Branded by my pack Alpha.
Betrayed by my mother.
Raised by lies and falsehoods.
The betrayal just as twisted and hideous as the deep scars I now carry.
I have one choice: let my wolf loose and run. Run for my life and to the only other wolf who escaped the San Francisco pack.
I leave my past and my pack behind, hoping for protection, a new home, a new pack and a chance to live free. The last thing I ever dream of finding is a mate.
But falling into Gunner Bodolf’s arms is as simple as breathing in his irresistible scent. And once he kisses me, I can’t walk away. Having been lied to my entire life, there is so much I don’t know about being a wolf. I certainly know nothing of the sakana bond, a rare and precious bond between two wolves, connecting their minds, bodies, and souls.
Gunner and I now share this priceless ancient gift.
I ran from hell and ended up in heaven. Unfortunately, the deadly danger I left behind tracks me across the country to the middle of nowhere, Texas.
My past will never let me go without a challenge, a challenge I refuse to run from. To protect my new life, my new pack, my new mate, I will fight.
fumes surround me until I choke. I know what’s coming. I try to scream, but no
sound leaves my mouth.
of his dark voice. I struggle to move.
spreads throughout my body, throughout my soul.
scream.
You’re safe.”
wouldn’t stop. So many scents—of the past and the present—bombarded my senses.
All familiar. However, one particular scent overpowered all the others: smoky
and rich, like a cozy, warm fire, and leather cloak, with an undertone of lemon
oil.
quiet room as a powerful energy touched my skin, making me shiver.
face to face with an enormous wolf. Bright green eyes, framed by a dark brown
mask above a fully silver muzzle, stared back at me. The wolf’s shoulders were
immense. And there was something about this wolf—something comforting and
electrifying all at once. Nothing would ever happen to me as long as this wolf
watched over me. I felt it in my blood, in my body and in my soul. This wolf
would fight to his last heartbeat to protect me.
spoke from across the room. “Simone, everything’s gonna be fine.”
some male telling me everything would be fine.
the stranger, who had stayed in the doorway. Though…he wasn’t a total stranger,
he was…Jessy’s mate.
caught sight of a black wolf in the mirror across the room.
toward the sound of Jessy’s soft voice.
Kern stood behind Jessy and Dain.
the huge wolf that stood between me and the rest of the room. She tossed a
blanket over my body and sat down on the bed next to me as she gently stroked
my fur.
had a nightmare. You’re safe here with us. No one is gonna hurt you.”
of the wolf that stood only a foot from my bed. His anxious features smoothed
out, his stiff shoulders relaxing as his big, fluffy tail began to swing back
and forth in a long, swooping arc.
let the shift back to human flow through me. Jessy readjusted the blanket,
making sure to cover my suddenly naked body.
embarrassment heated my face as I bunched the thick blanket up beneath my chin.
to relive those three horrific days over and over in my dreams.
that will help, if you’d like,” Kern offered.
nodded his agreement. A week ago, I would’ve totally taken up that offer, but
now, my dreams were another reminder of why I had run, why I needed to start a
new life.
back a sob. “I need to remember.”
blanket-covered breasts. The branding wasn’t something I would ever forget, but
reliving it in my mind every night reminded me that I would never allow anyone
to hurt me again.
were hurt. Or killed.
too. If you change your mind and want one night of good sleep, say the word and
I’ll make it happen.”
think about it.”
bed. I grabbed her hand.
me…for just a bit, please?”
as the others quietly slipped from the doorway. The massive wolf didn’t leave
his spot. He sat down as if he belonged there—belonged by my side.
that were crazy. I had no idea where they came from, especially since I didn’t
even know this male.
paw and laid it gently on the bed next to my thigh as he cocked his head to the
left in question.
eyebrows at him. “Girl talk.”
toward me, his head low in submission as he nudged his nose under my hand.
wolf before,” I whispered, as I stroked my fingers between his large ears and
down his back. The top layer of his fur was stiff and bristly. I dug my fingers
deeper into the thick, warm underlayer of his coat. “You are so…soft.”
anxiety and quickened my pulse at the same time. I smiled as I slid my fingers
over his silky, silver muzzle. He leaned into my touch, pressed his forehead
against mine, and let off a low-pitched whine: a question.
I was. Calmer. In control.
inches. His intense green gaze held me in place as if he could see all the way
down into my soul. I placed my hands on the bed, gripped the blanket in my
fingers, and held his stare. I wanted him to look, wanted him to see who I was,
what I’d been through and that I was no threat to him or his pack.
wolf kisses bathed my face.
from my chin to my nose, in quick, friendly swipes. He flashed his long canines
in a strange, wolfy grin, then retreated to the doorway. He glanced back over
his shoulder. His brows arched as if he were asking me if I might change my
mind.
disappeared from the room, his claws clicking on the hardwood floor.
licked me. I swept my tongue along my lips and tasted him there.
“Gunner?” His name came out as a sigh. His flavor was still in my mouth and I
wanted more.
and closed the door. “He stuck around to make sure you were recovering. He
rarely throws his Alpha status up, but when he does, we don’t argue.”
pack leader?”
waved her arms around as she spoke. “He’s got that whole Alpha-power thing
going on. He can’t help it, not that he would. It just kind of broadcasts his
aura all over the place.”
male. He’d stayed. No wonder I was drawn to him. When I’d run into
him, earlier in the hall, his scent seemed to engulf me. I had wanted to sink
into his arms. But now, his scent seemed different—changed from before—deeper,
more complex and…complete.
I didn’t fear Gunner as I feared Rule.
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