Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I narrow my eyes at Connor, despising his attempts to set our family apart from the wider clan. Hunter has come to show unity, and Connor attempts to maintain separation. He was unhappy when we didn’t sell up and relocate, but this is petty.
Hunter turns to me again, and I allow one eyebrow to raise. He nods and stands. “Time to go, Evan,” he says.
He holds his hand out to Connor. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
I hold my smile inside at my brother’s thinly veiled sarcasm. No food or drink was offered. They sat in front of us like an interview panel. After this experience, I don’t doubt that Connor’s manner had a lot to do with Hunter’s decision to retain our ancestral home and split from the group. He never told us his rationale, but that’s typical Hunter. He holds his cards close to his chest, particularly when he wants to mitigate bad feelings.
We shake Grizzly’s and Howden’s hands and return to our vehicle. Inside, Hunter tugs his belt across his body and flicks on the radio, leaving Goldie’s playlist to fill the silence. If I Be Wrong by Wolf Larson accompanies us as we leave the bear compound to return to our home and our reticent mate.
“You’re a better alpha than Connor will ever be,” I tell my brother.
He nods, keeping his eyes on the road, but he rests a little easier in his seat.
“I want us to make peace,” he says. “I don’t care what Connor says. The wolves will think what they want to think. If they say no, we fight like we always did. If the old wolves return, we’ll deal with that as we always have.”
“I want us to make peace, too.” I tap my fingers on my thigh to the mellow beat of the music. Listening to the songs our mate loves fill the car with her spirit. The truck eats the road but not fast enough. I miss her.
“It’s important to Goldie.” Hunter turns to me, checking my response.
“It is. She’s worried about herself, but she worries about us, and I can guess she’s thinking about the future, too.”
“Our cubs?” he asks, surprised.
“No woman wants to bring children into a dangerous world.”
“Maybe peace will help her decide,” my brother says softly.
“Maybe,” I agree. All we can do is hope.
32
ROBERT
“What do you think Pop would say?” I ask Hunter as we pull up at the old lumberyard on the western corner of Braysville. It was rundown and rustic, but since the new wolves have taken over, it’s seen a wave of modernization. They’re not messing around.
“I think he’d be against this.” Hunter’s gripping the steering wheel as though he intends to rip it off and toss it out the window.
“But Mom would want it. She would have encouraged it. She would have made him believe it was his great idea.”
We all smile at the memory of our parents' relationship. Dad was a typical grumpy bear, but he’d turn into a teddy when Mom turned on her feminine charms. I see some of her in Goldie. Even when Hunter’s stressed out and tired, a gentle touch on the arm or a soft word from Goldie and all the tension leaves him. Only the Creator knows what he’s going to be like once he’s claimed her. I have a feeling he’ll metaphorically morph from grizzly to pussy cat overnight.
“They’re expecting us?” Evan asks, even though we’ve been over this. None of us wants to shred our clothes by being forced to shift into our bear forms.
“Yes. Let’s do this.” Hunter flings open the door and steps out onto the wood chip covered ground. As though the wolves have scented us, suddenly, three huge men emerge from the large wooden doors. Clad in jeans and plaid shirts like lumberjacks, they stand with wide stances and their hands in their pockets, watching us.
“Brothers?” Evan whispers. It sure looks like it. With dark hair and the same light blue eyes, they make a striking and intense impression. Hunter leads and we follow a step behind. When we’re six feet apart, he stops abruptly, respecting the distance required for unpressured negotiation.
“I’m Hunter Bjorn,” my older brother says. “This is my brother, Robert, and my brother, Evan.”
The wolfman at the center nods. “I’m Nixon Fenrir and these are my brothers, Reed and Finn.”
We all nod, taking our time to size each other up. In human form, they’re a similar size to us. Muscular and imposing, with strong, determined features and an impressive air. Very unlike their wolf predecessors.
“How are you finding Braysville?” Hunter asks.
“We like it,” Nixon says. “It was time for a move. We understand you had some issues with the last…” He hesitates.
Hunter doesn’t wait for him to find a human word for pack. “We did. It was good for neither side.”