Page 1 of Claimed by the Wolf (Wild Fated Shifters #1)

NOX

B rax arches an eyebrow speculatively and flashes me one of his cocksure grins, like this is a big game. Already, I don’t like the way he’s handling my proposal.

“It’s not a joke, Brax,” I tell the Beta. “Emeric is waiting for an answer. Today.”

His smile falters slightly, and then he folds his arms over his chest. “She’s never going to go for it.”

He’s defensive, despite the smirk on his face, and I don’t blame him.

We’re talking about Brynn here.

I don’t smile back, my face etched in seriousness as I lean forward to splay my hands across my desk. But he’s not taking the threat seriously enough. If things have been tentatively calm between us and Willow Grove, it won’t last much longer without an alliance.

“She has to go for it,” I insist. “Ember Hollow’s future and security are on the line. I shouldn’t have to spell this out for you. Things are far too treacherous without some kind of merger between the packs.”

My best friend stifles a sigh and drops his smug pose, meeting me halfway over the desktop. “Look, Nox, I know you have a job to do?—”

“Being Alpha isn’t a job. It’s a calling,” I interject. “And it’s delicate as hell. That means I have to play nice with those I don’t want to play with sometimes, including other Alphas.”

“But you’re not playing with your own life,” Brax counters flatly. “You’re dragging Brynn into this.”

Our eyes clash for a minute, and I see the wheels turning in his head. He’s protective of his little sister, understandably.

I am, too.

But for the good of the pack, Brynn needs to put her wants aside and fall in line. Up until now, she’s led a relatively cushy life, cared for and protected by us. It’s time she returns the favor.

“I’ll talk to her,” he relents when he realizes I’m not backing down on the matter.

“No,” I growl. “ I’ll talk to her. You just make sure she follows through with this.”

Brax snorts. “You have met Brynn, haven’t you?” he asks, standing. “I can’t make those promises.”

I remain in my place behind the desk and watch him amble toward the door, my mind whirling for a minute. Maybe there’s another way, another option.

A memory of little Brynn flashes through my mind, headstrong and sassy, yelling at us for whatever teenage infraction she believed we committed at the time.

But she’s definitely not a little kid anymore.

Overnight, it’s as if she matured into a sensual being, though she’s as willful and defiant as ever.

I wince at the memories of her younger years.

But she is a grown-up now, and that means that she has to make hard choices. And that is definitely something I know about.

Brynn is the best choice for this. Brax will keep her in line, and I can monitor them both. We need an inside scoop on the Willow Grove shifters, and I trust Brynn more than any other female in our pack.

Given her relationship to my best friend, I trust her and her loyalty to all of us.

But Brax is right; she’s not going to mate with the Alpha of Willow Grove happily. She needs to understand how important this is.

“You sure you don’t want me to talk to her?” Brax asks from the doorway.

“Just go get her,” I order my friend. “Emeric wants to meet her.”

He doesn’t move, and I stare at him expectantly.

“What?” I ask in exasperation.

Brax shrugs. “From what I hear, Emeric isn’t looking for a mate either. Are you sure about this?”

I grimace at the reminder. The conversation that had led us to this point had been awkward, to put it lightly. Politics is never fun, but it’s a necessary evil in our world.

“Maybe he isn’t looking for a mate, but he knows we need some sort of way to keep peace between our packs. That’s what being an Alpha is about. Making choices you don’t like sometimes,” I snap. “He is the one who suggested the union. Stop procrastinating and go get your sister.”

Without another word, he disappears through the packhouse, leaving me alone with my thoughts at the desk.

It’s been a long few years in the territory. Tensions run higher every day as threats of civil unrest loom in the shadows. But if Brynn does what she’s told, there could be an end in sight.

If.

A knock on the door startles me out of my reverie.

That was fast. There’s no way Brax could be back with Brynn yet. Connor pops his head in, and I exhale.

The Beta and his sister haven’t returned after all.

“What?” I ask.

“We’re heading out to do a quick grid search and grab some lunch,” he informs me. “Want anything while we’re out?”

“No thanks. Just keep an eye on the neighboring ranches for any trouble, and stay out of Willow Grove.”

“Always.” Connor appears perplexed by the order. “Has there been a complaint?”

“No. And I don’t want one.” Not until I can secure our alliance, at least. This tiptoeing around is getting tiresome.

“Okay, Alpha. Text me if you need anything while we’re out.”

Connor heads out, and I exhale with some relief. It’ll be better if no one is in the house when Brynn arrives. This is bound to be dramatic.

I stand and amble toward the window of my office, pulling the plantation shutters aside to watch as my pack members drive off in their respective vehicles to head out for the afternoon.

Dust flies into the humid Texan air and hangs, still for a moment, before settling on the ground, the group disappearing in a roar of motorcycle and car engines along the remote countryside.

It’s a beautiful spring day, sunshine spilling through the cypress and ash trees on the horizon. I have the urge to go for a run, the walls of the packhouse closing in around me. I don’t much care for being confined indoors, even on gloomy days.

In the distance, a vehicle appears on the lone road leading toward the secluded building.

The Ember Hollow packhouse is strategically located off-road, yet close enough to the freeway for easy access.

Only those who know it know where to find it, for security purposes, but with my heightened sense of sight, I can already make out the familiar outline of Brax’s blue SUV. It helps that I was waiting for it.

Stepping back from the window, I make my way through the wide halls to greet the siblings at the front of the now empty packhouse.

Empty beer bottles litter the coffee table, and I scowl in disgust. I’m going to have the pack’s asses for this mess.

That’s not the way I run my house, and they know it.

If not for Brynn’s arrival, I would have had Connor come right back and lead the cleanup right then and there. I make a mental note to deal with him later.

Propping open the front door, I lean casually against the doorway, hoping to look inconspicuous as I fold my arms over my chest.

Covertly, I shoot Brax a look from my place, and he shakes his head quickly as if to indicate he hasn’t said anything, while his younger sister climbs out of the passenger side warily.

Another image of Brynn flashes through my mind, her last birthday party in that sexy white sundress.

I quickly dismiss the thought, shifting my gaze back to her face.

Her golden-green eyes dart over the porch before landing on my face, her lids narrowing slightly.

“Hey,” she drawls, ambling toward me. “How’s it going?”

“Hey, yourself,” I reply lightly, pushing myself off the doorframe to greet her properly.

“Where is everyone?” She looks nervously over her shoulder, the sunshine catching the flaxen strands of her waist-length hair as she looks for the rest of the pack.

“Lunch,” I answer, forcing an element of brightness into my tone. “If you’re hungry, I can text Connor to bring you something back.”

I’m trying to disarm her, but my niceness only heightens her suspicion. I’m laying it on too thick. Her head whips back toward me before she gazes at her brother.

Brax shrugs helplessly. “I’m hungry,” he offers.

“You can text Connor yourself.” I scowl at him. “Come inside.”

Slowly, she mounts the steps, her uneasiness uncharacteristic. She can tell something’s off; her usual feistiness is subdued as she falls into step behind me. Holding open the screen door, I glance back at her, and for the first time, I realize how tiny she seems beside me.

I’ve known her my whole life and never noticed just how much I tower over her.

And out of nowhere, my dick hardens against my pants.

Fuck! What is with me today?

This is Brynn. Brax’s little sister. Not a female I can just fuck and forget.

Then a surge of possessiveness hits me.

She’ll be this small against Emeric, too. Will she be able to fend for herself if things go awry?

I need to stop. And I tell myself I’m not being possessive, just protective of one of my pack members.

Nothing is going to go wrong. Arrangements like these are made all the time. Brynn will be just fine.

Her head cocks back, and she gives me a weak smile, my six-foot-three frame not intimidating her as much as the empty packhouse.

“I’ve never been in here when it’s so quiet before,” she admits, following me through the hallway toward the office, with Brax on her heels.

“Isn’t it peaceful?” I joke. I usher her into my office and close the door, signaling for her and Brax to sit down. “I could get used to it.”

Brynn perches on the edge of one of the comfortable chairs and fiddles with her fingers in her lap, biting on one of her plump lower lips, her thick lashes hiding her hazel eyes.

“I’m sorry!” she blurts out. “I couldn’t say no! The twins insisted I go with them, and you know how Sierra and Sienna are!”

Brax and I exchange a look.

“What?” I drawl slowly.

“I warned them you would be pissed, Nox, but Sienna said they have family in Willow Grove. I know I wasn’t supposed to go because of what’s going on with them, but all my friends were going, and they said it wouldn’t be a big deal.”

She trails off and looks at me under thick lashes, biting on her lower lip again.

Damn, she can be very cute when she’s trying to avoid trouble, but the core message isn’t lost on me.

“You went to that party?” I growl, eying her brother.