Embracing the Wolf

“I spoke to my father,” Anthony said. “He said you were searching for answers. I figured this was the best place to do that.”

I eyed him cautiously. “So why are you here?” I couldn’t help but think of his confession last night, though I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to think that I could be connected to Anthony, other than being engaged to his brother. Being linked to him, because of my Chante bond with Adam only tainted it. The mark on my palm was proof that I was supposed to be with Adam. It wasn’t right that Anthony felt something because of it, because of his twin connection with his brother. It was like he was an intruder, stealing something special from me.

“I wanted to talk to you about last night,” Anthony said in a soft voice. He looked away as thought nervous or shy. I wasn’t falling for it. I knew better.

“What about it?” Not only was I annoyed that Anthony was here; I was annoyed that he wanted to have a conversation I didn’t. I wanted to concentrate on the information I’d learned from the vision, not have a heart to heart with my fiancé’s brother.

“You don’t have to be a bitch,” Anthony snapped, bringing his eyes back to mine. “Do you think I want this … that I want to have feelings for yet another one of my brother’s women?” He ran both hands through his hair and spun on his heel, turning his back toward me. I know I shouldn’t, but a pang of guilt settled deep in my belly. When I learned the story of how Eve was promised to Adam, even though Anthony loved her, I felt sorry for him. It couldn’t be easy loving a woman who was mated to your brother. Even though Eve and Anthony still hooked up from time to time, Eve was never fully Anthony’s. My breath caught in my throat as a thought occurred to me. Was Anthony saying he had those types of feelings for me?

“What do you mean when you say feelings?” God, I could not deal with this atop everything else. I turned my left hand over and scowled at the brand marking my skin. My life had become increasingly difficult since the damn thing appeared on my palm. Adam’s life was now linked to mine, people wanted to kill me because of it, and now my mate’s brother was admitting that he felt something for me. I stared up at the gloomy sky and raised my middle finger to whoever was up there toying with my life. I did not find it as funny as they probably did.

“I don’t know,” Anthony admitted, turning to face me. “All I know is there’s something about you, Anna. I felt it that day Eve attacked you and again when we kidnapped you. Every time she smacked you, an icy fury consumed me as though I was angry that she was hurting you. I don’t know what it means, but it’s why I’m here.”

I rubbed my forehead from the sudden pain ricocheting through my skull. I snorted to myself. Adam assumed Anthony was here for me, but we both thought it was to kill me as payback for Adam killing Eve. His confession left me blindsided. If there was ever a time I was truly surprised, this would be it.

“I love Adam,” I told him. I held up my left hand to show my ring and said, “I’m marrying him. I’m sure whatever it is you feel—it’s some sort of weird twin bond you have with Adam. It’s his feelings you’re feeling. It’s not real.”

“Perhaps,” Anthony said with a serious expression. “I tried staying away—really I did—but it felt like a piece was missing. I came here to see if it was you causing it.”

I blew out a heavy breath though my nose. “And?”

Anthony hesitated to answer, which meant I wouldn’t like what he had to say. I studied his face, so much like Adam’s it hurt to look at him. They were the same height, had the same build, even the same lips. Anthony’s eyes were a light green where Adam’s were blue, and Anthony’s hair was a tad longer since Adam cut his a couple weeks ago. It pained me to be repulsed by this man, but also find him attractive. It just wouldn’t make sense to find Adam handsome and not Anthony. Their looks were where their similarities ended though; Adam was honorable where Anthony was a rebel.

“I don’t feel it anymore,” Anthony finally said. “The moment I saw you, it went away.”

I wiped a snowflake that had landed on my eyelashes and hugged my arms to my chest. Cold had nothing to do with the motion. I felt exposed as his eyes burned into mine, willing me to admit I felt something, too. It pained me, seriously pained me, to not be able to give him what he wanted. I knew what kind of person Anthony was, but he was also flesh and blood, capable of real emotions, and he had already fallen in love with a woman he couldn’t have. I did not want to be number two. Though I didn’t understand Anthony’s past actions, I couldn’t help myself for feeling sorry for him. I wanted to hate him, to scream at him and even hurt him so he would give up this silly idea of feeling something for me, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t make my lips utter harsh words just to sway him from thinking what he thought.

My parents always told me that words have more power than any weapon. With a lash of your tongue, you could bring someone to his or her knees, and they were right. How many harsh words had I heard in my lifetime that still stuck with me? How many times had I dissected what someone said and watched as my insecurities grew from those words? Life is all about rising above the ugliness that plagues us all. I didn’t want to be that ugliness that Anthony might look back on like I did with those who were mean to me. I didn’t owe him anything, but I owed it to myself to not become a person who allowed insecurities and negativity to rule my tongue. Being negative is easy; it’s being positive that’s difficult. Though I was angry, anxious, and worried, I swallowed those feelings and thought before I spoke.

“I don’t know what that means,” I said. “This whole Chante bond is new to me, but I do know that my feelings lay with Adam. From the moment I saw him I just … knew.” I hoped he interpreted my words for what they were. I didn’t have romantic feelings for anyone other than Adam.

“And that day on the mountain when I stopped Eve from killing you, did you feel something when you looked at me?”

“What does it matter? I’m with Adam, and we’re bonded.”

“It matters to me.”

I thought for a moment, recalling the day I was attacked by Eve. “I thought you were beautiful,” I admitted, looking at the ground. I felt like I was cheating on Adam just by telling Anthony that. I felt sick to my stomach and couldn’t meet Anthony’s eyes.

Footsteps drew my attention away from the snow-covered ground. Anthony moved toward me, his eyes alight with an emotion I didn’t want to label. As he reached a hand out to me, a low, menacing growl filled the space, and an ebony wolf charged toward Anthony.

Chapter Eighteen

A high-pitched screech left my lips when Adam barreled into Anthony. Anthony went down, Adam on his chest. I ran over to the pair and gripped Adam’s inky black fur in both hands to help keep those sharp teeth away from Anthony’s jugular.

“Adam … Adam he wasn’t going to do anything. We were just talking,” I yelled. Adam continued to snarl and snap at his brother while I tugged on his fur. Anthony’s hands extended up to his shoulders to hold him off. With a hard push, Anthony shoved Adam off him long enough to transform into his silver wolf.

“Shit,” I mumbled. This was not good. I felt like I was standing on the sidelines of a hairy UFC fight. Adam charged Anthony, and Anthony charged at the same moment. They crashed into each other in a tangle of claws, teeth, and growls. In no way was I going to get in the middle of that, unless it went a step too far.

My breathing became labored as Adam’s fury slammed into me. Adrenaline raced through my veins, amplifying my worry. My eyes traveled from one wolf to another, unsure who was winning. I raked my fingers through my hair with nervous indecision. I knew better than to interfere with fighting wolves, but I also couldn’t stand to just watch them tear each other apart. What really ticked me off was that they were fighting over nothing. Did Adam really trust me so little to think I would cheat on him, especially with his brother? A small ball of hurt settled in my chest at the thought. Then again, hadn’t I gotten jealous over Chloe? This love thing was a tricky, tricky bitch. No wonder I stayed away from it for so long.

“Stop,” I yelled, coating my words with as much authority as I could. I didn’t expect it to work, but I needed to voice my inner thoughts.

Slowly, Adam and Anthony backed away from each other, walking backward, but keeping their eyes locked on one another. My forehead creased in surprise. They had actually listened. When I was sure they weren’t going to attack each other again, I walked with caution toward Adam. Kneeling, I ran my fingers through his silky fur and leaned my forehead against the bridge of his wide nose.

“Nothing happened,” I whispered, meeting his yellow eyes. “No one can threaten what I feel for you. Do you hear me? No. One.”

Adam had been staring over my shoulder at his brother, but his eyes flicked to mine. He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut, huffing.

“I never took you for the jealous type,” Anthony said behind me. “You sure as hell didn’t care that I was fucking Eve.”

I didn’t turn around because I knew he would be naked and me seeing his nudity would only add fuel to the fire. Though, to be honest, I had already seen him naked that day on the mountain. Adam didn’t need to know that, though. While nudity in the pack wasn’t a big deal, I was sure Adam didn’t want me to see that side of his brother.

“Ignore him,” I whispered to Adam. “Please, just let this go.”

Adam’s body shimmered for all of three seconds before he was crouching on the ground in human form again. He lifted his head to me, his eyes a storm of different emotions. Adam stood and held a hand out to me to join him. He pulled me to my feet and, without warning, kissed me. This kiss was not soft or innocent; it was hard, passionate, and possessive. His tongue slipped between my lips and caressed my own while his lips ravished mine with severity. When his hand snaked around my waist and landed on my behind, a small moan rumbled up my throat. I couldn’t help it; I could feel his excitement pressing against my leg. I didn’t care that we had an audience, or that he may be pissed at me, and this was his caveman way of staking his claim. My wolf surfaced and devoured the pleasurable sensations he elicited, ready to feel his erection buried deep inside of us.