.
While I’ve kept busy all day, that nasty interaction with Brock this morning
has been niggling at the back of my mind. I don’t like letting things linger or
fester- I like to face them head-on. Which is why as soon as I’ve hung up my
coat and slid my boots under the bench by the door, I head for Brock’s office.
When I start down the hallway off of the kitchen, I see that the door to his
office- the first door on the left- is sitting halfway open, practically inviting
me inside. I have every intention of strutting right in there, but at the last
second, I change my mind. I chicken out and hastily walk past the doorway,
continuing down the hall toward my room. Ugh- what the hell am I doing?
I shut myself inside my room and decide to change out of my jeans and
into comfies- a little pair of black lounge shorts and a loose white sweatshirt
that has ‘Estes Park’ printed across the front of it. Then I mentally scold
myself for being a wimp, give myself a pep talk in my head, and start out of
my room and back down the hallway toward the big bad wolf himself. He
may play tough, but I won’t let him intimidate me.
When I stride through the open door into his office, I see Brock sitting at
his desk, his head in his hands as he stares down at some papers spread out in
front of him. He’s still in his workout clothes from this morning, though he’s
shucked his hoodie and the tank top he’s wearing has me ogling his arm and
shoulder muscles appreciatively. His gaze lifts to me as I walk in, eyes
narrowing in curiosity as I stroll right up to his desk. I round the side and
plop down to sit on the edge, crossing one leg over the other. His eyes briefly
flicker to my bare legs, then back to his paperwork.
“Get out,” Brock grumbles.
Rude. Though not surprising.
“So I take it you’re still pissed off about this morning?” I ask, slapping
my palms on the desk behind me and leaning back, angling my face down by
his. “Hmm?”
Brock abruptly sits up, shoving back in his chair and shooting me an
annoyed glare.
I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “You wanna at least explain what you’re
mad about, big guy?”
“I’m not mad,” he replies quickly. Unconvincingly.
Brock’s green eyes meet mine and I dare to stare back, risking them
pulling me in. He may be pissed off right now, but there’s no denying the
heat in his gaze. A long moment stretches between us before I heave a sigh,
giving a little shake of my head. “I told you nothing happened with Brent,
you have no reason to be jealous.”
His eyes darken. “Why the fuck would I be jealous?” Brock snaps.
I sit up, maintaining eye contact. Daring to say what we he won’t.
“Because you like me.”
“Is that what you think?” he snorts.
I shrug my shoulders, ignoring the condescension in his tone. “I heard
your conversation with Brent this morning.”
Brock’s expression remains stoic, though I do see a brief flash of surprise
in his eyes, like it never occurred to him that I would’ve overheard his
confrontation with his brother. Which is silly, because one, I was right down
the hall in the kitchen and I’ve got shifter hearing, and two, they weren’t
exactly being quiet or discrete when they exchanged words earlier.
“So?” he challenges, seemingly unruffled.
I arch a brow. “So, if you don’t like me, then why don’t you want your
brother to get with me?”
Something tells me that Brock isn’t used to people being this blunt with
him; I get the feeling that a lot of people walk on eggshells around him in
response to his prickly demeanor. I can tell I’m definitely getting a rise out of
him, because I see his wolf showing in his eyes for a second, shimmering in
golden flecks.
He grits his teeth, narrowing his eyes. “Do you want to fuck my brother?
Because if you do, then by all means, go right ahead.”
“What’s your deal, man?” I sigh exasperatedly, my head falling back.
“Why are you like this?”
Brock shakes his head, grumbling. “You don’t know me.”
“It’s amazing that anyone does with how easily you let people in!”
He grunts in annoyance, spinning his chair sideways and rising to his feet.
“We’re done here.” He goes to walk around his desk, past where I’m sitting
on the edge, but I kick out a leg to block his way. He shoots me a glare and I
glare right back at him, the heat between us smoldering. Rising. Threatening
to burst into flames.
“You know what I think?” I ask, leaning back on a palm to look up at
him.
“What’s that?” His eyes are stormy as he stares down at me, and the
tension between us is stiflingly thick, the attraction combustible. We both
may be annoyed right now, but our bodies have yet to get the memo.
Somehow, this argument only seems to be making us even more hot for each
other.
I shoot daggers at him through my eyes. “I think that you talk a big game,
but deep down, you’re really just a big softie.” I lick my lips, and I don’t miss
how his eyes flicker down to track the movement. “I’ll bet that under all that
grumpiness, there’s a nice guy in there just begging to be let out.”
Brock steps closer- too close, because he must be stealing my air; its
suddenly hard to breathe. He nudges my thighs open with a knee, stepping
between my legs. Leaning down over me and invading my space. “Is that
what you really think?” he murmurs, staring at me with a predatory look in
his eyes.
My heart races, threatening to thump out of my chest as I return his stare,
drawing ragged breaths. I couldn’t pull my gaze away from his if I tried- I’m
locked in; captivated. A prisoner at his mercy. “Yes,” I whisper, my lips
involuntarily curling into a little smirk.
Brock suddenly darts a hand forward, wrapping it around my throat. His
hold is loose enough that I can still draw air, but tight enough that it delivers
a carnal promise, sending a flood of heat straight to my core.
“You’re wrong,” he rasps, his face inching closer to mine until I can feel
his breath fan across my own lips. “The nice guy inside of me died a long
time ago, so if you wanna play, little girl, just know you’re playing with fire.”
I’m incapable of responding- all I can do is stare at him as my heart beats
wildly out of my chest.
Do I wanna play? Um, yes please! I’m ready for him to rip my shorts off
and take me right here on the edge of his desk. I’ve never had a man be rough
with me like this; everything with Sam was always so sweet and tender. It
never occurred to me that it would be a turn-on until right now. My cheeks
flush in embarrassment as I realize that my panties are probably soaked- and
Brock can probably scent how much this power play of his is getting me all
hot and bothered.
He presses into me, leaning over me, and I can feel the hard bulge in his
workout shorts against the apex of my thighs. And by that I mean his huge
hard bulge. All rational thought goes out the window- the guy has been a total
dick to me, but all I can think of in this moment is how much I want us both
to give into this explosive chemistry. How badly I crave it; how much we
both clearly need it.
His grip tightens around my throat, restricting my air as he leans in closer
still, his lips brushing against mine. “Trust me, Princess, you don’t want any
part of this.”
Holy hell.
But what if I do? The words are on the tip of my tongue, but before I can
say them, Brock suddenly releases his grip, quickly straightening and
stepping back, breaking all physical contact. He abruptly turns and walks
away, storming out the door of his office. Leaving me panting, squirming on
the edge of his desk. Leaving me bewildered, frustrated… yet still wanting
more.
 CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Brock
The night air is cool, but the thick undercoat of my fur keeps me plenty
warm as I traverse through the forest on the outskirts of Riverton’s territory.
It’s no surprise that I had to let my wolf out to run tonight after the way the
last twenty-four hours have gone. I was already agitated enough following
the events of last night and this morning; topping it off with Astrid’s little
performance in my office this afternoon had me ready to explode.
Shifting into my wolf form and going for a run is cathartic in itself- and
tiring out the beast within does wonders for keeping my temper and baser
urges at bay. With Astrid around, I need to do all I can to dull my animal
instincts because the girl is clearly a walking, talking trigger for me. It’s a
miracle I was able to walk out of my office today without tearing her clothes
off and having my way with her, especially because it was obvious how
badly we both wanted it.
She’s so sunshiny, so fucking idealistic. She has no idea what she’s
getting herself into with someone like me, someone incapable of forming any
real attachments; someone so broken that they can’t help but break anyone
else who gets too close. She can’t know how much she’s flirting with disaster
by continuing to dangle herself in front of me, because if she did, she’d
fucking run.
I’ve gotta get Astrid off my mind, because as I run through a small
clearing, I swear I can fucking smell her on the breeze. I pause, shaking out
my fur, staring up at the sky. The moon is barely a sliver of light overhead,
the forest around me blanketed in darkness. It’s easy to get lost in how calm
and serene the forest is tonight, so easy that I almost don’t notice the subtle
shift in my senses that tells me I’m not alone out here. There’s someone else
nearby- another wolf.
I immediately snap into the mind-link, calling out in an attempt to
identify whether one of the wolves from my pack might be out for a run.
‘Who’s out there?’ I demand, but I’m met with no response. It’s an eerie
feeling- the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the silence seems to
stretch on for an eternity.
After a beat, I try again. ‘This is your Alpha, identify yourself,’ I bark out
through the mind-link, but again, nothing. I’m on high alert, a half dozen
worst case scenarios rushing to the forefront of my brain as I scan my
surroundings for any sign of something amiss.
Then I see it- a flash of brown fur on the other side of the clearing. A
wolf running by, but I already know it isn’t one of mine. I immediately spring
forward, taking off in pursuit of the potential intruder. It doesn’t take long for
me to catch up- I’m clearly faster, and once I get a good visual of the
stranger, I can see that I’m a lot larger as well. My heart is racing as I draw
closer- I can tell by its scent that it’s definitely not a Riverton wolf, though
the scent seems familiar somehow. In my adrenaline-fueled haze, I can’t
quite place it, but it doesn’t really matter at this point because my priority is
protecting my pack; I’ll act first and ask questions later.
Once I’m within striking distance, I pounce on the other wolf’s back,
sinking my teeth into the scruff of its neck. It yelps, rolling out from
underneath me quickly, getting away easily due to its small size. I’m about to
lunge for it again when the air shimmers, the wolf’s bones snapping and
rearranging until there’s a human figure crouched where it once stood. A
human figure with caramel skin, light brown curls, and a body that won’t
quit. I force my own wolf to recede, shifting to my human form and rising to
stand once the transition is complete.
“Astrid?” I blink through the dark, staring at the frightened girl crouched
a few feet away.
“Jeez,” she hisses, pushing up on shaky legs and clutching the back of her
neck with a hand. “I know you like it rough, but did you really have to bite
me?”
She takes a step forward out of the shadows, the pale light of the crescent
moon softly illuminating her bare body. As soon as my eyes fall upon her
naked form, I’ve got an instant boner. She’s a fucking goddess- slim waist,
full hips, and the most gorgeous pair of tits I’ve ever seen. They aren’t huge,
but they aren’t tiny either- they look like they’d be a perfect handful, topped
with dusky little nipples that are getting harder by the second as they’re
exposed to the crisp autumn air. The sight of her like this catches me off
guard, and I practically have to pick my jaw up off of the floor and wipe the
drool from my chin before I can form a coherent thought or get a single word
out.
 Astrid is staring at me expectantly and I can’t even remember what she
asked; my mind turned to mush the second I saw her naked. I drag my eyes
back up to her face- her fucking beautiful face- and draw a shallow breath,
trying to get my shit together. She winces as she rubs the back of her neck
again and I’m instantly remorseful. I could’ve really hurt her. Watching
Astrid, realizing what could’ve happened, anger flickers inside of me.
“I could’ve fucking killed you,” I growl, my lips drawing into a frown.
“Why the fuck are you out here?”
Astrid shakes her head, chuckling wryly. “Do you always kill first and
ask questions later?”
“Most of the time, yes,” I answer, deadpan.
Her brows shoot up and she mouths the word ‘wow’.
“My pack’s safety is my top priority,” I state simply. “So I’ll ask again,
what are you doing out here?”
Because she’s the last person I expected to run into and seeing her in the
buff has completely knocked me off my feet. Because even if she’s not pack,
her safety concerns me, too.
Astrid folds her arms over her chest, covering those gorgeous tits. “I was
out for a run. Had to blow off some steam after this afternoon.”
The corner of her mouth kicks up into a smirk, and I know exactly what
she’s referencing- that close encounter on my office desk. Too close.
I heave a sigh, raking a hand through my hair. “You shouldn’t be out
here.”
“Why not?” she challenges. “You’re out here.”
“Exactly.”
She lets out a little laugh that’s carried away on the breeze. “Oh, that’s
right,” she waves a hand. “Big bad wolf and all.”
The air between us is practically electric- every fiber of my being is
screaming for me to close the gap, to touch her, take her, possess her. She’s
slowly worn down every bit of my resistance; blown my tight semblance of
control to smithereens.
“That’s right,” I murmur, my voice gravelly. “You should be afraid.”
She takes another step toward me, and I watch as her eyes take their time
exploring my naked body. Her gaze glides over my broad chest, down to my
abs, then lingers on my dick, rock hard and ready. A dead giveaway as to
how I really feel about her. Slowly, those eyes travel back up to meet my own
as she takes another tentative step in my direction. Then another. Until she’s
standing right in front of me, close enough to touch.
Astrid reaches out to place a dainty hand on my chest, sliding it up to the
top of my shoulder as she gazes into my eyes, her own clouded with lust.
“What are you doing?” I growl, though my own hand somehow lands on
her slim waist, sparks ricocheting from her skin into mine.
She rises up on her tiptoes. I lean down. I press my eyes closed, inhaling
her scent. Our noses brush.
“Kiss me,” she whispers.
I suck in a breath, gritting my teeth. “I told you, you don’t want this.”
Astrid leans closer, her lips almost touching mine. “But what if I do?”
Fuck.
My arm cinches tighter around her waist, my other hand tracing the curve
of her spine as I glide it up to the bury it in her tangle of curly hair. I wind her
hair around my hand, fisting it, tugging so her head falls back as I stare into
her eyes. “I don’t do gentle,” I warn.
Her fingertips trace the line of my jaw as her lips part, her voice still a
breathy whisper. “Then don’t be gentle with me.”
As soon as the words are spoken, the dam of my control breaks. My
mouth descends, claiming hers as I feel my whole world rock off its axis; like
the earth is shifting under my feet. My eyelids slam shut, stars exploding
behind them from a single fucking kiss. All the buildup, all the tension
releases through our lips, hers impossibly soft as they pout and move against
my own. I nip and lick them until they part to give me more access, my
tongue plundering her mouth, finding hers. Tangling with it.
I release her hair, my hands roaming her body, exploring every soft curve
of her flesh. She moans into my mouth as I grab one of her ass cheeks and
squeeze hard. She tastes so fucking sweet, and I’m suddenly insatiable. I
want to own her. Devour her. Consume her until there’s nothing left.
My hard cock is pressed tight to her belly, and the taste of her in my
mouth and the friction of her body against mine is driving me to the brink of
insanity. I could easily pick her up, spread her thighs, and fuck her right here.
As if she’s reading my mind- and fuck it, maybe she is- she suddenly pulls
back, staring into my eyes with a blazing intensity in her own.
I close a hand around her throat, drawing a shaky breath as I stare down
into those big brown doe-eyes. They’re so wide, so trusting. Too trusting.
She’s all light, and I’m shrouded in darkness. If I let her get too close to my
chaos, I’ll fucking ruin her.
 I lean in to nip Astrid’s lower lip, dragging it between my teeth. Taking
one last taste of the sweetest fucking thing I’ve ever sampled. And then I let
her go.
I take a step back, putting distance between our bodies. Fighting against
the seemingly magnetic force that threatens to draw me back into her. Astrid
just stands there looking bewildered, unsteady on her legs like a newborn
foal.
I rake my gaze over her naked form one last time, committing her
perfection to memory.
“You’d better go,” I growl.
Her jaw goes slack, confusion washing over her features. “Wh… what?”
I ball my fists at my sides to keep from reaching out for her again, my jaw
twitching. “Get back to the packhouse, Astrid.”
She tilts her head, brown curls falling over her shoulder as she studies me.
Trying to work out what’s going on in my head like I’m a puzzle to solve.
“Now,” I snap, putting alpha command behind my voice.
She narrows her eyes, giving me this look that I can’t quite decipher. I
can’t tell whether she wants to kill me or fuck me- or both. I have the same
conflicting feelings about her, and I don’t know what to make of it. All I do
know is that the heat between us is going to burn the damn packhouse to the
ground if we allow this to go any farther.
Astrid crouches, the air around her shimmering with her shift- and
seconds later, she’s back in her animal form, a stunning honey brown wolf.
She shakes out her fur, turns away, and darts into the thick brush of the
forest. And even though I’m the one who told her to leave, I have to fight the
urge to chase her down again.
 CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Astrid
What’s the female equivalent of blue balls? Because that’s totally what
Brock keeps giving me. I’m not sure what’s going on between us and mister
hot-and-cold isn’t exactly making it easy to figure out. I’m starting to get
whiplash from the constant push and pull between Brock and me.
While playing this game with the king of indecision is exhausting, there’s
just something about Brock that keeps pulling me back in. Maybe it’s
because when I see broken things, I want to fix them. Maybe I’m just a
glutton for punishment. Or maybe my intuition’s right- we’re supposed to be
something to each other, and this is the universe’s way of throwing us
together over and over to make sure that happens. Whatever it is, if that
steamy make-out session in the woods last night is any indication, then I feel
like the roller coaster ride he’s taking me on will be worth it.
I’m enjoying my morning coffee with Jared and Brent in the packhouse
kitchen when Brock walks in looking like he didn’t get any sleep last night.
Serves him right for cutting things off when he did- I’ll bet we both would’ve
slept great if we’d done what we really wanted to out there in the forest.
I smile brightly as Brock slumps down onto a stool on the other end of the
island, turning my body in his direction. “Good morning!”
He side-eyes me, his gaze slipping down my form and lingering on my
bare legs before traveling back up to my face. “Morning,” he mutters, his
wolf swirling gold in his irises.
Jared slides a hot cup of coffee across the island toward Brock and he
turns away from me to take it eagerly, bringing it to his lips. The guy relies
on his morning coffee as much as I do.
“How was the rest of your run last night?” I ask, arching a brow.
“Fine.” Brock shoots me a warning glance, like he doesn’t want to talk
about last night in front of Jared and Brent. Or maybe he doesn’t want to talk
about it at all, but he’s not getting off that easily.
Brent’s gaze shifts between Brock and me, his eyes narrowing. “You two
run into each other out there last night or something?”
 “You could say that,” I smirk. I catch Brock shooting me that same look
of warning again out of the corner of my eye, but I ignore it, picking up my
coffee mug and bringing it to my lips. “Your brother nearly killed me out
there, guess he thought I was a rogue or something.”
“No shit?” Brent laughs, looking over at Brock again. “What the hell,
man?”
Brock shrugs nonchalantly, taking a long sip of his coffee.
Brent shakes his head, turning back to me. “You know,” he grins, resting
his elbows on the surface of the kitchen island and leaning forward toward
me. “Next time you wanna get out for a run, you should let me know. I could
show you around the territory. And I’d protect you from anyone that tried to
give you a hard time.” He winks.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I giggle, swallowing the last bit of my coffee and
hopping down from my stool. “I’d better get dressed, how long have I got?”
Brock glances at his watch, sipping from his own cup. “About ten
minutes.”
I walk around the island to deposit my coffee mug in the sink, making a
beeline for the hallway to my room and calling to Brock over my shoulder on
the way. “I’ll be quick!”
Fifteen minutes later- because one of my gym shoes was hiding from me
under the bed- Brock and I are in the Escalade and on our way to the squad
complex for the morning training session. I’m wearing a pair of black
leggings and a heather grey zip-up long sleeve, while Brock is once again in a
pair of athletic shorts and a hoodie. How the hell does he make workout attire
look so damn appealing? We’ve both got our hair tied back, though his is
neat and mine’s a bit of a mess. The perils of naturally curly hair.
We’re both quiet as we pull out of the town of Riverton and onto the
forest road that connects the six-pack territories, and I can’t stand silence- I
have to fill it. So of course I jump to the first thing on my mind; the only
thing on my mind.
“Are we going to talk about last night?”
I look over at Brock, gauging his reaction, but he has none. He just stares
out the windshield at the road ahead with a blank expression on his face.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Bullshit,” I laugh. “There is absolutely something to talk about! You
can’t just kiss me like that and then…”
“It was a one-off,” Brock interrupts. “I shouldn’t…” he trails off and
heaves a sigh, scowling. “I can’t.”
So this is the game we’re playing. I watch him curiously, wondering who
the hell hurt him so badly to make him this closed off. I know from what
Quinn told me that some ex-girlfriend did a number on him, but this guy’s
damage seems deeper than that.
“Can’t what?” I press, because that’s just what I do.
He darts a glance in my direction before returning his gaze to the road
and I watch as his knuckles tighten around the steering wheel. “I can’t go
there with you.”
“Why not?”
“Because like I said, you don’t want this,” he grumbles.
I roll my eyes, hard. “Ohhhkay, so now you’re gonna try to tell me what I
want?”
Brock may be able to hide from most people, but he can’t hide from me.
His gruff attitude scares others away, but I’m an intuitive- I know that
underneath the front he puts on, there’s a good guy with a good heart in there.
I can feel it. Maybe that’s what my intuition has been trying to tell me; what
Brock and I are supposed to be to one another. Maybe I’m supposed to help
tear down some of the walls he’s erected to keep people out and help him feel
again. Maybe his resistance is supposed to teach me patience.
“I’m a big girl, I can make my own decisions,” I say, folding my arms
over my chest indignantly.
He arches a brow, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Big?”
I snap my head to look his way, a smile creeping across my face. Holy
shit, did mister broody actually just make a joke?
“Hey,” I protest, watching his smirk deepen. “I may be little, but I’m
fierce.”
Brock pulls into the parking lot of the squad complex a few minutes later,
taking his usual spot and sliding the gear into park and cutting the engine. He
wastes no time in removing his seatbelt and throwing his door open, ready to
head into practice without another word.
I decide to poke the bear one more time, though, because the female blue
balls he left me with last night have me feeling a little feisty this morning.
“I guess if you can’t go there with me, I could always take Reid up on his
offer to take me out sometime,” I say flippantly, unbuckling my seatbelt.
I open the door and slide out of the passenger seat, hopping down from
the Escalade and turning to close the door behind me. When I spin around
and go to take a step, though, I slam into a hard chest, letting out a little
squeak in surprise. I look up and my breath catches in my throat- I don’t
know how he got over here so quickly, but Brock is standing right in front of
me, trapping me between the vehicle and his body. Staring down at me with a
feral look in his eyes. I instinctively back up, meeting the cool exterior of the
passenger side door.
Brock leans in toward me, bracing himself with an elbow on the side of
the Escalade, caging me in. He quickly brings his other hand to my throat,
gripping it loosely as he leans his face in beside mine and I feel his warm
breath against my ear.
“Are you trying to test me, Astrid?”
The deep, raspy tenor of his voice has butterflies scattering in my belly.
His body is so close to my own that I can feel the heat radiating from it. He
draws back just enough to look into my eyes- that raw, carnal hunger evident
in his gaze. I’m sure my own eyes are reflecting the same thing back at him,
because suddenly there’s only one thing on my mind.
I grab at the front of his hoodie with my hands, fisting the fabric, trying to
pull him in closer. Staring up at him wildly. “Kiss me,” I whisper.
He slams his lips down over mine, his hand tightening around my throat
as he kisses the life out of me. A strong arm comes around my back, lifting
me to my tiptoes as I return his kiss urgently- all tongues and lips and teeth.
My legs part, wrapping around his waist as he lifts me higher, pinning me
against the Escalade. His grip around my waist tightens, pushing the air from
my lungs as he deepens the kiss, my arms winding around his neck.
It's primal and desperate and uninhibited, our wildfire chemistry
combusting between our lips. For several glorious moments, the world
around us just falls away- we’re so wrapped up in one another that nothing
else matters. I moan in protest as he pulls back, nipping my lips, staring at me
savagely like a man possessed.
“Fuck,” he grumbles, heaving a sigh. He pulls my body in tight to his and
drops his head over my shoulder, pressing his forehead against the passenger
window and drawing ragged breaths. Still holding me in his arms pinned
against the side of his SUV.
This shouldn’t feel as good as it does. I’m not sure I could pick a guy
more unavailable than Brock, but the chemistry between us is just off-the-
charts. I owe it to myself to see where it goes.
Slowly, he releases his grip on my body, setting me back down. “Come
on,” he growls, and as I find my footing, he snakes an arm behind me and
presses his palm to my lower back, guiding me to walk with him. My lips feel
swollen and bruised from his rough kisses, and I’ll bet my face is still
flushed. Once we round the corner of the parking lot, he drops his hand from
my back and we continue on to the gate.
And then we walk out to the practice field like nothing happened.
We find our group quickly and I wander closer to the girls to stretch
while Brock sticks by the guys. My heart is still beating fast- I wonder if his
is, too? I plop down on the ground and stick my legs out on either side to
stretch, sneaking a subtle glance in his direction.
I catch him looking at me, too.
This thing between us, it isn’t over. Not by a longshot. No matter how
much he tries to resist it, when we’re together, we’re bound to explode.
“Hey, look who’s here,” Jax mumbles, elbowing Theo beside him.
I glance up to see a group of six guys walking through the gate and onto
the practice field. They can’t be any older than eighteen- most of them look
like they’re still in high school, if not all. The biggest guy is in the middle,
and he’s walking with the cocky swagger of an alpha, his head held high.
He’s got his hands shoved in the front pocket of his hoodie, leading the rest
of them straight toward Brock and the other alphas.
“Who’s that?” I whisper to Quinn, stretching on the ground beside me.
She looks up, scanning the faces of the group of guys, and I see a flash of
recognition cross her face. “Oh shit,” she whispers, sitting up straighter. “I
don’t know the others, but the big guy in the middle is Chase. He’s Alpha
Vaughn’s son.”
I tilt my head questioningly.
“The Alpha of the Norbury pack.”
“Ahhh…” I breathe, the pieces of the puzzle clicking together in my
brain. I haven’t met Alpha Vaughn yet, but I’ve heard about him and the fact
that he’s got a son who is a senior in high school.
“Can I help you boys?” Gray asks once the group of guys are within
earshot, stepping forward.
The practice field is busy and packed with squad members, but suddenly
it’s like everyone hushes at once to look on and watch the confrontation
between the squad leaders and this group of kids.
“Yeah,” Chase replies, taking a step ahead of his friends. “We’re here to
sign up to go to Denver. We want to fight.”
 Theo moves to stand beside Gray, folding his arms over his chest. “Does
your dad know you’re here?” he asks condescendingly.
I slowly drag my gaze across each of the guys behind Chase, my intuition
picking up little tidbits about each of them. The one on the far left is bad
news- I’m getting some seriously dark juju from him. One of them toward the
middle is actually scared; he’s only here because his friends talked him into it
and he didn’t want to look like a wimp. The rest of them are alright, nothing
major, but this Chase kid? he’s got some serious damage. I try to focus in,
reach for what my intuition is trying to tell me, when I’m smacked with a
vision.
Sadness. It’s overwhelming, and I’m picking it up from the little boy
sitting on the stairs, peeking out through the railings. I’m in a house I don’t
recognize, and somehow I know that the little boy is Chase and the couple
that he’s watching argue in the room below are his parents.
“You can’t leave, think of your son!” the man pleads, reaching out for the
woman’s arm. She tugs it away, glaring up at the little boy on the stairs. “You
can have him!” she hisses. “I told you, I can’t do this. I never wanted this.”
The woman makes a beeline for the front door, and the little boy races
down the stairs, chasing after her. Calling for his mama.
The vision fades, the practice field coming back into focus. I’m not sure
I’ll ever get used to these visions hitting me like this- I can still feel the
sadness so deeply, the devastation. The abandonment. My chest feels heavy
as I look upon the same boy from my vision, only older. Yet still fragile. He’s
arguing back and forth with Theo now, who looks like he’s ready to lay him
out at any moment.
“Don’t you guys need all the help you can get? How can you turn us
away if we’re willing to fight?” Chase demands.
“You aren’t trained,” Gray says simply. “It’s not safe.”
Chase snorts, rolling his eyes. “I may not be a squad zombie, but I could
take any one of you.”
Reid shakes his head, sighing. “You’ve got a pretty big chip on your
shoulder, kid.”
“I’m just confident,” Chase says, puffing out his chest.
“You think this is a fucking game?” Brock growls. “This isn’t teenage
bullshit, this is real life or death stuff. You shouldn’t be trying to get yourself
involved, and if you keep up this reckless behavior you’re only gonna get
yourself killed.”
 Chase scowls, his gaze dropping.
“Now that’s settled, why don’t you run on home and leave the fighting to
those of us who are trained for it?” Theo adds, still mocking the poor kid.
Something tells me those two must have a history.
“But…” Chase protests, trailing off when Gray lifts a hand.
“Sorry, Chase. I’m not gonna have your old man after me because I let
you join the squad at seventeen and go risk your life in Denver,” Gray says,
his expression stoic. “My hands are tied.”
“This is fucking bullshit,” Chase mutters under his breath, turning his
back and gesturing to his friends. “Let’s go, guys.”
I get to my feet as the six of them take off across the field, heading for the
gate. Watching after them for a moment before I step closer to Brock and set
a hand on his arm to get his attention.
“Wasn’t that a little harsh?” I ask quietly.
He looks down at me, his eyes stormy. “No.”
Brock looks away and I tug on his sleeve like a little kid. “But I…”
I’m about to tell him about what I saw, about the vision I had of Chase
and the real reason he may be out here acting reckless and seeking a purpose,
but Brock looks down at me and shakes his head. In his eyes, I can practically
see his walls slamming back up.
“This is squad business,” he murmurs. “Just let us handle it.”
I drop my hand from Brock’s arm and he steps away, toward the other
guys. Muttering something about Chase being a punk.
And I give him the cold shoulder for the rest of the day.
 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Astrid
It’s after dark by the time I return to the packhouse that night. I stayed
late working with the IT unit and Quinn was kind enough to give me a ride
back here afterward. I was so busy all afternoon that I didn’t have much time
to think about Brock or how dismissive he was on the practice field this
morning, but it returns to the forefront of my mind as I make my way up the
front walk and twist the knob on the front door to let myself in.
When I push the door open, my eyes immediately land on Brock. Damnit.
He’s straight ahead in my field of vision, lounging on a couch in the great
room in a t-shirt and a pair of grey sweats. And of course, as soon as my eyes
land on him, he looks up and our gazes lock like magnets.
I quickly look away, stepping over the threshold and pushing the door
closed behind me with a hip, toeing off my gym shoes and sweeping them
aside under the bench. I can still feel Brock’s eyes practically burning a hole
through me and, much to my surprise, when I look up at him again he
mumbles “hey”.
“Hi,” I reply, both because I’m caught off guard and because it’d be rude
not to.
I start to head in the direction of my room when Brock speaks again,
stopping me in my tracks.
“Late night with IT?”
I peer over at him curiously, trying to read his expression. From what I
know of Brock, he isn’t much of a conversationalist, so the fact that he’s
suddenly trying to engage is surprising in itself. And yeah, I’ll bite.
“Mhmm,” I hum, changing course and strolling toward him. “What about
you, where are Jared and Brent tonight?” When Brock’s hanging out in here
in the evenings, at least one of the other two guys are usually with him.
Brock runs a hand through his hair, so casual as he looks up at me. Like
he didn’t even notice the silent treatment I gave him all morning on the
practice field and in the dining hall after. “Out at the bar chasing tail.”
“You didn’t go with them?” I ask, arching a brow as I slow to a stop in
front of him.
“Nah.”
Short and sweet. Typical Brock.
I stand there awkwardly for a moment before I blow out a breath, rolling
my eyes. “Well I’m just gonna go shower…” I say as I start to turn away.
“Hey,” he growls, reaching out for me. He snatches my wrist, pulling me
closer, then grabs me by the waist, yanking me down onto his lap so I’m
sitting sideways on one of his thighs, my legs dangled between his own. The
gesture takes me by surprise, and it happens so quickly that I’m a little dizzy
as I turn my head to peer at him.
“What’s wrong?” Brock asks, his eyes swirling with golden shimmers.
I blow a loose curl out of my line of sight, crossing my arms over my
chest indignantly. “You completely dismissed me earlier when I tried to tell
you about the vision I got from that Chase kid.” I’m not one to beat around
the bush- might as well get right to the point.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You’re still having visions?”
“Yeah,” I sigh, relaxing a little bit into the arm that he’s got draped
around my waist. “After that first one with you in the kitchen, I had another a
couple of days ago, and then that one today. Pretty sure my gift… or ability,
whatever you wanna call it, is evolving somehow.”
“Hm,” Brock muses, his eyebrows drawing together. He looks away for a
moment, lost in thought, then back to me. “What’d you see?”
“Well,” I sigh, unfolding my arms and staring down at my lap. “It was
Chase as a little kid, and his mom was walking out on his family.” I look
back up at Brock, squinting my eyes. “Does that make sense?”
He sighs and gives a little shake of his head. “Not sure. Alpha Vaughn
doesn’t have a mate, but I’ve never asked why Chase’s mom isn’t in the
picture. He’s never mentioned it.”
“Maybe that’s why,” I say quietly. I pause for a moment before
continuing. “I get the feeling that Chase is just looking for somewhere to
belong, and you were awfully harsh with him earlier.”
Brock stiffens, his emerald eyes suddenly going cold. “The kid’s gonna
get himself killed. He can’t run around playing tough guy when it comes to
the shadow pack.”
“He’s seventeen, Brock!” I sigh exasperatedly, shaking my head. “You’re
totally missing an opportunity here to bring him into the fold and help guide
him. And you can’t tell me that you didn’t play tough too when you were that
age.”
He shoots me a suspicious look. “Why, did you have a vision of me at
seventeen or something?”
I chuckle, rolling my eyes. “No, that’s not how it works. I can’t pick and
choose what I want to see. Or at least I don’t think I can. I don’t know, it’s
still new.”
It suddenly strikes me how natural this feels. It may be the first
meaningful conversation that Brock and I have ever had, and it’s nice.
Comfortable.
“I just wish you would’ve listened to me about the kid, that’s all,” I
breathe. “I know it was squad business, but I’m an intuitive, I know a thing or
two about handling people.”
“Right,” Brock grumbles, tracing his fingertips down my spine. “Sorry.”
Hot damn, another apology from Brock? That has to be a record. And
yeah, I’ll forgive him, because one, I don’t have time for grudges, and two,
the way he’s touching me right now is making me shiver… and we’ve got the
house to ourselves.
It’s also making me a little flustered, and I really do want that shower. “I,
uh…” I stammer, pushing off of his leg and rising to my feet. “I’m gonna get
in the shower.”
Brock nods, eyes transfixed on me as I back away from him. There’s heat
in his gaze, and I almost ask him if he wants to join me in the shower- but
quickly think better of it. I’m not going to just give it to him on a silver
platter, he’s gotta work for it a little bit.
I slip away from him and steal down the hallway to my room. I start to
shut the door, but then I pause, a mischievous grin pulling at my lips. And I
let go of the knob, leaving it halfway open. Daring Brock to wander in.
I do close the bathroom door, though, on the off chance that Jared or
Brent were to come home and wander down this way. Though Brock caught
me naked last night, I swear I’m not an exhibitionist. I strip out of my clothes
and take a quick shower, washing the stress of the day down the drain along
with some dirt from the practice field that made its way into my bra
somehow. Then I towel off and step out, running a comb through my tangled
hair and wrapping the towel around my body, securing it by tucking in the
end at the top.
I push open the bathroom door, steam billowing out into my bedroom as I
step out. And who do I find standing in my doorway but the big bad wolf
himself.
I jump slightly when my eyes land on him, a bit startled to see his
imposing form blocking the doorway. He’s leaning a shoulder against one
side, raking his gaze over me like I’m a five-course meal. It takes me a
second to gather myself, both because he’s caught me off guard and because
he’s looking at me like that.
“Can I help you?” I ask, the corners of my lips tipping up into a smirk.
He drags his gaze down my body again, then back up- and actually
fucking licks his lips. “Why do you always smell so fucking good?”
I wish I could keep it together, but my body betrays me. I feel my cheeks
heat in a flush and my core starts throbbing. “Uh, I don’t know…” I mumble,
watching as he raises an elbow over his head to rest against the doorframe. “I
use this fancy peach body wash.”
Our gazes are locked and he’s not saying anything; the silence is
deafening. All I can hear is my own heartbeat hammering in my chest as
blood rushes to my ears.
“What?” I finally ask hoarsely.
The corner of his mouth kicks up into the faintest smirk. “Nothing. Just
wondering if you taste as good as you smell.”
My heart races faster and my knees go a little wobbly. Should I? … could
I?
I reach for the end of the towel that’s tucked in at my chest, tugging it
free. Letting the towel drop to the floor.
The cool air nips at my skin, but my body’s completely on fire,
incinerated by Brock’s virile stare. He slowly rakes his gaze over me again
from head to toe. “Get on the bed,” he murmurs, his voice thick and gravelly.
Holy hell. Is this actually happening? I don’t take my eyes off of Brock as
I step over to the bed and sink down on the edge, scooching back until I’m
sitting in the middle. He makes no move to advance toward me, though- he’s
just standing there in the doorway, watching me. Fuck, is this some weird
power play or something? Because if he’s just trying to prove that he can
order me around and he’s planning to leave me with lady blue balls again,
then he’s got another thing coming. I tilt my head questioningly, searching
his face. Then I lift a hand, crooking a finger. Beckoning him.
Brock kicks the door closed behind him, then he’s at the edge of the bed
in two strides, drawing heavy breaths as he stares down at me with a
predatory hunger in his eyes that’s nearly enough to make me come undone.
He leans toward me, grabbing my left foot and yanking me closer. I let out a
little squeal as my body drops back and I slide across the sheets, my heart
hammering against my ribs.
He lifts my foot to his mouth, pressing his lips to the arch. He drags his
mouth to my ankle next, then my calf. I squirm on the bed as he leans in and
licks and nips and kisses his way up my left leg, and by the time he gets to
my inner thigh I’m panting helplessly, writhing in anticipation.
Then he drops my leg back to the bed, picking up my right foot and
starting over. Slowly making his way closer to the apex of my thighs. Every
touch is leaving the most delicious sparks behind, and his slow, controlled
movements have me practically crawling out of my skin. When he gets to my
inner thigh on the right side, I’m certain that he’s going to keep going… but
then he pauses, reversing course. Son of a bitch.
“Brock!” I gasp, my back arching up off of the bed. The build-up of his
teasing is driving me to the brink of insanity.
“Yeah baby?” he murmurs against my skin, nipping my inner thigh.
“Please…”
He pulls back slightly and I moan in frustration, clutching the sheets in
my hands on either side of me.
“Tell me what you want, Astrid,” he murmurs, his voice low and velvety
as dips back down and trails the softest kisses up my inner thigh again. “I
want to hear you beg for it.”
“I want… I want…” I pant, trying to wriggle closer to him, so delirious
with lust that I’m barely able to get a word out.
My body shudders as I feel his warm breath fanning over the apex of my
thighs. “You want me to taste you?”
“Yes!” I practically scream, shoving my hips forward.
He presses a kiss to my lips- down there- and I feel the vibration of his
low chuckle. He’s enjoying putting me through this torture. Cruel bastard.
“Please,” I whine, wrapping my legs around him and closing my thighs
around his ears, trying to draw him in and hold him there.
He chuckles again and easily peels my thighs apart, holding them down
on the bed with a palm pressed to each. “You said peach body wash?” he
asks, running his nose along my inner thigh.
“Yes,” I gasp, fisting the sheets.
A growl rumbles in Brock’s chest. “It’s like fucking crack.”
A needy whine escapes my lips as I angle my hips toward him. “Brock,
please,” I practically cry out, drenched in desire.
He chuckles again. Fucking sadist.
“Well since you asked so nicely…”
He darts forward and licks into me, a surge of white-hot pleasure rushing
from my core out through each of my limbs. My back arches off the bed, a
scream tearing from my throat. Brock moves one of his hands to my belly to
hold me flat to the bed and lathes his tongue up and down my slit, nipping my
pussy lips gently with his teeth. Then he probes my entrance with his tongue,
moving it in and out while his hand dips down, his thumb finding my clit.
I almost go off as soon as he gives it a little flick, the sensation too much
between that and the way he’s tongue-fucking me. “Oh my god… Brock!
Fuck…” I’m babbling, not making any sense as my eyes roll back in my
head. I’m completely lost for a minute or two, until his thumb leaves my clit
and he scoops both hands under my butt cheeks, lifting me up a few inches to
give himself better access. His fingers dig into my ass with bruising force as
he licks his way up and attaches his mouth to my clit instead, sucking hard.
Holy fuck, this man has a gift. The things he’s doing to me right now are
delivering sensations unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. The
pleasure builds, and it’s almost too much- tears spring to my eyes and I can
hardly catch my breath. “I’m… I’m gonna…” I cry out, my body writhing.
“Don’t,” he growls, abruptly pulling away. I cry out in frustration, hands
wildly reaching for him- but he’s rising up onto his knees, looking down at
me with stormy eyes. “Don’t come until I tell you to.”
I shiver at the deep tenor of his voice and the command behind it, still
panting as I watch him shove his sweatpants down, his huge cock springing
free. It bobs in front of him, long and thick and rock hard, and he takes it in
one hand, fisting it as he brings the other hand back to my pussy. A moan
falls from my lips and my eyes slam shut as his thumb brushes my clit again
and he starts probing my entrance with one of his thick digits.
Too much. It’s way too much- more than I can take. My eyes flutter open
to see him staring down at me intently, gold swirling in his irises as he
strokes his dick with one hand and pleasures me with the other, his finger
moving in and out of my pussy and his thumb rubbing against my clit.
“You wanna come, Astrid?” he rasps, pinching my hard clit between his
thumb and forefinger.
“Yes!” I scream, arching off of the bed.
Brock’s lips draw up into a cruel smirk as he withdraws his touch. He
leans over me, his breathing ragged. “Tell me how badly you want it, baby.”
He’s fucking toying with me, but I’m completely powerless to resist. He’s
been driving me to the brink since this started, and I need to find release right
now more than I need air to breathe.
“Please…” I whimper, about to fall apart. “Please let me come…”
Brock grunts, a look of pure lust in his eyes as he tips back, stroking his
dick faster. He returns his thumb to rub my clit and delves his finger back
into my tight channel, continuing his tortuous assault on my pussy. The
pressure quickly builds again, and it feels like an eternity before I hear his
low, throaty voice say the words I’ve been waiting for.
“Come for me, Astrid. Now.”
I go off like a firecracker, fisting the sheets with my hands and screaming
out as my body trembles and shakes with my orgasm. It’s the most intense
climax that has ever racked my body- tears slip from my eyes; my toes go
numb. I feel sticky warmth hit my chest as Brock finds his release at the same
time, painting my breasts with stripes of his cum as a guttural moan falls
from his lips.
I think I black out for a second before I catch my breath, my eyes
fluttering open to see Brock staring down at me, looking triumphant and
sated and… awestruck. Seriously, the way he’s looking at me- he’s never
looked at me like this before.
He slinks backwards, tucking his dick back into his pants and stumbling
off of the bed, turning away without a word. For a second, I think he’s just
going to leave me there covered in his cum, but he ducks into the bathroom
and comes back a few seconds later with a warm washcloth, crawling over
me again and using it to clean my breasts.
“You’re fucking gorgeous, you know that?” he grumbles as he swipes the
washcloth across my skin reverently, and I see that look in his eyes once
more- like there’s a crack in the concrete wall he’s built around his heart. A
crack that might be just big enough for me to slip in.
“Hey,” I whisper, and he stops, peering down at me. I reach out, tracing
his sharp jawline with my fingertips. “Kiss me.”
And he does. He leans in, pressing his lips against mine, tingles spreading
out through my limbs. He kisses me hard, like he means it, but somehow it’s
also tender, sweet. Different, but a good kind of different. His body sinks
down onto mine, his arms winding around my back. Holding me while he
kisses the life out of me.
 When he breaks the kiss, we’re both gasping for air. He rolls onto the bed
beside me, laying flat on his back and staring up at the ceiling. I tip sideways,
watching him as he blinks, wondering what’s going on in that beautiful head
of his.
Then he suddenly sits up, gazing down at me. I can practically see his
walls slamming back into place, shutting me out again as he slides off of the
bed. I don’t try to stop him- I know what this is. The chemistry between us is
hot as fuck, but we don’t owe each other anything.
As he goes to leave, though, I get a little glimpse of something. It’s so
quick that I’m not even sure if it’s a vision or my own imagination… but if
it’s real, it changes everything.
 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Brock
“Damn, you’re up early,” Jared comments as I stroll into the kitchen on
Saturday morning.
“Don’t get used to it,” I groan, going straight for the coffee pot and
pouring myself a cup. My nose twitches as a delicious scent wafts my way
from the oven. “Damn, what’s that smell?”
“Your mom brought a quiche over,” Jared says, folding his arms over his
chest and leaning back against the kitchen counter. “I think it’s bacon and
tomato this time.”
“Nothing gets me out of bed faster than the smell of Mom’s quiche,”
Brent laughs, sauntering in. He looks my way, narrowing his eyes. “Bacon
and tomato again, really? Isn’t that your favorite?”
“Sure is,” I smile smugly.
When we were growing up, my mom would make a quiche every
Saturday for breakfast, changing up the types of veggies or meat that went
into it each week. She’d make a big deal about making the dish from scratch,
and I’ve gotta admit that there must be a method to her madness, because it’s
always delicious. Since her and my dad moved out of the packhouse a few
months back after he stepped down from his position as Alpha, Mom has
stopped by every Saturday morning to bake us a quiche. She says it’s because
she values tradition, but really, the woman’s just an angel. She also never
misses an opportunity to check up on Brent and me.
I make my way over to my usual stool at the kitchen island, sinking down
onto it and taking a sip of my coffee. I watch as Brent goes to the fridge to
take out a carton of hazelnut coffee creamer and carries it over to the coffee
pot. He pours himself some coffee, then adds the creamer- and I swear the
guy only drinks coffee as an acceptable way to get the sugary creamer into
his mouth, because it’s basically half and half, the color of chocolate milk.
“You should’ve come out with us last night,” Brent says, glancing at me
over his shoulder as he caps the coffee creamer and walks it back over to the
fridge. “A group of girls from Stillwater showed up at the bar, you totally
missed out.”
“Hm,” I grunt, taking another sip of my coffee.
If Brent knew what I got up to last night, he wouldn’t accuse me of
missing out, that’s for sure. I’ve got the image of Astrid spread out on the bed
and marked with my cum seared into my memory. I shouldn’t have gone
there with her, but fuck, I took one look at her wrapped in that fluffy white
towel and I couldn’t help myself. I had to touch her, had to taste her. And
now that I have, I’m not sure if I have the willpower to resist going back for
more.
Honestly, I slept better last night than I have in weeks. I woke up this
morning feeling refreshed, content. More myself than I have in a long time.
“You didn’t miss out on much,” Jared teases, side-eyeing Brent. “Other
than watching your brother strike out over and over again.”
“Hey!” Brent protests, delivering a playful jab to Jared’s bicep.
I smell peaches, and my head snaps toward the hallway off of the kitchen
to see Astrid striding in from it, her light brown curls bouncing with her
springy steps. As usual, she’s still in her pajamas- a little pair of blue cotton
shorts and a thin white t-shirt.
I wonder if she showered again last night or if my scent’s still on her. For
some reason, the thought of her walking around marked with my scent makes
me smugly satisfied, and it makes my wolf sit up and preen. He’s ready to
claim Astrid as ours, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’s been wrong.
“Morning, boys!” she greets, a bright smile on her face.
The girl is pure sunshine. Most mornings it annoys me, but today she’s…
beautiful. Damnit. I immediately curse myself for that thought and when her
deep brown eyes slide over to meet mine, I look down into my coffee cup.
I’m towing a fine line here. I can’t let myself want her, but I can’t help
myself either. And I don’t know what the fuck to do about it.
“Coffee?” Jared asks, reaching into the cabinet for a fresh mug.
“Mmm, yes please,” Astrid practically moans. This girl and her coffee-
it’s like a drug to her.
“And where were you last night?” Brent asks, coming up beside Astrid as
Jared pours her coffee. “The bar was wild, you missed out.”
“From what I just heard, I didn’t miss much,” she shrugs. “Other than
watching you fail to pick up a girl.” Astrid grins devilishly, sticking out her
tongue at him.
“Oh, you think you’re funny, huh?” Brent grabs her around the waist
from behind, lifting her off of her feet easily.
“Brent!” Astrid giggles, wriggling to escape his grasp.
“How’s this for picking up a girl, huh?” Brent laughs, lifting her higher.
She kicks her feet, still giggling. “Put me down!”
Watching them, I suddenly have the urge to tear my brother limb from
limb. The mere sight of his hands on Astrid makes my stomach turn.
“Knock it off,” I growl, a little more menacingly than I mean to- earning
me curious glances from all three people in the kitchen.
Brent sets Astrid back on her feet, chuckling softly. “Calm down, bro,
we’re just playing around.”
“It’s too fucking early for that shit,” I grumble. I stare down into my
coffee again because I can feel my wolf close to the surface and I’m sure he’s
revealing himself in my eyes. He makes it pretty fucking difficult to conceal
what I’m feeling when I’m pissed off.
I draw a few deep breaths, glancing up again as Astrid sweeps her unruly
hair out of her face, giving me a strange look as she reaches for her coffee
mug. She takes it and steps around the kitchen island, heading for her usual
barstool on the other end- and I don’t know what comes over me, but I reach
out for her before she can pass by, wrapping an arm around her waist and
pulling her onto my lap in one fluid motion. She makes a startled little yelp,
her body stiff as she sets her cup on the surface of the island and adjusts her
position on my lap.
I keep one arm looped around her waist and casually reach for my coffee
with the other, ignoring the glances that Brent and Jared are exchanging right
now. After a few moments, Astrid relaxes back into my chest and picks up
her own coffee mug, sipping from it. She must have a calming effect on my
wolf, because he’s suddenly content, retreating back into the recesses of my
consciousness.
I can tell that Brent wants to say something, but Jared shoots him a
warning look, giving a little shake of his head, and Brent wisely backs down.
He hops up to sit on the edge of the counter instead, sipping his gross
creamer filled coffee and watching Astrid and me with interest.
“Mmm, what’s that smell?” Astrid asks, lifting her chin and sniffing the
air, glancing toward the oven.
“My mom’s quiche,” I reply.
She wriggles in excitement, her movement on my lap making my dick a
little… er… excited, too.
 “Oh my gosh, again?!”
“Every Saturday,” Brent remarks, bringing his mug to his lips.
“So Astrid, when are the next group of wolves from Denver expected to
arrive?” Jared asks casually, leaning back onto the counter again.
She swallows down a sip of coffee and sets her mug back on the island.
“Tomorrow, actually!” she replies excitedly. “They’re going to Westfield…
who has that territory, again?”
“Alpha Damian,” I supply as I take another drink of my coffee. “Jax’s
dad.”
She snaps her fingers, twisting around to smile at me. “That’s right. Duh.
I should’ve put that together since Quinn offered me a ride over there
tomorrow.”
“And the next group is Tuesday, right?” Jared asks. “The group that’s
being placed here?”
I took Reid’s advice and had Jared take charge of the assignments for the
Denver wolves, and he’s definitely staying on top of it.
“Think so,” Astrid replies, grabbing for her coffee again. She turns to me
over her shoulder. “How much time have we got before we have to head
out?”
I glance down at my watch. “About ten minutes.”
“Damn,” she sighs, taking a big sip of her coffee, finishing it. “I’d better
get dressed.”
Not surprising that she still needs to get ready- the girl is always cutting it
close in the mornings. I loosen my arm from her waist and Astrid slides off
my lap, bringing her cup to the sink and darting off down the hallway to her
room. I watch after her as she retreats, and as soon as she’s out of eyesight, I
turn back to the guys- and they’re both staring at me.
I raise my brows questioningly, playing it casual. “What?”
“Damn, bro, you don’t have to piss on her,” my brother chuckles, rolling
his eyes.
I level him with a glare. “Fuck off.”
He laughs again, because Brent has to make a fucking joke out of
everything. “Hey, no need to be so touchy. So did something happen between
you two or what? You planning on filling us in?”
I take a sip of my coffee and swallow it down. “No.”
“No, nothing happened, or no, you’re not planning on telling us?” he
challenges, waggling his eyebrows.
 “Leave it alone, Brent.” I heave a sigh, rising from my stool.
“Fine, fine,” he murmurs, holding up his hands in surrender. Then he
grins wickedly, leaning forward and dropping his voice low. “So how was
she?”
I’m on my way to the sink with my coffee mug and I snap my head in his
direction, shooting daggers at him through my eyes.
“Come on, you can’t blame me for asking!” Brent snickers. “She’s been
strutting around here for over a week in those little booty shorts, so if you got
a piece at least tell me about it and let me live vicariously.”
I grit my teeth, clenching my fists. Trying my hardest not to react as I
bridge the distance to the sink and set my cup inside.
“Jesus, Brent,” Jared sighs, bringing a hand to his temple and shaking his
head. “You got a death wish or something?”
“What, mister unattached shouldn’t care if it’s just a hookup, right?”
Brent slides his gaze from Jared back to me, narrowing his eyes. “Or does
this one actually mean something to you?”
Why he keeps poking the bear, I don’t know, but he’s one dumbass
comment away from getting a fist to the face.
He’s saved by the bell- or the beep, rather, of the oven as the timer goes
off, signaling that the quiche is done cooking. Jared grabs some oven mitts
and goes to take it out while I step aside, running my fingers through my hair
and tying it back. Brent’s still looking my way, no doubt seeking a response
to his question. He’s not going to get one.
The truth is, even if I wanted to, I have no idea how to answer him. I
haven’t ever considered getting involved with a female since Annalise, but
Astrid…
What the fuck is it about her? Her constant overly cheerful shit drives me
insane. And she’s way too naïve and trusting. Way too fucking nice. So why
am I so drawn to her? It makes zero sense, and it’s making me feel
completely unbalanced and out of control.
I shouldn’t even let myself think of her as a possibility. In a week or two,
she’ll be back in Denver, and all of this will be a distant memory. Or we’ll all
be fucking dead. Either way, there’s no future here; there can’t be. I need to
leave last night in the past and walk away.
Astrid strolls back into the kitchen in a pair of leggings and a loose
sweatshirt, eyes sparkling as she looks over at me. “How was that for record
timing?” She winks, glancing over to where Jared’s slicing the quiche. “Oh
man, tell me we have time to eat quick!”
Damn she’s cute. We really should get going, but how the fuck can I say
no to her?
“Go ahead,” I nod, and she squeals excitedly, shuffling over beside Jared
as he starts dishing out slices of quiche.
I’m lost in thought when Astrid comes up beside me again, holding a
plate out in my direction. I look down at it, confused for a moment before I
realize that she has one in her other hand for herself; she brought over a slice
for each of us.
I crack a smile, taking the plate from her appreciatively. “Thanks, Anna.”
Her eyes fly wide, and I immediately realize my mistake.
 CHAPTER NINETEEN

Astrid
I blink as I look up at Brock, his words registering. He didn’t just call me
‘Anna’, did he?
But the look of horror in his eyes tells me that he did.
Behind me, I hear Jared choke and Brent snort.
Yup, he just called me ‘Anna’. And from the things I’ve heard about his
past and the vision I caught from him last week, I’ve already put two and two
together as to who Anna is. the ex.
My mouth drops open, but no sound comes out. I’m truly at a loss for
words.
“Shit! I didn’t…” Brock grumbles, shaking his head and scrubbing a hand
over his face. “I meant…”
He’s completely panicking. Thanks to my intuitive abilities, I can feel his
panic register as if it’s my own, prickling my skin like icy shards.
While I haven’t yet processed my own reaction, my immediate response
to his panic is to calm it. I reach out, pressing my palm to his chest as I look
up into his eyes. “I know.”
He clamps his mouth shut, swallowing hard. Staring down at me with
those forest green eyes full of apology. This is one of those times that my
intuition is truly a gift; I know it was an honest mistake, so I won’t make him
suffer for it. That’s just not me. I’m not wounded by the fact that he called
me by his ex’s name- he’s known me for all of what, a week and a half? If
anything, it’s a testament to him letting his guard down around me. Good
thing, too, because if the little glimpse of a vision I got from him last night is
true, he’s going to have to let me in.
I pat his chest with my hand and offer him a reassuring smile. Then I spin
around to pull open the silverware drawer, grabbing a couple of forks out and
handing him one. Brock stares at me dubiously, like he’s waiting for the other
shoe to drop, but I just dig into my quiche, my eyes sliding closed as soon as
it hits my tongue.
“Mmm, this is so good,” I groan, shoveling another forkful into my
mouth.
He digs into his own and the two of us eat in silence as Jared and Brent
not so subtly watch us, waiting to see if some sort of drama is going to play
out. I think they’re almost disappointed when it doesn’t and we drop our
plates in the sink and head out, climbing into the Escalade to ride to the
complex together. On our way, I consider circling back to his faux pas in the
kitchen, but I decide to leave it alone for now. He looks guilty enough, and
I’m not going to risk those walls slamming back up.
Everyone has a past- I’ll let him tell me about his when he’s ready. Right
now, I’m more concerned about the glimpse I got into our future.
~
That afternoon at IT, Brooke and Quinn tell me they’re going out to the
bar in Goldenleaf that evening and convince me that I need to come, too.
Apparently it’s like a rite of passage for squad members, and since I’ve been
here a little over a week now, I guess I’ve got enough of an ‘in’ to be invited.
I mention it to Brock after I get back to the packhouse, and he’s quick to offer
to take me.
I get dressed to the nines in a slinky black dress and heels, then relish in
the way Brock can’t take his eyes off of me as we depart the packhouse and
make the drive to Goldenleaf. Despite his dominant nature, when he looks at
me like that, it makes me feel so powerful- like I’m the one holding all the
cards. Like I could call the shots and he’d do my bidding just to get a taste.
We walk into the bar together and Brock leads me back to a table in the
corner where the other squad leaders are already seated. Quinn is perched on
Jax’s lap and greets me warmly as Brock pulls over a stool for me, and I
don’t miss how he puts me beside Jax and Quinn, positioning himself
between me and Reid. He must still be salty about my remark the other day.
I probably shouldn’t have poked the bear, though I can’t say I regret how
it turned out. Just thinking of him pinning me up against the side of the
Escalade and kissing the hell out of me has my core throbbing. I’ve always
thought that jealousy was a silly emotion, but Brock makes it look sexy as
fuck. When he’s acting all growly and possessive… mmm.
“What are you thinking about?” Brock asks, leaning toward me and
dropping his voice low. I feel his fingertips trace up the side of my thigh
under the table, making me shiver.
“Hm?” I lean into his touch.
“Whatever it is, stop,” he whispers, so quietly that only I can hear him. “I
can smell you from here.”
I press my thighs together, my face heating in a flush.
Brock withdraws his touch, sitting back and looking over at me with the
hint of a smirk on his lips. Smug bastard.
“You want something to drink, sweetie?” a waitress with pink streaks in
her hair asks me from the other side of the table, balancing a tray full of
empty glasses and bottles on an arm.
I sit up straighter, tucking my hair behind my ears and trying to regain my
composure. “Uh, yes, please. Gin and tonic?”
“Sure thing,” she winks, sliding her gaze to Brock beside me. “What
about you, handsome? The usual?”
Brock nods. “Thanks, Kelly.”
She flashes him a bright smile, spinning around and weaving through the
crowd toward the bar.
Quinn nudges me with her elbow to get my attention. “Astrid, tell me
you’re gonna dance with me tonight.”
I turn to her, giggling at the pleading look in her eyes. “Of course!” I
exclaim. As if I need a reason to dance- once I have a couple of drinks in me,
it’s an inevitability.
Brock’s hand returns to my thigh under the table, giving it a little
squeeze. Is that a warning? He wasn’t thrilled with my dancing the last time
we went out, but I won’t sit out on the fun just because mister growly pants
can’t contain his jealousy. His hand slides farther up my thigh and I try not to
squirm as my face gets hot again.
“So how are things going with getting your pack members brought in and
placed?” Gray asks me from his seat across the table.
“Good,” I smile, reaching down to brush Brock’s distracting hand off of
my thigh. “By this time next week, everyone will be here and settled.”
“Glad to hear it,” Gray nods. “I know my pack’s eager to meet the
families they’ll be housing.”
The twins cruise up to our table right as the waitress returns to deliver
drinks to Brock and me, and I reach for my gin and tonic eagerly, taking a big
sip as Brock pays.
“Hey, you made it!” Brooke chirps, flashing me a bright smile as Theo
scoops her onto his lap and nuzzles his face into her neck.
“Sure did,” I grin.
“Quinn, you’ll take shots with me, right?” Fallon pouts, leaning sideways
onto Gray as he slides an arm around her waist. “My sister’s no fun tonight.”
She shoots Brooke a look, who responds by rolling her eyes and making a
face.
“Girl, do I ever turn down shots?” Quinn laughs, sliding off of Jax’s lap.
She turns to me. “Astrid, you in?”
“Sure!” I smile, climbing off of the barstool and following Quinn around
the table toward Fallon.
She presses a kiss to Gray’s cheek. “We’ll be right back, babe.”
The three of us thread through the crowd toward the bar, and it isn’t an
easy trek to make given the sheer number of bodies in this place tonight. I
guess with the fight in Denver looming, nobody’s missing a chance to get out
and let loose. Party like there’s no tomorrow, because for some of us, after
this battle there might not be.
Fallon, Quinn, and I hang out by the bar for a while, several people
approaching the girls while we’re there. I’m introduced to a few of their
friends that I’ve only really seen in passing- Davis and Casey, Boyd and
Kyla, a super sexy tattooed guy named Logan, and a feisty girl named
Vienna. She’s already pretty tipsy when she joins us for our fourth shot of
tequila, and she’s quick to pull us out to the dance floor afterwards.
We meet up with Brooke and a couple of Fallon’s friends in the midst of
the crowd dancing, and as I start moving my hips to the bass beat of the
music, the buzz from the tequila really starting to kick in. Four shots in quick
succession was probably not the best idea. As I move to the rhythm, I feel the
heavy weight of a stare on me. and my eyes immediately wander to the table
in the corner and meet Brock’s.
At this point, it’s not a surprise- I kept catching him staring at me while I
was posted up at the bar with the girls. Every time our eyes meet, there’s this
unspoken need smoldering between us- a heat that could send this whole bar
up in flames. We’re basically eye-fucking the shit out of each other every
time our gazes lock, and I wonder if this sexual tension is driving him half as
crazy as it’s driving me.
I don’t have to wonder for long. I’m on the dance floor ten minutes, tops,
before I sense him prowling up behind me. I feel strong arms wrap around
my waist, a firm chest pressing against my back. “You ready to get outta
here?” Brock growls, his lips hovering beside my ear.
I smile to myself, leaning back into him. “Yeah,” I breathe.
Brooke and Quinn are both shooting curious glances my way, but I don’t
have time to fill them in- hell, even if I did, I don’t know what I’d say. I’m
not really sure what’s happening between Brock and me, I’m just going with
it because it feels good.
He slides an arm around my shoulders, leading me toward the door. I hear
someone call after him- I think it’s one of the other alphas- but he’s got a
one-track mind and doesn’t turn around to respond; just pushes the door
open, leading me outside. When he clicks the key fob for the Escalade, a
vision hits me so hard that I nearly trip over my feet.
I’m in the same parking lot, on a night just like this- but I’m not really
there at all, it’s like I’m watching a movie again. I see Brock, though he looks
a little younger, less ripped and less grouchy. He’s chasing after that same
strawberry-blonde haired girl. Anna.
“Will you just wait?” Brock sighs, exasperated.
She whips around and I see her face for the first time- it’s beautiful,
though it’s twisted in a scowl. “For what, Brock?” she demands,
throwing an arm toward the bar, gesturing. “You want to stay and hang
with your friends, all of whom are in there being sleazy and hitting on
girls, and I’m just supposed to be okay with that?!”
“Why does it matter what they do if I’m not hitting on anybody?!”
Brock fires back, bridging the distance between the two of them.
“They’re all single, what do you expect them to do? And really, it’s
mostly Theo and Jax…”
“I don’t care!” she shouts, throwing up her hands. “You need to
make me your priority. Not your friends. You need to choose me.”
Brock heaves another sigh, reaching out for her. “Come on,
Anna…”
And just as quickly as the vision surfaced, it fades away. Brock’s holding
onto my arm, steadying me, gazing down at me with apprehension.
“Did it happen again?” he asks, his eyebrows knitted together in concern.
Crap. The look on my face must’ve given me away. I nod solemnly,
straightening my posture and smoothing the front of my slinky little dress,
trying to regain my composure.
“What’d you see?”
Well damn, that’s a tricky question to answer, isn’t it? It’s a perfect ‘in’ to
start the conversation about his ex… but at the same time, talking about her is
a total boner killer. And after all of the eye-fucking we’ve been doing across
the bar tonight, I’m anxious to get to the actual fucking.
 My libido wins out, and I step closer to him, my lips tipping up into a
seductive smile.
“Later,” I purr, running a hand up his hard chest. I feel a growl rumble
from within it as he scoops an arm around my waist, pulling me in roughly.
Staring down into my eyes with so much heat in his gaze that I could
combust.
“Come on,” he murmurs, spinning me around and steering me toward the
Escalade. He gives me a little swat on the ass and points to the passenger
side. “Get in.”
 CHAPTER TWENTY

Brock
As soon as I turn the key in the ignition, I know that the drive back to
Riverton is going to be tortuous with Astrid sitting beside me, looking and
smelling like sin. The girl is hot as fuck; way too damn tempting for her own
good. So fucking sweet, too, but with the heart of a warrior. I know I
shouldn’t let her get too close, but how can I resist her?
I pull out of the town of Goldenleaf and onto the main road, glancing
sideways at the beauty seated next to me. I can’t help myself from reaching
over to touch her exposed thigh, gliding my fingers all the way from her knee
to the hem of her little black dress. It’s way too fucking short- every guy in
the place was checking her out tonight. Probably why me and my wolf were
both slowly driven into a frenzy watching her, and why I couldn’t waste
another second before getting her out of there.
Her eyes are alight with the golden shimmers of her wolf as I run my
fingertips along the hem of her dress. Then I pull my hand away, placing it
back on the steering wheel as she darts me the sultriest little glance. Daring
me to play with her, though she should know by now that I don’t play fair.
I flicker my gaze to meet hers. “Pull up your dress.”
A blush spreads across Astrid’s cheeks as she reaches down for the hem
of her dress on either side, arching her back off of the passenger seat to lift
her ass. She slides the dress up to bunch around her waist, revealing a hot-as-
fuck pair of skimpy black panties.
I practically start salivating. Before, all I could think about was how her
pussy would taste. Now that I know, all I can think of is how it’ll feel
wrapped around my cock.
“Spread those thighs for me, baby,” I rasp, taking another peek at the
scrap of fabric between them. “Let me see that pussy.”
Slowly, she complies, her knees tipping apart. She inhales a sharp breath
as she reaches down to the apex of her thighs, dragging her panties to the side
to expose herself to me.
I hazard a glance and a low growl of approval starts in my chest. “Damn
that’s sexy,” I murmur, sliding my gaze up to her eyes again. “Touch
yourself.”
I try to keep one eye on the road, watching Astrid’s fingers dance down
her belly in my peripheral vision. She lets out a little puff of air as she
brushes her clit with a fingertip, her breathing becoming more labored as she
starts rubbing it.
The scent of her arousal floods the interior of the Escalade and my dick
strains painfully against the zipper of my jeans. I’m driving like a mad man,
trying to get back to the packhouse as quickly as possible, while still minding
the road and stealing glances at Astrid pleasuring herself in the passenger
seat.
Her nipples are hard, pebbling up into stiff peaks under the thin fabric of
her dress, a dead giveaway that she skipped the bra tonight. I keep one hand
on the steering wheel and reach the other over to palm one of her tits,
pinching her nipple between my fingers.
The sweetest little moan slips past her lips in response, and holy fuck I
can’t get her home quick enough. Every mile suddenly feels like a hundred.
Astrid’s breath starts coming out in short little pants as she rubs her clit
faster, her head rolling sideways so she’s facing me, eyes clouded with lust.
“How does it feel?” I growl, darting my gaze between her legs and back
up to her face.
“It feels good,” she sighs as her eyes slide closed. “So good.”
Goddamn, I’m like a teenager, ready to explode at any moment. I nearly
sob in relief when I see the turnoff for Riverton ahead, gripping the steering
wheel and taking it twice as fast as I normally do. Gunning it as I roll into
town and head for the packhouse.
By the time I whip the Escalade into the driveway, I’m so worked up that
I’m practically sweating. I cut the engine and jump out, charging around to
the passenger side. I almost tear the door off of the damn hinges as I yank it
open, Astrid peering out at me with those big brown doe-eyes like a deer in
the headlights. I hear the click of her seatbelt unfasten, and a split second
later I’m snatching her out of the passenger seat, tossing her over my
shoulder like a damn neanderthal.
“Brock!” she giggles, wriggling against me.
I reach up to slap her bare ass, the sound of it echoing off of the
pavement. Her perky little ass is right next to my face- so tight you could
bounce a quarter off of it. Her giggle turns into a moan as I sink my teeth into
her ass cheek, nipping her flesh. “Quiet, you’ll wake the guys,” I warn as I
start trudging up the front walk, yanking her dress down to cover her ass. Just
in case anyone’s around.
The packhouse is dark when I push the door open and step inside, and I
waste no time in swinging it closed behind me and heading straight for the
hallway to Astrid’s room. The girl barely weighs a thing- she’s ridiculously
easy to carry and I make it to her room in seconds flat. As soon as we’re
inside, I kick the door closed and stomp over to the bed, tossing her onto it.
She lets out another airy little giggle as her body bounces against the
mattress, her curly hair fanning around her head on the soft white comforter.
“Jeez, ya big ol’ brute,” she teases, sitting up on her elbows.
I lean down over her, supporting my weight with my arms on either side
of her body. “If you like that dress, then take it off now,” I grumble, raking
my eyes down her form. “Because if it’s still on once I’m undressed, I’m
ripping it off.”
I see a shiver run through Astrid’s body in response to my command. She
drags her bottom lip between her teeth as she watches me tip back to stand,
grabbing the hem of my thermal and yanking it off overhead. Her gaze coasts
down my chest, sweeping over my pecs and abs, dropping to my crotch. She
wets her lips with her tongue, dragging her eyes back up to meet my own.
“Off,” I repeat, my hands moving to the button of my jeans.
Astrid’s throat works as she swallows hard and slowly starts peeling her
dress up, lifting it off over her head and tossing it aside. I’m dragging down
my zipper, but I pause to drink her in for a moment, laying on the bed in
nothing but those sexy little panties.
“Those too,” I say, staring at the scrap of lacy fabric, and she reaches to
slip them down, dangling them off of a foot in front of me.
I snatch them from her, tucking them in the back pocket of my jeans.
Then I shove my jeans down my hips, stepping out of them. Watching as
Astrid’s eyes go straight to the bulge in the front of my boxer briefs.
“You want my cock?” I ask, grabbing my junk and arching a brow.
There’s pure fire in her eyes as her gaze darts to meet mine.
I drag my boxers down, letting them fall to the floor. My erection springs
free and I take it in a hand, fisting it.
“Tell me what you want, Astrid,” I murmur, stepping closer to the bed
and staring down at her intently. “You want me to fuck you?”
Her gaze slips to my hard cock, then slowly climbs back to meet my own.
“Yes,” she pants, sliding her hands down her body, her legs parting.
I rake my eyes over her beautiful form again, still stroking my dick.
“Remember, I don’t do gentle.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want gentle. I want you.”
A growl tears from my chest as I reach out and grab her ankles, yanking
her to the edge of the bed, throwing her feet onto my shoulders. I fist my
cock again, lining it up, dragging it along her slick slit. Rubbing it against her
clit.
A needy little moan falls from Astrid’s lips and her hands slide up her
belly to grip her tits, her breath coming out in short little pants, body tensing
in anticipation.
I have every intention of trying to go slow, but as soon as I start to sink
my length into her wet heat, I lose all control. I grip her hips, holding her
tight to me as I shove all the way inside to the hilt, reveling in the sensation
of her tight pussy wrapped around my cock. She screams and it’s fucking
music to my ears, inciting me to unleash the beast.
I pull out halfway, then thrust all the way home again, gripping her hips
with bruising force. Then again. Each time harder, deeper, until we’re both
sweating and panting and moaning. The view I’ve got of her tits bouncing
and the pleasure reflected on her face is incredible- and she feels so fucking
good that I can hardly take it. I grab her ankles from my shoulders, holding
them out in front of me, leaning forward. Changing up the angle so I can get
even deeper. For being so damn small, she’s taking my cock like a champ.
Every time I start to get too close, I change positions to prolong the
pleasure. She’s been on her back for a while, so I pull out and flip her over,
lifting her by the hips so she’s on her knees and her ass is in the air. I deliver
a swift slap to her ass and she lets out a little yelp in surprise, then moans as I
rub away the sting with my palm. She enjoys a little bit of pain with her
pleasure, flirting with the fine line between the two. She seems to like
everything I like in the bedroom, her body incredibly responsive to my touch.
Like she craves it.
I line up and shove back into her tight little pussy, delivering a hard slap
to her other cheek as I start hammering home. Astrid groans into the
comforter and fists it with her hands, arching her back and rocking to meet
my thrusts.
Suddenly, her breaths become more shallow, ragged as she gasps for air.
She’s close, and I’m right there, too. The base of my spine tingles in warning,
my balls tightening.
“Come for me, Astrid,” I rasp, wrapping an arm around her front and
finding her clit. “Come on my dick.”
The words are barely out when I feel her pussy clamp down around me
and she shatters into her climax, her body trembling uncontrollably. I barely
last a goddamn second longer, grunting as I pull out and my orgasm rips
through me like a cyclone, stars dancing behind my eyelids as I paint that
perfect ass of hers with ribbons of cum. I can hardly catch my breath as I
drop down beside her on the bed, reaching over to brush her disheveled sex
hair out of her face as she tips onto her side, facing me.
“Goddamn, woman,” I groan, wrapping a hand around her throat and
pressing a kiss to her trembling lips.
“Right back at ya,” she breathes. Her eyes are half-lidded, a contented
smile stretches her lips, and I’m not sure she’s ever looked more beautiful
than she does right now.
As I lie beside her, staring into her eyes, my breathing evening out, I
suddenly realize something. That maybe she wasn’t the one who should’ve
run. Maybe she’s more dangerous to me than I ever was to her.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Astrid
“Astrid!” Quinn calls from her desk in the back of the room when I walk
into the IT hub on Monday, peering at me over her computer monitor and
waving a hand to beckon me.
I smile brightly, making my way down the aisle between the desks in the
hub to her workstation. I really like Quinn- we’ve always been friendly over
video chat, and since meeting her in person we’ve become fast friends.
“Hey!” I chirp, rounding the corner of her desk. I set my butt on the edge
beside her, leaning back on my palms. “What’s up?”
I hear the whir of the wheels of Brooke’s desk chair against the floor as
she slides over from her spot on the other side of the aisle, positioning herself
in front of me with a look of determination on her face that rivals Quinn’s.
I glance suspiciously from one girl to the other. “What?”
“Are you gonna spill, or do we have to pry it out of you?” Quinn asks,
arching a brow.
“What do you mean?” I giggle. I shift my gaze between the two of them,
and this suddenly feels an awful lot like an interrogation.
Quinn gives me an exaggerated eyeroll in response like I should know
what she’s alluding to. I don’t, so thankfully Brooke pipes up to fill me in.
“You and Brock?” she asks, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her
nose, a mischievous smile teasing the corners of her lips.
Oh. Right. Definitely left the bar on Saturday with him, right in front of
them. I should’ve known this was coming.
I shrug nonchalantly, gripping the edge of the desk and shifting so that
I’m fully seated on it. “What about us?”
“Oh my gosh.” Quinn heaves an exasperated sigh, scrubbing a hand over
her face. “You’re killing me, girl! I was dying to ask you about it all day
yesterday.”
After an incredible night with Brock on Saturday, I woke up alone on
Sunday morning. He must’ve gone back to his own room at some point. I sort
of expected that, so I didn’t let it bug me and just went about my day. I spent
a good portion of it in Westfield with Quinn and Jax getting more of the
evacuees from my pack settled. Jax comes from a lovely family, and it was a
pleasure getting to know all of them- so much so that I lost track of time and
didn’t return to Riverton until yesterday evening. Then today, so far, has been
like any other day; coffee with the boys, riding to the complex with Brock,
practice with the squad, and reporting to IT for the afternoon.
“Then why didn’t you just ask me yesterday?” I challenge, tilting my
head to the side.
“Because the two of us were never alone!” Quinn gushes. “I wasn’t sure
if you were trying to keep it quiet or not… I know a thing or two about trying
to sneak around, so I didn’t want to call you out.”
A grin creeps across my face. “So then what are you doing right now?” I
wink.
Quinn’s face flushes. “I just… I mean…” she stammers.
“I’m just teasing, Quinn,” I laugh, putting her out of her misery. I cross
one leg over the other, shrugging. “It’s not a big secret or anything. We’re
attracted to each other. We’ve fooled around a few times. We’re both
consenting adults, so I don’t see what the big deal is.”
Quinn’s eyes fly wide while Brooke’s cheeks grow rosy with her blush,
like the mere mention of casual sex is dirty. I don’t buy for a second that
she’s actually offended- I’ve seen how she is with Theo; the girl definitely
fucks. And good girls like her are usually freaks in the sheets.
“For real?” Quinn blinks, and I can practically see the gears in her head
still working to process my admission. “I mean I suspected but I wasn’t sure
if I believed it! It makes sense since you’re both hot as fuck, but the guy is
stone cold, I didn’t think he had it in him.”
I shrug again, my gaze flickering between the girls. “He’s a little rough
around the edges, but he’s not nearly as intimidating as he seems. And like I
said, it’s no big deal, so can we not make it into a big thing?”
If it gets back to Brock that people are talking about us, I’m willing to bet
that his walls would come slamming back up. I feel like he’s finally starting
to let them down and let me in, which means one of two things- he either
continues to slowly open up, or he panics and tries to bolt. He’s tougher for
me to get a read on than most, so the jury’s still out as to which way he’ll go.
“I’m sorry, did you just say a few times? You’ve been holding out on us!”
Brooke chuckles, shaking her head. “What other secrets have you been
keeping?”
 My lips curl into a smirk. “Actually, I have been keeping something else
kinda quiet…”
“Oh no,” she blurts, her blue eyes wide. “Who?”
I throw back my head laughing. “Really, Brooke?”
Quinn elbows her, laughing along with me.
“What, I had to ask!” Brooke giggles, her cheeks reddening in a blush
again. “If it isn’t that, then what is it?”
I uncross my legs and place my hands on my knees, leaning in a little
closer and dropping my voice low as I look between the girls. “Okay, I
haven’t told many people about this yet, but… you know my ability as an
intuitive?”
They both nod enthusiastically, interest piqued.
“It’s evolving,” I continue excitedly. “For the past week I’ve been having
visions.”
Brooke blinks. “What kind of visions?”
“Are you seeing the future?” Quinn asks, scooching closer.
“I’m not exactly sure,” I sigh. “I’ve seen a couple that I know are
definitely the past. They seem pretty random thus far and I’m still trying to
figure out what they mean.”
“Ohh!” Brooke exclaims, wheeling her desk chair closer. “Try it on me!”
“I don’t think it works that way,” I giggle. “They’ve come to me
randomly; I don’t think I could just call one forward.”
“Have you ever tried?” Brooke presses.
I give a little shake of my head. “No, like I said, it’s still new.”
“Try it, then!” Brooke sticks her hand out, offering it to me.
I blow out a breath. The odds are pretty low that this’ll actually work, but
I’ll humor her. No harm, no foul, right?
“Okay…” I lean closer, taking her hand and covering it with both of
mine. I close my eyes, trying to focus my mind. I’ve tried to do this before
with my intuitive abilities, and sometimes it works- I focus in on the other
person and try to reach into their mind, plucking out bits of information like
I’m picking wildflowers from their subconscious.
I do that with Brooke. I close my eyes and focus in on her, on what I
know about her and what makes her tick. I try to reach in, to see if I can grasp
onto something. I squeeze her hand with my own, focusing on that
connection. I’m two seconds from giving up when I suddenly feel the whoosh
of a vision hitting me.
 It’s brief- I’m in the forest, high above the trees. Looking down at a pair
of black chuck taylor sneakers, feet swishing in the air. I feel an
overwhelming sense of warmth and happiness as I take in the view around
me from my position on… is it a ski lift?
Just like that, the vision’s gone. I blink a few times as I come back to the
present, pulling my hands back and staring at Brooke.
She’s studying me, tilting her head. “Did you get something? Your eyes
changed…”
I nod quickly. “I did, but it was really quick. I’m not even sure what it
means…” I look down at her feet, pointing. “I saw your shoes…” I look back
to her face and squint. “I think you were riding on a ski lift?”
Brooke’s jaw practically hits the floor.
“Does that mean something to you?” I ask excitedly. “The emotions
associated with it were content, happy…”
She slowly nods her head, the shock still evident on her features. “Theo
took me to the ski resort for our first date, and again when we marked to seal
the bond. We rode the lift both times.”
“Oh my gosh!” I squeal, reaching out to grab her hands, squeezing them
with my own. I’m ready to do a damn victory dance to celebrate. “Were you
thinking of that day or something?”
Brooke shakes her head, puzzled. “No, I wasn’t thinking of anything. But
those were two of the best days of my life.”
Quinn grabs onto my arm. “Do me next!”
I laugh, feeling lighter than air right now. I can’t believe that I just had a
vision on purpose! That means with some practice, maybe I can actually hone
this ability and put it to use. And if I could… the possibilities are endless.
“Okay, okay,” I giggle, grabbing for Quinn’s hand and taking it in
between my own like I did with Brooke’s. I repeat the same process- closing
my eyes, focusing in on her. After a minute or so I feel like there’s something
trying to come forward, but it’s being blocked somehow. It’s confusing and
I’m not sure what to make of it, but I keep pushing, trying to get in. Reaching
for it.
Then it hits me. I’m pulled into a vision, and the sadness that surrounds
me is overwhelming- I feel hopeless, drowned by sorrow, like I can’t breathe.
I’m in a large room; the great room of the Summervale packhouse. There’s a
coffin with a woman lying inside, and a much younger looking Alpha Anders
stands beside it as people file through to pay their respects. A young boy
stands next to him, and though he’s probably ten years younger in the vision
than he is now, I can tell it’s Theo. He’s stone faced, showing no signs of
emotion as he wrings his hands in front of him. A little girl is beside him, her
hazel eyes shiny with tears. Quinn.
I feel like my heart is cracking open as I watch them, and I’m grateful as
the vision starts to dissolve away and I’m back in the hub, Quinn’s curious
face staring back at me.
I quickly dart my gaze away, pulling my hands back to my lap.
“What did you see?” she asks, studying my expression.
I swallow hard, not wanting to even say it. Not knowing how to say it.
“I… you were young,” I start, my voice cracking. “It was a funeral.”
Quinn’s smile fades from her face and her eyes flutter to the floor. “My
mom’s funeral.”
I nod.
A brief silence settles over the three of us.
“Well, that’s not fair,” Quinn sighs, breaking it. The corner of her mouth
turns up into a little smirk and she throws a thumb in Brooke’s direction.
“She gets the best day of her life and I get the worst? What gives?”
We all chuckle softly, and I’ve gotta say, it’s amazing that Quinn can
make light of such heavy emotions like she does. I was just there; I know the
emotions associated with that memory are crushing. The fact that Quinn has
survived that and pushed on to become the person that she is today is a
testament to her strength of character.
“What trouble are you ladies getting up to back here?” Theo teases,
shrugging off his leather jacket as he approaches our little trio gathered at
Quinn’s desk.
“Astrid’s a seer now,” Brooke announces, swiveling her chair toward him
and smiling brightly at her mate.
He cocks up a brow. “Oh yeah?”
“Try Theo!” Quinn urges, nudging my leg.
I glance his way, watching as he bends down to give Brooke a tender kiss
in greeting. It’s amazing how sweet Theo is with Brooke given that he tends
to be kind of a dick to most everyone else. Pretty sure he’d burn down the
world for her if it came to it.
“Give her your hand,” Brooke urges, beaming up at him.
He shrugs, tossing his jacket on the surface of the desk beside me and
stepping closer, offering me his hand. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
 I smile, taking his large hand between mine, letting my eyes slide closed.
I repeat the same process I used with Brooke and Quinn, reaching out for
something, anything. And to my surprise, it comes quicker this time;
goosebumps break out over my skin and I feel a sensation that’s growing
familiar, the whoosh of a vision hitting me.
Sadness. It isn’t as overwhelming as it was in Quinn’s vision, but it’s
there; I feel it all around me. I’m in a packhouse and people are filtering in
and out. There’s a casket, but it doesn’t look quite the same… something is
off about this vision as compared to the last. I look to my right, and I see
why. It’s Theo, but he isn’t a pre-teen; he looks about the same age as he is
now. His head is bowed, his lips set in a frown.
The images around me get blurrier as the vision dissolves away and I’m
brought back to the present, blinking at Theo, trying to make sense of what I
just saw.
“Well?” Quinn asks, nudging me.
“I…” my voice trails off as I search for the words. Could this have been a
vision of the future? I drop Theo’s hands, drawing my own back to my lap
and wringing them. “A funeral…”
Quinn sighs sadly, looking over at Theo. “Mom’s funeral. That’s what
she saw for me, too.”
I don’t correct her. I don’t know how to because I didn’t see who died.
And the last thing I want to do before a battle is drop the vision of an
ominous funeral scene on them.
I draw my bottom lip between my teeth, gnawing on it nervously. “Can I
try again?” I ask, flicking my eyes up to Theo’s. Maybe if I try again, I’ll be
able to get a glimpse of the person in the coffin. Maybe I’ll be able to warn
them or prevent it somehow…
“Sure,” Theo shrugs. He extends his hand again and I take it, pressing my
eyes closed tightly. Focusing in, reaching back into the recesses of his
subconscious.
And I’m back in. With each successive vision, the way it hits me is a little
less disarming. I still feel the whoosh, but it’s not like it’s knocking me off of
my feet- instead, it’s more like it’s fading in. I quickly realize that it isn’t the
same vision as before; I’m not back at that funeral. I’m not at a packhouse at
all, I’m standing outside, the sun warming my skin. I can smell the scent of
spring blooms in the air and hear the sound of gentle music playing. There’s a
huge crowd gathered, and Theo is standing on a raised platform at the center,
looking off into the distance.
A wave of happiness hits me so strong that I feel like my heart could
burst- and then I see Brooke. She’s wearing a beautiful chiffon gown that
drifts on the breeze behind her as she walks toward Theo, the crowd parting
for her. I’ve seen a scene like this before; it’s a Luna ceremony. It’s like a
royal wedding for us shifters, a way to honor the pack’s new Luna and seal
her to the pack. Brooke looks stunning as she approaches Theo, and I’ve
never seen either of them so happy.
Slowly, the vision dissolves away. I draw a shaky breath, tears springing
to my eyes as the people in front of me come back into focus. I look from
Theo to Brooke and back again, dropping his hand.
“What did you see?” Brooke asks, leaning forward. She reaches out for
Theo, her brows drawn together in concern.
“It was the future,” I breathe, swiping a tear from my cheek. I giggle, and
I probably look like an insane person laughing and crying at the same time.
“It was your Luna ceremony, Brooke. It was so beautiful.”
A wide grin spreads across Theo’s face and he turns to his mate, reaching
down to pluck her out of her chair and drawing her into his chest. “Of course
it was,” he murmurs into her hair, pressing a kiss to her head. “Only the best
for my queen.”
Brooke pulls back, looping her arms around Theo’s neck and smiling up
at him adoringly. As I watch the two of them together, I can’t help but smile,
too. Their happiness is contagious.
“Ugh, get a room,” Quinn groans, rolling her eyes.
Okay, maybe it’s not contagious to everyone.
Quinn looks back to me, obviously trying to ignore her brother and friend
who are now basically making out right beside us.
“So you can see the future,” she muses, bringing a finger to her chin.
“What about the shadow pack? Do you think you could see something about
them, or the outcome of the battle in Denver?”
I shrug, blowing out a breath. “Not sure. So far I haven’t been able to
pick and choose what I see. But maybe with practice…”
“You could be like our secret weapon,” she suggests, waggling her
eyebrows. “Damn, that’s so cool. I wish I had psychic powers.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. I don’t resent my gift, but it’s definitely both
a blessing and a curse. I’ve always been looked at as being ‘different’. Some
of my own pack members have shied away from me, afraid of what they
don’t understand. And now with the addition of the visions, I have a feeling
it’s going to come with some serious strings. That I’m going to see some
things I wish I hadn’t.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Brock
“You good to go?” I ask, twirling the keys to the Escalade on a finger. I
had to come back to the complex this afternoon for a meeting with squad
leadership, so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone and hang around for
a bit afterwards to give Astrid a ride home.
She looks up at me as she walks out of the IT hub with Quinn and
Brooke, surprise playing on her features when she sees me. “Oh, yeah!” she
smiles cheerfully. “I didn’t know you’d be around today, I’d already talked
Quinn into giving me a lift.” She turns to Quinn, nudging her with an elbow.
“Guess you’re off the hook.”
Quinn sweeps her long brown hair over a shoulder, eyeing me with
interest. “Good thing you just happened to be here, huh?” she comments, her
lips pulling into a smirk.
I shrug. “Had a meeting.”
“I’ll see you girls tomorrow,” Astrid says over her shoulder as she breaks
off from the others and starts toward me.
As she closes the distance, her scent hits me and my whole body tenses
up. Why the fuck does she always smell so good? And look so good. I can’t
help but drag my eyes up her form as she approaches, appreciating how her
yoga pants and tight long-sleeve shirt hug her curves.
She runs a hand through her light brown curls, looking up at me
expectantly. “Shall we?”
I grunt, nodding, and the two of us make our way out of the squad
complex and to the parking lot. I glance over at Astrid as she slides into the
passenger seat of the Escalade, my mind slipping back to our ride home from
the bar on Saturday night. Pretty sure I’ll never look at that passenger seat the
same way again. My dick’s getting hard just thinking about it.
“So how was your day?” Astrid asks as she buckles her seatbelt, flashing
me a bright smile. This fucking girl, man. It’s like she’s immune to being in a
bad mood.
“Fine,” I reply, backing out of the parking spot and starting for the road.
 I feel Astrid’s eyes on me and I dart her a sideways glance, realizing that
she’s looking at me expectantly. She wants me to ask her the same question,
and fuck it, I’ll bite.
“How about yours?”
“Well,” she gushes, like she’s been bursting at the seams to tell someone,
“it was pretty wild. I told Brooke and Quinn about how I’ve been having
visions, and they asked me to try it on them. I didn’t think it would work, but
it actually did! Turns out I can control when I have them, I still don’t know
what the actual visions mean or why they’re so random but…”
“Slow down,” I chuckle, shaking my head as I glance her way again.
She’s like an excited little kid, it’s fucking adorable.
“Sorry,” she giggles, drawing a knee up into her chest and turning to me.
“I’m just so stoked about it. I mean, the visions were cool enough on their
own, but the fact that I might be able to call them forward at will like that? It
took me years to try to hone that ability with my intuition and it’s still hit or
miss. Like… watch.”
Before I can protest, she reaches out for my forearm, grabbing onto it and
pressing her eyes closed. I’d rather not have anybody poking around in my
head, but the way she crinkles her nose in concentration is so damn cute that I
don’t have the heart to stop her. Even when she sucks in a breath and her eyes
go wide.
I’ve seen that look once before- a far off gaze, almost like her eyes are
clouded over. It lasts about ten seconds and then she exhales, blinking, and I
can tell she’s back. She draws her hand into her chest, looking away,
worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.
Fuck. What did she see? Part of me wants to ask, while the other doesn’t
even want to know what tidbit of my past she’s dredged up this time. My
curiosity gets the best of me when I glance over at her again and she’s
peering at me with those big brown doe-eyes, still not saying a word.
“What’d you see?” I grind out, knuckles clenching around the steering
wheel.
“I…” Astrid starts, her voice coming out small. She shakes her head. “I
don’t think I should say.”
I roll my eyes, heaving a sigh. “Come on. It’s worse not saying.”
She takes her sweet time, twirling a strand of hair around a finger and
staring out the passenger window. Delaying the inevitable.
“I saw your ex again,” she mutters.
 I grind my molars. Of course she fucking did. Apparently the only
memories she can pull from me are the shitty ones.
“Yeah?” I grumble. “Well go on, what did Annalise do this time?”
She pauses again, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She really doesn’t
want to say- this memory must be a doozy.
“She said… she said I can’t do this,” Astrid breathes, swallowing hard.
“And, you don’t know what you’re asking me to give up.”
Even though I asked her to divulge what she saw, her words catch me off
guard, piercing me like a dagger to the chest. I know exactly what she’s
referring to- one of the last conversations that Annalise and I ever had. Her
recounting of Anna’s words brings me right back.
I can still picture her standing there in my dorm room at the complex,
dressed in a little pink tank top and a denim skirt with her hair swept up into a
ponytail. It was a scorcher that day, and afternoon practice with the squad had
been called off, though I couldn’t find Annalise anywhere. When she showed
up in my dorm room, I went to pull her into my arms and she didn’t smell
like her- she fucking reeked of that recruit; I knew she’d seen him. And when
I confronted her about it, that’s when she admitted that she’d been sneaking
around behind my back for weeks. I remember the sharp sting of her betrayal
like it was yesterday- it felt like my heart was being torn straight from my
chest.
And that wasn’t even the worst of it. It wasn’t the end. It should’ve been,
but I still believed in us. I believed her.
“Hey,” Astrid coos, reaching over to touch my arm.
“Don’t.” I recoil from her touch, flinching away. I don’t want it. Any of
it. I don’t want the pain of the memory, and I don’t want the pain of going
through it again. I just fucking shut down.
“Brock…” her voice is soft, kind, but I’m too far gone.
I clench my jaw, giving a shake of my head. “I said don’t. I don’t want
you thinking this is something it isn’t.”
Astrid sighs. “I’m not. I just…”
“Just don’t,” I growl, cutting her off again. I don’t want to hear it. I can’t
hear it. I shoot her a sideways glance and it’s almost like I can feel my heart
hardening. Turning to stone again. “I already did the girlfriend thing, I’m not
looking for another one.”
She presses her lips into a tight line, staring out the windshield. “Okay,”
she whispers, and that’s the last thing she says to me. We ride in silence the
rest of the way back to Riverton.
~
Astrid
I should’ve known better than to try to pull another vision from Brock.
And I definitely should’ve known better than to tell him what it was, given
his reaction last time. I could feel his pain when I was in the vision; it was
excruciating. It’s clear that he still carries some of that around with him, and
dredging it up did exactly what I feared it would- it made him completely
shut down. He shut me out.
As soon as we got back to the packhouse, he stormed off to his room and
never came back down, while I just stewed about what happened between us
in the car. Of course it made me feel lousy, but I also have to rationalize that
his words came from a place of hurt. He was lashing out, hurting me because
he was hurting. I won’t hold it against him, so long as he lets me back in.
He’ll have to let me back in eventually- I’ve seen it.
It's after two in the morning when I tiptoe into the kitchen for a late-night
fridge raid, in search of a snack. There isn’t much to choose from- these boys
really should shop for groceries once in a while. After a few minutes of
rummaging around, I settle for a glass of apple juice, pouring it and drinking
it down.
I’m contemplating a second glass when I feel a prickly sensation on the
back of my neck, my hairs standing on end. I slide my empty glass onto the
counter as I hear footsteps prowling up behind me, and I don’t need to turn
around to see who it is. I inhale through my nose, his thick, masculine scent
washing over me, making me a little weak in the knees.
I can hear his breathing as he steps closer, and I swear I can feel the heat
radiating off of his body. Strong arms wrap around my waist, tugging me
until my back collides with his hard chest. He’s shirtless, and I relish in the
sensation of his skin against my bare shoulders and arms. He dips his head
down beside mine, and I feel his warm breath fanning against my ear and
neck, sending a tingle down my spine.
Brock doesn’t say a word- he just wraps me in his arms and holds me
tight to his chest. I can feel every hard line of his body against mine as I relax
back into him, my eyes sliding closed. I can also feel his emotions; the things
he can’t bring himself to say radiating off of him in waves. He doesn’t want
to shut me out, he just doesn’t know any other way to be. He doesn’t know
how to handle his pain.
 I grasp onto his forearms with my hands, willing him to give his pain over
to me. To let me in and let me ease his burden. I focus on that idea; of him
transferring some of that to me and lessening his load. And while I have no
clue whether or not that’s even possible, it actually feels like it helps. Like he
starts to relax a little bit against me, too.
His proximity has my body temperature rising by the second. My heart
thumps in my chest as I begin to squirm against him, his breath on my neck
sending a wave of heat flooding to my core. He must know what he’s doing
to me, because he inhales deeply and I feel low growl rumble in his chest.
One of his hands presses against my belly while the other slides up under my
shirt, cupping my breast.
“Give it to me,” I whisper, my hands coming to his and covering them.
“Give me your pain.”
He sucks in a breath, his movements stilling. “You can’t handle it,” he
murmurs into the shell of my ear.
I bite my lip, suppressing a moan as he rolls my nipple between his
fingers. “You’d be surprised what I can handle.”
My breathing quickens as the hand on my belly starts sliding south,
slipping into my underwear. His cups my pussy in his hand and I gasp as he
sinks a finger inside of me, the thick digit stretching my tight channel. I’m so
wet that it slides in easily and he starts pumping it, his lips coming to my
neck. I try to hold it back, but when his teeth graze the tender flesh of my
neck, biting down, a needy whine escapes from my lips- and the next thing I
know, Brock’s other hand is coming up to my mouth, clamping down over it
to silence me.
Holy fuck. I suddenly can’t think straight- he’s finger fucking me and
grinding the heel of his hand against my clit and nipping my earlobe as my
knees wobble, threatening to give way. My orgasm builds quickly, and
suddenly I’m right there on the precipice, my body trembling as my pussy
weeps into one of Brock’s hands and my mouth moans into the other. Then
he sends me sailing off the cliff. He pinches my throbbing clit between his
thumb and forefinger and I go off like a bomb, my legs buckling beneath me
as my body shakes. His hand between my legs holds me up while his other
muffles my scream. My vision floods with exploding stars.
Brock doesn’t uncover my mouth until I’ve ridden out my orgasm and
I’m fighting to catch my breath- and even then, his hand only slips down as
far as my neck, gripping it possessively. I asked for his pain, but all he’s
given me is pleasure. He withdraws his hand from my panties and I spin
around to face him, searching his eyes in the darkness. Reaching for the hard
rod between his legs. As soon as my hand grasps it, he grunts, shuddering,
lifting me by the waist to set me on the counter. My legs immediately part to
welcome him in, my arms coming around his neck. My lips crash against his,
his tongue sweeping against them and demanding entry. As soon as I grant it,
he’s devouring me, kissing me senseless like he’ll never get enough. Bruising
my lips with his urgency.
I feel his cock pressing insistently to the apex of my thighs, separated
only by my thin lacy panties and his own boxer briefs. I grind my hips
forward onto him and he groans into my mouth, fingers digging into my
waist. Then his boxers come down, he shoves my panties to the side, and the
smooth head of his dick is at my entrance. He thrusts inside, kissing the life
out of me as he does, swallowing my scream.
He fucks me hard. Rough. Dirty. He drags my lower lip between his teeth
and wraps my hair around his fist, yanking my head back and covering my
mouth with his hand again. He hammers into me at a brutal pace, that fine
line between pain and pleasure blurring as another orgasm begins to build
from deep inside of me. Then he releases my hair and grips my throat instead,
his eyes coming to mine as the fingertips of his other hand bruise my hip. His
eyes are wild, feral, all-consuming. He doesn’t take them off of mine as he
pounds me into the kitchen counter, his grip around my throat tightening and
restricting my air. He takes his pain and frustration out on my body and I
willingly accept it, welcoming it. Needing it every bit as badly as he does.
Without warning, a second climax rips through my body, my pussy
gripping his dick, my thighs tightening around his waist, my heels digging
into his butt. He releases my throat and I suck in a greedy gasp of air as the
same hand roughly grabs my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes as I ride
out my orgasm. He finds his own release, slamming into me, emptying inside
of me as he chokes back a moan. Our eyes remain locked the whole time, and
I swear I’ve never felt as close to another person as I do right now; like both
our guards are down and we’re peering into one another’s souls.
We both slowly come back to reality, sinking into the fuzzy afterglow of
orgasm. Brock pulls out and drops his forehead onto my shoulder, still
panting- I can feel his ragged breaths fan against my chest as his cum trickles
down my inner thighs. We stay like that for a long moment, and then he steps
back, reaching down to yank up his boxers. I hop down from the counter and
adjust my panties, sweeping my unruly curls out of my face with a hand and
peering over at him cautiously.
Brock gives me one last long look before turning away and heading for
the stairs. Retreating back to his room; his fortress of solitude. My legs are
still a bit wobbly as I tuck the carton of apple juice back in the fridge and
make my way back to my own.
I wish he’d talk to me and spill all of his secrets, but I know he’s not
ready yet. He needs more time, though we don’t have much before the
shadow pack arrives in Denver. A week and a half, at best. We have to start
focusing in on that more, because nothing I’ve seen will come to fruition if
we don’t survive the upcoming battle.
We have to survive it.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Brock
I hate the way that Astrid makes me feel out of control. I tell myself that
I’m going to keep my distance, and then as soon as I see her, I’m instantly
yanked to her like a magnet. I can’t resist her scent, her sexy little body. Her
bright smile and that airy giggle. Her eternal optimism. Somehow all the
things I used to find annoying about her are suddenly adorable, and it
frustrates me to no end. Like my body and my instincts are betraying my
rational mind.
Practice with the squad on Tuesday morning isn’t enough to take the edge
off, so I decide to extend my workout by hitting the weight room at the
complex with Jax and Theo afterwards. It’s the best time to go because most
of the squad is in the dining hall for lunch, and we walk in to find that we’ve
basically got the place to ourselves. The three of us alternate spotting and
lifting, and a half an hour in, my muscles are sufficiently burning. It’s a good
burn. The kind that dulls the sharp edges of my agitation.
Theo sits up from the weight bench after doing another round of reps on
the bench press, lifting the hem of his t-shirt and yanking it off overhead. He
balls it up in his hands and swipes some sweat off of his forehead with it,
swiveling to face me on the opposite bench while he catches his breath.
Jax was spotting for Theo, but he decides to take a break too, coming up
between the two benches and resting an arm on the bar of each one. I watch
as his gaze slides over to Theo and he sees something that has his mouth
falling open, a laugh escaping.
“What the hell is that?” he asks, pointing to Theo’s bare chest.
Theo furrows his brow, looking down at himself. “What?”
I follow where Jax is pointing and right away, I see it. The name ‘Brooke’
in thick black ink, tattooed in large, swirly lettering across Theo’s left pec.
Over his heart.
I snort, shaking my head. “Jesus, man.”
“What?!” Theo demands, looking from me to Jax.
“How bad did you fuck up that you had to let her brand you?” Jax laughs,
still pointing.
Theo rolls his eyes hard, waving Jax off. “Whatever, bro. It wasn’t even
her idea, I decided to get it on my own.”
“Sure you did,” I tease.
Theo turns to me, his eyes narrowing. “It was a gift, okay? For the…
three month anniversary of our first date.” He says the second part quietly,
like he knows we’re gonna give him a hard time for it. And I mean, how can
we not?
Jax and I exchange glances and he cracks up, folding over at the waist. I
can’t help but chuckle too, resting my elbows on my knees and shaking my
head.
“Oh shut the fuck up!” Theo scowls, throwing his sweaty t-shirt at Jax.
“Like you can talk, you’re just as far up my sister’s ass these days.”
Jax smirks. “Actually…”
Theo raises a finger in warning. “Don’t you dare fucking say it. You want
a fist to the face again?”
“Oh, calm down,” Jax laughs, throwing Theo’s shirt back at him.
He snatches it out of the air, tossing it on the bench beside him. “Maybe
you should take pointers from me, because she fucking loved it,” he says,
folding his arms as he looks back up at Jax. “Shows I’m not afraid of
commitment.”
“Isn’t your mate mark sufficient to show that?” I grumble, arching a
brow.
“Not nearly,” Theo scoffs. “I want everyone to know she’s mine.”
Seriously, this guy is too much. For years, he went around saying
relationships were bullshit and ridiculed those of us who got into them,
racking up one night stands instead. He gave me endless shit the entire time I
was with Annalise, saying that love wasn’t worth it and blah blah blah. Then
he meets Brooke and declares himself a changed man, acting like that side of
him never existed. It’s pretty fucking hypocritical if you ask me.
“Pussy,” I mumble under my breath.
Theo catches it. He shoots me a glare, narrowing his eyes. “Says the guy
who got so pussy whipped by a girl that he can’t fucking move on,” he fires
back.
I shoot daggers at him through my eyes, though I don’t dignify his stupid
ass comment with a response. There’s no way he could understand what I
went through with Annalise- the first girl he fell for wound up being his fated
mate. While that seems to be a trend with my close friends lately, not
everyone gets so lucky. I certainly didn’t.
“What’d she get you?” Jax asks, trying to break the tension by redirecting
the conversation.
Theo’s head swivels in his direction. “Huh?”
“If you got her the tattoo, what’d she get you for your three-month-
whatever?” Jax is still teasing him, like a dog with a bone refusing to let it go.
Theo’s unphased, though. He’s the guy that ruffles other people’s feathers
while shit seems to just roll off his own back. The corner of his mouth ticks
up into a smirk. “She made me a playlist.”
Jax snorts, shaking his head and holding up his hands. “So let me get this
straight… you got her name branded across your chest, and she just threw
some songs together on Spotify?”
Theo shrugs, a goofy smile on his face. “Hey, don’t knock it. I thought it
was fucking perfect. Better than the tattoo, even. Music is our love
language.”
Jax makes an exaggerated gagging noise and Theo leans over to try to
shove him, but he hops out of the way and Theo nearly falls off of the bench
and onto his face in the process.
I watch them, shaking my head. “You two are pathetic.”
“Whatever, man,” Theo sighs, rolling his eyes again. “I know you don’t
like to hear about this relationship shit, but don’t downgrade it just because
you’re jaded.”
“Yeah,” Jax jumps in. His eyes go to my ribs, though I’m still wearing
my shirt. “As I recall, you’ve got a tattoo of your own…”
My hand instinctively goes to my side and I shoot him a warning look,
giving a little shake of my head.
Theo’s eyes widen. “That’s right, I forgot about that! Maybe the A can be
for Astrid now?” he suggests, waggling his eyebrows.
“Okay, we’re done here,” I sigh, rising to my feet. When these two get
going, it’s enough to drive anyone crazy- and I’ve had my fill of their bullshit
for one day.
“Oh come on, dude,” Jax laughs, delivering a playful jab to my bicep.
“We all saw you leave together on Saturday.”
“So?” I challenge. “That doesn’t mean shit.”
Jax and Theo exchange glances, then Jax’s gaze slides back to me.
“Whatever you say,” he smirks. “Though now that I think about it, you
have been a little less intense lately…”
“That’s because he’s getting laid,” Theo chimes in.
“You two are annoying as fuck, you know that?” I grumble, bending to
grab my water bottle off of the floor and popping the lid open, squirting some
into my mouth. I wipe the excess from my lips with a forearm, turning for the
door.
“Aw, c’mon, you don’t have to leave,” Jax chuckles. “We were just
messing with you.”
I throw up a hand, flipping him the bird over my shoulder as I exit the
weight room.
I’m two steps out, the door still swinging closed behind me when I almost
collide with Gray.
“Oh hey, didn’t know you were still here,” he greets, then gestures past
me. “Theo and Jax in there?”
I nod, lifting an arm to wipe sweat from my brow.
“Good,” Gray replies. “I want to set a meeting for tomorrow to get on the
same page about this shadow pack stuff. Want to make sure everyone’s
available.”
“Sure, I’ll make it work,” I mumble.
Gray gives me a curt nod, but rather than moving past me to the weight
room, he pauses, folding his arms. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you
something.”
I raise a brow in question. “What’s up?”
He pauses again, narrowing his eyes. “Is everything going alright? I mean
with Astrid staying at your packhouse and everything.”
“Yeah…” I answer suspiciously. “Why?”
“Just making sure, since we kinda forced you into it,” Gray breathes,
bringing a hand behind his head and rubbing the muscles at the base of his
neck. “And… well, you know we all saw you leave together the other night.”
I scrub a hand over my face, sighing. Not this again. “You too? Why is
everyone making a big fucking deal over this? Nobody used to call Theo out
for leaving the bar with a random skank on his arm.”
Gray levels me with his stare. “Astrid’s hardly a random skank.”
“No. She’s not.” I mutter, my gaze falling to the floor. “I’m just saying.”
Gray blows out a breath. “I am, too. I’m not trying to blow up your spot
here, man. That’s not my style. I just want to make sure everything’s on the
up and up since we have an alliance with Denver, that’s all.”
 Of course he is. Gray and his fucking diplomacy.
“Trust me, I’m not forcing the girl into doing anything that she doesn’t
want to do,” I growl, tucking my water bottle under an arm before folding
both of them across my chest.
“Never said you were.”
I squint at Gray, studying his face. “Then what’s your point?”
I’m getting defensive for no good reason, but my temper is short these
days, even shorter when I feel like people are all up in my shit.
Gray rolls his eyes, stabbing his fingers through his hair. “Can you just
assure me that this isn’t gonna cause a rift between us and Denver and leave
it at that? We’ve got enough on our plates right now with the shadow pack on
their way, I don’t want to pick a fight with you over trivial shit.”
Well when he puts it that way…
“Yeah, of course,” I nod, feeling a little foolish. “You have nothing to
worry about.”
Gray nods back. “Cool. So tomorrow after the morning training session,
then? In the conference room?”
“Sure thing.” I unfold my arms and grab for my water bottle, popping it
open and drinking down another gulp.
Gray claps me on the shoulder, moving past me to enter the weight room
where Jax and Theo are. I head down the hallway, hanging a right instead of
a left at the end. Taking a meandering route out of the building so that I’ll
pass by the IT hub.
It’s stupid, Astrid probably isn’t even there. She’s probably still at lunch.
Still, I peek in the doorway anyways, eyes searching for that mess of bouncy
light brown curls. I find her right away- she’s at the conference table in the
back of the room, a laptop open in front of her. Those big brown eyes are
focused in on the screen, squinting in concentration as she draws her lower
lip into her mouth.
I’m looking for a moment too long, because suddenly her eyes fly up,
meeting mine.
Shit.
Her lips stretch into a cheerful smile, and she rises from her seat at the
table, heading toward me.
Double shit.
I seriously consider just bolting for the door, but that would make this
even more fucking awkward. So I take a step back, waiting for her,
wondering what the fuck I’m going to say.
“Hi!” Astrid chirps, stepping out of the doorway from the hub. “What are
you doing here?”
“I, uh…” I grumble, reaching up to run a hand through my hair. I totally
forget that it’s tied back, though, and my fingers just get stuck. “I was
looking for Theo,” I lie, yanking my hand out of my hair.
“Oh, he’s not here yet,” Astrid says, glancing back toward the hub. “I can
tell him you were looking for him, though, when he does get here…”
“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “I mean, thanks, but you don’t
have to that. I’ll just text him or something.”
“Okay,” she shrugs, cocking out a hip and resting her hand upon it. We
both stand there quietly for a moment before she asks, “anything else?”
“Uh, no, I… well, yeah actually” I wince at how eloquently that came out
before continuing. “I’ve gotta run back up here later on, so I can give you a
ride home when you’re done for the day.”
Another fucking lie, but one that earns a bright smile from Astrid, so it’s
worth it.
“Sounds good, I’ll look for you then.”
I nod, clutching my water bottle in one hand and shoving the other in the
pocket of my athletic shorts to stop myself from reaching out and touching
her. She looks good. She smells good. And I know she fucking tastes even
better.
“Well I’m just gonna…” she throws a thumb over her shoulder,
indicating.
“Yeah, sure,” I mumble. “Go ahead, I’ll see ya later.”
I’m so close to being in the clear, but right then, Theo walks around the
corner, calling out to me.
“What the hell are you still doing here?”
My stomach drops.
Astrid’s eyes go to Theo, then back to me. And then the tiniest smirk
crosses her lips.
“I thought you’d be halfway to Riverton by now,” he chuckles,
approaching. “Did Gray get ahold of you?”
Theo’s gaze slides between Astrid and me, a smirk gracing his lips, too.
Seems everyone has a reason to be fucking smug today.
“Yeah, I was gonna ask you the same thing,” I say quickly.
Astrid reaches out to set her hand on my bicep and I look down at her.
 “I’ll see ya later,” she murmurs, that little smirk still on her face as she
turns to head back into the hub.
When I look back up to Theo, his own damn smirk has deepened
considerably.
“Would you fucking knock it off,” I grumble, rolling my eyes.
“Oh relax,” he chuckles, pushing past me. He turns back, batting his
eyelashes. “I’ll see ya later,” he says in a high-pitched voice, mimicking
Astrid.
“Fuck off,” I growl, turning away. Heading for the door to leave this
place, like I should’ve done ten fucking minutes ago.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Astrid
“No way, you’d love it here!” I laugh, looking at Sam’s smiling face on
my computer screen. I’m so thankful for video chat- it’s tough being away
from the people I love back in Denver and seeing their faces on a regular
basis makes the distance easier to bear.
“If you say so,” Sam chuckles, rolling his eyes. “We just miss you back at
home, that’s all.”
I heave a sigh, sliding off of my bed and picking up my laptop, holding it
in front of me as I walk out of my room and head down the hallway. “I miss
you guys too. You keeping Cole out of trouble?”
“Always,” he laughs, running a hand through his golden hair.
I pad into the kitchen on bare feet, rounding the island and sliding my
laptop onto it, spinning around to pull the fridge open. “Good, you better,” I
say as I take out a bowl of grapes, tearing one from the stem and popping it
into my mouth as I spin back around.
“The last group from here is set to go there on Saturday, right?” Sam
asks.
I nod, still chewing as I lean forward onto my elbows on the kitchen
island, setting the bowl of grapes in front of me. “Yep, that’s the plan.” I pop
another grape into my mouth.
“So does that mean you’re coming back Saturday?”
I shrug, swallowing. “Not sure. I kinda assumed that I’d just catch a ride
back with one of these guys when it’s time for them to go.”
Sam sighs, the disappointment evident on his face. Guess he really does
miss me. “Yeah, alright. Whatever you’ve gotta do.”
I smile brightly to try to cheer him, sticking my hand into the bowl and
picking a few more grapes off of the stems.
“Are they at least treating you well over there?”
“Of course,” I laugh, chewing on a grape. “And don’t worry, they’re
keeping me fully caffeinated.”
“Good,” Sam smirks. “You’re shit without your morning coffee.”
 I suddenly sense that I’m being watched, glancing over the top of my
laptop screen toward the staircase. Brock’s standing at the bottom in nothing
but a pair of grey sweatpants, his long damp hair hanging loose around his
face. He must’ve just gotten out of the shower, and the sight of him shirtless
instantly has my heart beating faster- especially because of the way he’s
staring at me; hunger in his eyes like I’m his next meal.
Sam must see the shift in my demeanor, because as I’m staring over at
Brock, trying not to drool, I hear him ask “what’s wrong?”
For a second, I forgot I was even on a video call. Brock’s presence has a
way of disarming me like that. I pull my elbows back, straightening, my eyes
flickering from the computer screen back to Brock, who is now making a
beeline toward me.
“Oh, uh… nothing,” I mumble, stuffing the last two grapes from my hand
into my mouth and looking down at Sam as I feel Brock stalk up right behind
me.
His scent immediately overwhelms me; I feel a little lightheaded.
Suddenly the fruit in my mouth tastes sweeter and my skin flushes hot from
his proximity alone. He slides both arms around my waist, tugging me
backwards into his chest, and my eyes go wide as I see Sam react by
squinting and leaning closer to the screen, trying to discern what he’s seeing.
“Who…?” Sam starts to ask.
“Gotta go, talk to you later, Sam!” I say quickly, reaching out and
slamming my laptop closed, ending the video call.
Brock dips his head down beside mine, his lips hovering next to my ear.
“Who was that?”
A chill skitters up my spine. I bring my hands to cover his, tipping my
head back onto his shoulder. “Just Sam. He’s my brother’s beta.”
And my ex-lover.
I pause, considering. Should I tell him that?
He beats me to the punch. “Hm. You two seem awfully friendly,” Brock
comments, his arms tightening around my waist, sucking the air from my
lungs as his lips go to my neck.
Goosebumps break out over my skin. “Yeah,” I murmur, my eyes sliding
closed. “We grew up together. And uh, we used to date.”
I feel Brock’s body tense behind mine. While he’s typically able to mask
every emotion, it would seem that jealousy is the exception.
“We’re better as friends, though,” I quickly add.
 He lets me peel his arms from around my waist and I spin to face him,
leaning back against the kitchen island as my eyes roam his bare chest. They
travel across his broad shoulders, down to his hard pecs. Trace his eight-pack
abs and dip to the V-shape of his Adonis belt. It’s like he’s chiseled from
marble; every muscle is well defined and ripples with his movements.
My eyes track back up his chest and land on his, a clear emerald green
that reminds me of the forest. My lips tick up into a smile as I step closer
again, reaching out to touch his stomach, running a hand up to his shoulder
that leaves a trail of sparks in its wake.
“You’re sort of beautiful, you know that?” I muse.
He slides an arm around my back, yanking me into his hard chest. His
other hand goes to the back of my hair, wrapping it around his fist and
tugging on it so that my head falls back, my face angled up to his. My heart
hammers against my ribs as he leans his head down and his lips part to speak,
but I hear Brent’s voice instead.
“Am I interrupting?”
Brock growls in annoyance, his eyes leaving mine to land on his brother.
“Yes.”
I turn my own head in the direction of the voice, spotting Brent striding
into the kitchen. I try to wriggle free from Brock’s grip, but he doesn’t budge.
“Good,” Brent smirks, drawing closer.
Brock heaves an irritated sigh and finally relinquishes his grip on me. I
step out of his arms and turn toward Brent, smoothing my hair and greeting
him with a smile.
“What are you up to tonight?” I ask, noticing that he’s dressed in jeans
and a plaid button-down rather than his usual sweats and t-shirt combo.
Brent moves past the two of us to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of beer
and twisting the cap off. “Just meeting up with a few friends at the bar,” he
says, tipping the bottle to his lips and taking a swig. He swallows it down, his
eyes sliding from Brock to me. “Wanna come?”
“Oh, not tonight,” I sigh, leaning back against the kitchen island. Brock’s
still in my space, standing like a barrier between Brent and me. “More of my
pack is coming tomorrow morning, so I’ve gotta be there to greet them and
help them get settled. And the last time I did that after a night at the bar
wasn’t very pleasant.”
“Ah, come on,” Brent urges, chuckling. “How about just for one?”
“She said no,” Brock snaps. He moves closer, his arm circling my waist
possessively.
Brent shoots him a look, rolling his eyes. “Damn, bro, take it easy,” he
mumbles, bringing his beer to his lips and chugging the rest of it down in a
few gulps. He then twists to set the empty bottle on the counter, running a
hand through his hair as he moves past us. “I’m outta here.”
“Have fun!” I call after him, smiling. Then I turn back to Brock,
narrowing my eyes. Silently scolding him for his rudeness.
“Jared’s meeting up with us, too,” Brent calls over his shoulder as he
grabs his coat from the rack and slides it on. “So you guys feel free to carry
on with…” he gives a wave of his hand, “whatever the fuck it is that you’re
doing.”
Brock scowls. I giggle. And if that’s not a perfect representation of the
two of us, I don’t know what is.
Brent exits through the front door and I turn back to Brock, a grin sliding
across my face. “You wanna make tacos?”
Probably not what he expected to come out of my mouth. Brock furrows
his brow, squinting. “What?”
“Tacos,” I laugh, like my request isn’t completely random. “I asked Jared
this morning to make a grocery run today and pick up everything. This
kitchen is beautiful, someone should actually cook in it.”
Brock just stares at me for a moment, like he’s sizing me up. Trying to
figure out my angle, though he’s not going to find some secret agenda here-
I’m hungry and I like tacos.
“Sure,” he finally mutters, and I can’t help but grin from ear to ear.
Because yeah, fucking Brock is great- and I definitely want more of that- but
I’d like to actually get to know the guy, too. Especially if that flash of a vision
I had last week is going to come true.
I step past him to open the refrigerator door, pulling out all of the
ingredients and handing them back to him one by one. Ground beef, lettuce,
cilantro, tomato, cheese, hot sauce, and sour cream. Then I move to the
pantry to find the taco seasoning and tortillas while Brock arranges
everything on the kitchen island.
He’s pulling a frying pan out of a lower cabinet as I walk back over from
the pantry, twisting at the waist to set it on the stovetop. “Want me to cook up
the meat?”
My brows shoot up. “You know how to cook?”
My surprise actually earns a low chuckle from mister broody. “Of course
I know how to cook.” He reaches out and plucks the packet of taco seasoning
from my hand, tossing it onto the counter beside the stove. “Why does that
shock you?”
I shrug, setting the tortillas on the kitchen island and grabbing the
package of ground beef, handing it over to Brock. “Well for starters, I’ve
never seen any of you guys cook since I’ve been here,” I say, watching as he
sets the beef aside and turns the stove burner on.
“Been busy,” Brock grumbles. “Doesn’t mean I don’t know how.”
He grabs a knife to slice open the package of meat and I narrow my eyes,
studying him. “What other surprises do you have up your sleeve, big guy?” I
ask playfully.
He shoots me a sideways glance. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see,
Princess.” A smirk tugs at his lips.
I’m starting to learn that there are a few different versions of Brock.
There’s this one- my personal favorite. The one that’s sarcastic and snarky.
The one who likes to play and laugh. Then there’s the broody guy that shuts
down. The intense one. The one who is so crippled by his past that he can’t
move into the future. And then there’s the one that’s completely devoid of
emotion, like a goddamn robot. All business all the time. That last one scares
me a little. He’s hard and ruthless- I feel like he could watch the life drain
from someone’s eyes without flinching.
“So who taught you how to cook?” I ask, making conversation as I find a
cutting board and knife to dice up the tomato.
“Both of my parents, actually.”
I wait for him to go on, but he doesn’t. This guy really is a man of few
words, so I have to poke a little. “Yeah?”
“Mm,” he grunts. “They used to cook dinner together a lot. When Brent
and I were old enough, they started roping us in to help. Family bonding, I
guess.”
“Aww, I love that,” I coo, grinning at him over my shoulder.
We’re standing nearly back to back- Brock’s at the stove, cooking up the
ground beef, and I’m at the island, chopping the tomato. I hear the sizzle of
the meat as he adds it to the hot frying pan.
“What about you?” Brock asks. “Where’d you learn how to cook?”
I grin, staring down at the tomato as I chop. He’s actually keeping the
conversation going.
“Not from my parents,” I laugh. “My mom can barely use a microwave.
The packhouse chef let me help out when I was a kid, and I found that I
really like it. It relaxes me.”
I set the knife down, spinning around and moving beside Brock to open
an overhead cabinet to get a bowl. It’s on the middle shelf, so I have to stand
on my tippy toes to reach for it. “My family was never really the bonding
type,” I continue as my fingertips brush the edge of the bowl, not quite
grasping it.
I feel Brock move closer as he reaches over me to retrieve the bowl,
handing it to me. I take it gratefully as he steps back, his lips curling into a
smirk. “We’ve gotta get you a stepstool or something.”
I give him a playful little shove, rolling my eyes as I move past him to
return to the kitchen island. “I can’t help that I’m little,” I grumble as I scoop
the diced tomato into the bowl.
I’m not sure whether or not my mind is playing tricks on me, but I swear I
hear him whisper a response under his breath. It sounds like he says, “you’re
perfect”, and my head immediately whips around to look at him over my
shoulder. He’s just stirring the ground beef, acting so fucking casual that I’m
second guessing whether or not he actually spoke. Am I going crazy? Or is
this man just driving me to the brink…
I chop the lettuce next, then the cilantro. As we cook, Brock and I chat
about our families- I tell him about how my parents travel often, so I don’t
see much of them. He tells me that his own tend to be homebodies, and their
idea of a family vacation growing up was going camping on their pack’s
territory in Wyoming. His father joined their pack with the six-pack alliance
and moved them to Colorado when Brock was nineteen, and he said that he
likes Colorado, but misses the wide-open spaces in Wyoming sometimes.
I want to ask him about his ex. I feel like she’s the elephant in the room,
lurking in the corner, but tonight has been too good so far- I don’t want to
spoil it. So I don’t. I leave it, and I’ll wait until he’s ready. I should get a
goddamn award for the amount of patience I’ve had with this man- but
something tells me he’s worth it.
We sit at the kitchen island to eat, and the tacos are delicious- I down
three of them in record time and I’m pretty sure that Brock has at least six.
Then we clean up and move into the other room, where Brock flops down
onto the couch and gives a little flick of his head to beckon me to him. As
soon as I sit down beside him, his arm comes around me and I curl up into his
side as he uses the remote to turn the TV on and find a movie.
 It’s unexpected, but it’s so nice. So… normal. I rest my cheek against his
warm chest as his fingers absently comb through my hair, and it feels
completely natural. Comfortable. Like this is how it’s supposed to be. He’s
slowly opening up to me, and I’ll enjoy it while I can. Because with Brock,
there’s no telling how long it’ll last.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Brock
“So we’re looking at a week to ten days,” Reid sighs, cracking his
knuckles in front of him and leaning back in his chair. “Meaning we
should’ve already sent the first half of the squad down there.”
The five of us squad leaders are gathered in the conference room at the
complex, and the tension in here is so thick that it’s almost suffocating.
“So let’s send them in the morning,” Theo suggests. “We already split
‘em up, told them to be ready at a moment’s notice…”
“We’re gonna have to,” Gray agrees.
A grim silence settles over us, because this right here, this moment, is
when it becomes real. We’re sending off our warriors, knowing full well the
real cost of war. That some of them won’t be coming back.
It’s a reality that, fortunately, our squad has never had to face until now.
As the leaders, all five of us feel responsible for the squad members, so the
thought of taking casualties is a heavy one. We’re all stressed. Anxious. And
hoping we’re doing the right thing by joining Denver in this fight.
I slide my elbows on the table in front of me, resting my head in my
hands. “So the first half tomorrow, the rest this time next week?”
“Let’s say Tuesday for the second half,” Reid murmurs, unfocused eyes
staring blankly across the room. “And then we’ll shoot to head out Thursday,
so long as the timeline holds.”
Gray grunts in affirmation, nodding his head. “Everyone’s familiar with
the battle strategy since we’ve been collaborating with Denver for the past
couple weeks. So all we’ll need to do is familiarize ourselves with the
terrain.” He glances over at Jax. “Fallon and Quinn can stay back and travel
in with us.”
I see Jax’s jaw twitch at the mention of his mate. I’m sure neither of these
guys are thrilled about their mates putting their lives in danger to fight
alongside them. I’ll bet Theo’s thankful that Brooke’s an IT girl rather than a
warrior right about now…
Reid straightens, looking from Gray to me. “We should pack our bags,
keep them here or in our vehicles so we’re ready.”
“We’ll get them together too, just in case,” Jax says, nudging Theo, who
nods in agreement.
Another long pause, the tension in the room still palpable.
“We’ll break the news to the squad this afternoon, then,” Gray mumbles,
staring down at the table. Then his eyes lift, drifting to each of us. “You guys
ready for this?”
“We have to be,” Reid says somberly.
Gray sighs, pushing up from his chair. “Let’s all plan to meet out there
early tomorrow, see them off.”
We all grumble in agreement, following Gray’s cue and rising from our
seats around the conference table.
~
Later that evening, I’m still feeling numb after the meeting with the guys.
This shit is heavy, hanging over us like a dark cloud. There’s so much riding
on this battle in Denver- if we lose, we can kiss the six-pack goodbye.
Everything we care about; everyone we care about. We can’t lose.
Jared and Brent tried to get me to go out to the bar in Stillwater with them
to take my mind off of things, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I
stayed back and packed my damn bag for Denver. I threw it by the door,
walked over to the couch, and I’ve been glued to this spot since. The TV isn’t
even on, I’ve just been sitting here, tormenting myself with my own thoughts.
Leaning over with my elbows resting on my knees, my head in my hands.
And then I smell peaches.
My head jerks up to see Astrid strolling into the room, her alert brown
eyes instantly coming to mine. She’s dressed in loungewear- a pair of white
cotton shorts and a faded blue cropped t-shirt that skims across her midriff.
Showing just enough skin to make my dick twitch in my sweatpants.
Her eyes leave mine to roam- presumably looking for Brent or Jared. I
watch her gaze land on my packed duffel by the door, then she looks back to
me, tilting her head. “Going somewhere?”
My throat works as I swallow hard. “Denver.”
Astrid’s eyebrows shoot up. “Already?”
I give a little shake of my head. “We just have to be prepared. Gotta keep
a bag on hand.”
Her mouth forms an ‘o’ and she nods, glancing back to the bag, then to
me again. “Should I do that, too?”
 “Maybe,” I shrug.
She just stands there for a moment, considering, as I rake my eyes over
her form. Then she looks back to me and I give a little flick of my head to
beckon her.
“Come here,” I rasp.
She shouldn’t. I’m stressed the fuck out, and I’m poisonous when I’m
like this. The last thing I should do is touch her. But coincidentally, it’s also
the only thing I want to do.
Astrid doesn’t break eye contact as she crosses the room to me, padding
across the floor on her bare feet. She stops when she’s right in front of me
and I tuck my hands behind her thighs, pulling her forward to straddle my
lap. She lets out a little gasp when I first pull her in, then immediately settles
into her spot right on my dick, looping her arms around my neck.
“What version of you am I going to get today?” she asks, staring into my
eyes curiously. Studying me.
I suck in a breath as I trail a hand up the front of her body. “I don’t know,
baby,” I growl, gripping her throat loosely as my eyes drop to her full lips.
“You want me to leave you alone?”
“No,” she whispers, and my eyes flicker back up to meet hers. There’s so
much unbridled heat in her gaze that it threatens to incinerate me on the spot.
I crash into her, crushing my lips against hers. The hand that was on her
throat comes to the back of her head- I bury it in her hair, holding her in place
while tugging on the strands. Taking her pouty lower lip into my mouth and
biting it. Astrid moans, grinding her hips down over my crotch. Her hands
fist the fabric of my shirt, pulling at it.
I break the kiss just long enough to tear my own shirt off overhead and
allow her to do the same, grabbing for her full, perky boobs as soon as they
come into view. Then my mouth is on hers again as our upper bodies collide
together. I can feel the heat from her core as she grinds on my dick like a doe
in heat and I groan into her mouth, my eyes rolling back.
Fuck the foreplay. I have to be inside of her- I’m fucking desperate for it.
I grab her waist, lifting her off of my lap easily. Setting her on her knees
beside me and bending her over the arm of the couch instead. I rise up on a
knee, twisting to face the same direction as her and grabbing her shorts,
yanking them down with her panties. As soon as I see that pretty pussy of
hers peeking out from between her thighs, I almost lose it.
I lean back to admire how fucking good she looks from this angle,
grabbing her ass cheeks with both hands and spreading her wide. Then I dip
down to get a taste, licking her from the seam of her ass all the way down to
her clit as a frantic gasp falls from her lips. She tastes too fucking good, so I
play a little, pumping my tongue in and out of her pussy and rubbing her clit
with my thumb. Her thighs quiver as she shoves herself back onto me, riding
my face. Moaning my name.
My cock is so hard that it’s fucking painful, and when I can’t take another
second, I give her pussy one last kiss, pulling back to yank my sweatpants
down and get into position behind her. She gazes over her shoulder at me as I
do, her eyes clouded with lust. The head of my dick finds her entrance like a
heat seeking missile, and then I’m gripping her hips, shoving into her from
behind as she cries out in ecstasy.
I don’t hold back; I physically can’t. I pull out halfway and slam home
again, over and over, hammering into her without shame. The only sound is
slapping flesh and our overlapping moans of pleasure. The tension slips from
me with every passing minute. This is exactly what I needed. She’s exactly
what I needed.
I reach for her hair, winding it around my fist and giving it a sharp tug.
Her back arches and she lets out a breathy moan. “You fucking like that?” I
growl, pounding into her harder, faster. “You like my cock inside of you,
baby?”
“Yes!” she gasps, shoving back into me, meeting every thrust.
“Show me how much you like it, Astrid.” I lean over her, wrapping my
hand around her throat. “Come all over my dick like a good fucking girl.”
I drop my other hand around her waist, between her legs to rub her clit.
“Fuck! Brock… fuuuuuuck…” Astrid screams, her pussy walls clenching
around my dick as she goes off. I keep fucking her through her orgasm, but
it’s too much- my balls tighten, my own release imminent. I pull out at the
last second, groaning and shooting my load all over that tight little ass of
hers.
It takes me a second to catch my breath. It always does, with her- I come
so fucking hard with Astrid that I can barely see straight. Once I do, I reach
for my t-shirt, wiping my cum off her ass as she collapses over the arm of the
couch, her body going limp.
I pull her shorts up her hips and yank my own pants back up, rising to
stand. Then I reach down to scoop an arm around her waist, plucking her off
of the couch and throwing her over my shoulder in a fireman carry.
 “Brock!” she gasps in surprise, wriggling in my grip. “What are you
doing?!”
She yelps as I deliver a hard slap to her ass, starting for the stairs. “I’m
not done with you yet.”
~
Astrid
Brock takes the stairs two at a time, his grip tight around my waist. I’ve
never been up here, but I can’t see much from my upside-down perspective
as he carries me over his shoulder. The hallway seems endless- his is the very
last door and he kicks it open, the door colliding forcefully with the wall
behind it. As we step through, it bounces back and he kicks it closed, striding
over to the bed and throwing me onto it.
I giggle as I hit the mattress, my body bouncing on the springs. The
bedding smells like him, overwhelming my senses, making my skin heat and
my belly clench. His stare is predatory as he lets his sweatpants fall to the
floor and climbs onto the bed, crawling over me. Yanking my shorts off and
tossing them aside. His dick’s already rock hard for round two- gotta love
that shifter stamina.
Brock’s eyes are on mine as he draws one of my legs up between us and
glides inside of me again, stealing my breath as he takes me in a single thrust.
The pressure inside of me builds as he starts pumping in and out, taking my
wrists in his hands and pinning them above my head. He stares into my eyes
as he fucks me in a steady rhythm, burying himself deep. I’m taking every
inch of him, and he’s taking every piece of my soul.
He releases my wrists as his lips come to mine, his tongue licking along
the seam, demanding entry. I allow it all too willingly, scoring my fingernails
down his back as our tongues tangle. Then his arm’s snaking around my
back, lifting me off of the bed as he rises to his knees. He grabs onto my
thighs, wrapping my legs around his waist. Thrusting into me as I’m
suspended in his arms.
I nip his lips as I break our kiss, panting. Pushing on the front of his
shoulders and bringing my face beside his. “Lie back,” I purr into his ear.
“Mmm, you wanna ride this dick, Princess?” Brock growls, gripping my
hips with bruising force.
“Yes,” I coo, and when I push on his shoulders again, he actually sinks
back. His dick’s still seated inside of me as he goes to his back, arranging me
on his lap.
 Even though I’m on top, he’s doesn’t relinquish control- I press my palms
into his chest, grinding down over him as he grips my hips and thrusts up into
me. The way he’s looking at me, his eyes drinking in every inch of my flesh
as I bounce on his cock, has me burning with desire, the heat between us
ratcheting up to a hundred degrees. My orgasm sneaks up on me- one minute
I’m riding Brock’s dick like a goddamn rodeo queen, and the next I’m
coming undone, trembling and shaking as my climax rips through me like a
tsunami.
Brock grunts and jerks upwards, finding his own release, emptying inside
of me. His eyes squeeze closed as his arm comes around my back, yanking
me down onto his chest. I crash into his warmth, and he just holds me there
for a few minutes, both of us panting and sweating and coming down from
the high of our mutual climax. Completely sated.
His hand drifts to my ass, giving it a squeeze and then a little pat. “Hop
up, babe.”
“Mmm,” I groan in protest, pushing up off his chest. His cum drips down
my inner thighs as I start to climb off him. It’s a good thing shifters only
ovulate with the full moon, or I’d be screwed.
Brock sits up from the bed as I flop back onto it, and I watch after him as
he strides over to what I can only assume is the bathroom, disappearing
inside. I take that opportunity to prop myself up on my elbows, glancing
around the room. Scoping out Brock’s personal space for the first time. It’s
tidier than I expected, and minimalistic- it barely looks lived in. If it wasn’t
for the few personal touches, like his cologne and hairbrush on his dresser
and the open door to the walk-in closet revealing his clothes, I’d wonder if it
were even his room at all.
Brock comes back from the bathroom with a washcloth, leaning over me
to clean his cum off of my inner thighs. Who ever said chivalry is dead? I
giggle at that thought and he looks at me curiously, narrowing his eyes.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” I whisper, clamping a hand down over my mouth before
another giggle slips out.
He glares as he balls up the washcloth, tossing it into a hamper across the
room. “Next time, I’ll just leave you covered in my cum,” he grumbles,
climbing on the bed and crawling over me. “I’d prefer that anyways.” He dips
his head down, nipping my earlobe as a soft giggle escapes my lips.
“I bet you would,” I tease as he rolls sideways and flops down beside me,
rearranging the pillows underneath his head and tucking his arms back there.
I roll onto my side, propping my head up on an elbow as I watch him.
The man is beautiful- I swear I’ll never get used to looking at his well-
chiseled body. His chest rises and falls slowly as my eyes roam across it,
coming to his side. The skin of his ribs is inked with tattoos, and I squint to
discern what they are, my hands reaching out to touch one in particular.
I’ve never noticed it before, hidden amongst a tattoo of a forest treeline
and a wild wolf howling at the moon. I reach out to trace my fingers over the
letter ‘A’, and Brock flinches. I suck in a breath, peering up at him as his eyes
come to mine.
“Is it for…?” I start to ask, but the look in his eyes tells me his answer
before his lips do.
“Yeah,” he rasps, reaching out for me. He slides an arm around my
shoulders, pulling me into his side so that my head comes to rest on his chest.
I wrap an arm and leg around him like a koala bear and he brings his other
arm to circle my waist, drawing a deep breath.
And then he tells me about her.
“Her name was Annalise,” he begins, tracing circles on my back with his
fingertips. “I was 21, and I was running the squad with the other guys when
the new recruits showed up for the summer, fresh out of high school. She was
one of them.” Brock pauses, tilting his head down to look at me. “You sure
you wanna hear this? It’s not a pretty story.”
I nod, pressing a kiss to his chest. “I’m sure. Tell me.”
He clears his throat, continuing. “From the moment I saw her, I knew she
was the one for me. Not only was she beautiful, but there was just something
about her that drew me in. It was clear she felt the same way, and we both fell
really hard. We thought for sure that we were fated.”
“And?” I whisper. I can feel his pain; my intuition is feeding it to me as
he tells his story.
“And our first moon together, we found out we weren’t.” He pauses for a
long moment before he goes on. “We were still crazy about each other, so we
said fuck it and stayed together. Said we’d seal our bond as chosen mates
someday instead since things just felt so right between us.” Brock draws a
breath, staring at the ceiling. “And then the next summer, the new recruits
arrived at the complex. During the first full moon run after their arrival, she
sniffed out her fated mate.”
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, cringing. I knew this story didn’t have
a happy ending, but this is a twist I didn’t expect.
Brock heaves a sigh. “It was some kid from Reid’s pack in Stillwater. She
hadn’t even met him before that night, so she didn’t have any feelings for
him. She said she wanted to stay with me and that she’d reject him and break
the bond. I believed her, but then…” His jaw clenches. “Then I found out that
she’d been sneaking off to see him. Said she wanted to get to know him, just
to be sure. That the bond was too strong to resist. I should’ve known at that
point, but she claimed she still wanted to be with me, to be my Luna. She
swore she’d keep her promise and at the next moon, she’d reject him and
choose me. But at the last minute, she changed her mind… she chose him.”
“Oh Brock,” I whisper.
He swallows hard before going on. “I cut him from the squad out of spite,
but it was too little, too late. She left the squad to go back to Stillwater with
him.” He heaves a sigh. “I think the worst part was that there was no real
closure to anything. She was just there one minute, promising me that we had
a future together, and gone the next. No fucking explanation, I guess I just
wasn’t good enough for her to choose me.”
My heart aches for him. I wish I could take his pain, unburden him
somehow. “I’m sorry…”
“Please don’t, Astrid,” he snaps, his body tensing underneath mine.
“Please don’t feel fucking sorry for me.”
I draw a breath, stroking my fingertips across his chest. “There’s a
difference between feeling sorry for you and being sorry that something like
that happened to you,” I murmur. “I just hate that you had to go through all
that, Brock. But… thank you. For telling me about her.”
“Yeah.” Brock’s body relaxes slightly as he heaves a sigh, stroking his
fingers along my back again. “I didn’t mean to call you her name the other
day, it just slipped out. It doesn’t even make sense why I did it. You’re
nothing like her.”
I’m not sure if I should be offended by that comment or not. But before I
can speculate too much, he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I feel like
you get me,” he rasps. “She never really did.”
A silence falls over us, but it’s a comfortable silence. Brock runs his
fingers along my spine and through my hair. I trace the muscles of his chest
with mine. His skin is so warm- I lay my palm flat over his chest, feeling his
heartbeat thumping underneath it.
And that’s when I see it all. Goosebumps break out over my body and I
feel the whoosh of a vision hit me- only it’s not just one vision, it’s multiple
snippets strung together. Rapid-fire visions layered on top of one another.
The first one is of Brock and me in my bed at the Denver packhouse-
we’re tangled in the sheets and I’m tracing my fingertips over a scar across
his eyebrow and the scars of a mate marking where his neck meets his
shoulder- my mark.
Then we’re at the packhouse in Riverton and he’s standing in the
doorway of my room, smiling at me adoringly as I stand in a flowing gown.
“I love you,” he murmurs as he watches me. It’s the same scene I saw a
snippet of last week as he was leaving my room, standing in the same spot.
But now there’s more to it- I shoo him away with a hand and he winks and
calls me ‘Luna Astrid’.
That image suddenly cuts away to the two of us in the kitchen of the
packhouse. Snow is falling outside, and Brock comes up behind me,
wrapping his arms around me. He tucks his chin over my shoulder, his hands
going to my swollen belly.
Then we’re out back behind the packhouse; it’s summertime and Brock is
manning the grill. I can smell the burgers he’s cooking and feel the sun on
my skin. He laughs as a little girl runs by- a little girl with wild, curly hair
who looks just like me- being chased by a smaller boy. “Slow down!” he
scolds, then turns to me with so much reverence in his gaze. “You sure you
don’t want a couple more pups?”
Every vision has the same emotion behind it- overwhelming happiness.
Warmth. Contentment. Love. Slowly, they all dissolve away, and I’m back in
bed with Brock, my head still resting on his chest as his breathing grows
more shallow. My heart’s pounding wildly in my chest. He’s falling asleep,
but I feel like I just woke up.
Holy fuck.
Brock’s my mate.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Brock
Considering the fight in Denver that’s looming over our heads right now,
I have no right to feel so damn content. Yet here I am, waking up with
Astrid’s scent all over my sheets again for the third morning in a row.
Grinning like a fool when I hear the shower turn off, because I know it’s her
that’s getting out of it.
I blink the sleep from my eyes as they adjust to the light, glancing toward
the bathroom door. Anxiously waiting for her to step through it looking like
the angel she is. Astrid emerges a minute or two later with nothing but a
fluffy white towel wrapped around her body- an angel without wings. Her
eyes instantly lock with mine, her lips tipping up into a smile as she runs her
fingers through her damp hair.
“Good morning,” she coos softly, her eyes sliding down my body.
I’m naked underneath the bedsheets, my dick getting harder by the
second as I watch her watching me. So I kick off the sheets. Her eyes
immediately land on my cock- I take it in a hand and give it a lazy stroke,
wetting my lips with my tongue. Astrid’s eyes flicker to my mouth, tracking
the movement.
“Come here,” I demand, voice gravelly from sleep.
“Brock,” she protests, yet her feet start carrying her closer to the edge of
the bed. “I have to be in Goldenleaf by nine…”
I glance at the clock on the nightstand, then back to Astrid, right as her
knees hit the edge of the bed.
“That’s in an hour,” I grumble, reaching out for the towel she’s wearing. I
give it a little tug and it slides off her body, revealing the tantalizing curves of
her slender frame. My arm hooks around her thighs, dragging her onto the
bed. “Plenty of time for you to ride my face.”
A blush stains her cheeks as I position her over me, grabbing her ass
cheeks in both hands to lift her pussy to my mouth.
“Brock…” she gasps, and the breathy sound of it goes straight to my dick.
“Keep saying my name, baby,” I growl, running my tongue along her slit.
“You know how much I fucking love that.”
I lick into her as a needy moan falls from her lips, effectively putting an
end to her objections. The taste of her sweet honey explodes on my tongue as
she rolls her hips, grinding on my face as I start tongue fucking her. When
she says my name again, it’s not in protest, it’s because she’s begging for
more.
I graze my teeth over her clit and suction my mouth onto it as she bucks
her hips, arching her back. I’m so focused in on what I’m doing to her pussy
that I don’t even notice how far back she’s leaning until her hand wraps
around my dick. I let out a raspy moan when she tugs on it, the vibration
from my mouth against her pussy making her shiver.
“Turn me around,” Astrid pants, working my cock with her hand and
shoving her pussy into my face.
I don’t typically take orders in the bedroom, but this request is one I don’t
refuse. I grip her hips, lifting her up and spinning her to face the other
direction. I immediately lower her pussy back onto my waiting tongue,
devouring her like a starving man. And when I feel her bend over and press
her lips to the head of my dick, all bets are off.
Astrid presses her palms to my thighs for leverage, swirling her tongue
around the head of my cock. I swear, between that and the taste of her in my
mouth, I damn near lose my fucking mind. I grip her ass cheeks with bruising
force as I feel her lips part to take me in her mouth, sliding down my shaft
until my dick hits the back of her throat. Then she starts bobbing up and
down over me, sucking my cock while I suck her clit, both of us lost in our
own pleasure while driving one another wild.
It doesn’t take me long to get to the edge of orgasm- her mouth feels too
fucking good wrapped around my cock. From the way her thighs are
trembling against my shoulders, I know she’s close too. She just needs a little
nudge over the edge, and I know just how to get her there.
“I want you to come, Astrid,” I murmur against her, nipping her pussy
lips. “Come all over my fuckin’ face, baby.”
Her thighs clench and she moans on my dick, making me jerk up, shoving
it to the back of her throat. She gags around it, and the sensation of her throat
tightening around my cock is more than I can take. Stars explode behind my
eyelids as I go off, shooting my load down her throat. I suck her clit even
harder as I do and she comes undone, gushing into my mouth and grinding
over my face.
 Astrid swallows every drop like the good fucking girl she is, popping off
my dick and licking her lips as she rolls off of me, a sleepy, sated smile
stretching her lips. We’re lying opposite one another on the bed- her feet are
up on the pillow beside my head- and I crane my neck to look down at her,
forever in fucking awe of this girl that blew into my life like a goddamn
hurricane and shook everything up.
“I feel like I need another shower,” Astrid giggles, her damp curls falling
over her face as she props herself up on her elbows.
I smirk, sitting up. If she wants another shower, I’m going in there with
her. I twist at the waist, sliding my arms underneath her body and scooping
her into my arms. She squeals and kicks her legs, but her arms come around
my neck, signaling that she’s not putting up a real fight here.
I carry Astrid into the bathroom and set her down so I can reach into the
shower and turn it on. Water pours from the large rainfall style shower head
and as we wait for it to heat up, I shove her against the wall, kissing her lips,
her face, her neck. When steam begins to rise from the tile, I lead her into the
shower and we soap each other up. Things quickly escalate- because when
don’t they between the two of us?- and before long I’m fucking her up against
the tile wall of the shower as my name rolls from her lips like an incantation.
I don’t know what it is about her. I should be more cautious about getting
involved, but I also can’t get enough, and my dick’s constantly overriding my
common sense. When we’re done in the shower, Astrid sneaks downstairs to
get dressed and ready for the day while I throw on jeans and a hoodie and
head to the kitchen to grab some coffee.
As soon as I hit the bottom of the stairs, I’m met with Brent’s shit-eating
grin from his usual spot in the kitchen- sitting on the counter beside the
fridge. If only he knew I fucked Astrid right there earlier this week.
“You’re looking bright eyed and bushy tailed,” Brent teases, tossing me a
wink.
I roll my eyes in response, heading straight for the coffee pot. “Fuck off.”
Jared chuckles, grabbing a cup out of the cabinet and handing it over to
me. I fill it up and immediately bring it to my lips, swallowing down a few
gulps.
“Surprised you’re still here, you two are usually on your way to the
complex by now,” Jared comments, eyeing me as he lifts his own coffee
mug.
“She’s gotta go to Goldenleaf this morning for the last wave of Denver
refugees,” I say, sliding my cup onto the counter. I look up to the cabinet
behind Jared, giving a little flick of my head. “Let me get another one.”
He moves aside, grabbing another mug from inside the cabinet and
handing it to me. I fill it up and set it on the kitchen island before picking up
my own cup again. All the while, Jared is watching me curiously, but he
doesn’t say a word.
“Good morning!” Astrid sings as she strides into the kitchen, her typical
cheerful smile on her face.
Brent and Jared both greet her warmly as she makes a beeline for the
coffee pot, but I catch her around the waist, pulling her back against my
chest.
“Here,” I grunt, reaching onto the island for the cup I already filled for
her.
She turns to look at me over her shoulder as she takes it in her hands, her
eyes lighting up. “Thanks!”
“No problem,” I mumble, sipping from my own cup as my other arm
returns to wrap around her waist possessively.
I can tell Brent wants to say something so fucking bad, but I shoot him a
look that must change his mind, because instead he turns to Jared and the two
of them start discussing where to go out tonight. Astrid and I just listen to
them for a few minutes, finishing our coffee. I’m sure we’ll wind up at the
Goldenleaf bar tonight like the squad does every Saturday. And speaking of
Goldenleaf…
I lean my head down beside Astrid’s, murmuring in her ear. “You ready
to go?”
She drinks down the last sip of her coffee, wriggling out of my grasp.
“Yeah, let’s do it.” She flashes me a bright smile that’s way too chipper for
this early in the morning, taking my mug from my hand and dropping it into
the sink along with her own.
“See you guys later!” she chirps to Brent and Jared as we both turn to
head for the door, exiting the packhouse, climbing in the Escalade, and
heading to Goldenleaf.
~
Astrid
Brock comes around to the passenger side of the Escalade, holding onto
the open door as I climb out in front of the Goldenleaf packhouse. When his
eyes land on me, the corner of his mouth ticks up into a slight smile- I’ve
been earning those more frequently from him these days. His icy exterior
seems to finally be thawing, no thanks to any admission of my own.
It has been days since I came to the realization that the two of us are
mates, and I still haven’t told him. This is completely uncharted territory- I
don’t fully know how these visions work yet or if the ones of the future are
subject to change. There was no indication in the vision whether Brock and I
are fated mates or chosen mates, but I feel it in my bones that we’re fated;
that’s what my intuition has been trying to tell me all along. Given what he’s
been through, though, the mate bond is a touchy subject.
There’s also the issue of timing. We’re still getting to know each other,
and the man is so guarded- would it freak him out to know that we’re mates
at this point? And then there’s the matter of the battle with the shadow pack
happening in less than a week… would this knowledge be a distraction? I
honestly don’t know what to do, so I haven’t done anything except sit on the
information and wait, hoping that as the days went on, the right thing to do
would become clear. So far, it hasn’t.
The two of us make our way up the front walk, and before we even reach
the door, Fallon is pulling it open to greet us.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were still coming,” she comments,
gesturing for us to come inside.
Brock rolls his eyes as he steps past Fallon but doesn’t say anything.
We’re a whole five minutes late- the girl is obviously being dramatic.
“So sorry,” I breathe, stepping inside and rising up on my tiptoes to throw
an arm around her shoulders, greeting her with a half-hug. Through my
intuition, I instantly pick up the vibe from her that she’s nervous; she’s still
settling into her role as Luna of her pack and the tasks associated with
leading them through this shadow pack mess have her anxious. I can’t fault
her for it- this is a lot for anyone to handle, let alone someone so young.
“Hey,” I say, stepping back and setting a hand on her shoulder. “You’re
doing great. None of us really know what we’re doing with this stuff, the
important thing is just being there for your pack.”
A faint blush forms on Fallon’s cheeks. “Am I that obvious?”
I shake my head, chuckling. “Not at all. I’ve got an advantage when it
comes to reading people, remember?” I wink, giving Fallon’s shoulder a
reassuring squeeze.
Gray steps over to Brock, greeting him with a bro-hug. “How’s it going,
man? You here for moral support or what?”
 Brock shoots me a sideways glance. “Something like that.”
A smile creeps across my face as we make our way further inside the
packhouse. I’m introduced to Gray’s beta, Deke, and offered a cup of coffee,
which I graciously accept. Ten minutes later, the first members of Gray’s
pack start to arrive. After another twenty, I hear the vans from Denver pulling
up outside.
I get really excited every time members of my pack arrive here in the six-
pack, and today is no exception. I make my way to the front door, stepping
outside and waving from the front stoop as the vans start unloading. I don’t
even notice that another vehicle arrived with them until the passengers of the
black Jeep at the curb climb out and one of the two men whistles at me.
I’d recognize that megawatt smile and those golden curls anywhere. I do
a double-take when I see him, my eyes flying wide and my mouth hanging
open.
“Sam?! What are you doing here?” I blink, my heart racing as he and
Chris make their way across the lawn toward me.
Chris is one of my brothers’ advisors that lives at the packhouse. He’s a
couple years older than I am, with dark hair and a stocky build. He’s also got
a mate with a pup on the way- she arrived a few days ago along with her
sister and her pups and they were all placed together with a family in
Riverton.
“Figured I’d come see how things were going here,” Sam laughs, closing
the distance between us. He opens his arms to invite me in and I hop off of
the stoop and into them for a hug. He lifts me off my feet like he always does,
tipping back and squeezing tight. “How are you, lovely?” Sam murmurs into
my hair, pressing a kiss to my head. “I’ve missed you.”
I giggle, kicking out my feet and wriggling in his grasp until he sets me
down again. “I’m great! And I’ve missed you too… I can’t believe you’re
here!”
I suddenly become hyper-aware of Brock’s presence as he comes up
behind me, sensing the irritation rolling off of him as he does. My ex-lover
and my current one are coming face to face… what could possibly go wrong?
“Well now that everyone’s here I thought you might need a ride back,”
Sam suggests, winking.
Shit. Brock and I just talked about this the other night- and we agreed that
I’d ride back to Denver with him when he went. I sink my teeth into my
bottom lip, giving Sam a little shake of my head. “I thought I told you I
didn’t need one?”
“You don’t,” Brock snaps, his voice low.
I’m getting hit with vibes of irritation from both boys now- though Sam
keeps his expression steady as his eyes go to Brock over my shoulder.
“Oh! Uh, Brock…” I stutter, glancing back at him. “This is Sam, my
pack’s Beta.”
Brock steps closer and slides an arm around my waist, and I watch as
Sam’s eyes follow the movement. He bristles as he gives Brock a once-over,
though I’m probably the only one who would notice- he keeps a charming
smile plastered across his face, appearing completely unruffled.
“Nice to meet you,” Sam greets smoothly, sticking out a hand for Brock
to shake.
He doesn’t right away- he stares Sam down for what feels like an eternity
before I elbow him in the ribs and he returns the handshake.
“Brock’s the alpha of the pack in Riverton,” I supply, shifting my gaze
from him to Sam uncomfortably. The tension between the two of them is so
thick that I feel like I could reach out and grab it. Men and their damn egos.
“The same pack that Heidi’s staying with,” I add, looking to Chris. We
need a buffer in here, stat!
He takes the bait, stepping forward. “Oh yeah? She said the family she’s
been staying with is wonderful, they’ve been taking good care of her.”
I crane my neck to look back at Brock as he tucks in closer. “Who is
Heidi staying with, again? I’m terrible with names but I know you were
working on that list for a while…”
My deflection seems to work, because I feel Brock relax ever so slightly.
“If I remember correctly, she’s staying with the Fields’,” he supplies.
“They’re good people, she’s in good hands.”
I nod, looking past Chris and Sam to the group gathering on the lawn with
their bags. “Is this everybody? We should probably get started.”
“Sure,” Sam smiles, stepping closer. He reaches out to brush the backs of
his fingers against my cheek affectionately. “And after that, how about you
give me the grand tour and we can catch up?”
“Yeah, sure,” I nod, sucking in a breath as I feel Brock’s fingertips dig
into my hip. Looks like the tug of war has started between these two, and I’m
already feeling the strain of being stretched thin.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Brock
I should’ve known that things were going too well. Whenever that
happens, it’s only a matter of time before something comes along to fuck it
all up. That something in this case is pretty boy Sam from Denver, showing
up and putting his hands all over Astrid like he fucking owns her. Like he’s
got a death wish.
My wolf hates the smug little fucker. I’d love to teach him the hard way
that I don’t tolerate other people touching my things. At this point, the only
thing preventing me from tearing his stupid face off is the fact that Astrid
cares for him… and the whole alliance with the Denver pack, of course.
Can’t forget that.
Sam has spent the entire day glued to Astrid’s fucking hip, so she and I
haven’t had a moment alone to discuss why the hell it is that he showed up
here. I can only go off of what she’s told me in the past- that her and Sam
grew up together, that they used to date, and that while they’re no longer
romantically involved, the two of them are still close friends. From the way
Sam’s been with her today, though, I’d say that they’re maybe a little too
close. That he might’ve missed the memo on the ‘just friends’ thing.
Most of my energy today has been devoted to not flipping the fuck out.
I’ve had to make a concerted effort to keep my wolf in check, especially
when Sam suggested that he and his buddy stay the night here rather than
heading back to Denver. I was put on the fucking spot, so now the asshole is
staying in my packhouse. And that bar night out in Goldenleaf to blow off
some steam before inevitably heading into battle next week? Yeah, they’re
joining us for that, too.
We arrive at the bar just after nine, and I slide an arm around Astrid’s
slender shoulders, leading her over to the table where I usually sit with the
guys. Sam and Chris trail behind, and not long after we get there and Astrid
makes introductions, Sam suggests that they go up to the bar to grab drinks.
My wolf suggests that I rip the guy’s throat out in response, but the bar is
packed tonight and there’s no sign of Kelly the waitress, so I suppose his
suggestion isn’t completely out of line.
Until he uses that fucking pet name that he has for Astrid and my blood
starts to boil.
“You coming, lovely?” Sam asks, giving a little flick of his head as he
and Chris turn to head for the bar.
Astrid looks to me, and she must see my wolf peeking through because
she presses a palm to my chest, a gesture that she’s used in the past to calm
me. “They came all this way, I don’t want to be rude,” she says quietly,
leaning in.
“It’s fine,” I growl, picking up the beer that Gray slid me when I arrived.
Trying to play it cool, though I’m anything but.
Astrid gives me a reassuring smile, spinning around to follow Sam and
Chris. As she retreats, my eyes go straight to her delectable little ass- and
damn her for looking so good tonight, driving me fucking crazy. Dressed to
kill in a tight backless dress and heels. She disappears into the crowd and I
raise the beer bottle to my lips, guzzling the whole thing down in a few gulps.
“Everything alright?” Reid asks, arching a brow as I slam the empty beer
bottle on the table, wiping my mouth with a sleeve.
“Oh just fuckin’ peachy,” I grumble, shooting him a glare.
Jax grins mischievously from his seat on the other side of me. “You ready
to tell us what’s going on between you and the princess of the Denver pack?”
“None of your fucking business,” I snap, rifling through the empty bottles
on the table in search of a fresh beer. Reid picks up on what I’m doing and
slides me his full one. He must know I need it more than he does right now.
“Whatever, bro,” Jax chuckles, sipping on his own beer. “I told you it was
only a matter of time before a female was driving you crazy, too.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Quinn challenges as she approaches our
table, folding her arms over her chest and raising a brow at her mate.
Jax freezes, immediately backpedaling. “Nothing, babe, I was just giving
Brock a hard time…”
Quinn teases Jax and the other guys keep chatting amongst themselves,
but I barely hear a word of it. I chug down the beer that Reid passed to me,
looking through the crowd for Astrid. It doesn’t fucking help that the girl’s so
damn small- she’s not exactly easy to spot amidst the masses.
“You guys need anything?” Kelly asks, finally showing up and leaning in
between Gray and Theo to grab some of the empty bottles off of our table.
“Whiskey, neat,” I snap. “Make it a double. And none of that cheap shit.”
 Kelly winks at me from across the table. “You got it.” She looks around
to the others. “Anyone else?”
The other guys order beers and as soon as Kelly shuffles away, Reid turns
to me. “She must really be driving you nuts for you to be going for the hard
stuff,” he comments.
He’s right- I rarely go for liquor. I generally stick to beer so I can stay in
control at all times.
I scowl, shaking my head. “You have no fucking idea.” Mostly because
I’m not the ‘sharing’ type- in any sense of the word. My feelings or my
women. And speaking of…
I glance toward the bar, looking for Astrid again. This time, I actually
spot her- she’s sandwiched between Chris and Sam, and they’re chatting with
Vienna and the twins.
I don’t like how Sam’s looking at her. I don’t like how close he’s
standing to her. And I definitely don’t like how much he’s making her laugh.
She tosses her head back, reaching out to give him a playful shove. It makes
my fucking skin crawl, my wolf fighting to tear through.
Kelly appears in front of me, blocking my view of Astrid as she slides a
glass of amber colored liquor onto the table. “Sixteen even, honey.”
It’s a welcome distraction at this point- watching Astrid with that idiot
only riles up my wolf. I take a twenty out of my wallet and tell Kelly to keep
the change, turning away and returning to the conversation with the guys.
Sipping the whiskey to dull my senses and drown out my inner animal.
It works, for a time. Kelly delivers me another double-whiskey and I’m
just starting to sip on it when Chris approaches our table, positioning himself
between Reid and me.
“Mind if I hang with you guys for a while?” he asks, a beer bottle
dangling from his fingers.
I don’t respond right away- sure, he’s a nice enough guy, but he’s guilty
by association.
“Yeah, man, of course,” Reid replies. He shoots me a look that says, ‘get
your shit together’.
I’m too far gone.
“Thanks,” Chris sighs, taking a swig of his beer. “One of the girls- I think
her name was Quinn? Anyways, she talked everyone into dancing, and I’m
not down for that.”
Oh fuck no. My eyes immediately dart to the dance floor, seeking out
Astrid. I find her out there shaking her little ass on one of the twins- thank
fuck, because if she was doing that to Sam, I would’ve fucking lost it. He’s
just bobbing around on the periphery while the girls mostly dance with each
other.
Deep breaths. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“So Sam’s the pack’s Beta?” Reid asks, making casual conversation.
“Yup,” Chris nods. “He grew up with Cole and Astrid at the packhouse.
He and Astrid used to date, actually.”
I curl my fingers around my glass, bringing it to my lips and slamming
down the rest of the whiskey. Then I quickly return it to the table before it
splinters into shards in my bare hand from the force of my grip.
Reid’s eyebrows shoot up. “Oh yeah?” his eyes flicker past Chris to me.
“Yeah, more than once,” Chris chuckles. “We all thought they’d wind up
together. Hell, they probably still will. Those two are meant for each other.”
The tether that I had on my control completely fucking snaps- something
inside of me breaks in that moment and I see red. I shoot to my feet, and I
don’t even realize they’re carrying me out onto the dance floor until I wind
up there, eyes laser-focused on Astrid. Her eyes meet mine, widening, and
then that fucking dickwad Sam steps between us.
“What’s up, dude?” he asks, all fucking innocent. My fist connects with
his face. I swear I didn’t intend to hit the guy, but suddenly I feel the sting in
my knuckles and hear the crack of his jaw and his body goes down to the
floor like a sack of potatoes. And I can’t say that I’m not thinking rationally,
because truthfully, I’m not thinking at all; I’m on auto pilot. I simply step
over his crumpled form to a bewildered Astrid looking at me like a deer in
the headlights.
I grab her waist, yanking her in. Leaning my lips down beside her ear as
my pulse thunders in my ears. “This is fucking done,” I growl.
Before she can respond, I release my grip on her and turn away, storming
toward the door of the bar as everyone else fucking looks on. Guess I caused
a goddamn scene. I feel like I can’t breathe until I push the door open and
step out.
The air outside is chilly- it bites my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the
shards of ice that feel like they’re splintering inside of me right now. I can’t
fucking do this again. It all feels too familiar. The trauma of the past
juxtaposed with the situation at present is tearing me apart.
I grit my teeth, tugging my hair out of the elastic it’s tied back with,
pacing across the parking lot. Then I hear the door open, and I already know
it’s her.
Fuck.
“Brock!” Astrid calls out, and I turn to look at her over my shoulder as
she stomps over to me like an angry little pixie. “What the fuck was that?!”
she demands, throwing her hands on her hips.
I shake my head, scowling. “Just go back in there. Go back to him. I’m
done.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?!” she sighs exasperatedly.
I scrub a hand over my face, pressing my eyes closed tightly. “There’s
always someone else,” I rasp, my voice barely audible. I bite my lip hard
enough to draw blood, shaking my head adamantly. “I’m not doing it again.”
Astrid’s eyes fly wide as she shakes her own head in disbelief, taking a
tentative step in my direction. “Brock, you’re making something out of
nothing. I don’t have feelings for Sam, we have an understanding…”
“Bullshit,” I spit, narrowing my eyes on her. She freezes. “I see the way
that fucking guy looks at you, Astrid. It’s the same way that I…” I turn away,
stabbing my fingers through my hair. Dropping my fists to my sides and
balling them tightly.
I feel like a nuclear reactor melting down. I take a deep breath and spin
back around to face Astrid, my chest heaving. “I can’t fucking do this.”
 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Astrid
I’ve never seen Brock like this before. His eyes are wide, feral, without a
trace of humanity left in them. His pain and anger are swirling around him
like a category five hurricane, threatening to destroy everything in its wake.
Including me.
Something about tonight brought his past pain to the surface, and I feel
like he’s taking it all out on me- like I’m being punished for someone else’s
sins. So, as he completely shuts down and starts to walk away, I blurt out the
one thing on my mind.
“I’m not her, you know.”
Brock freezes in his tracks. Slowly, he turns to look at me over his
shoulder.
My lips part to speak again, my voice shaky. “I’m not Annalise.”
His eyes shoot daggers through me- they’re so cold, colder than I’ve ever
seen them. Detached. “No,” he growls cruelly. “You’re not.”
His words slice into me like a hot blade, spilling my guts on the floor.
Tears spring to my eyes, but he’s already gone.
~
It feels so strange coming back to Brock’s packhouse at the end of the
night after everything that’s happened. Sam, Chris and I hitched a ride here
from Reid- he was kind enough to offer, even though it was nowhere near on
his way home to take us to Riverton. Chris opted to stay the night with his
mate, so Reid dropped him there before bringing Sam and I to the packhouse.
Sam climbs out first, and I’m about to hop out of Reid’s SUV when he
speaks up, giving me pause.
“Go easy on him,” Reid says, peering over at me on the passenger side.
I freeze with my hand on the door, blinking back at him through the dark.
He heaves a sigh, running a hand over his close-cropped hair. “I know
he’s a dick, but he’s been through a lot.”
I pull my lower lip between my teeth, nodding. “I know,” I whisper. Then
I jump down out of the SUV, closing the door behind me. Looking up at the
packhouse and trying not to think about how everything went so sideways
tonight.
Sam and I make our way up the front walk, and it’s dark when the two of
us slip inside- everyone’s either still out or already in bed. I immediately take
off my heels, breathing a sigh as I give my sore feet a much-needed reprieve.
Bending, I pick them up off of the floor, tucking them under an arm and
staring toward the staircase.
Part of me wants to go up there and see if Brock’s home. To talk to him
and try to smooth things over. Then there’s another part of me that’s pissed
off, wanting to wait on an apology that will probably never come. Blinking
back tears, I turn away from the staircase, heading toward the hallway of the
guest wing instead and gesturing for Sam to follow. We creep down the
corridor quietly, and when we’re about halfway to the end, I point to the door
of the room that Brock assigned him. Coincidentally, it’s the guest room
that’s farthest from mine.
“That’s you,” I whisper, looking to Sam. “Goodnight.”
He gives a little shake of his head, reaching out to set his hand on my
arm. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
I’m too emotionally drained to protest, so I just whisper back “okay” and
continue on down the hallway.
Once we get to the end, I push open the door to my room, flicking the
light on as I step inside. Sam follows me in.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks quietly, concern in his pretty blue eyes
as he looks over at me.
“Are you?” I fire back, my eyes going to his jaw. Thank god for shifter
healing because it looked pretty nasty after Brock sucker punched him. And
like the great friend I am, I ran after Brock after it happened rather than
joining Chris in checking if he was okay.
He instinctively reaches up to rub it. “Like I said the first twenty times,
I’m fine,” Sam sighs. “Now stop dodging the question. You sure you’re okay,
Astrid?”
“Yeah, I’m…” but I can’t lie to Sam. He’s my best friend; he knows me
better than anyone. So I go with the truth. “I don’t know, Sam,” I say, my
voice breaking. “Right now, no, but I will be.”
Sam keeps his eyes on me as he slowly closes the door behind him, the
latch clicking.
I suck in a nervous breath. “What are you doing?”
 He steps closer, closing the distance until he’s standing right in front of
me, reaching out to cup my face in his hands. Staring down at me with so
much earnestness in his gaze. “Take it out on me.”
“Wh… what?” I croak.
One of his hands slip back to my nape, his fingers threading through my
hair. It feels good, familiar. My eyes slide closed.
“Everything you’re feeling,” Sam murmurs, swirling his fingertips in
circles on my scalp, massaging it. “Just take it out on me.”
Old habits die hard. It would be so easy to fall back into those patterns, to
fall into bed with Sam. To just get lost with him and forget about tonight. But
I know it wouldn’t help a damn thing in the long run, and it definitely
wouldn’t be fair to him or to Brock.
My eyes flutter open, meeting the bright blue of Sam’s. “No,” I whisper,
giving a little shake of my head. “I can’t.”
He stills his movements. “Why not?”
I bring my hands to cover his, removing them from my body and holding
them between us. “It wouldn’t be right.”
Sam blows out a breath, shaking his head. “Astrid, there’s never been
anything more right than you and me together. You and I both know it.”
“Sam, no…”
“Yes,” he insists, squeezing my hands with his own. “I know we said
we’re better as friends, but I’ve never cared for anyone like I do you. And I
don’t think I fully realized that until you went away for the past few weeks
while we were going through such heavy shit… I realized that I need you in
my life, I need to be with you. We may not be fated, but we’re supposed to be
together…”
Damn. Brock was right- Sam’s still carrying a torch for me. As an
intuitive, you’d think I would’ve picked up on this sooner. Did I just block it
out, hoping it wasn’t true?
I wriggle my hands free from his, taking a step back. “No, Sam, we’re
not,” I grind out, my throat raw.
Sam’s eyes narrow on me, and I see the silver shimmer of his wolf, his
temper flaring. “Why not?” he demands, throwing a thumb over his shoulder.
“Because of that guy?!”
I swallow hard, nodding.
“You barely fucking know him, babe!” Sam groans, raking a hand
through his golden hair, tugging on the strands.
 I draw a deep breath, mustering the courage to say the words that I need
to. Because I’ll always be honest with Sam, and because it’s the only way
he’ll let me go. “We’re not supposed to be together, Sam,” I say calmly, my
eyes fixed on his. “We can’t be, because I’m supposed to be with Brock. I’ve
seen it.”
His eyebrows shoot up, realization washing over his features. “You’ve
seen it?”
I nod solemnly. “In a vision. I’ve seen it. Brock’s my mate.”
Have you ever seen someone’s heart break right in front of your eyes?
My own breaks right along with Sam’s as he stands across from me. I feel his
sorrow wash over him like a wave, and it’s times like these that I wish I could
turn off my intuitive abilities. I know it’s not my fault, but I wish I never had
to know how much I hurt him. Knowing how much pain I’ve inflicted on
someone I love hurts so fucking much.
I love Sam, truly. Part of me always has, and part of me always will. I
wonder if things will ever be the same between us- if he’ll still be able to
have love for me if I can’t give him my heart the way he wants it. If we’ll still
be able to be so close. Something tells me no, that things will be different
from here on out.
“Come here,” he finally whispers, stretching his arms wide.
I step forward, falling into them. Into the arms that I’ve fallen into so
many times before- when I was happy, when I was sad, when I needed
comfort. Sam was always there with open arms for me.
I hold on tight as he wraps his arms around me, rocking me gently from
side to side. Pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m not gonna lie, lovely.
This hurts,” Sam rasps.
“I know.” A tear slips from my eye onto the fabric of his t-shirt as I
squeeze him tighter. I wish I could take his pain away, shoulder it all myself
so he didn’t have to.
“I just…” he continues, his lips moving against my hair. “I just want you
to be happy. Honestly. You know how much I love you, so I want you to be
happy, even if it isn’t with me.”
“I know,” I sniffle. The tears are rolling down my cheeks now- I’m
completely overwhelmed not only by my own emotions, but by his. “I want
the same for you, Sam. Truly. I’ll always love you, it’s just… a different kind
of love.”
He pulls back, looking down into my eyes. Bringing a hand up to run the
backs of his fingers along my cheek gently. He’s always been so kind, so
gentle.
I stare into the depths of his blue eyes. “You’ll see, when you find her.”
Sam nods, pressing his lips into a tight line. I know him well enough to
know that’s what he does when he’s fighting back tears.
“I hope you two work it out,” he finally breathes. “And for that to happen,
you probably need to stay here.”
“I know,” I nod. “You and Chris can still head back in the morning, but I
can’t go back to Denver. Not yet.”
He nods back at me, dropping his arms from around my waist. And for
the first time I can remember, things feel awkward between us.
“Well, I’m gonna get some sleep, then,” he says, backing toward the
door.
“Of course.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks, forcing a smile.
“Goodnight, Sam.”
“Goodnight,” he mumbles, pulling the door open. He steps through it, but
before it closes, he ducks his head back in. “Astrid?”
“Hm?” I ask, wringing my hands in front of me.
Sam offers me a supportive smile, even though it probably pains him to
do it. Because that’s just the kind of guy he is. “Good luck.”
My heart shatters all over again. “Thank you, Sam,” I choke.
I’ll need it.
 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Brock
I heard her come in. I’d been laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, going
over the events of the entire fucked up day in my head. Replaying everything
that went down at the bar. Trying to rationalize why I flipped the fuck out on
her. And then I heard the front door swing open and her high heels clacking
on the tile in the foyer.
After I left the bar, I shifted and ran back to Riverton. I drank too much to
drive, and letting my wolf out helped calm me down. The problem is, once I
was calmer, it started to sink in that I was probably rougher on Astrid than I
should’ve been. Damaged people only inflict damage on others- and I guess
that’s me. When pushed to the brink, I demolish everything in my path.
I don’t even know why I decided to get out of bed and go downstairs. I
guess just to make sure she made it back safely? I certainly didn’t have any
intention of trying to talk to her about what happened at the bar, I wasn’t
ready to face all that. But I went downstairs anyways. I looked for her down
the hall… just as Sam followed her into her room.
Any remorse I had for my actions at the bar disappeared in that moment.
Any torch I was carrying for her was effectively extinguished. I flipped a
switch. Went numb.
I successfully avoid seeing her all of Sunday, and on Monday morning, I
leave for the complex without her. I guess I’m just trying to be an asshole,
but I get it right back when she shows up at the complex with Reid twenty
minutes later. Of course she’d call him for a fucking ride. It shouldn’t piss me
off as much as it does, since I told myself I already let her go. And it
shouldn’t irritate me when she walks by on the practice field without
glancing my way, heading to IT rather than sticking around for morning
practice with the squad.
But it does.
I’m so fucking aggravated that my skin is itchy, like I’ve got bugs
crawling all over me. My face is hot, my heart’s hammering against my ribs,
and my wolf is scraping the surface. It’s fucking unbelievable that she has the
nerve to throw me the cold shoulder, to be mad at me, after proving me right
and fucking her ex. After I actually felt fucking remorseful for losing my shit
on her like I did.
I don’t need this- especially not today, when the second half of the squad
is heading off to Denver. They were originally slated to leave tomorrow, but
the timeline keeps moving up. After a shortened practice this morning, they’ll
be grabbing their bags, piling on buses, and heading out. I need to be
focusing on my responsibilities to the squad, not hurricane Astrid.
I avoid the other guys until practice starts- because I don’t want to talk
about Saturday with them, either- and although it’s supposed to be a light
workout today, I throw everything I have into it. Exercise has always been an
outlet for me; a way to burn off negative energy and get both myself and my
wolf under control. When my blood is pumping and sweat is seeping from
my pores, that’s when I feel the most relaxed.
Once practice ends and the rest of the squad heads back inside to shower
up and grab their bags, I post up by the side of the building, using the hem of
my t-shirt to wipe sweat from my brow and squirting water into my mouth
from my sports bottle. It doesn’t take long for Reid and Theo to make their
way over, and I cringe inwardly knowing what’s coming. Because while Reid
has some tact, Theo’s got no fucking filter.
“How’s it goin’, man?” Reid asks as he approaches, taking a sip from his
own water bottle.
“Fine,” I grumble, capping mine and tossing it on the ground at my feet. I
look past them, realizing that we’re the only ones left on the practice field.
“Where are Jax and Gray at?”
“Gray’s meeting with IT,” Theo supplies. “Something about an updated
timeline. They called the whole unit in yesterday.”
My brows shoot up. This is news to me.
Upon seeing my reaction, Theo’s eyes narrow. “Didn’t Astrid tell you?
Pretty sure Brooke mentioned she was with them yesterday…”
Before I have to field that question, Reid speaks up.
“I haven’t seen Jax all morning,” he comments, looking to Theo. “Or
your sister, come to think of it. Wonder if those two are playing hooky
today.”
Theo grimaces. He’s still not fully adjusted to the fact that his baby sister
is mated to Jax. “Well whatever he’s doing, he’d better show up to see the
squad off.”
 Reid rolls his eyes. “I’m sure he will.”
A pause settles over the three of us as I stare down at the dirt, kicking it.
Trying to think of anything other than…
“So why’d Astrid ride in with you today?” Theo asks, turning to Reid.
Reid’s eyes go to me, and I cut in.
“Just to get under my fuckin’ skin, I’m sure,” I grumble, kicking at the
dirt.
Theo swivels back to me, arching a brow. “Oh yeah? It’s like that?”
I shoot him a glare, signaling for him to drop it. “Yeah.”
Reid helpfully changes the subject to who’s driving and who’s riding with
who when it’s our turn to go to Denver, and before long, squad members are
filing out of the building with their duffel bags, ready to head out.
I barely even notice when Jax and Quinn approach us, reeking of sex.
Real subtle, those two.
“Where the hell have you been?” Reid teases when he sees Jax, his lips
curling into a smirk. He’s definitely picked up on what they’ve been up to.
“You know the plan was for all of us to be here to send off the rest of the
squad.”
Jax rolls his eyes folding his arms over his chest. “I’m here now, aren’t
I?” he says defensively, glancing around. “Where’s Gray?”
“He’s meeting with IT,” Theo supplies. “Getting an updated timeline.”
Jax nods slowly. “Do we know what that looks like yet?”
“Do any of us look like Gray?” I snap irritably. If Jax had just been here
this morning like he was supposed to be, we wouldn’t have to be filling him
in right now.
Jax’s eyes widen. “Damn, what’s got you in such a cheerful mood
today?”
Reid chuckles, clapping me on the shoulder and trying to make light of
the situation. “His houseguest is still driving him crazy.”
I grunt, staring down at the ground and kicking the dirt again. I swear, if
Jax starts asking me about Astrid next, I’m going to…
“There’s Gray,” Theo says, and I look up to see him nodding his head
toward the doors of the complex.
I follow his gaze to see Gray stalking toward us, his expression sullen.
This… doesn’t look good. I start to get irritable again, itchy with anticipation
as he draws closer.
“So, what’s the word?” Reid asks once Gray’s within earshot. “How
many days do we have?”
“We don’t,” Gray grits out. He comes up beside Theo, his jaw clenching.
“It’s time.”
I just stare at him, forgetting to breathe for a second. I think my heart
actually stops beating in my chest as I process his words.
“But I thought we had a few more days,” Theo murmurs, his trademark
smirk gone from his face.
Gray frowns. “We all did. But IT got some new information yesterday,
now it appears that the attack may be coming as soon as tomorrow night.”
“So we’ll see these guys off, then hit the road?” Reid asks, looking
around at all of us. “Everybody have a bag packed?”
I nod quickly. I’ve had my duffel in the trunk of the Escalade for a few
days now. Along with one of Astrid’s suitcases.
Theo scrubs a hand over his face. “I’ve gotta go see Brooke…”
Gray gives a little shake of his head. “Let’s see these guys off first, then
you can go take care of what you need to before we leave.”
Theo presses his lips into a tight line, nodding. I don’t think I’ve ever
seen the guy look so serious. He’s not the only one- the gravity of the
situation is hitting all of us like a brick fucking wall right about now.
The buses pull in a few minutes later and Gray gives a little motivational
speech before the squad members start piling onto them to leave. I’m still
numb. First everything with Astrid, and now this? I can’t catch a fucking
break.
After the buses leave, I hang out on the field while the others go to grab
their bags or say their goodbyes or whatever the fuck it is they have to do. It
isn’t long before we’re all circled up again with the addition of Quinn, Fallon,
and Astrid, and we’re finally ready to hit the road.
I’m still in a state of disbelief that this is happening right now. I mean, we
knew it was coming, but now that we’re actually leaving it feels incredibly
surreal. Like I’m in a bad dream that I’m struggling to wake from.
We all head out to the parking lot, splitting off to separate into two
vehicles. Gray and Fallon will be riding in Jax’s truck with him and Quinn,
while Theo and Reid will be riding with me in the Escalade. As we split off,
though, Astrid stops, standing there awkwardly. I guess she wasn’t actually
assigned a vehicle.
As Quinn’s reaching for the passenger door handle of Jax’s pickup truck,
she notices that Astrid’s standing on her own and throws her a bone.
 “Do you want to ride with us?” Quinn calls out to her.
Astrid pauses, hazarding a glance my way before she looks back to
Quinn. “Sure,” she breathes, flashing Quinn a smile. It isn’t her usual bright,
sunshiny smile, though. It looks forced. “Thanks.”
She starts to head toward Jax’s truck as my wolf thrashes in my chest.
No. This isn’t fucking happening.
“Astrid!” I bark out, and she stops in her tracks, whipping her head
around to look my way. Surprise plays on her features, like she’s shocked
that I’m speaking to her. Hell, maybe I shouldn’t be.
For a moment, we just stare at one another, all the fucking drama of the
other night hanging between us. It all seems trivial, now, considering we’re
literally riding off to fight for our lives. There’s something else that stretches
between us, too. Connection. One that’s still there, still strong, no matter how
we’ve tested it.
I give a little flick of my head, beckoning her to me. “Come on.”
Astrid’s jaw goes slack, and she throws a thumb over her shoulder. “But I
was gonna…”
I shake my head. “Nah, fuck that. You’re riding with me.”
She nods, stuffing her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie and jogging
toward the Escalade, her eyes trained on the ground.
The four that are gathered around Jax’s truck look my way curiously, but
none of them say a damn word. Wise, because I’m not in the mood for
questions right now. Ignoring their suspicious stares, I turn toward the
Escalade, right as Theo reaches for the door handle of the front passenger
door.
“Nuh uh, get in back,” I growl as I make my way to the drivers’ side.
“Astrid’s riding up front.”
Theo’s face twists into a scowl as he pulls the door open. “Fuck no! My
legs are like twice as long as hers, you really want me to ride all the way to
Denver stuffed in the back seat?”
“It’s my back seat or Jax’s,” I say, looking over at him through the
vehicle as I climb into the drivers’ side.
Theo mumbles a few choice words under his breath, leaving the
passenger door standing open and moving to open the back door instead,
shuffling past Astrid in the process.
“Brock, I can…” she starts, but I shoot her a look that has her snapping
her mouth closed.
 I point to her across the center console, my eyes dark. “Get in.”
She does, and Theo begrudgingly takes the seat behind her while Reid
slides in behind me. I fire up the ignition, and once all four doors are closed, I
shift into reverse and pull out of my parking spot. Jax’s truck is already
waiting, and I slide the gear into drive, pulling up behind him to follow.
We hit the road, and the mood in the cab of the Escalade is somber as we
do. We’re taking in our familiar surroundings, committing them to memory.
The tall metal walls of the squad complex. The curve of the road that leads
away from it. The thickness of the forest as we drive out of the territory. If all
goes well, we’ll return in a few days’ time and see it all again. And if it
doesn’t…
I can’t allow myself to consider the alternative.
The four of us are quiet all the way to the highway, when Theo speaks up
and breaks the silence that has lingered since we left the complex.
“So what’s going on with you two, anyways?” he asks, his eyes flickering
from me to Astrid.
“Fuck off,” I grumble.
Theo chuckles. “Ah, come on, man. Just tell me. Are you guys a thing?
You just fucking?”
I make eye contact with him in the rearview mirror, shooting him a glare.
“Don’t fucking worry about it.”
I glance sideways at Astrid, and her eyes instantly collide with mine.
There it is again, that connection. It’s undeniable. I’m mad at her, and I’m
pretty sure she’s mad at me, but our anger seems to have only stoked the
flames of our desire for one another. Despite everything, and against my
better judgment, I still fucking want her. It’s maddening.
Knowing what lies ahead, everything feels so damn heavy right now.
Saturday night’s bullshit pales in comparison. With the battle ahead, I
suddenly realize that I don’t really care about the fight that Astrid and I had,
not anymore. It seems so miniscule in the grand scheme of things.
I tear my gaze from the road to dart her another glance, and when our
eyes meet again, it’s like an understanding passes between us. That in the
face of what we’re about to encounter with the shadow pack, neither of us
wants to fight each other. It’s not worth it.
It hits me that I’m not mad at her anymore. It doesn’t even matter if she
fucked her ex. I just… need her. She’s the light to my dark, the calm to my
chaos. And more than anything, I need her right now, to keep me grounded
like only she can.
I reach across the center console, placing my hand over Astrid’s. It’s so
small in comparison, so delicate. Sparks dance between our skin as she sucks
in a breath, turning her hand around so her palm is against mine. I lace my
fingers with hers, holding on tight.
In the rearview mirror I can see Reid and Theo exchanging glances, but
fuck ‘em. They don’t know what this is. Hell, I don’t even know what it is,
but if I’m gonna die tomorrow, I’m going out with no regrets- starting with
letting go of my anger towards the only girl who’s ever really gotten me. The
only one who was patient and gentle enough to chip away at the ice around
my heart and reach in and really see me. I realize that now, in the face of
what’s to come. I just hope it isn’t too late.
“You guys are fucking weird,” Theo grumbles, eyeing our intertwined
hands.
I ignore him. Instead, I slip Astrid another side-eyed gaze, the corner of
my mouth tipping up into the faintest of smiles as I give her hand a squeeze.
Fuck she’s beautiful.
Looking over at me, Astrid’s plush lips curve into a little smirk.
And she squeezes my hand back.
 CHAPTER THIRTY

Astrid
Damn it feels good to be home. As soon as we pull through the main gate
and onto my pack’s territory, I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my
face. This is the longest I’ve ever been away from Denver, and I’d be lying if
I said I wasn’t glad to be back- though I wish it was under better
circumstances.
When we pull into the packhouse driveway, I’m practically bursting at
the seams with excitement, a total contrast to the somber moods of the other
three guys in the car with me. I get that we’re here for a battle, and I’m just as
nervous as the rest of them for that- but right now, I’m just excited to see my
brother.
We all pile out of the vehicles and grab our bags- Brock grabs mine- and
we’re escorted inside by packhouse security. When my eyes land on Cole
waiting in the foyer, I practically tackle him with a hug, earning one of his
rare smiles. My brother is typically all business in his role as Alpha; few
people get the privilege of seeing the real him or how beautiful his smile is.
“I missed you too,” Cole laughs, pulling back look at me. “Glad to have
you back home.”
“Glad to be here,” I grin.
He leans in a little closer, dropping his voice low. “Sam said you were
having more visions, that you’ve seen one about your ma…”
“Later,” I blurt, cutting him off and giving a little shake of my head.
Cole narrows his eyes, searching my face. A silent conversation passes
between our gazes, and I don’t need to elaborate further for him to
understand my meaning. The two of us are so close that we can basically
communicate without words.
Cole nods, clapping me on the shoulder before moving past me to greet
Gray, who starts introducing him to the others. I’m left standing there facing
Sam, who I last saw when he left Riverton yesterday morning. Normally, I’d
give Sam the same big hug that I gave Cole in greeting, but things have
shifted between us since our conversation on Saturday night. Now it’s…
awkward.
I hope it’s not like this forever, but for the time being, I get it. He’s still
adjusting to the bomb I dropped on him the other night and I’m still reeling a
little bit from his declaration of love. Sam greets me with a soft ‘hey’ and an
uncomfortable half-hug, all while eyeing Brock over my shoulder. I glance
back at the big bad wolf and he’s standing there rigidly, his jaw twitching-
and we’re definitely going to have to have a talk about this at some point,
because I’m not going to end my lifelong friendship with Sam over Brock’s
jealousy issues.
Once Cole greets everyone, he tells them to leave their bags in the foyer
and leads us all into the large living room in the back of the packhouse,
where Cole’s four advisors- Chris, Sasha, Victor, and Micah- are seated, as
well as Rico, the head of Denver’s IT. Cole makes more introductions, and
then everyone sinks onto the numerous couches spread around the room so
we can get right down to business.
I’m wandering around while everyone else gets settled when I feel an arm
come around my waist and I’m yanked down into a hard body. When I
realize I’m on Brock’s lap, my cheeks flush and I quickly shuffle sideways,
sliding onto the seat next to him instead. It’s not the time or place for him to
be getting handsy- and I feel like the gesture has more to do with Sam being
in the room than anything. He settles for slinging an arm around my
shoulders and I relax back into it, crossing one leg over the other and looking
to where Cole’s standing in the front of the room.
“Now that we’re all acquainted, we should get started,” he says, giving
Rico a nod. Rico has a laptop resting on his knees that he’s using to control
the TV screen behind Cole, and it lights up, an image coming onto the screen.
“These are the aerial maps you’ve already seen, and we’ll take you out
there this afternoon so you can familiarize yourselves with the terrain,” Cole
says, his gaze shifting between the six-pack alphas. “The first fighters that
you guys sent up last week have already been out there with our troops and
have their positions sorted out. The others that showed up today should be
out there getting the lay of the land as we speak.”
Cole turns at the waist, gesturing to the thick treeline visible on the aerial
image. “We’re almost certain this is the section of the perimeter they’re going
to breach, since it’s the most accessible and it’s also the area their scouts
staked out a few weeks ago.”
“Are we still going with the three-prong approach?” Gray asks, leaning
forward to rest his elbows on his knees and squinting to get a better look at
the image on the screen.
Cole nods. “That’s the plan.” Rico clicks the mouse, and the image on the
screen changes to an aerial shot with several white X’s marked. “As you
know, we’ll have multiple teams with direct defense positioned across from
the treeline and groups waiting in the wings on either side that are ready to
sweep in once they engage.”
“It’s solid,” Reid mumbles, leaning back with an ankle resting on his
knee and his chin grasped between his thumb and forefinger. “I know we said
we’d make final tweaks to the battle plan today, but I’m not sure whether any
are necessary.”
“Might actually be detrimental to make any changes at this point,” Chris
adds. “Both our troops and the six-pack’s squad are familiar with the current
battle plan.”
Cole looks to Chris, nodding in agreement. Out of his four advisors, Chris
is the strategist when it comes to this kind of stuff, so his word carries a lot of
weight.
“Well, if we don’t have any changes to make, we might as well head out
there,” Cole suggests.
Several people mumble in affirmation and begin rising to their feet.
Brock gives my shoulder a squeeze before climbing up from the couch,
turning and offering me a hand. I take it and he pulls me up, nearly flinging
me across the room in the process. Dude is even stronger than he looks. He
sticks close to me as we all group up to head out to the border of the territory.
We all know the battle plan well. We’ve gone over it again and again
during squad practice with the six-pack, and I know they’ve been doing the
same here in Denver. Now all we’ve gotta do is execute it- and, with any
luck, it just might work.
~
We spend several hours out where the battle will take place tomorrow,
getting everybody on the same page and running through formations with
both the Denver troops and the six-pack’s security squad. It’s after dark by
the time we call it and head back to the packhouse, and I can’t be the only
one who’s exhausted and emotionally drained from this day. It isn’t that late,
but it feels like today has stretched on forever- it’s hard to believe I woke up
in Riverton just this morning.
I don’t even realize how hungry I am until I smell the food in the
packhouse kitchen, and we all eat a quick dinner, though there isn’t much
conversation. We’re all tired and in dire need of a good night’s sleep before
tomorrow. Once everyone’s had their fill, the six-pack alphas and their mates
grab their bags and Cole, ever the helpful host, directs them down the west
corridor where we’ve got ample space for packhouse visitors.
“Where’s your room?” Brock murmurs in my ear as Cole shows the
others to the guest wing.
I lean backwards into his hard chest, craning my neck to whisper to him
over my shoulder. “Upstairs.”
His lips brush my ear as he leans in to speak again, his warm breath on
my neck sending goosebumps skittering up my spine. “Let’s go.”
Brock’s arms come around my waist, holding me in place as the others
continue on down the hall.
“Okay,” I breathe, covering his hands with mine and peeling them from
my body. I spin around, giving a little nod of my head back in the direction
we came from. “C’mon.”
The two of us slip away from the others, heading back out to the foyer.
Brock already has his duffel slung over his shoulder, but he stops to grab my
suitcase before I lead him to the opposite wing of the packhouse and upstairs
to my room. My heart’s pounding the entire time- Brock’s mere proximity
tends to have that effect on me.
He follows me in, and I lock the door behind him as he crosses the room
and drops our bags, glancing around and taking in the interior of my space.
It’s nothing too fancy- tastefully decorated, well-appointed with a queen-
sized bed, a couple of dressers, an en-suite bathroom, and a big walk-in
closet. The walls are painted a pale shade of pink, and all of my furniture and
bedlinens are a soft white. Chic and feminine.
I study Brock as he studies my space, my gaze drifting from his sharp
jawline, covered in the roguish scruff of his beard, to his broad chest, where
the fabric of his t-shirt is straining against his pectoral muscles, down to
where his jeans hang low off his hips. When my eyes make their way back up
this face, I find an amused smirk crossing it.
“What?” I ask, a blush forming on my cheeks. He totally just caught me
checking him out, didn’t he?
“Nothing,” he mumbles as his eyes come to mine. He gestures around my
room. “It’s just very… you.”
I purse my lips, moving toward him and closing the distance between us.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Brock shrugs, looking around again. “It’s just so… pure.”
I roll my eyes, then realize that he’s now checking me out. I feel the heat
from his gaze practically singe my skin as it travels slowly down my body
and back up again as I shift my weight from one foot to the other. I’m still
casually attired in a pair of black high-waisted leggings and a powder blue
cropped hoodie, but he’s staring at me as if I’m dressed to the nines, his
tongue sweeping across his lips as his eyes return to mine.
He takes a step toward me, strong arms circling my waist that begin to
pull me in. I almost let him, but somehow, despite how fucking delicious and
masculine he smells and how good his hard body feels against mine, I’m able
to come back to my senses.
“Nuh uh, paws off, mister,” I scold, swiping his hands away from my
body. I shrink backwards, folding my arms over my chest. Trying my best to
stay on target and not let my eyes wander over his physique again. “You owe
me a conversation.”
Brock blows out a breath, running a hand through that gorgeous long hair
of his, and all I can think of is how I want to run my own hands through those
silky strands. “Okay,” he sighs as he takes a big step back, his calves
colliding with the bed before he sinks down on the edge of it. “Let’s talk.”
Good, so we’re on the same page. I figured he’d put up more of a fight
since he’s not much of a talker, but I’m pleasantly surprised that he’s being
so open. Maybe all of those walls of his didn’t slam back into place the other
night. I’m not exactly sure where to start, so I just jump right in.
“What you did on Saturday, to Sam…” I begin, but Brock cuts me off.
“Did you fuck him?” he grumbles.
“What?” my eyes fly wide, jaw going slack. “Why would you…”
Brock squeezes his eyes shut, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I came
down after you got back. I saw you two go into your room.”
I suck in a breath. I’m speechless- one, because he just so crassly came
out and asked me that, and two, because it hadn’t even occurred to me that
Brock would’ve seen that and jump to the conclusion he did.
His eyes snap back open, colliding with my own. “Just do me a favor and
don’t fucking lie to me.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Wh… why do you think I’d lie to you? Is
that really what you think of me?”
He scowls, shaking his head. I take a step closer so I’m standing directly
in front of him. Given our height difference, we’re basically eye to eye with
me standing and him sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I didn’t sleep with Sam that night,” I sigh. “I see how you’d make that
assumption but… damnit, Brock, don’t you know me better than that by
now? Did you honestly think I’d do that to you?”
“I don’t know what I thought,” he growls, pinching the bridge of his nose
between his thumb and forefinger and squeezing his eyes closed again. “I’m
all fucked up, okay?”
“Well yeah. You kinda flipped out on me at the bar, can we circle back to
that?” I unfold my arms, resting a hand on my hip. “What the hell was all that
about?”
“I… I don’t know, Astrid. I felt like I was reliving some fucked up
version of my past.” His eyes come to mine again, and the vulnerability in
them nearly knocks me off my feet. He’s actually opening up. Actually
trying.
Brock sucks in a breath, tugging his hair back with a hand. “I’m really
fucking sorry for flipping out on you. I’m just not equipped to handle this
kind of shit. Anna ruined me for it. We were always fighting about dumb shit,
and I just… I fucking can’t.” His eyes flicker away again.
“And I’m not Anna,” I say, the words bitter on my tongue. They’ve been
stinging the back of my mind since he said them that night; that I don’t
compare to his first love. “Right? I’ll never be able to measure up to her.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Brock scowls, reaching out for
me. He snatches me around the waist, pulling me into him so forcefully that I
collide with the hardness of his chest. My legs immediately part to straddle
his lap, like it’s the most natural thing for our bodies to fit together like this.
“Jesus, is that what you really think?” he grumbles, cupping my face in
one of his giant hands. He stares into my eyes, the forest green of his own
yanking me into their depths. “She doesn’t hold a fuckin’ candle to you,
babe.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. I sink my teeth into my bottom lip,
watching Brock as he furrows his brow, his expression stoic.
“Listen, when I said you weren’t Anna, I meant it as a good thing,” he
says, his low, gravelly voice stroking something deep inside of me. “Like I
told you before, you get me, she never did. The more time I spend with you,
the more I realize how fucking toxic she and I were for each other. I thought
it was right, but now I know more than ever that it wasn’t. But you and I…”
 Brock heaves a sigh, running this thumb back and forth across my lips.
“You could never be her because you’re too good. Too good for me, that’s
for damn sure.”
“Stop,” I whisper, looping my arms around his neck. “Don’t say things
like that. You can’t tell me what’s good or bad for me, or what I want.”
Brock shakes his head. “I don’t know what the fuck I can offer you,
Astrid,” he breathes, his brows pulling together. “I’m a goddamn mess. I
could fucking die tomorrow. But I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”
I take his face in both hands, and again, I’m fucking speechless.
“Brock…” I say his name, but my throat’s tight and it comes out hoarse.
It may not be the most eloquent declaration, but it’s perfectly him, and it
totally hits me right in the feels.
“Sorry,” he sighs, raking a hand through his hair again. Almost nervously,
like he’s not Brock Masters, the big bad wolf himself. “I’m not really the
share your feelings type. I’m no good at this heavy emotional shit.”
I giggle, moving my palms down to rest on his chest. “You’re doing
great.”
“Yeah?” he asks, sliding his hands up my waist underneath my
sweatshirt.
I tilt my head sideways. “Well, your delivery could use some work, but
it’s a solid start,” I wink.
He growls, taking me in his arms and flipping me over, pinning me
underneath him on the bed. His hand comes to my throat, gripping it loosely
as he lowers his face over mine. I feel the warmth of his breath on my lips as
his wolf peeks at me through his eyes, golden flecks sparkling in his irises.
When he speaks, his voice comes out in a growl that’s almost more animal
than human. “Clothes off. Now.”
“Wh… what?” I pant, his grip on my throat restricting my air ever so
slightly.
He loosens it, lifting his hand off and crawling backwards off of me,
rising to stand beside the bed. The way he’s staring down at me is predatory;
he’s the hunter, I’m the fox. And I’ve never wanted to get caught so badly.
“Now,” he repeats, kicking his own shoes off, his eyes still fixed on me.
“If this is my last night on earth, then I want to spend it with my face buried
between those thighs.”
Damn him and his dirty talk. A flood of heat rushes to my core, my face
flushing as I kick my shoes off and yank my leggings down. I pause just long
enough to see his shirt come off over his head, practically drooling when
those perfectly chiseled muscles come into view. Then I’m frantically tearing
off my own shirt, unhooking my bra, tossing everything away until I’m laid
bare for him.
“Fuck…” he murmurs, his eyes trailing over my body as his chest rises
and falls with heavy breaths. Brock reaches out to grab my foot, yanking me
closer. I let out a squeak as my body glides against the covers, and then he’s
lifting my ankle to his mouth, his tongue darting out to lick my skin.
I shiver as Brock begins licking and kissing and nipping his way up my
leg, leaning over me as his mouth comes to my hip, my belly, the swell of my
breast. I bury a hand in his hair as he sucks on my nipple, rolling it between
his teeth, my back arching off of the bed. Then he’s licking along my
collarbone, my neck, the seam of my lips. I feel his hardness pressing
insistently against my thigh as I draw a gasp, my lips parting to let him in. He
doesn’t kiss me gently; he kisses me like I’m his last meal and he wants to
fucking devour me. One of my hands tugs at his hair, the other claws at his
back.
Then he’s moving back down again. His teeth sink into the flesh of my
breast and a breathy moan escapes me as I ride that fine line between pain
and pleasure. His hand slides between my legs, this thumb brushing my clit
as he sinks a finger inside of me. I squirm in pleasure as he pumps it a few
times, then pulls it back out, his eyes trained on mine as he brings it up to my
lips.
He slides his finger into my mouth and I suck myself off of him as he
growls in satisfaction. “See how fucking good you taste?” He returns his
hand to my pussy, delving the same digit back into my tight channel. When
he slides it out again, he brings it to his own mouth, holding eye contact as he
sucks my juices off of his finger. I don’t know why it’s so damn hot to see
him do that, but my whole body’s suddenly blazing, slick with sweat and
anticipation.
“Brock… please…” I pant, fisting the sheets in my hands, writhing on the
bed.
He cocks up an eyebrow. “Please what?” he grumbles, sliding his hands
down to my thighs and holding them apart. “Please lick your pussy?”
“Yes!” I gasp.
He lowers himself so that his mouth is at the apex of my thighs, but he’s
barely brushing against me. It’s fucking torture.
 “Say it,” he murmurs, and I feel the vibration from his deep voice against
my mound.
“Please!” I whine, bringing my hands to his hair and tugging. “Please lick
my pussy!”
Brock chuckles like the smug bastard he is, then wastes no time in
attaching his mouth to my clit as a scream tears from my throat. He’s way too
good at this, and within minutes I’m panting, writhing, practically crying for
release. I’m tugging at his hair, my thighs squeezing around his ears, and he’s
completely unphased- if anything, my desperate moans have him tongue-
fucking me harder. He presses a hand to my belly to hold me in place as I
tremble, about to come completely undone.
He suddenly pulls back slightly, and I feel the rumble of his voice vibrate
against my pussy again. “You gonna come, baby?”
“Yeah,” I whine, undulating my hips, pressing myself back into his
mouth.
He licks along my slit, chuckling cruelly. “Good. Come all over my
fucking face, Astrid. And then when you’re done, I’m going to fuck you so
hard that you’ll be coming again all over my fucking cock.”
When he suctions his mouth over my clit again, my orgasm rips through
me almost instantaneously, sending fire shooting out through my limbs. My
back arches, my toes curl, and by the time I catch my breath and come back
down, Brock’s on top of me, the smooth head of his cock prodding my
entrance.
When he pushes inside, it steals my breath- he’s big, filling me so
completely that my eyes roll back in my head. He grips my hips with his
hands as he pumps in and out with slow, punishing strokes. His pelvis rubs
against my clit and my orgasm starts to slowly build again with every thrust,
his name falling from my lips over and over like a prayer.
He’s good at this. Too good. I’m completely enraptured when I’m
beneath him, our bodies in perfect harmony. I’m on the verge of completely
unraveling when he suddenly pulls out, flipping me over onto my belly. He
lifts my hips so I’m face down, ass up, one of his hands on my nape, the other
guiding his dick back into my tight channel.
“Mine,” he growls as she shoves inside, his hand coming to my ass cheek
and gripping it hard as he hammers into me like a man possessed. “Say
you’re mine, Astrid. I need you to fucking say it.” His voice is strained as he
keeps railing me, his hips slapping against my ass.
 I don’t know how I get the words out when I can barely catch a breath,
but some rational part of my brain whispers that he needs this on a deeper
level; this isn’t about sex, it’s about connection. Somehow, I manage to
choke out, “I’m yours. Only yours.”
A growl tears from his chest and he loses all control, fucking me harder,
deeper- and just when I think neither of us can take anymore, he’s pulling
out, flopping down beside me, yanking me by the waist until I’m hovering
over his dick, sinking back down onto it with a moan.
His eyes feast over me as I start riding him, sweat trickling between my
breasts. It doesn’t take long before my thighs are quivering, a tight knot in
my belly ready to release with my climax. Brock’s breathing grows
shallower, signaling to me that he’s right there, too. And then we tumble over
the edge together. His fingers dig into my hips, my nails score the skin of his
chest. He groans, thrusting up into me; I whine, grinding down over him. Our
bodies are perfectly in sync.
We’re facing the shadow pack tomorrow, so this could be our last night.
We make it count. Brock carries me into the shower and we wash ourselves
clean, only to start doing it again underneath the stream of hot water.
Afterwards, we don’t even make it to the bed before we’re back on each
other- we fuck on the floor, the friction giving us both carpet burns. I lose
count of the orgasms, losing myself in Brock. By the time we finally pass out,
I don’t know where my body ends and his begins. My limbs are tangled with
his own, his arms tight around me as darkness creeps in and I slip into a deep,
dreamless sleep.
 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Brock
“I want you where I can see you.”
“No. You’ll get distracted.”
“Bullshit. I’ll be more distracted if I don’t have eyes on you.”
“But Brock…”
I shake my head adamantly, tightening my grip around Astrid’s waist.
“But nothing. It’s either take a position where I can see you or sit this one
out.”
“You know I can’t do that,” she sighs.
“Then you know what you have to do.”
“Ugh!” Astrid groans, throwing her hands up. “You’re exhausting.”
I know I’ve won, but the victory is hollow. I hate that she’s going to be
on the battlefield at all- but since she’s insistent on it, I at least need to have
her somewhere that I can see her so I can protect her if necessary. The
thought of any harm coming to Astrid has me seeing red.
“Let me talk to Cole quick, see if I can shift over to squadron six,” she
mumbles, wriggling out of my grasp.
I give her a little nod, watching after her as she makes her way over to her
brother.
The battle plans are simple. We’ve gone over them countless times,
committed them to memory. All of the fighters are separated into smaller
teams, or squadrons- each of us squad leaders from the six-pack are leading
one, and Cole has his people split into five more, so there are five squadrons
of six-pack fighters and five of Denver fighters. It makes the most sense this
way, as our packs can’t mind-link with Denver’s, and we’ll be shifting to
wolf form to fight. The squadrons are evenly spaced along the area of the
border where the attack is anticipated, ready to defend once the shadow pack
arrives.
Which will be soon. We got word from surveillance that they were on the
move, so we’re all out here taking our positions. It’s dusk, and it feels like
it’s getting colder by the minute as the sun retreats.
 “Barbie Beast,” I call as Fallon passes by me, reaching out to give her a
fist-bump of encouragement. “You’ve got this.”
A devious grin stretches her lips. “Damn right I do. See you on the other
side,” she says, her long blonde ponytail swishing behind her as she goes to
take her position. I’ve always liked Fallon- the girl’s fucking fearless. The
shadow pack isn’t gonna know what hit them when it comes to her.
Gray is following closely behind his mate, giving me a little nod as he
passes by. “Good luck out there.”
“Same to you,” I murmur, clenching and unclenching my fists and
hopping from one foot to the other to get my blood pumping.
Reid’s squadron is positioned right beside mine, and he’s just staring off
into the treeline, totally in the zone. I walk over to him and he’s so focused
that he doesn’t even turn to me until I’m right up on him.
“Hey,” I grumble. “Astrid’s gonna switch to squadron six so I can keep
eyes on her. But if anything happens to me…”
Reid gives a curt nod, picking up on my meaning before I even finish.
“Yeah, of course,” he grits out. “I’ve got her.”
I nod, clapping him on the shoulder. “Thanks man. Give ‘em hell.”
“Back atcha,” Reid smirks, and I turn and stride back over to my assigned
squadron, looking around for Astrid. She’d better work out a closer position,
or I’m sending her ass back to the packhouse to wait this thing out.
I spot her walking my way, an angry looking Chris following closely.
“You can’t just swap things out at the last minute, Astrid,” he protests, his
tone laced with annoyance.
She waves over her shoulder at him dismissively. “It’ll be fine, Chris.
Cole said it’s fine. Just go back to your squadron.”
“But Astrid…” Chris argues, and the fucker has the nerve to reach out
and grab her arm, yanking her back.
I charge in their direction, closing the distance between us in just a few
strides.
“You got a fuckin’ problem?” I demand, and Chris immediately lets
Astrid’s arm go, shrinking back.
Astrid rolls her eyes, folding her arms over her chest and positioning
herself between us. “No problem. Chris is just a control freak about battle
plans.” She turns and shoots him a glare. “But it isn’t the end of the world for
one person to change squadrons, is it, Chris?”
His eyes narrow on her, his jaw clenching- but if he had any retort, he
changes his mind about voicing it when his gaze slides over to me again.
Chris heaves an irritated sigh, turning on a heel. “Fine,” he huffs, trudging
back to take his position.
I shoot daggers from my eyes into his back as he retreats, then turn to
Astrid, softening my expression. “So you’re on six?”
She nods. “I’m on six.”
The wail of sirens suddenly pierces the air, startling both of us. It’s our
signal that the shadow pack has breached the border, courtesy of motion
detectors in place that are designed to only detect and alert for larger animals.
Like wolves.
Astrid’s big brown eyes fly wide, the fear in them evident. I’m scared,
too- I’d be a fool not to be- but I keep it together, for her. I yank her into my
chest, crushing my lips over hers. Kissing her like it’s the last thing I’ll ever
do.
“Stay alert, stay alive,” I murmur against her lips, pulling back.
Astrid nods as the fear in her eyes is slowly replaced with a look of
determination. She’s not weak- she’s a goddamn warrior. She’s got this.
That’s what I have to tell myself, over and over, as I turn away to leave
her and return to my own squadron. With every step I take, my wolf thrashes
in my chest in protest. Neither of us like being so far away from her, but I’ll
still have eyes on her. That’s the best I can do.
The warriors in my squadron are all looking to me as I return to take my
position among them. “This is what we’ve been training for,” I bark out, my
gaze sweeping over them. Fuck, some are so young. They’ve only been on
the squad for a couple of months, and they’re out here putting on a brave
face, ready to give their lives for our cause. It’s not fucking fair.
I grit my teeth, focusing my mind. “Look out for one another and stick to
the plan,” I say, and they all nod confidently, taking their places flanking me.
All of us shuck our clothes, shifting to our wolf forms. Looking to the
treeline and waiting.
The wait is excruciating. Time slows to a crawl. The cold breeze whips
through my fur, fallen leaves rustle as they’re blown across the ground and
crunch underfoot. I sink into a crouch, holding my position as the dull roar of
an approaching army makes its way to my ears, the thunder of footsteps
approaching faster, faster. I swear I can feel the earth rumbling under my feet
as the sound crescendos and I see the first flickers of movement through the
trees ahead.
 As slow as time was moving on their approach, as soon as the first few
enemy soldiers burst through the treeline and into view, time suddenly seems
to move ten times as fast- Cole gives the signal for our advance, and
adrenaline surges through me as I spring forward, jaws snapping, heart
pounding. Leading the charge for my squadron to engage, the other leaders
doing the same for theirs.
There’s so many of them. For every wolf that leaps from the treeline, two
more appear, until there’s just a blur of fur and fangs heading our way. They
advance on us as we advance on them, and all at once, our two sides collide.
It’s fucking chaos. Snarls and whimpers and snapping jaws, fur and blood
flying. The sheer amount of movement is disorienting as we clash with the
enemy, as are the sounds around me and through the mind-link in my head. I
block it all out, get in the zone. Take down the first wolf that I see with a
swipe of my paws, sinking my teeth into its neck and twisting until I feel a
snap. Then I’m taken to the ground by another, and all I see are jaws
snapping in my face as he tries to take a bite out of me. I’m stronger- I roll
him over, tearing out his throat with my teeth. The metallic tang of blood
swims in my mouth as I shoot back to my feet, eyes wide and wild.
All around me, wolves are tangled with one another. Some are fighting,
some are dead. Some are dying. I look to my right, but I can’t see Astrid
through the carnage- and as I try to look for her, another wolf tries to get the
jump on me.
Looks like he picked today to die.
Just before he can sink his fangs into the scruff of my neck, I whip
around, kicking out my hind legs to fling him away. He crashes into another
wolf and I pursue, leaping on top of him and tearing into his flesh. Hot, sticky
blood sprays my face as I take his life without even flinching.
‘Alpha, behind you!’ someone calls through the mind-link, and I spin just
in time to fend off another attacker. As I subdue him, I see an enemy wolf’s
jaws snap around one of our soldiers’ necks- Shay, a recruit from this past
summer. I leap onto the other wolf, sinking my fangs into it. Tackling it off
of Shay. Once I’ve taken it down, I look back to Shay, and while she’s
injured, she’s already gotten to her feet and rejoined the fight.
There are more of them than us, but we’re better trained. I don’t
recognize hardly any of the bodies on the ground as our own- though it’s not
as if I have a lot of time to study them. I keep trying to look for Astrid, but
right when I think I see her, I’m tackled from the left. I snatch another life
away without a second thought.
For every wolf I fight off, another advances. My fur is soaked in blood,
though I’m pretty sure most of it isn’t my own. I take out another enemy
soldier and he lands at my feet with a thud, his dull, lifeless eyes staring up at
me. Again, I don’t flinch. This is war, and it’s us or them.
Suddenly, something shifts. All of the shadow pack wolves stop and lift
their heads, their eyes clouding over. They’re mind-linking. It’s like they’re
all frozen in place. Time stops. I take a second to try to catch my breath as
my squadron looks to me in confusion, but before we can act, the enemy
soldiers are turning tail, running back for the treeline. Running away.
‘Are they retreating?’ I hear Quinn ask through the mind-link.
But they can’t be retreating… can they? They still clearly outnumber us,
and we’ve only just barely engaged. The shadow pack has coordinated many
attacks and I’ve never heard of them backing down or retreating before. An
uneasy feeling settles in my gut as my mind tries to make sense of what is
happening.
Fallon’s voice comes through the mind-link next, though it’s weak. She
must be injured. ‘Did we win?’
‘Shh, I’ve got you, baby’. Gray’s voice.
‘That was too easy…’ Theo grumbles.
But they’re gone. The last of their wolves disappear through the treeline,
and the sound of their paws against the earth is fading every second. They’re
definitely pulling back… but why?
I shift back into my human form, my bones snapping and rearranging
until I’m rising on two legs. Dark, sticky blood is caked in my hair and on my
skin as I narrow my eyes to the treeline, still trying to make sense of what’s
going on. I search for Astrid again, but I don’t see her. An icy chill creeps up
my spine.
“Something isn’t right,” I growl, looking to the others as they tuck away
their wolves and shift, the bewildered expressions on their faces matching my
own confusion.
Just then, someone comes through the trees toward us. I recognize him as
one of Cole’s warriors- the one who was leading squadron six beside me.
He’s moving slow, clutching his stomach, and it doesn’t take long to see
why. The poor guy has been split open; his guts are spilling out around his
arm. It’s a miracle that he’s even on his feet.
But wait- why is he coming from the treeline?
 Several of the Denver wolves rush in his direction, and I’m right on their
heels.
What the fuck is going on?
“Devin, what happened?” Cole barks as he approaches the poor fucker.
Devin’s skin is a dull grey and his own blood is pooling around his feet. He’s
dying- and fast.
“It’s… Astrid,” he coughs, blood droplets spraying from his mouth as he
wilts to the ground, still holding in his insides with an arm.
My eyes fly to him, and the next words that come out of his mouth make
my blood turn to ice in my veins.
“They took her.”
 CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Astrid
As I slowly come to, my ears are ringing and my head is pounding. I’m
somewhere cold and damp, and a quiet groan slips from my mouth as I force
my eyes open. I’m lying on a concrete floor… but where am I? What
happened? My whole body feels impossibly heavy, my head throbbing in
pain.
I try to shuffle to an upright position, but my body is so weak. My limbs
feel like they’re made of lead. I try to draw on my wolf for strength, but I
can’t sense her at all. I reach for her in the recesses of my mind, but it’s just
dark; vacant. My hands and feet are tied with heavy ropes. It takes a great
deal of effort to shift my body upwards, using the cold concrete wall at my
back for leverage.
My head hurts so bad. I reach behind it to identify the source of my pain
and find that my hair is coated in something sticky, though it seems to be
mostly dried. I pull my bound hands back in front of me, looking down at
them, and I’m not at all surprised when I see dark red blood coating my
fingertips. Whoever brought me here must’ve hit me in the head to knock me
out. No wonder my head’s pounding like it is.
At least however I got here, someone put clothes on me along the way. I
look down to see that I’m wearing an oversized black t-shirt that comes down
to my mid-thigh. It stinks like mildew, but at least it provides a barrier
between my skin and the cold concrete. It also covers me up, which I’m
grateful for, even if it’s the only thing I’m wearing.
“Well, look who’s finally awake!” a female voice chirps, and I groggily
drag my eyes in the direction it came from to see her walking toward me.
She’s about my age, dressed in all black- clunky combat boots, skinny jeans
with rips up the legs, a black tee, and a leather jacket. Her chin-length hair is
just as black as her clothes, and her eyes stand out in contrast to all the black;
they’re a bright, ice blue. She’s beautiful, but my intuition immediately picks
up bad vibes. Her insides don’t match her beauty on the outside.
As she draws closer, I suddenly realize that she’s holding something in
her hand- a syringe filled with an opaque violet substance. She stops right in
front of me, stooping down, and I instinctively flinch away, pressing my back
tight to the wall behind me. Not that it makes a difference; there’s no getting
away from her. She grabs my arm roughly, bringing the syringe to it.
I wince as the needle pokes into my skin and she depresses the syringe to
inject me with whatever’s inside. As she does, it feels like fire is shooting
straight from the needle into my veins, and I suddenly know exactly what it is
that she’s injected me with: wolfsbane. She’s using it to keep me weak and
keep my wolf at bay. But why?
Once all of the liquid has been expressed from the syringe and into my
arm, she pulls it out roughly. A bead of red blood rises from the spot where
the needle penetrated my skin, and I watch it for a moment before turning my
attention back to the girl crouching in front of me. “It’s your lucky day,
sweetheart,” she drawls when our eyes meet, flashing me two rows of
straight, white teeth as her lips pull into a menacing smile. “Our Alpha’s on
his way here to meet you.”
I peel my dry lips apart, swallowing past the rawness in my throat to form
words. “Your… who?” I manage, blinking up at her. I try to wet my lips with
my tongue, but it’s just as dry as they are.
She throws her head back, letting out a cruel laugh as she rises to her feet
in front of me. “Are you fucking stupid or something?”
“Please…” I croak, reaching out for her, brushing her leg with my
fingertips.
It’s a mistake for me to think that this girl may have even an ounce of
kindness within her. She recoils from my touch, winding back the same leg
that I touched and kicking it forward, her big black combat boot connecting
with my ribs.
I cry out, falling sideways as pain radiates out from my ribs. She kicked
me with enough force to crack them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she did;
that’s how much it hurts.
“Leave her alone, Kara,” comes another voice- a man’s voice this time.
My face is pressed against the concrete floor, but I see a pair of brown
workboots approach, stopping beside the black combat boots of the mean
girl, who is evidently called Kara. A bottle of water hits the floor in front of
me, rolling right into my face.
I reach for it eagerly with my bound hands, struggling to sit up again.
“I was just playing with her a little,” Kara snickers.
 “Yeah? Well, Alpha won’t be happy if you break his new toy before he
has a chance to play with her himself,” the guy replies.
My eyes drift up to him- he looks like he’s in his early twenties, casually
attired in jeans and a thermal and sporting shaggy brown hair and a scruffy
beard. For a moment I think his eyes look kind, but they narrow on me, his
expression cold.
“Drink up, sweetheart,” he says, gesturing to the water bottle in my hands
with a nod of his head.
“You’re no fun, Jake,” Kara pouts, folding her arms across her chest.
He says something back to her, but I don’t hear it- I’m too busy trying to
get the top off of the water bottle. It isn’t easy with my hands tied together,
but I manage it, bringing the bottle to my lips. I almost sigh in delight as the
water hits my lips and throat, and I suck down the whole bottle in quick,
greedy gulps, before they can change their minds and take it away.
Once I’ve got the water down, I feel like the fog in my mind clears a little
bit- and it’s a good thing, because I need to figure out where I am and how I
got here. What the hell happened? I rack my brain trying to remember. One
minute I was at the battle, and the next, everything went dark. It’s all just
black. The shadow pack wolves were attacking, and I was fighting back.
Then I was knocked down, and someone was dragging me to safety… who
was it?
Chris. I distinctly remember seeing Chris. He was helping me, wasn’t he?
Taking me somewhere safe? I remember looking up and seeing him as I was
pulled away from the fight, but everything after that is blank.
I suck in a breath, taking in my surroundings. The mean girl- Kara- and
the other guy- Jake, apparently- are still bickering as they walk away. Jake
plops down on a ripped-up couch a few yards away and Kara sinks onto a
rickety old folding chair. She pulls a small knife out of her pocket and flicks
it open, using it to clean underneath her fingernails.
My hands are bound, so I must be a prisoner, which would make these
two my guards. We’re in a large space; it looks like a warehouse of some
kind. I don’t see any windows, so the room we’re in must be somewhere in
the interior. But the question remains- why am I here and how did I get here?
I turn my head, still taking stock of everything around me, when my eyes
land on another person sitting a few feet away beside me, leaning up against
the wall. His hands are also bound, and he’s… “Chris?”
The poor guy looks like hell- I guess we’re both prisoners. Now I wish I
hadn’t greedily downed all of that water, so I could’ve offered him some.
Slowly, Chris turns his head toward me. It looks like they gave him
clothes, too- just a pair of sweatpants- and he doesn’t have any visible
wounds, but there’s enough blood on his face to tell the story of what he’s
endured. My heart clenches as I realize that he must’ve been trying to protect
me when we were both taken.
“Chris…” I repeat, gentler this time. His eyes lock with mine, and as soon
as they do, I’m smacked with a vision.
It’s dark in the forest, and Chris looks agitated- he’s pacing back and
forth, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. He’s jumpy when someone
approaches him; someone I don’t recognize. They’re definitely not part of
our pack.
“You’re late,” Chris snaps. “I don’t have much time.”
“Better get talking, then,” the other man sneers.
“I overheard my alpha and beta talking the other day,” Chris says,
fidgeting. “She’s starting to have visions. Your alpha was right, she’s a
seer like her grandmother.”
The man chuckles menacingly. “Well, how about that. Looks like we
may not have to kill you after all.”
I see spots, almost like static, as the vision fades away. Suddenly I’m
back in this godforsaken warehouse, my heart beating so hard and fast that it
feels as if it’s going to fly out of my chest. “It… it was you…” I rasp,
completely shaken. Bile crawls up my throat, the sour sting of Chris’ betrayal
making my guts churn.
His brows draw together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
My jaw goes slack. I can’t believe he’d have the gall to try to deny his
involvement after I just had a front row seat to his double-cross. “I had a
vision, I just saw you…”
As soon as the words leave me, Chris’ expression twists into a frown. He
knows he’s caught. He sucks in a breath, his jaw ticking. “Okay, fine, you got
me. Fuck. But… it’s not what you think.”
The sickness that I’m feeling at the discovery of his betrayal is quickly
morphing into something else- scorching hot anger. “Are you serious? You
ratted me out, Chris! You told them about my ability! You do realize that it’s
not only me you betrayed, right? What about Cole, what about the pack?
What about Heidi…”
Chris’ eyes narrow on me at the mention of his mate’s name. “Why do
you think I did it?” he snaps. “They promised me that Heidi and our pup
would be safe if I went along with them. We weren’t going to beat them,
Astrid. I had to make sure they were safe…”
“You’re pathetic,” I hiss, turning away. I can’t even look at him. I let my
throbbing head fall back against the wall behind me, drawing deep breaths in
and out. Trying to process the bomb he just dropped.
How the hell did I miss this? How did my intuition not pick up on Chris
being a double-crosser? How did I not have a vision of this before now? I
don’t have full control over my abilities, but surely I would’ve been able to
pick something up from him had I tried to. I suppose it just never occurred to
me to reach out for anything from Chris since I never suspected him. Or I
was too preoccupied with Brock to pick up on what was happening right
under my nose.
“How long?” I croak.
“What?”
“How long. How long have they had you in their pocket, Chris?”
He heaves a sigh. “Last full moon, when we had that border breach, me
and a few others tried to pursue the scouts they sent. I caught up with them
but found myself outnumbered. They could’ve killed me, but we struck a deal
instead.”
I chuckle wryly, shaking my head. “And how did I become part of this
deal?”
“They already knew about your gift, Astrid. Heard a rumor that the alpha
of the Denver pack had a sister who was a seer, that you came from a long
line of seers. I told them your grandma was, but you weren’t. At least I didn’t
think you were, but then I heard Cole and Sam talking about it one day…”
“Shit,” I whisper. After I had that first vision in the packhouse kitchen in
Riverton, I was so damn excited to share it with someone that I told Cole and
Sam over video chat the following day. They’ve known for weeks, so Chris
could’ve overheard them at any point since then. I swallow hard, eyes still
trained on the ceiling. “So you used it against me?”
“I did what I had to do.”
I get that sick feeling again, like I’m going to throw up. I trusted Chris.
My brother trusted Chris. He fooled us all.
Except maybe Brock. Pretty sure he would’ve decked him if I hadn’t
stepped between them right before the battle started. I guess I should’ve let
him. If we get out of this, I’ll let my big bad wolf have at him.
 “So that’s why you didn’t want me to switch squadrons,” I muse, shaking
my head. “And here I thought you were just being a dick.”
“You almost fucked everything up by switching at the last minute,” Chris
grumbles. “Took me a while to get to you, and then Devin wound up seeing
me with you and tried to follow. They had to gut him before he could mind-
link the pack and ruin the plan.”
The thought of harm coming to poor Devin makes my heart hurt, and the
way that Chris says it so callously, so casually… I’m starting to wonder if I
ever really knew him at all. “You’re a real piece of shit,” I mutter. “I can’t
wait for Brock to get his hands on you after all this.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Chris asks, his voice strained. “We’re not
getting out of this. This was the inevitable outcome, Astrid. We weren’t
going to beat them, so if we wanna stay safe, we have to join them.”
“Jesus, would you two quit fucking whining?” Kara shouts from across
the room, rubbing her temple. “You’re giving me a migraine.”
“Why am I still tied up?” Chris demands, struggling to get to his feet. “I
held up my end of things. I’m an ally, not a prisoner…” `
Jake chuckles, pushing up off of the tattered couch he’s been lounging on.
“You want me to untie you?”
“Yeah,” Chris breathes. “Please. That’d be great.”
A devious smirk tugs at Jake’s lips as he makes his way over to Chris,
who holds his bound wrists out in front of him. Jake doesn’t untie them,
though. Instead, he slams his elbow into Chris’ stomach, making him gasp for
air as he crumples to the floor.
“I don’t think so,” Jake laughs, standing over Chris- and as angry as I am
at Chris right now, it actually pains me to see this. He may be a dirty fucking
traitor, but he’s still pack.
“Why?” Chris sputters, curling up into a ball at Jake’s feet.
Jake chuckles cruelly. “We’ll let our alpha decide what he wants to do
with you once he gets here. Until then, try not to piss me off. We have strict
orders to keep his pretty new toy here alive, but he didn’t say nothin’ about
you.”
Jake kicks him a couple of times in quick succession and Chris whimpers
pitifully. I can’t bear to watch, so I turn away. I shouldn’t be worried about
Chris, not after what he’s done. I need to focus, keep my wits about me. ‘Stay
alert, stay alive’. Because Brock’s going to come for me. I just know it.
 CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Brock
“They took her.”
As the dying man’s words register, something inside of me snaps.
I’m practically fucking feral as I shove through the others gathered
around him while he lays there bleeding out, and all I can see is red. The red
of his blood, the red of my anger. The red of our enemies’ blood that I’ll spill
to get her back.
Cole’s bent over Devin now, using a wadded-up sweatshirt to put
pressure on his wound. It’s no use; the guy is clearly dying. Not to be a
heartless prick, but we need to know what he knows before he does.
“Where’d they take her?!” I demand, my wolf dangerously close to
tearing through.
Cole turns over his shoulder to shoot me a look of warning. “Give him a
second,” he growls. I have no idea how the fuck he’s so calm right now.
Devin’s lips tremble as they part. “Chris… traitor…”
That’s all it takes. A roar tears from my throat as I shift on the spot,
landing on four paws and leaping over Devin. I hear Reid call after me as I
surge forward into the treeline on a goddamn suicide mission, nose to the air,
searching for Astrid’s scent. It’s faint, but I pick up on it immediately and
follow it as fast as my paws will carry me.
I’ll take on the whole shadow pack singlehandedly to get her back; I don’t
fucking care. They only just retreated, so they can’t have made it very far. I
just have to get to her. I vaguely hear the thunder of footfalls behind me, but I
pay them no mind. There’s only one thing I need to do: find Astrid. When I
do, I’m going to make these fuckers pay, starting with Chris. I’ll tear his
goddamn throat out. I can practically taste his blood on my tongue already.
The forested area around the Denver pack’s territory is thick and
overgrown, the terrain difficult to navigate. Even so, it doesn’t slow me down
one bit. I keep pushing forward, following my nose. I have to get to her; I just
have to. I refuse to consider the alternative.
I push forward through the trees, paws skidding as I land on a road. I
throw my nose to the sky, trying to scent her, but her trail stops here- it’s just
the faintest trace of Astrid, mixed with gasoline and motor oil. Wherever
they’ve taken her, she was transported in a vehicle from this road.
Motherfucker.
It feels like my heart’s crumbling inside my chest, dissolving into
nothing. I throw my head back and let out a low, mournful howl. This can’t
be it- this can’t be the end of the line. I can’t lose Astrid, not like this. I have
to find her.
My wolf is so distraught that he recedes with a whine, the air shimmering
around me with my shift. He tucks himself back into the recesses of my mind
and I’m left all on my own, rising from the pavement on two legs as I draw
heavy breaths, staring blankly ahead down the desolate roadway. I’ve never
felt so fucking out of control in my life; so fucking helpless. The devastation
is crippling. They took her, and I don’t know where she is. I don’t know how
to get to her.
Fear grips my heart like a frozen fist. I’ve been afraid before, but never
like this. I’ve never come this close to losing someone I care about. I’d give
my own life ten times over in place of hers.
I hear footsteps approaching behind me, feel a hand clapping me on the
shoulder. “We’ll find her,” Reid says calmly.
Theo’s hand falls on my other shoulder. “Whatever it takes, bro. We’ll
get her back.”
I turn to face them both, swallowing down the emotions at war within
myself.
“We have to…” I say, my voice raw.
Reid nods, his jaw stiffening. “We will. Come on.”
I shake my head, looking back down the roadway over my shoulder. “No.
I won’t go back without her…”
“You’ve gotta come back so we can figure out where they took her,”
Theo says matter-of-factly. “Denver’s got IT, we’ve got IT. I know Brooke
will be on this right away when I tell her. Hell, they may already know where
the shadow pack has been holing up preparing for the battle today. We’ve
just gotta figure that out, and then we’ll go get her.”
Reid nods in agreement. “We’re behind you, always.”
As torn up as I am right now, I’m so fucking grateful for these guys. Theo
might be a real prick sometimes, but he’ll always come through when it
counts. Reid’s no different; he’s loyal to a fault. I know Jax and Gray have
my back just the same. I trust them when they say they’ll do everything they
can, and I’ve gotta believe that the Denver wolves will stop at nothing to get
the princess of their pack back.
Theo’s right: standing on this road isn’t going to get her back any faster. I
have to do something, but I can’t go back. I won’t give up on Astrid.
“You guys go,” I grumble. “I’m gonna see if I can pick up her trail from
here.”
Reid and Theo exchange glances. I know how it sounds- the chances of
me being able to follow her trail if she’s in a vehicle are slim to none,
especially when it comes to the major roadways. But what kind of man would
I be if I didn’t at least try?
“You go, I’ll stay,” Reid murmurs to Theo, who nods in affirmation.
“You don’t have to…” I start, but Reid gives a shake of his head,
stepping up beside me.
“I know, but I’m still going to,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder
again. “C’mon, let’s go find your girl.”
~
Two days. That’s how long it has been since Astrid was taken, and I still
can’t fucking think straight. Two days since she’s greeted me with her
overly-chipper ‘good morning’ over coffee. Two days since I’ve heard that
airy little giggle of hers or kissed her lips or held her in my arms. Two days
of pure fucking agony. Every time she crosses my mind, which is about a
thousand times a day, I feel like I’m gonna lose my shit.
I’ve run through the gauntlet of emotions. Guilt, for not being able to
keep an eye on her during the battle. For letting her get taken. For not
realizing that Chris was a dirty fucking rat. Regret, for not saying everything
I should have while I had the chance. I wish I’d told her how much she means
to me- though I don’t think I fully realized it until she was gone. Fear, for if
something bad happens to her, or if we fail to get her back before something
does. Anger, for everyone involved in taking her away from me. When I
come for her, there will be blood.
Of course, anger is the predominant emotion. It’s constantly sizzling
under the surface, threatening to spill over and consume me. I’ve been
snapping off at everyone, damn near taking their heads off anytime they
hazard an attempt to speak to me. I’m even worse company than I was
before, and I’ve always been a prickly sonofabitch, so that’s saying
something.
 To make matters worse, we still don’t have any leads on where they’ve
taken Astrid. IT has been working around the clock, but every time they think
they may be on to something, it’s another fucking dead end. The constant
roller coaster of false hope followed by crushing disappointment is taking its
toll. I’ve barely eaten or slept. The more time that passes, the bleaker the
outcome seems.
Reid and I searched for hours before he finally convinced me to turn
back. When we returned to the Denver pack’s territory, they were already
burning the corpses of our fallen enemies. I’d kill them all over again if I
could. We lost three squad members, while Denver lost six of their soldiers.
In comparison, almost fifty of our enemies fell- meaning that before they
retreated, we were winning. We could’ve won.
That would bode well for the next time we go toe-to-toe with the shadow
pack, except now we’ve shown our hand. They know how strong we are, and
they know that Denver has backup. I’m sure that traitor Chris told them all
about the six-pack. All the more reason for us to put an end to this as soon as
we can- which is why we’re in the living room of the Denver packhouse
again, going over our options for what feels like the hundredth time.
Everyone that was present for our pre-battle strategy session is here,
minus Chris and Astrid. We’ve been meeting basically all day, every day
since Astrid was taken. Victor, one of Cole’s advisors, suggests doing ground
searches again, as if those have turned up anything so far. I’ve joined in on
every one of them as a way to try to stay busy, but it’s fucking demoralizing
when they never get us anywhere.
“I’m in for a ground search,” Fallon offers, leaning forward from her seat
on the couch beside Gray. “I’m sick of sitting around here doing nothing.”
Gray shoots her a look of disapproval. He’s been overly protective since
she was seriously injured during the battle with the shadow pack. Fallon
would tell you it was nothing, but several cracked ribs, a busted femur, and a
broken collarbone hardly constitute ‘nothing’. Thanks to shifter healing, she’s
already as good as new, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Gray keeps his mate in
a glass cage from here on out.
Fallon notices the look on his face, raising a brow in challenge. “Just try
and stop me, I dare you.”
Gray’s wolf flickers gold in his eyes, and suddenly he’s on his feet,
scooping Fallon up from the couch and tossing her over his shoulder in a
fireman carry.
 “Excuse us,” he mumbles to the rest of us on his way out of the room as
Fallon curses and fights against his hold, and we all exchange knowing
glances, chuckling to ourselves. It might be the first time I’ve cracked a smile
since Astrid was taken, and I immediately feel guilty for it.
“I’ll lead another ground search,” I grumble, heaving an exasperated sigh.
“But if one of these doesn’t turn up something soon, I’m gonna lose my shit.”
“We all want her back, Brock,” Cole murmurs, shooting me a glare. I
think he’s having a little trouble adjusting to sharing his space with five other
alphas, especially with one of them basically asserting a claim over his sister
and criticizing his efforts to find her.
I open my mouth to argue back with him, but Brooke suddenly rushes
into the room, her open laptop in one hand as she pushes her glasses up the
bridge of her nose with the other. She traveled here from the six-pack the
morning after the battle to aid IT in the search for Astrid and has been
working around the clock since. “I think we just figured out where they’re
holing up,” she pants.
All eyes are on Brooke. I immediately leap to my feet, not needing to
hear another word. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Cole barks.
“Not so fast, we’ve gotta play this smart…” Fucking Sam. I still can’t
stand the guy, but I know he cares about Astrid and wants to get her home
safely, so I’ve swallowed my pride and set aside our differences in order to
work with him.
“If we know where she is, I’m not gonna just sit here and wait,” I snarl,
looking to Reid, Jax, and Theo for support. Theo’s already on his feet, ready
to join me and storm in there, guns a’blazing.
“Where is she?” I ask Brooke, moving toward her.
Sam hops up from his spot on a nearby couch, stepping in my path and
holding his hands up. “Nuh uh, we have to think this through…”
I glare at Sam menacingly, towering over him and narrowing my eyes.
“You have two seconds to get out of my way or I’ll fucking drop you again.”
Sam shoves at my chest, and I push back- hard- sending him careening
back down onto the sofa he stood up from. Theo grabs my arm to hold me
back, while Cole leaps from his chair at the front of the room.
“Enough!” he shouts, his deep voice reverberating off of the marble floor.
All eyes snap to him.
“Sam’s right, we can’t just rush in without a plan,” Cole growls. I’m
about to tell him to fuck off when he adds, “it could put her in danger.”
That gives me pause. I draw a ragged breath, watching Cole as he makes
his way over to Brooke.
“What’d you find?” he asks calmly, and Brooke takes a step forward,
sliding her laptop onto the coffee table and sinking down onto her knees in
front of it.
“Can you…?” she asks, gesturing behind her to the large TV mounted on
the wall.
Cole grabs the remote and flips it on, and Brooke gets herself connected
so that her laptop screen is mirrored on the TV. It’s showing an aerial map of
what looks like a warehouse district.
“This place first popped up on our radar yesterday, but we didn’t think
much of it,” she says, zooming in on one building in particular. “That is, until
today, when we were able to track that their alpha was headed to this
location.”
“How?” Jax asks, leaning forward, his interest piqued.
“Facial recognition on traffic cameras…” Brooke waves a hand
dismissively. “Let’s just say it’s a bunch of stuff we’d get in big trouble for
hacking into if we got caught.”
Theo smirks, his pride for his mate’s brilliance evident on his face.
“And Xavier is there?” Cole questions.
Brooke nods. “He arrived there a half an hour ago. It’s about two hours
from here, due east.”
As it has since Astrid was taken, my mind starts wandering in a hundred
different directions, none of which are constructive. If Alpha Xavier couldn’t
be bothered to show up for the battle between our packs, why is he coming to
this place now? What does he want with Astrid? Is he going to try to use her
for leverage? Is he going to hurt her to try to get to us?
I ball my fists at my sides, biting down on the inside of my cheek so hard
that I draw blood. That motherfucker better not harm a hair on sweet little
Astrid’s head, or there will be hell to pay. Death would be too kind of an end
for him.
“Can we get blueprints?” I mumble, thinking out loud. The others look to
me, and I rake a hand through my hair roughly. “Of the warehouse. If we’re
gonna put together a plan, we need to know what we’re walking into.”
“Right,” Sam agrees, getting to his feet again. “And we’ll need to get a
pulse on the surrounding area, like how many roads lead in and out, how
many entrances there are to the building itself, that kind of stuff.”
I tip my head in his direction, giving him a nod in affirmation.
Temporarily burying the hatchet between us again so we can focus on what’s
most important right now: finding the girl that we’re both crazy about and
bringing her home safe.
“Definitely,” Brooke chirps, her fingers flying across her keyboard.
“Sending those requests to the IT team now, we should be able to get that
info within the hour.”
Cole’s back is to the rest of us as he studies the aerial image on the TV
screen, furrowing his brow and pinching his chin between his thumb and
forefinger in concentration. “Let’s send scouts out to the area tonight so we
can keep tabs on them if they leave,” he murmurs. “As long as they stay put,
we’ll plan on moving in on them tomorrow, after we have a plan locked
down.”
I grit my teeth, holding back from arguing with him about waiting a full
day to strike. Part of me wants to go on a one-man vigilante mission right
now to try to rescue Astrid- deep down, though, I know the right move is to
have a fully formulated plan before going in there. So, I just bite my damn
tongue, listen, and try to stay calm. ‘Try’ being the operative word, because
my wolf has been going fuckin’ nuts since Brooke walked in here and
announced that they know where Astrid might be.
“But tomorrow’s the full moon,” someone pipes up. Sasha, another one of
Cole’s advisors.
“Exactly,” Cole snaps, spinning around to face us. A devious grin tugs at
his lips. “They’re wolves, so the full moon’s a distraction. They’ll never see
us coming.”
 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Astrid
I wake up groggy again. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I’d
guess a few days have passed by now. The wolfsbane that they keep injecting
me with to keep me weak also has a side effect of making me drowsy, so I
feel like I’m constantly drifting in and out of consciousness. I suppose I don’t
mind, because as long as I’m asleep, I’m not living this nightmare.
I’ve only seen this one room of what I still think is a warehouse. It’s
large, piled with boxes and junk that give no clues as to what this place used
to be or where it might be located. Kara and Jake take turns sleeping on the
dirty couch that’s positioned directly across from Chris and I, and the only
time I’m allowed to get up and walk around is when I need to go to the
bathroom. Even then, I’m escorted by either Jake or Kara, and they don’t take
their eyes off of me the entire time I use the facilities. It’s humiliating.
I know we aren’t the only ones here. Occasionally, there’s a knock at the
door, and one of my two prison guards goes to answer it and speak with
whoever is on the other side. Sometimes one of them slips out for a while, but
they always return, and it’s always the same two. I tried to call out once,
thinking that whoever came knocking may not know they were holding
prisoners in here or might take pity on me, but a few swift kicks to the
stomach and ribs delivered by Kara’s combat boots told me that was a
mistake, one I haven’t dared make again.
Every time I doze off and wake up, it has been more of the same- but this
time when I blink my eyes open, something’s different. Jake’s pacing,
agitated, and Kara is more talkative than usual. Excited, even. I drag my body
up from the floor, using the cold wall behind me for leverage as I focus in on
her words, trying to clear the fog from my mind and figure out what she’s
saying. All of the words seem to bleed together, but there are three at the end
that I can make out crystal clear: ‘he’s finally here’.
I freeze, forgetting to breathe for a second. She can only be talking about
one person- the same person that I’ve heard her obsessively talk about for
days now. Alpha Xavier, the leader of the shadow pack. They’ve been telling
me that he’s coming here, but the news of his arrival still sucks all the air out
of my lungs. I don’t know what Xavier wants with me, but given his
reputation, whatever it is can’t be good.
There’s a sharp knock on the heavy metal door- the only door in or out of
this room- and I sit up straighter, pressing my back tight to the concrete wall
behind me and pulling my knees into my chest. I loop my arms around my
legs in front of me, my hands still bound, making myself as small as possible.
Maybe I’ll shrink enough to just disappear.
Kara practically skips over to the door, pulling it open with a wide smile
on her face. I hear voices that I can’t quite make out, and a few moments
later, the door is swinging open wider, two large men striding inside.
I immediately know which one is Alpha Xavier. He stands taller than the
man he walked in with, and he struts inside exuding power, dominance, and
pure evil. His hair is dark, shaved on the sides and long on top, and a thick
layer of dark stubble coats his jawline. Tattoos crawl up his neck and
disappear beneath the collar of his dark t-shirt, which is accompanied by a
leather jacket, distressed jeans, and big black boots. His skin is tanned like
he’s spent every day in the sun, and his eyes are so dark they’re almost black.
They land on me, and a shiver travels up my spine.
“Ah, there’s my little crystal ball,” Xavier drawls. He flashes a smile, and
a gold tooth glitters from his mouth.
I look away, trying to calm my racing heart. I don’t want him to sense my
fear. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he already
terrifies me.
The other guy hangs back with Jake and Kara as Xavier takes a step in
my direction. Then another. I hang my head, letting my curls fall in front of
my face to block my view of him. Pressing myself harder into the wall behind
me, wishing it would somehow open up and swallow me whole.
The toes of his boots appear in my field of vision as he stops directly in
front of me, and I’m barely breathing as he lowers himself into a crouch.
Then his hand darts out, grabbing my chin roughly, yanking my face
upwards. My hair falls away from my face and my eyes come to his. Up
close, they’re even darker than they were from afar- I feel like I’m staring
into the face of the devil himself.
Xavier examines me, his lips curling into a sickening grin of approval.
“You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you?”
I clench my jaw, staring back at him in defiance. Refusing to dignify him
with a response.
“I’ve been looking for you for a long time, little girl,” he purrs. “Ever
since I heard a rumor about a seer with alpha blood.” He rubs his thumb
along my cheek and my stomach churns, the moldy bread they fed me earlier
threatening to make a second appearance. “You’re the key to everything.”
Chris clears his throat beside me, sitting up straighter. “Uh, excuse me,
Alpha?” he ventures hesitantly, his voice wavering.
Xavier flicks him an annoyed glare, dropping my chin. I immediately
tuck it back into my chest protectively, watching as Xavier rises back up to
his full height and steps over to where Chris is struggling to get his feet.
“We had a deal,” Chris says shakily. “I held up my side of the bargain, I
delivered her to you guys. I just want to make sure that me and my mate will
be protected.”
I can’t help but glare over at Chris, the fucking weasel. So worried about
saving his own skin, even at the expense of his pack.
Xavier chuckles to himself, casting me another glance. “What do you
think, little seer?” he asks, his brow ticking up in amusement in response to
the way I’m looking at Chris. “Should I free him from his bonds?”
I don’t know if it’s a trick question or not, but again, I’m not going to
dignify him with a response. I sink my teeth into my lower lip, looking away.
Xavier shakes his head, snickering as he steps closer to Chris. “You know
what I hate, even more than being ignored?” he growls, reaching into his
pocket. His lips pull into a cruel grin as he yanks something out, his hand
moving so fast that I can’t even tell what he grabbed. “Traitors.”
Hot blood sprays the side of my face as the blur of a silver knife slashes
across Chris’ throat. I cry out in shock as Chris makes a gurgling sound,
clutching at the gaping wound in his neck, his body wilting against the wall.
My hands cover my mouth as I look to Xavier, and he’s just smiling, wiping
his blade off on the leg of his jeans.
Tears spring to my eyes as Chris’ body crumples to the floor beside me.
My mind can barely process what just happened. There’s so much blood- it’s
already starting to pool on the floor around his lifeless body. “Wh… why?” I
whisper, staring up at the face of pure evil.
He just shrugs, tucking his knife back in his pocket. So nonchalant, like
he just used it to slice an apple rather than someone’s throat. “Traitors can’t
ever really be trusted, can they?”
“Sure can’t, boss,” Jake pipes up from somewhere behind him.
 Xavier smiles at me, as if he just did me a fucking favor or something.
“You’re welcome,” he sneers. “And don’t worry, that mate of his is next.”
My lips part to speak, and I suddenly realize that they’re quivering- my
whole body is trembling with fear. “But… she’s pregnant,” I manage, my
voice small.
He throws back his head and lets out a laugh in response, the light
glittering off of his gold tooth. “You think I give a shit? I’ve killed babies in
their cribs.”
A warm sensation slithers across my low back, and I draw a gasp when I
look down to see that Chris’ blood is starting to pool beside me. I scoot away
quickly, my body now shaking uncontrollably. It’s impossible for me to mask
my fear at this point; it’s all-consuming.
“Aww, don’t worry, little seer,” Xavier chuckles, reaching down for me
and yanking me up by an arm. I stumble as I try to find my feet, the force of
the movement dizzying, especially with the wolfsbane still in my system. He
grabs my face with a hand, pinching my cheeks together as he forces me to
look up at him. “You’re too valuable for me to dispose of just yet. All you
have to do to stay alive is cooperate.”
I stare into his cold, dark eyes, my lower lip still trembling. “What do you
want me to do?” I whisper.
Xavier’s smile grows wider. “Simple,” he replies. “You’re going to help
me take over the rest of the packs in the region by using that power of yours.”
Despite the fear gripping my chest, I shake my head defiantly. “I won’t.”
“Oh, but you will,” he chuckles, stroking my hair. “And to ensure that
you stay by my side and don’t go running off anywhere, you’re going to bind
yourself to me permanently as my mate.”
“Wait, what?” Kara exclaims from across the room. She’s obviously
taken aback by this part of Xavier’s twisted plan. I hear Jake hush her before
she has another outburst.
I narrow my eyes on Xavier, balling my fists in my restraints. “Never,” I
whisper.
He snickers condescendingly, shaking his head as he grips my face tighter
in his hand. His fingertips are digging in so hard that it feels like they’re
bruising my cheeks. “Keep that up. The more defiant you are, the more fun
you’ll be to break.”
I grit my teeth, keeping my eyes trained on his. Refusing to back down.
Xavier suddenly releases my face and takes a step back. His expression
changes to one of almost boredom as he folds his arms across his chest,
examining me. “Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but
here’s the bottom line. If you cooperate, I’ll let your pack live. Maybe even
your brother. We can go there together, share the happy news of our union,
and give them the option to join us without bloodshed. From what I hear,
you’re basically the acting Luna of your pack, so they should be happy to
follow you.” He leans in, his lips drawing into a smirk. “Or, if you don’t want
to cooperate, I’ll kill them all and claim their territory. It’s really up to you.”
My breath catches in my throat. The thought of any harm coming to my
brother or my pack physically pains me. My expression falters, and he just
smiles, like he knows he has me. Like he knows he’s already won.
“So, what’ll it be?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow patronizingly. “Full
moon’s tomorrow, so the timing really couldn’t be better as far as marking
and sealing the bond goes.”
I swallow hard, blinking back the frustrated tears of defeat that are
stinging behind my eyes. I force a hoarse whisper past my lips. “I’ll do it.”
“Excellent.” Xavier’s mouth spreads into a smug, self-satisfied grin. He
takes a step back, then suddenly seems to think better of it, getting in my
space again and leaning in.
He stinks. Everything about him makes me recoil.
“Since we’re to be mates, how about a little preview to last me until
tomorrow, then?” Xavier murmurs, arching a brow. He reaches a hand down,
grasping the hem of the oversized t-shirt I’m wearing and dragging it up my
body. I stand frozen in place, my jaw clenched and my cheeks burning as he
brings the fabric up to bunch at my collar. He leans back, his gaze sweeping
over my bare form.
“Very nice…” He licks his lips as he lets go of the t-shirt and it falls back
down my body, and it’s a miracle that I don’t vomit all over his boots. The
humiliation makes my eyes water and my guts churn.
Xavier turns on a heel, striding in the direction of the exit as I release a
breath, sliding down the wall. I scooch further away from the pool of Chris’
blood, turning my head so I don’t have to look at it. A tear slips from my eye,
trailing down my cheek as I pull my knees into my chest again.
I feel like giving up right now, but Brock’s voice echoes in my head:
‘stay alert, stay alive’. Those words may have been meant for the battle, but
they apply now more than ever.
As defeated as I feel, I can’t allow myself to crumble. I have to stay
strong. I have to hold out hope. Because as scary as Xavier is, Brock’s pretty
damn scary himself. I don’t doubt for a second that my big bad wolf could
take Xavier down if given the chance.
I still believe that Brock is coming for me; that he’ll burn down the world
to find me. That we’ll have the future I saw in those visions. And until he
gets here, no matter what hell I go through, the hope for that future will have
to sustain me.
 CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Astrid
“Put this on,” Kara growls, shoving a wadded-up ball of black chiffon at
my chest.
I’ve been afforded the great pleasure of her company to prepare for the
full moon tonight, which so far has consisted of a freezing cold shower in a
dirty bathroom and Kara throwing things at me. A towel, a hairbrush, and
now this chiffon garment, which I’m assuming is a dress. I hold it up in front
of me, turning it around until I can discern what’s right-side-up. Definitely a
dress.
I slip into it, relishing in the feel of the clean, delicate fabric against my
skin. I’ve been living in that disgusting t-shirt for the past three days, so a
change of clothes feels like a luxury. Once it’s on, I glance at myself in the
mirror, tugging the straps onto my shoulders. I have to admit, the dress is
beautiful. It’s simple, but it’s stunning in its simplicity- thin straps, a
plunging neckline, and an open back. Somewhat fitted down to the waist,
then flowy with a slit on one side that runs all the way up to my hip.
“Here,” Kara grumbles, tossing a small, zippered pouch in my direction.
I snatch it out of the air, turning it over in my hands and dragging the
zipper open to see what’s inside. Makeup.
“Wow, he really wants me to go all out, huh?” I chuckle wryly, pulling a
tube of mascara out of the pouch.
Kara watches me, narrowing her mean little eyes as I drop onto a stool in
front of the mirror and rummage through the makeup. “Guess if he has to
breed you tonight, he wants you to look halfway decent.”
The vulgarity of her words makes me cringe. Ever since Xavier made his
intentions clear about mating me, Kara has been even more of a nightmare.
It’s fairly obvious that she’s obsessed with the man, and based upon a very
disturbing vision I picked up from her this morning, I know the two of them
have had a physical relationship at some point. Clearly she thought their
hookup would lead to more and she’s blaming me for getting in the way of
that.
 As if this is my choice.
I start to apply makeup in the mirror, feeling like I’m readying myself for
my own execution. I’m cooperating, going through the motions, while
racking my brain as to how I’m going to wiggle out of this- because actually
being mated to Xavier would be a fate worse than death. I’m still holding
onto hope for a rescue mission, but time’s running out. And if it does, I’ve
got some serious doubts as to this plan that Xavier’s cooked up… and my
own safety if it fails.
The fated mate bond is fairly straightforward, but sealing a bond between
chosen mates is trickier. From what I understand, the two people have to have
a very strong emotional bond between each other beforehand as a foundation
for sealing a chosen mate bond. I’ve never heard of two people without any
prior relationship trying to seal a chosen bond- so will it even work?
I guess we’ll find out, if it comes to that. The rest of the logistics for
sealing a chosen mate bond are simpler- we just have to be in wolf form
under the light of the full moon when we mark. Similar to the way the fated
bond snaps into place, but the rules for marking are different since you’re
creating a bond that didn’t exist before. Then once we’re both marked,
supposedly fate will work its magic and seal the two of us, while dissolving
any other bonds. Meaning that if Brock and I are fated, and Xavier and I
successfully mark under the full moon tonight, it’ll override my bond with
Brock. Yet another reason why I need to find a way out of this mess.
“You know he won’t let your brother live, right?” Kara murmurs, sinking
onto a metal folding chair behind me and picking at her fingernails.
I grit my teeth, pulling a compact of bronzer out of the makeup bag. The
way these people are so cavalier about the lives of others is maddening.
Kara’s eyes meet mine in the mirror and her lips spread into a smile, like
she knows she’s struck a nerve. She glances back down at her fingernails,
continuing to spout off her callous commentary. “Even if you go through
with this, he can’t let another Alpha live while he takes control of their pack,
they’d always be a threat. Any male in pack hierarchy has to go. But he’ll
keep the she-wolves with alpha blood around for breeding heirs to his
kingdom.”
I can’t control my reaction; these people are completely unhinged. My
eyes fly wide, meeting hers again as she flickers her gaze back up to mine in
the mirror. “That’s barbaric.”
Kara shrugs, flashing a smile. “That’s Xavier.”
 I shudder, dropping the bronzer back into the makeup bag and pulling out
an eyeshadow compact next.
“He’s obsessed with alpha blood,” Kara grumbles, still on her little rant.
“That’s part of the reason he was so intent on finding you. I mean yeah, he
wants to use your psychic abilities to gain a tactical advantage in continuing
his takeover, but he also he thinks the two of you will have superbabies or
something.”
“I’ll never have his pups,” I mumble under my breath as I apply
eyeshadow to my lids.
Kara’s pretty face twists into a scowl, jealousy practically seeping from
her pores. “You’d be lucky to carry his pups,” she spits, shaking her head.
“Ungrateful whore.”
“That’s Luna whore, to you,” I snap, dropping the eyeshadow back into
the bag and staring at her in the mirror. Baiting her. If she lashes out and
leaves a mark, she’ll have to wait for it to heal so I look presentable for
Xavier, which’ll buy me more time.
She almost falls for it, springing forward in her chair, her face flushing
red- but she’s got better control than I thought. She clenches her jaw,
slumping back again. She looks away and doesn’t speak to me for several
minutes, until I’m almost finished with the makeup. I usually don’t wear
much makeup, but I’m trying to take my sweet ass time tonight. Stalling.
“Do you feel your wolf yet?” Kara asks, watching me apply mascara to
my lashes.
“Huh?” I ask absently, swiping the mascara wand.
She heaves an annoyed sigh, folding her arms over her chest. “We need to
make sure the wolfsbane is working its way out of your system so you can
shift. I’m not getting blamed for it if you can’t.”
My wolf has been suppressed for days now, so I was surprised when I felt
my animal side stir earlier. But Kara doesn’t need to know that. Maybe this’ll
buy me time.
I look to her, giving a little shake of my head. “Not yet.”
Her icy blue eyes focus on me, narrowing. Calculating. Then her brow
furrows, her lips tipping up into a smirk. “Liar.”
Damnit. Thought I had her for a second, but I’m a terrible liar. I look
away, screwing the mascara wand back into the tube and dropping it into the
makeup bag.
“Don’t even think about trying anything,” Kara warns. “You may be able
to shift, but after three days on wolfsbane your wolf will be weak as hell.”
I meet her eyes in the mirror. “Bet she’d still be strong enough to take a
bite out of you.”
I’m still trying to goad her, unafraid of her retribution. Whatever
punishment Kara doles out will pale in comparison to the hell of mating with
Xavier. I see her jaw twitch, but again, she doesn’t take the bait.
“Come on, it’s time to go,” she says brusquely, standing up and stalking
over to me. She reaches out and grabs my arm roughly, yanking me up.
Leaning over and putting her face right in mine as her lips twist into a cruel
smirk. “You’d better hope he breaks you in easy.”
Panic grips me as she pulls me out the door. I’ve tried every tactic I could
think of up until now, but I’m officially out of time.
“You’re hurting me,” I grit out, wincing in Kara’s grasp.
“Tough shit.” She keeps pulling me roughly down the dimly lit hallway,
too fast for me to get a real beat on my surroundings. We pass a few other
doors, but they’re closed and I can’t see the rooms inside. This place feels
like a maze- if I was able to get away, I’m not sure how I’d escape. Maybe I
could shift and make a run for it, see how far I get…
Just as that thought is occurring to me, Kara takes a sharp left, pushing a
door open and shoving inside. I’m out of time. She pulls me in with her.
Alpha Xavier is standing inside the room- I can feel the bad vibes
emanating off of him before I even lay eyes on the man. The room is dark on
the edges, but there’s a skylight above that casts moonlight into the center of
the room- so I guess this is how he’s getting around that whole ‘under the
light of the full moon’ part of the mating ritual while staying inside. There’s
nothing in the room except a dingy mattress on the floor off to one side, and
the sight of it makes me sick to my stomach knowing what he likely intends
to use it for after we’ve sealed the bond.
Xavier’s back is turned to us as we enter, his hands clasped together
behind him. He’s in slacks and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up
to his elbows. Not sure why he bothered dressing us up like we’re on a
fucking date or something, but then again, nothing makes sense when it
comes to this lunatic. He’s got more than a few screws loose and this plan of
his is half-baked, at best.
Upon hearing us enter, Xavier turns around slowly, a sick grin spreading
across his face when he sees me. “Leave us,” he barks out to Kara, and she
finally relinquishes her grip on my arm, stepping away from me and exiting
through the door we came in. I hear the latch click into place, and a shiver
travels up my spine as I realize that I’m all alone with a cold-blooded
psychopath in this dark, damp room.
He holds out a hand, crooking a finger to beckon me closer. Still feigning
compliance as my mind races for a way out of this mess, I take a deep breath
and a tentative step forward. The light from above falls upon me, and Xavier
rakes his eyes up and down my body as a chill settles in my bones. All I can
feel radiating off of him right now is the worst of intentions, and my time’s
up.
He licks his lips, grinning, as bile crawls up my throat. I can’t have this
man’s hands on me. I’d rather meet the same end as Chris. My intuition is
feeding me pure darkness from Xavier; unredeemable evil. I try to push away
the heavy feeling of it, but just as I start to, my intuition suddenly picks up on
something else. Someone else.
I get the now familiar sensation of full-body tingles, and hope blooms in
my chest.
He came for me. Brock’s here.
~
Brock
“You should be rolling up to a gate right about now,” Brooke says, her
voice coming through the speakers in the large van we’re traveling in.
Over the past twenty-four hours, we put together a plan for a rescue
mission. We’ve got a small team assembled- Cole and Sam, me and the other
six-pack alphas, and a few of Denver’s strongest warriors. There are ten of us
in total that are actually going in, but we’ve got another team set up around
the perimeter of the warehouse district as backup, a mix of squad members
and Denver soldiers that can be called in if something goes sideways.
“Yep, I see it,” Fallon mutters, flipping off the headlights and slowing as
we approach. She and Quinn refused to sit this one out- much to the distress
of their mates- but rather than going in with us, the two of them have been
relegated to guarding the exit and orchestrating our getaway. Neither are
thrilled about it, but at least they feel like they’re involved in some capacity,
while Jax and Gray can focus on the mission at hand rather than their mates’
safety.
“It should be opening now,” Brooke says, the clicking of her computer
keyboard audible in the background. Although Denver has their own head of
IT, Brooke basically swept in and took charge of everything concerning this
rescue mission. I didn’t know her well before, but I’ve got a whole new
respect for Brooke now.
“Yeah,” Fallon breathes, pulling up to a tall, chain-link gate as it slides
open. Brooke must’ve hacked in somehow. “Pulling through now.”
Although it’s dark, the light of the full moon illuminates the area well
enough for us to navigate. Shifter vision helps, too.
Brooke’s voice comes through the speaker again. “Perfect. Keep going
straight, then you’re going to hang a left after the second building.”
All of us in the van are quiet as we slowly enter the warehouse district,
taking stock of our surroundings. I’m crouched right beside the drivers’ seat,
watching out the windshield.
“That one,” I murmur, pointing to a large building. Fallon takes the turn
after it.
“Done, what’s next?” she asks her sister, her knuckles white as they grip
the steering wheel.
“There should be a big blue building on your right,” Brooke instructs.
“There’s an alley on the far side and a door a few yards down. That’s your
point of entry.”
Fallon follows her directions, pulling into the alley and cutting the engine.
“Alright, we’re here.”
“Perfect,” Brooke chirps. “Give me just a minute to isolate that part of the
building and cut the power, it should trip the locking mechanism on the door
so you guys can get in.”
We all wait, barely breathing, until Brooke gives the all-clear.
Theo crouches beside me, leaning up toward the speaker. “Alright, babe,
we’re going in.”
“Good luck, guys,” Brooke says encouragingly. “You’ve got this.”
“Talk to you soon, kid,” Theo mutters, his voice strained. “I love you.”
Brooke sighs sadly. “Love you more. Now go get Astrid and get outta
there in one piece.”
Theo clenches his jaw, turning away before I can see the vulnerability
etched in his expression. The side of him that only his mate gets to see.
“Love you, Brookie,” Fallon calls out before she ends the call.
“No matter what,” Brooke replies.
There’s a click as she hangs up the line, and we all look around at one
another, taking one last deep breath before we spring into action.
“Everybody ready?” Cole asks, and we nod solemnly.
 Ready as we’ll ever be.
Our team piles out of the van, remaining hyper-aware of our surroundings
as we shuck our clothes and toss them back in before shifting. We’re stronger
in our wolf forms, and even stronger tonight since it’s a full moon. Our
wolves are all too eager to come forward; they’ve been itchy to get out for the
past hour. On a full moon, they always are.
That’s why we’d assumed that most of Xavier’s men would be out
running tonight, but we actually had to rework our plan when our scouts
reported back that they were all still holed up in the warehouse. It’s unnatural
for wolf shifters to stay cooped up during the full moon, so that only has us
more suspicious as to what Xavier is really up to. All the more reason to get
Astrid out of there as soon as possible.
As soon as I’ve shifted, my wolf starts pacing. He’s agitated, out for
blood tonight. Ready to show these fuckers what happens when they take
something that belongs to us. Quinn tests the door handle, and, as Brooke
promised, it’s unlocked. She cracks it open, checking to make sure the coast
is clear, then opens it wider to let us through. Ten wolves slink inside.
The hallway is dark; the power must still be cut to this part of the
building. Hopefully it didn’t alert anyone to our presence, but since nobody’s
guarding this door, I’d say we pulled off a stealth entrance- which is better
than we’d hoped for. We’ve planned for multiple scenarios to ensure our
success, and so far, all is going according to plan.
I can’t smell Astrid yet to try to track her, but something feels different
tonight. Energy is rippling through me like a live wire, adrenaline coursing
through my veins with every step. We get to a fork in our path, where our
group planned to split off into two. I was supposed to go straight, but
something I can’t shake is telling me to go left.
‘Change of plans,’ I bark through the mind link- to the six-pack wolves
only, because we aren’t linked with the Denver wolves. Gray, Theo, Jax, and
Reid look to me questioningly. ‘We need to go left.’
They exchange glances, but none of them question me. This is my
mission, after all; the five of us probably wouldn’t even be involved if it
weren’t for my relationship with Astrid.
We go left with the others. It’s quiet in this warehouse. Too quiet. There’s
an open door on the right, and we slow our approach as we hear several men
chatting amongst themselves inside.
“After he mates her, he said he’ll lead the run,” one of them says.
 “Have you seen her yet?” asks another. “I heard she’s hot as fuck.”
“I don’t care how hot she is, the psychic shit would freak me out,” a third
guy comments.
Then a fourth joins in. “Wish he would’ve just let us run without him.
Typical Alpha, can’t let us have any fun until he gets his dick wet.”
Red. That’s all I see as I tear through the doorway into the room. The
poor bastards never even see me coming; never even have a chance to react
or shift. Their blood stains every surface in the room by the time I’m through
with them, tearing them limb from limb in my blind rage. If they were saying
what I think they were, then I need to get to Astrid immediately, before
Xavier lays a filthy hand on her. He can’t have her; she’s mine.
The others are giving me shifty eyes after I’ve dispensed with all four
shadow pack soldiers, but we push forward nonetheless, this time with more
urgency. They all overheard the same conversation that I did; now we all
know how dire the situation is. Blood is dripping from my jaws as we pick up
our pace, heading for the interior of the warehouse where we think they’re
most likely keeping Astrid.
We’re almost there when it suddenly strikes me that we still haven’t been
detected; in every scenario we ran, we anticipated resistance before this point.
It’s odd; unsettling. Something isn’t right. That very thought is running
through my mind when we hit the end of the hallway- and that’s where all
hell breaks loose.
They’re waiting for us. Whether they knew we were coming or just
picked up on our presence, the moment the ten of us spill into a larger
hallway, we’re ambushed. Wolves leap from both directions, fangs bared,
ready to attack. Bad move on their part, because I’m out for fucking blood. I
start tearing them down, one by one. But just like the battle the other day,
more keep coming.
A wolf leaps onto my back in an attempt to take me down, but I don’t
falter; I flip him off of me, sinking my teeth into his throat. Then there’s
another wolf at my flank, his jaws locked around my back leg. I tear into his
side and he relinquishes his grip long enough for me to get my leg free and
finish him off. But then there’s another, coming from my right. They’re
relentless, but I’m seeing red again. They’re standing between me and my
woman, so none of them stand a fucking chance.
Blood sprays the walls of the corridor as I tear open the throat of another
enemy wolf. All around me, our team is taking down shadow pack soldiers,
one after the other- there might be more of them, but most of us are alphas.
We’re larger and stronger and better trained. Despite the bodies piling up,
they just keep coming. They don’t even realize they’re on a suicide mission
right now.
It should smell like death in this hallway, but suddenly another scent hits
me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Something intoxicating and dizzying
and delicious. It distracts me momentarily and another wolf gets the jump on
me, sinking his fangs into my neck. My adrenaline ratchets up to a hundred
and I flick him off of me easily, his body crashing into the wall. I throw my
head back, inhaling that scent, trying to discern where it’s coming from. It’s
all-consuming; I can’t focus on anything else.
‘Brock, look out!’ Jax shouts through the mind-link, and I turn just in time
to fend off an attack from another shadow pack wolf. I take him down by the
scruff of his neck, flinging him against the floor. I hear a sickening crack as
his neck snaps beneath my jaws. As soon as I let go, I’m right back on that
scent, though… what the fuck is it?!
‘Do you smell that?!’ I pant, circling, throwing up my nose again. I’m
acting like a damn fool, especially in the middle of a goddamn fight, but I
can’t help myself. I feel half drunk.
‘No, we can’t, because she’s not ours,’ Gray snaps as he drops another
enemy. ‘Go, we’ll hold them back.’
I leap out of the tangle of wolves, dodging others as I charge down the
hallway. It feels like something’s reaching in my chest, tugging me in this
direction. I follow it, forgetting all about the warehouse blueprints and the
plan we meticulously worked up. I follow it blindly, without rhyme or reason.
I follow it because somehow, I think that deep down, I know. I’ve heard
about this, but I’ve never experienced it myself; I wasn’t sure if I ever would.
But when Gray said what he did, it all clicked into place.
‘We can’t, because she’s not ours’.
She’s mine.
I skid as I slide around a corner, still following the scent that’s getting
stronger and stronger. There’s a door ahead, and I run at it full force,
throwing my full body weight into it and taking it clean off its hinges. The
door falls inward, and I land on top of it- inside a room lit only by the light of
the full moon spilling down through a skylight overhead.
 CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Brock
The corners of the room are dark; only the floor in the center is bathed in
moonlight. That’s where I find her, lying there in wolf form, honey brown fur
soaked in blood. She raises her head weakly, her eyes colliding with mine,
and I feel it- the mate bond snaps into place, the strength of it nearly
knocking the wind out of me. My adrenaline surges, my hair stands on end-
all of my endorphins seem to release at once, bathing me in a feeling of pure
euphoria.
I found her. My mate.
Both of our wolves tuck away almost simultaneously, the air shimmering
as we each shift to our human forms- me, still standing on top of the door I
knocked down, and Astrid, lying on the concrete floor, struggling to push up
on her arms. She’s bleeding, badly injured, but her lips draw into a weak
smile as she gazes back at me.
“You came,” she whispers hoarsely, and my heart swells in my chest,
feeling like it could explode.
Everything I thought I felt for her before pales in comparison to what I’m
feeling right now- it’s all amplified, intensified, multiplied. I rush over to
Astrid, falling to my knees, scooping her into my arms. Up close, I can see
the damage that has been inflicted upon her; her beautiful caramel skin
marred with deep gashes and bruises, her lip split, her cheek swollen. Her
unruly curls soaked in her own blood, trickling from a wound on the side of
her head.
I sweep her sticky hair out of her face, staring down into her big brown
doe-eyes as I cradle her in my arms. “Of course I did,” I rasp, fighting back
the fury that’s bubbling to the surface- seeing her like this, contemplating
how someone could do something so vicious to someone so gentle and
precious, sets my teeth on edge. Something inside of me breaks. Rage burns
inside my chest, turning my blood molten in my veins.
I hear the rumble of a low growl, and at first, I think it’s coming from my
own chest- until a giant black wolf steps out of the shadows, baring its teeth,
blood dripping from its jaws.
Xavier.
His fur is patchy, mangy, sticking out in all directions, and his yellow
eyes seem to glow. Astrid stiffens in my arms, and I can feel the fear rolling
off of her- which only rachets up my own wrath. I quickly shift her off my
lap, tucking her behind me protectively and rising to my feet.
“Sam,” I say calmly, flicking a sideways glance at the doorway where I
busted in. I scented Sam’s arrival about a minute ago; he must’ve followed
me from the clash in the hallway. I’ve never been so glad to see the fucker.
“Get Astrid out of here,” I growl. I may not be the guy’s biggest fan, but I
know for certain that I can trust him with Astrid’s life. I’m keeping my eyes
focused on Xavier a few yards away, but in my peripheral vision, I see Sam’s
wolf start to slink closer.
Astrid’s up on her feet now and clinging to me from behind, her arms
wrapped tightly around my waist. I bring each of my hands to cover her own,
peeling them off of my body and giving them a gentle squeeze. “Shift, baby,”
I murmur, dropping my voice low. “Go with Sam.”
I release her hands and nudge her backwards, stepping away from Astrid
and toward the monster in front of me. It takes zero effort to call my own
wolf forward again- he’s ready to rumble. Ready to make this fucker pay for
his sins. The air shimmers around me and I drop down onto four paws, my
lips tucking back as I bare my teeth to Xavier and a menacing growl tears
from my chest.
As soon as I hear Sam move Astrid further away, I take a step toward
Xavier in challenge.
Time to die, motherfucker.
Without hesitation, he launches himself at me, and I spring forward to
meet the onslaught. The two of us crash together, limbs thrashing, jaws
snapping. He’s got more inertia behind him, so I go down to my back- but
I’m able to hold him off by digging my paws in and pushing against him. I
manage to roll out from underneath him quickly, but before I can get back on
my feet, he’s on me again.
This isn’t like sparring at the complex; not even close. Nothing could’ve
adequately prepared me to take on someone like Xavier. There’s a reason that
nobody has been able to kill him thus far. He’s strong. Fast. Lethal. Ruthless.
The asshole kills for sport.
I feel his teeth sink into my left shoulder, tearing at my flesh. I growl,
jaws snapping as I fight him off. I manage to sink my own fangs into him, but
only for the briefest of moments before he shakes me off. I go flying, hitting
the ground with a thud, sliding to a stop.
I push myself back up.
I focus on my rage.
I ignore the blood trickling down my leg, and I come at him again.
Harder. Faster. With everything I have. I manage to take him down,
snapping at his throat. Biting down. The metallic tinge of his blood coats my
tongue, and I lock my jaws, wrenching my head back. I feel his flesh tearing
beneath my fangs as more blood rushes into my mouth. I don’t know how he
does it, but he wriggles free, flinging me off of him again. My body flies into
the wall, and I hear something crack. Pain sears through my body.
Before I can even get up again, Xavier’s coming at me. He’s got murder
in his eyes, but I’ve got so much more to fight for. Astrid’s face flashes in my
mind. Her smile, her laugh. That unruly curly hair of hers that always looks
wild and effortlessly beautiful. Her gentle soul, her kind heart. Everything
about her is so perfect and pure- there’s no rhyme or reason as to why fate
would pair her with someone as fucked up as me, but she’s mine; the one I’ve
been waiting for all my life. I’ll fight for her, for us, with everything I have.
I use that as fuel to push on, feeling renewed energy surge through my
body. I spring out of the way at the last second, and before Xavier can spin
around, I leap onto his back, tearing at him with my claws, biting down with
my teeth. He thrashes until I let go, then comes at me again. And again.
He takes another bite out of me, but I get some solid blows in. When I
start to feel weak, I channel all of my anger into another surge of strength. I
leap on top of him, teeth latching onto his neck again. He can’t shake me off
as easily this time- he has to physically take me to the ground, rolling me
underneath him before I’ll relinquish my grip and let go. Then he flips over,
slamming his paws into my chest, knocking the wind out of me. Teeth
gnashing in my face.
I have no idea how long I actually engage him, but it feels like an
eternity. No matter how many hits we each take, neither of us backs down.
It’s a fight to the death; him or me. The blood loss is starting to make me
woozy, but I press on. I leap onto him again in an effort to take him down,
but he anticipates my attack, wrenching sideways. The movement results in
my body being thrown from his and I go careening into the wall. Unable to
brace myself, my head snaps back, colliding with the concrete. My vision
immediately starts to go fuzzy, black dots appearing and expanding.
Fuck. I feel the darkness overtaking me, and the harder I try to push it
out, the faster it rushes in. The last thing I see is Xavier drawing ragged
breaths, staggering toward me. Then everything goes dark.
~
Astrid
I fought like hell. As soon as I sensed that Brock was near, I shifted and
fought against Xavier with everything I had. There was no way I was going
to let him mark me- not with my true mate so close by. It was foolish to fight
him, and he could’ve easily killed me- but I took everything that Kara told
me earlier and used it as a weapon against him: his obsession with finding
me, with using me to gain a tactical edge for battle and enhancing his
bloodline. Since my abilities were obviously valuable to him, I didn’t think
he’d kill me unless absolutely necessary. So I kept fighting. Through the
pain, through the fear. Even when I felt like I physically couldn’t anymore, I
fought.
I wasn’t waiting for a white knight or a handsome prince; I was waiting
for my big bad wolf, my ruthless king. Vicious and scary in his own right, I
knew Brock would come for me- I kept the faith even when I was sure I was
done for. And when he showed up and the mate bond snapped in between us,
I knew that every cut, every bite, every bruise, every break, was worth it.
That we’re worth it.
In that moment I know it’s not over, though, not by a longshot. Xavier
steps out of the shadows. Brock tells me to go with Sam, but there’s no way
I’m leaving him. Not now, not after we’ve just found each other again. Not
after the bond has snapped in between us and I feel so connected to him, like
we’re two halves of the same person.
I shift and mind-link with Cole, telling him where we are and begging
him to send backup. He reports back that they’re in the thick of their own
fight, but they’ll get to us as soon as they can. In the meantime, we’re on our
own. I stand there, helplessly, watching as Xavier and Brock start to tear each
other apart. I feel my own body start to heal as I watch Brock’s suffer hit
after hit.
It’s as if time slows to a crawl and I’m watching the brawl play out in
slow motion. Neither of them is going down easy, and they’re both starting to
look really rough. My heart is in my throat as they continue to go at one
another and I keep watching the door, waiting for backup to arrive. Praying
that they arrive in time.
And then I hear it. A loud crack sounds out as Brock’s body hits the wall,
the back of his head smacking the concrete. My eyes go to his, and I watch
the light slip from them as he loses consciousness. As soon as he does, his
wolf recedes and he’s lying there in his human form, bloody and battered.
Fear coils in my belly as Xavier staggers toward him to finish him off, and I
panic- I spring forward, intent on getting in between them.
Someone beats me to it, though. Sam. He lunges at Xavier, catching him
by surprise before he can reach Brock to deliver the killing blow. Xavier
falters, but recovers quickly, flicking Sam off like a bug and sending him
careening into the wall beside Brock. I cringe as his body hits with a thud,
then slides down to the floor. I grit my teeth, ready to launch myself at
Xavier- but just then, our backup arrives.
I hear the thunder of paws from the corridor behind me and look toward
the door just in time to see Cole appear, bursting into the room as several
others follow. My head snaps back in Xavier’s direction, but he’s… gone. It’s
like he’s vanished into thin air. I blink a few times, my eyes darting around
the room wildly, and that’s when I notice a door on the other side of the room
swinging closed.
The scary shadow pack alpha ran out of here like a coward.
I point out the door to Cole through the mind-link, and he and two others
run that way, intent on chasing down Xavier. As they do, I tuck my own wolf
away, shifting back to my human form. I’ve still got injuries that I’m healing
from after going toe to toe with Xavier, but I’m running on so much
adrenaline that my own pain barely registers- I’m only concerned about
Brock and Sam.
I rush toward them, and thankfully, Sam lifts his head and starts to get to
his feet. Brock’s still lying there motionless, his mangled body covered in
blood. Just looking at him, at the severity of his injuries, my heart feels like
it’s being torn open.
“Brock?!” I call out to him desperately, sinking to the floor beside his
bloody body and throwing my arms around him. I try shake him, tears
springing to my eyes. “Wake up!”
“He got away,” I hear Cole grumble, and I pick my head up to look
toward the far door where he’s standing with two of our strongest soldiers
from Denver. They’ve all shifted back to their human forms- and I turn over
my other shoulder to see that everyone else has, too.
 “We should go,” Jax growls, his voice tense as he glances back toward
the corridor.
I choke on a sob, pressing my hand to Brock’s chest. His heartbeat is
weak, his breathing shallow. He’s losing too much blood, and I’m not sure if
his shifter healing is keeping up.
A hand comes to my shoulder, a gentle and reassuring voice
accompanying it. “Come on, we’ve got him,” Reid says, and though the last
thing I want to do right now is relinquish my grip on Brock, I know we need
to get the hell out of here.
I push to my feet, wiping my tears away with a hand. After I do, I realize
that I’ve got Brock’s blood all over my hands, so I probably look like a
fucking mess- but that doesn’t really matter right now, does it? Not when my
soulmate is potentially bleeding out on the floor. I feel so helpless; I don’t
know what to do to fix him. A heaviness settles in my chest as I watch the
guys lift his limp body, carrying him to the door.
We hustle out of the warehouse, and along the way, I get a glimpse at the
carnage that my rescue team inflicted. The hallways are littered with bodies,
lights flickering above, the stench of death permeating the air. I try to keep
my eyes trained ahead so I don’t have to look at the dead, and my brother
silently takes my hand in his, guiding me through the minefield of corpses.
We’re all on high alert, adrenaline pumping as we hurry through the
corridors, but thankfully we aren’t met with any resistance. I feel a whoosh of
cold air as someone ahead pushes open the exterior door, and I suck in a deep
breath of fresh air as I follow the others out of the building. I’ve been
dreaming of this moment ever since I woke up as a prisoner in that filthy
place, but I can’t enjoy my freedom yet, not with Brock’s life hanging in the
balance.
There’s a big black van waiting outside for us, and the back doors fly
open, Quinn jumping out.
“Well?!” she demands, but then her hazel eyes fall upon me and I see
relief wash over her features. “Oh thank god,” she gushes, rushing in my
direction and wrapping her arms around me tightly.
Jax presses a kiss to Quinn’s hair as he scoots by, reaching into the van
for a pile of clothing, which he starts tossing out to the other guys piece by
piece. Meanwhile, Theo, Gray, and Reid get Brock into the back of the van,
arranging him on his back and tossing a blanket over his body. Quinn finally
relinquishes her grip on me, following my line of sight to Brock’s
unconscious form.
“Oh shit,” she mutters under her breath, then quickly recovers, flipping to
reassuring friend mode. “I’m sure he’s gonna be okay,” she says
unconvincingly, twisting to grab something from the back of the van and
thrusting it in my direction. A stack of clothes.
“Thanks,” I whisper, taking them from her and slipping into the t-shirt
and sweatpants. We’re all moving quickly, feeling the urgency to get the hell
out of here.
“We need to round up the perimeter team, get them home safe,” Cole
mutters.
Sam speaks up immediately- sure, he’s Cole’s Beta, but I also can’t help
but think that he might be looking for an excuse to peel away, since he
basically watched the mate bond snap in between Brock and I tonight. “I’ve
got it, Alpha.”
“I’ll come help,” Reid offers, and Sam nods, the two of them jogging off
together while everyone else is loading into the van.
“Astrid,” Cole calls, gesturing for me to follow him around to the side
doors of the van.
I give a little shake of my head. “I need to stay with him,” I say, climbing
in the back next to Brock. “The bond will help heal him.”
Cole’s eyes narrow dubiously. “How do you…?”
I shake my head again. “I just know, okay?”
My brother doesn’t question me further- he just gives me a sympathetic
look and sighs, reaching for the back doors and swinging them closed. Then I
feel the van shift with Cole’s weight as he climbs in through the side door
and slams it, and moments later we’re peeling out, the van lurching onto the
road.
I realize Fallon’s the getaway driver when I hear her speak up, asking
how everything went with the rescue mission. Then the van is buzzing with
excited chatter, everyone recapping what just went down with the shadow
pack inside the warehouse. I draw a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut,
trying to block out the noise.
I lie down beside Brock, slipping under the blanket and tucking into his
side, resting my cheek against his chest. “I’m here,” I whisper, pressing my
palm over his heart. I can feel it beating weakly beneath my hand. “You did
it, Brock. You saved me. Now you just have to hang in there, because we
didn’t both just go through all of that for nothing.” A tear slips from my eye,
sliding over the bridge of my nose and falling onto his chest. “We’re
supposed to have a beautiful future together, you know. It’s going to be
amazing and we’re going to be so, so happy,” I sniffle. “So just hang in there,
okay? And when you wake up, I’ll tell you all about it.”
 CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN