To Zach’s shock, she’d respected it and backed off. Her new routine was to move far away and watch as the human cleaned the pen and gave them fresh hay. She still radiatedsuspicion, though. And if Zach even glanced her way, she’d toss her head and flatten her ears.
She did that now, her heavy, tangled mane shifting from one side of her neck to the other. And for the first time, Zach spotted the brand.
He’d spent so much of his time searching the city, that he’d been feeding and hanging with them mostly in the dark. He’d never noticed the brand.
A freeze brand.
Cara saw it too. She nodded in satisfaction. “Mustang.”
It shocked him. He’d seen pictures of brands like that, running along the crest of the neck on the left side. Her paperwork said nothing about it. But then, no one had likely gotten near her for a long time. Cara was right. Storm was a mustang. The identification helped him to understand some of her fear and anger.
Before he whipped out his phone for a pic, she raised her head and tossed it again, hiding the distinctive white markings.
Cara fixed him with eerie blue eyes that reminded him of the mare’s. “If you want to connect to her, you are going to need to prove that you are truly worthy.”
Zach swallowed. The bar had been raised.
Now all he had to do was leap it.
7
Something about this dream was different.
Considering the grinding boredom of her days, Jessie had started to welcome the dreams. She looked forward to racing through the forest, even if the creature joining her resembled Braden. Not the man. But an animal version.
She didn’t understand why. Why not Zach, with whom she’d formed an instant attraction? Why didn’t her beast have green eyes and sun-kissed brown hair? Why did it seem her kidnapper haunted her dreams?
She’d had them every night for the last week now. And every night, they grew a little more intense. A little more vivid.
The dirt flew by beneath her paws. Jessie’s body was tight with anticipation. As of late, the male beast—she’d like to say he was a wolf, but he was so much more—had begun to nip at her, to chase her through the woods.
It was a game. One she enjoyed. It excited her. Her heart raced. His musky scent, his panting breath, the harsh slide of his teeth over her skin. He ignited her blood. She craved him, even encouraged him with small yips and nips of her own.
Would he catch her? Did she want him to?
She was much smaller than him but more agile, weaving through the trunks, ducking below fallen trees that he had to go over or around.
Tonight he took longer to join her. And when he appeared, he lunged out of the darkness to crash into her. He hit her hard enough to almost knock her off her feet.
Instinctively, she snapped at him to push him back. But he came at her again, slammed into her, and drove the breath from her body. Jessie staggered, and the first stab of unease flashed through her. Any hint of fun had evaporated. His gold eyes flashed at her, and his jaws opened to show his long teeth.
She accelerated away, ducking under a large tree. He bounded over it and came after her. Not a playful move. His focus was intense. Driven. Like he was pursuing prey.
Unease morphed to terror. Her heart racing faster than her feet, Jessie stretched out and ran. She was no longer predator, but prey. Desperate, she struggled to wake herself up, but she remained trapped in the nightmare. Her heart stuttered. He’d let her evade him all this time. Because now, he was nearly on top of her with every stride. Effortless for him. It took everything she had to keep ahead.
Panicked, she crashed through a thicket and stumbled. Something incredibly heavy landed on her. Teeth fastened on the back of her neck, driving her into the ground.
Choking, she writhed beneath his grip, trying to break free. His entire body lay on top of her, and he growled a low rumble from deep within. To her horror, she went limp. Surrendered. Complete and unquestioning.
Like she wanted this.
But she didn’t. Did she?
He released his hold, but she remained pliant beneath him. Then he lowered his head and began to lick. Her ears. Her face. Her muzzle. That, and the heavy weight of him on top of her triggered a primal response. Her body squirmed, but not to get away. Instead, she positioned her hips beneath him.
Another growl rumbled low in his throat. His hips pushed in on hers. Seeking. “Mine.” The triumphant word was mostly rumble.
And from somewhere deep within her mind flared a spark of outrage. Jessie twisted, snapping her head up and around in a flash of white teeth. They slashed across his cheek, opening it just below the scar. Hot blood splashed across her face.
