Embracing the Wolf

And just like that, the vision vanished. The thrift store came rushing back, and I had to grab onto the rack of clothing to steady my wobbly legs. As my eyesight came into focus, my stomach rolled with queasiness.

“What was it this time?” Wade asked, walking over to me. He braced a hand on my shoulder and cocked his head to the side to see my face. My blonde hair curtained my face as I hung my head.

“A wedding,” I told him. I sucked in a lungful of air to ease the adrenaline—and my wolf. She always got antsy when we witnessed a vision. “When is the nausea going to stop? We’ve been at this for two weeks now.”

“It’s not an exact science,” Wade replied. “Everyone’s power develops differently. I don’t remember Nadia mentioning vision sickness. Are you going to get sick?”

I stood up straight and thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so.” The first couple times a vision had come on, it had always resulted in me throwing up or passing out. The last handful had only left me nauseous.

“Well, that’s something.”

I glared up at my optimistic teacher. “Let me kick you in the balls over and over and see how many times it takes you to withstand crumbling on the floor.” Call me crazy, but having my stomach turn into a sea of wooziness was not what I called a silver lining. The thing was, I wanted to hone my craft. It may have left me sick, but it was one of the coolest things to happen to me. That didn’t mean that I was enjoying the side effects. I just hoped that the more I saw, the less of a toll it would take.

“Save the hostility for the pack games,” Wade chuckled, and I reached out to punch him in the arm. He was nice enough to pretend I had hurt him. We both know I didn’t.

My cell phone rang, giving me something other than my sensitive stomach to think about. I retrieved it from my pocket and instantly smiled when Adam’s name showed up on the LCD screen.

“Hello?”

“Get home now. Do not stop anywhere or talk to anyone other than Wade.”

“What?” I asked with confusion. “What’s going on?”

“Anthony just showed up, and I want your ass home by my side where I can protect you.”

I eyed Wade, and he gave me a cautious look. Being a were, our hearing is nearly perfect. I knew he had heard everything Adam had said.

“Okay, just calm down,” I told Adam. “I think you’re—”

“I’m not overreacting,” Adam finished. “He tried killing you once; I won’t give him a second chance. Get home.”

I was saved from having to calm him down further when the click of the phone sounded in my ear.

“Looks like class is dismissed,” Wade said.

Chapter Three

When Wade and I pulled up, Adam and Anthony were having a standoff in the front yard. Maggie stood off to the side while Donald stood in between his two sons. My wolf bristled at seeing Anthony. She wasn’t the only one who remembered the week of our kidnap. While Anthony hadn’t physically hurt me, he hadn’t exactly been a savior either.

Wade and I exited the truck. I hung back, hesitating to get closer to Anthony. I wasn’t afraid of him, not anymore. I was worried if I got too close, though, my wolf would tear him to shreds. We were no longer bound by iron manacles, and were itching to get retribution.

Adam’s eyes found mine. The familiar sapphires were gone and in their place—citrines. His wolf was at the surface, ready to fight should his brother attack. Adam came across the lawn to where I stood and grabbed my hand, placing the majority of his body in front of mine as a protective barrier.

“I don’t want him here,” Adam told his father.

“I’ve come to pay tribute to your new alpha and give my sincerest apologies for my previous behavior,” Anthony said. “Love can make you do crazy things. Don’t you agree, Brother?”

Anthony’s eyes slid past Adam and landed on my face. There was no trace of malice in his gaze, but I didn’t trust his poker face. I knew exactly how he felt about made wolves and their place in pack hierarchy.

“You’re no brother of mine,” Adam spat.

Anthony smirked. “You always were one for theatrics.”

“You tried to kill my Chante,” Adam snarled. “Forgive me, but I don’t think I’m overreacting.”

“Your brother and I will have a talk,” Donald told Adam. “I will get to the bottom of this.” Donald began to usher Anthony away, but Wade spoke up and stopped them.

“Excuse me, Mr. Everwood. As a Leader, it is my duty to get to the bottom of this. Anthony and Eve killed humans. That sort of thing cannot go without the attention of the Leaders. It is our judgment that will define his fate, not yours.”

Golden fire burned behind Donald’s eyes. His lips straightened into a hard line as he glared at Wade. My wolf bristled beneath my skin, ready for a fight. I wasn’t sure if Adam’s father was insane enough to attack a Leader, but his icy glare said he was considering it. What I couldn’t fathom was Maggie and Donald’s complete ignorance to their son’s behavior. Keeping werewolves a secret was not only the Leader’s rule—it was everyone’s. No one wanted the hassle of dealing with frightened humans. It would drum up hysteria, and our mountain would be flooded with hunters.

Donald’s shoulders relaxed. “Very well, but I request to be present during your questioning.”

Wade nodded. “Accepted.” He turned toward Adam and asked, “Is it all right if we use your office?”

Adam tipped his chin in agreement, but didn’t take his steely gaze off his brother. As they turned to head into the house, Anthony smiled and winked at me. Adam took a step forward, but I gripped his shoulder to stop him.

“Don’t let Anthony goad you,” I said.

Adam sucked in a deep breath through his nose and turned toward me. His hand came up and caressed the side of my face. My eyes briefly closed, and my wolf eased.

“As long as he’s here, you’re not to be out of my sight. Understand?”

“Do you really think he’d try something with everyone around?” I asked. “Besides, Elle’s teachings are proving effective. I took her down in record time today.”

Adam laughed and slung an arm around my shoulders. “I’m sure that had everything to do with your viciousness rather than the appearance of my parents and me.”

I nudged him in the ribs with my elbow. “You bet your ass it did.”

We both laughed before Adam’s smile fell, and he stared off into the distance. He looked down at me with concerned eyes.

“Seriously,” I said. “Everything will be okay, you’ll see.”

“Anna,” Adam breathed. His arm slipped from my shoulders, and he stood so that we were facing each other. “Anthony isn’t the only thing we have to worry about.”

My optimistic outlook on Adam’s brother’s visit quickly vanished. What was worse than my boyfriend’s bloodthirsty brother showing up? Not to mention his parents not-so-subtle confession of their distaste of me. I couldn’t imagine what—yet, by the worry swimming through Adam’s eyes, I knew there was something much worse.

“The conference,” Adam began, “it’s a place to interact with other packs, but it’s also a place for the single wolves to find mates.”

I puckered my lips to the side in confusion. “That doesn’t seem all that bad.”

“It is when the wolf is already mated.”

Realization dawned on me and punched me in the gut. “You mean other females might want to fight me to take my place as your alpha female?”

“It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen,” Adam said. “I want you to be ready if it does.”

“Who in their right mind would want to kill someone’s Chante?” I asked. “If I’m dead, then you’ll be destroyed.” That sounded conceited, but it was the truth. We’re each other’s other half—the missing link. We completed each other in a way no other man or woman could. And the same could be said for me. If I were to lose Adam, I would retreat to the dark corners of my mind until death eventually came to claim me.

“Wolves do not have to kill to win a challenge,” Adam said. “If they subdue you for a full seven seconds they win. When it comes to alphas, no underling should be able to subdue you for even three seconds.”

He didn’t say it, but I could read it all over his face. He was worried I wasn’t strong enough to win, should I be challenged. Elle had defeated me multiple times, and she wasn’t even an alpha.

“The ceremony is Friday night,” Adam continued. “When a wolf goes through the alpha ritual, power is transferred from your pack mates, strengthening your wolf. If we can get through it without any challenges, then we’ll be in the clear.”

“What? No one will challenge me after I’ve received my new alpha powers?”

Adam gave me a small smile. “Only if they want to check into an early grave. You, my dear, are mated to a man from an extremely strong bloodline. Not only will you receive the power of the pack, but you’ll also gain the power of my wolf.” Adam wrapped his arms around my waist and stared down at me with a smirk on his face.

“You sound pretty sure of yourself,” I teased.

“There are three things I never question: the strength of my wolf, my skills in the bedroom, and the unyielding love I feel for you.”

Adam’s lips found mine and weakened my knees. I sagged against his hard frame, content to stay wrapped in his arms for a lifetime.

“Besides,” Adam said against my lips, “should any wolf challenge you, they best be prepared for me to challenge them. Man or woman, I will kill anyone who threatens what we have. That is my promise to you.”

I was sure if I were to look in the mirror I would see googly eyes staring back. I was a sucker for this man, a fool walking on clouds, a woman suckered into believing in all the mushy things I use to roll my eyes at. I was helpless against the feelings occupying my heart.