Page 19 of Claimed by the Wolf (Wild Fated Shifters #1)

brYNN

“ M iss Brynn?” The knock on my door startles me, and I jump in my chair.

Hurrying to the door, I open it to find Kayla appearing vaguely frazzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Uh… your brother is here to see you.”

Baffled, I stare at her. “ My brother?” I echo. “Brax?”

“Yes, Miss Brynn.”

“But he knows the ceremony is tomorrow… Never mind. I’m coming.” I close the door as she leaves, returning to my desk to hide the page of notes I’d hoped to share with Alessa.

But I realize they’re all moot now. After our initial meeting, the elusive female never showed up again, almost like I’d dreamed of her in the first place.

It had been stupid to put all my hopes in a stranger when those closest to me had basically abandoned me.

I still haven’t heard from Nox since I arrived, and the longing for him only increases every day.

At least Emeric never tried to consummate our mating before the ceremony, but he will, after tomorrow night. He’ll have to. It’s expected. There will be more alphas for the Willow Grove bloodline, and I will be the one to carry them.

Tucking the page inside the desk, I head toward the door to greet my brother. I wonder why he’s early, especially when he hasn’t given me any kind of heads-up that he’s coming.

Brax paces the foyer uncomfortably, putting me on guard.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, hurrying toward him. “Is something wrong?”

Relief floods his face as he looks at me, searching my face for an answer to the same question. “Er… no. I…” He falters. “I just wanted to come early. Is that okay?”

I don’t believe him. Stepping closer, I lower my voice. “Did Nox send you?” I whisper, and his eyes widen.

“Yes,” my brother tells me. “But I have no idea why. Do you?”

Dread knots in my gut. “No. I have no idea.”

I don’t know what to do with him now, and I look helplessly around. “Let’s go for a walk.”

He looks uncomfortable as I lead him back outside and away from the prying ears of the staff. In the blazing afternoon sun, I have a clear view of who’s coming and going, at least.

“Is he coming tomorrow?” I murmur, as we make our way around the corral toward the stables, around the back of the house.

Brax shrugs, and we stop to sit under one of the cypress trees. “Honestly, Brynn, I don’t know what the hell is going on right now. The pack is a mess. They don’t trust him after what happened with you, and he’s not acting right. He claims there’s no way to break the mate bond.”

“What? Oh no…”

Am I really disappointed? Yes, of course, I am. Because I’m stuck with Emeric now. But at the same time, the idea of losing the connection I’ve come to know so inherently with Nox would be like losing a piece of myself.

It’s all so complicated.

“If he can’t break the bond, things aren’t going to change,” Brax growls, sitting forward. “The pack will never relax. They’re too concerned about your bond being discovered. Someone is bound to slip up and say something one drunken night.”

“It’s messy, I know.”

“You don’t know. You’re here,” he retorts.

I glare at him. “You think that makes it better or worse for me?” I bark back, jumping up to fold my arms over my chest. “I have no one here. I’m all alone.”

I think of Alessa and how she had promised to help me and disappeared, too. “You have each other, at least. If something happens while I’m here, I’m as good as dead.”

My brother rises and embraces me. “Nothing is going to happen,” he mumbles, wrapping his arms around me. “We’ve still got your…”

His body stiffens against me, alerting me to danger.

“Brax?”

I raise my head and turn to follow my brother’s dead-eyed stare. Behind us, Emeric stands with half a dozen of his enforcers in a line.

Quickly, my brother releases me, and I step back, offering him a sheepish smile. “Hi, Emeric. My brother showed up early.”

He doesn’t return my smile, and Alessa emerges from behind one of the biggest shifters, causing my heart to skip several beats.

“Is everything all right?” I croak.

Brax steps forward, pushing me behind him gently.

My gaze darts toward Alessa, but she lowers her dark irises, and dread resurfaces in my soul.

She sold me out to him! I shouldn’t have trusted her!

“You tell me,” Emeric drawls, angling toward us. “Is it?”

Chills shoot through me as I prepare to shift, to run and flee as danger bells ring in the back of my mind.

“What are you talking about, Emeric?”

Brax stands between us as he comes to a stop in front of me, his full lips curling into a sneer.

“I’ve been hearing some unsettling rumors, Brynn,” he tells me. “About you and the Ember Hollow Alpha.”

It takes everything in me not to whimper as Brax casts me a sidelong look. I feel all the blood drain out of my face and into my boots, but I don’t speak as I stare at him.

“What about Nox?” I squeak.

“Are you his fated mate?”

The point-blank question is impossible to avoid, and I look desperately at my brother, hoping for an escape, a solution. If I lie and I’m caught, Emeric won’t be merciful. But the truth’s outcome is just as bad.

“Did your Alpha send his mate here as a plant, to spy on us? Would he be that callous and underhanded?”

“I-I…” I sputter weakly. “No! He wouldn’t do that!”

I want the ground to open up beneath my feet and swallow me whole.

“Alpha,” Brax tries to interject, but he’s livid, his eyes gleaming with malice at the suspected betrayal.

“I’m not asking you,” Emeric hisses, advancing on me. “But I will deal with you later. Your entire pack will be dealt with.”

Protectiveness for my brother shoots through me. “He doesn’t?—”

“Alpha!” One of his pack members yells across the property from the house, and Emeric turns with a scowl.

“Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something right now, Heath?” Emeric barks.

His second-in-command ignores his protest.

“Alpha Nox is here.”

My knees buckle at the declaration, and Brax puts up a hand to steady me, but I still feel like my world is crashing around me.

“Well,” Emeric drawls, stepping back with a sardonic laugh. “We can put this matter to rest right here and now, can’t we? Heath! Bring him this way!”

“Run,” Brax whispers in my ear. “You have to run, Brynn!”

“Don’t even think about it,” Emeric snarls, dropping a hand on my shoulder. “Or I’ll kill you.”