Page 21 of Wanted By the Wolves
Briggs shuffles in, fixes a glass of water, and leans against the sink. “Did you get traps set?”
“Not yet. The generators needed a tune-up, and I brought in supplies from the barn.”
Briggs nods. “I’ll help with the traps tomorrow. Don’t want to risk the weather before we get a chance to?—"
His brother cuts him off with a growl. “You’ll rest. I’ll lay traps.” The big alpha takes the bowls and gives a chin lift for me to follow. “Come on. The living room will make this easier on everyone.”
My wolf trots after him.
“Since when do you call the shots?” Briggs mumbles, trailing behind me.
Dex glares at him over his shoulder. “Since you almost died. Now stop being a pain in the ass and go put your leg up. You can take back top dog once you’re healed.”
Briggs throws his head back and lets out an aggrieved groan. “I think I liked it better when you grunted.”
That pulls a laugh from Dex.
The deep sound races along my wolf’s back and makes her tail wag. She looks between the two brothers and barks.
Dex takes that as a command to get moving. He sets the bowls down by the fire and returns to the kitchen.
Without waiting for the others, she dives into the chunky stew. It’s scalding. She snorts, shaking her head, and some of it goes flying.
My wolf is a bad dinner date.
On the couch, Briggs watches with amusement. “You know, it would probably be easier to join us for dinner without your fur.”
He’s right. The reminder has me yanking for control, but my wolf resists me. I don’t know what her deal is. She’s never refused to let me take my skin.
I’m not going to run.
I know she understands me and feels my tug, but she isn’t ready to give up control. She seems to think I’m gonna skip town the moment I shift, and she has decided we’re staying.
With a resigned huff, I drop it.I’m too mentally exhausted and hungry to fight her.
Briggs watches me from his position on the couch. “Sucks, doesn’t it?” Briggs asks softly. “Not feeling like you have control.”
Totally.Although sometimes I wish I didn’t always have to make decisions.
My wolf wags her tail for him.
He smiles, and it’s a sucker punch to my ovaries. “It’s all right that she’s in charge now. She’s protecting you and keeping yousafe. When she trusts us, she’ll give you your skin. Won’t you, pretty wolf?”
Without thought, she goes to him, licking his wrist. He’s spicy and floral, his taste deeply comforting.
Briggs strokes her fur, the firm touch grounding. “You’re safe with us. I promise.”
My wolf takes another pass along Briggs’s arm, rubbing in his scent.
Dex returns from the kitchen. “Look what I found.” He holds out a glass of amber liquid to Briggs.
His eyes light up. “Gage might kill you for taking his whiskey.”
“He’s got plenty.” Dex shrugs, taking the big armchair across from the fire.
My wolf goes back to her bowl, taking a tentative lick of the stew. Still too hot. She huffs and lies down, eyeing the steaming bowl with longing.
The brothers talk, the hum of their deep voices soothing. Eventually, the stew cools, and she eats through two bowls, making a giant mess.Dex tries to wipe her snout with a towel, but she thinks it’s a game, tugging it from his hand and running through the cabin.
