But along came Kyle and her world exploded with color and hope.
She never realized what a drab, gloomy existence she had been leading. But now that Kyle had saved her and carried her lovingly into his world, she felt her heart fill with hope and strength. The world and her future suddenly looked so much brighter.
All of a sudden, she had people who were willing to stand up and fight for her. These were good people, and they were full of good cheer, courage and honor.
These were people she wanted to be around, people she wanted in her life.
Hollie pressed her hand to her mouth to stopper a sudden, uncontrollable sob.
Shane, Ian and Kyle stopped talking at once.
Kyle was by her side in a heartbeat.
“Hey,” he said gently. “What’s wrong, Hollie?”
“Nothing,” she said, swiping at her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just...tired I guess. And a little emotional right now.”
Shane and Ian patted her on the shoulder and said, “It’s late. We should be leaving anyway. You have a good rest, Hollie. We’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
She nodded and gave them a warm, watery smile.
After Shane and Ian left, Kyle went to put clean sheets on the bed in the guest room and handed Hollie a towel, a new toothbrush and one of his freshly laundered t-shirts.
“You know where everything is, so...make yourself comfortable,” he said. “This is your home.”
She thanked him and went to the bathroom to wash up. The warm water and soap felt so good on her skin. After brushing her teeth, she took a long look at herself in the mirror.
She was wearing Kyle’s large t-shirt like a dress, but she thought she looked rather sexy in it. Hollie smiled at her reflection, and realized with surprise and sadness that she hadn’t smiled in such a long time.
When she padded out into the living room, Kyle was waiting for her with a mug of hot chocolate.
“A little nightcap?” he asked, handing her the mug.
“Thank you, Kyle,” Hollie said sincerely. “I can’t say it enough. You saved me...”
Kyle stopped her and said firmly, “You survived for so long in the Black Blade pack on your own. Give yourself some credit. You didn’t become mean and vicious like the rest of your pack mates. You remained brave, truthful and compassionate. That is no mean feat. The truth is, you saved yourself, Hollie.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
They sat on the couch, drank their hot chocolate and just talked. Hollie told Kyle everything about herself, from her earliest memories about her parents to her life in the Black Blade pack. It felt really good to just talk and not be judged. It was as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart, and she could breathe properly.
They continued talking for hours, and she really felt as though she had known Kyle for a long, long time. He told her about himself, his friends, his business and about the town of Nightbrook.
“I’ve lived in Nightbrook for so many years, yet it’s only now that I realize how little I know about the town and its inhabitants,” Hollie said sadly. “The Black Blade pack was a closed community, and we weren’t allowed to socialize with anyone outside the pack. It’s almost like...”
“A cult,” Kyle finished for her.
“Yes. You can’t question the cult leader,” she said with a bitter laugh. “The Alpha and Beta are bloody criminals, but you can’t expose them. They’ll find a scapegoat to take the blame for them. Can you believe they accused me of embezzling the pack funds? Me, a lowly cook who isn’t even allowed to take charge of anything!”
“That’s what cults do,” Kyle said. “There’s always a bogeyman. The accusation can be completely ridiculous, but they’ll use irrational fear to brainwash their members.”
“None of the senior lieutenants spoke up for me,” Hollie said bitterly. “I’m sure they know that the charges against me are bogus. How can anyone believe the utter garbage that Jake and Jasper spewed out of their mouths?”
“No one wants to be the next target, the scapegoat,” Kyle answered. “The whole system is corrupted, rotten to the core.”
“I’m so glad I’m out,” Hollie said. She put her mug down and grimaced. “But they’ll come for me. They won’t let me go so easily.”
“They will not lay a finger on you,” Kyle swore. “You are out of the Black Blade pack for good.”
Hollie didn’t respond. She wanted to believe Kyle, but she knew how vengeful and vindictive Jasper was. He would hunt her down to exact his pound of flesh.
She looked up and saw Kyle’s burning gaze on her. There was no mistaking the desire and hunger in his eyes.
She could feel molten heat pooling between her thighs and she had to press her legs tightly together. Her core began to throb insistently, maddeningly. Kyle’s eyes glowed when he scented her arousal.
Hollie blushed deeply and stammered, “I...I think I should go to bed now.”
They both stood up at the same time.
Hollie collided into Kyle’s solid chest and he caught her around the waist as she stumbled back.
Her breathing quickened as Kyle slowly and gently pulled her closer.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The way Kyle was looking at her made Hollie feel light-headed and weak-kneed. No one had ever looked at her this way before. Like she was the most beautiful, precious thing in the world.
There was desire in his eyes, but also tenderness and love.
Something stirred in her, something powerful and undeniable. Maybe it was her instinct, or inner voice. But this voice demanded to be heard.
Mine!
Hollie gasped. She had heard this voice when she was in the woods. The voice that told her that Kyle was hers sounded so much like her own. But it was so strong and loud it was almost a roar in her head.
She swallowed and tried not to hyperventilate. The need to touch Kyle was overwhelming. She wanted to grab him and run her hands all over his muscular body. She wanted to bite him and mark him to warn other females away from him.
Hollie whimpered. Why was she so horny all of a sudden? And why was she so possessive and territorial?
Unable to stop herself, she pressed her hands against his chest and felt his powerful heartbeats against her palm. Kyle ran his hand down her back, caressing her and sending small tremors through her body.
Hollie had never been treated with love and respect in the pack. No one had ever appreciated her. She was a talented cook, but the other cooks looked at her with jealousy and disdain. They took credit for her creations and blamed her for their mistakes in the kitchen. The other members of the pack made fun of her full figure, and mocked her inability to shift. She was just a slave, a scapegoat.
Hollie wrapped her arms around Kyle’s neck and lifted her face to him. How would it feel to have someone love her? To have someone touch her with tenderness, love and respect?
Kyle saw her as a person, a real person with her own fears, insecurities, talents and gifts. She wasn’t perfect. But she wasn’t a worthless piece of garbage either.
She was a half-breed, but she wasn’t a half-person. The wolves in the Black Blade pack had made her feel inferior and ashamed just because she wasn’t a full shifter.
She didn’t deserve their disdain just because she couldn’t shift. Kyle had made her see that she had so many good qualities. He even told her that she had saved herself.
She finally saw the truth in his statement. She was strong and worthy, and she deserved to be free and happy.
Hollie didn’t flinch when Kyle leaned in to kiss her. She had lost her virginity to one of the wolves in the pack when she was seventeen. They fumbled their way through it, and it was over in a few minutes. The boy was just a year older than her, and he had seemed like a nice guy at first. But after that encounter, he avoided her altogether and never spoke to her again.
Hollie put that pimply teenage werewolf out of her mind. Kyle was no teenager. He was a man.
A real man who wasn’t afraid
Kyle stared into her eyes as his lips hovered just inches from hers. Hollie knew that he wanted to make sure that she was okay with it. He wasn’t going to force himself on her, or do anything that she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.
Hollie lifted herself up on her toes and pressed her mouth to his.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kyle tightened his grip around Hollie’s waist as he crushed his mouth over hers. He groaned as he kissed her hungrily and passionately. Hollie whimpered as he deepened the kiss.
Her body felt so amazing in his arms. She was all feminine curves and softness. Her figure was lush and generous, and he could feel her pebbled nipples stabbing against his chest.
His bear roared and rammed against his shields. The beast wanted to mate. So did Kyle. He wanted to push Hollie against the wall and take her hard. He wanted to feel her wet, tight pussy pulsing around his cock as she came.
Kyle pushed his tongue into Hollie’s mouth when she parted her lips for him. He growled when the tips of their tongues tangled, sending electricity through his body.
Lifting Hollie up, he carried her to the couch and laid her down gently.
He continued kissing her, and stroking her curvy body through the t-shirt.
The scent of the sweet moisture between her legs was driving him out of his mind.
“Let me taste you, Hollie,” he said hoarsely. He was almost begging on his knees.
She stiffened for just an instant. When she gave a jerky nod, Kyle swept her into his arms and carried her to his bed.
Laying her on the sheets, he pushed the t-shirt up over her hips, slowly exposing her beautiful, luscious body. When he saw her bare, generous breasts, he groaned as his cock grew painfully hard.
He pushed the t-shirt up to expose her breasts and stared at her lush, curvy body. She was lying on his bed, spread out like a feast for him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.
Hollie blushed and he bent down to kiss her softly. It was a sweet, tender kiss, and as he deepened the kiss, he thumbed her erect nipples and kneaded her heaving breasts.
She arched her back in response. Kyle lowered his mouth to her breast and suckled her. Hollie began to pant as he swirled his tongue around her nipple and bit the side of her breast.
Pushing her legs apart, he stroked her wet folds and salivated at the scent of her juices.
He couldn’t wait any longer. Greedily, he lapped at her pussy and drank every drop of her sweet, sticky honey. She tasted so amazing, and he wanted more.
He thrust his tongue into her and licked every drop of nectar from the walls of her tight channel. Hollie moaned when he began to fuck her furiously with his tongue. She grabbed the sheets and her body began to quake.
“Don’t stop…please,” she pleaded.
Kyle fucked her harder and faster with his tongue. With a cry, Hollie came hard against his mouth.
She shuddered and his name tumbled from her lips. Finally, she opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“Kyle...” she sighed.
She flicked her eyes down and saw the huge bulge in the front of his jeans. He was still fully clothed, and his cock was straining for release.
But he knew that her body needed rest. She had been through a lot, and he didn’t want to put any pressure on her.
He only wanted to sate her hunger and give her the release she needed. His bear recognized Hollie as his mate. Hollie was a half-breed, but he suspected that Hollie had some shifter instincts. She might not be able to shift into a wolf, but she did have shifter genes in her.
A part of her, the shifter part of her, might have sensed that he was her mate. But the human part of her didn’t really believe it. How could he be her mate when she had only just met him?
Humans had a different way of looking at things and explaining away their feelings. If only they learned to trust their gut feelings more.
Kyle kissed Hollie on the eyelids and smiled. “Rest now.” He tugged her t-shirt back down over her body and pulled the covers up over her shoulders. “You can sleep in my bed. I’ll be in the other room.”
She protested but he shushed her. “I won’t disturb you. You can lock the door. You need to rest. I’ll see you in the morning, Hollie.”
As he pulled the door closed behind him, he heard her murmur, “Goodnight, Kyle.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Hollie gasped and sat up when the sunlight hit her eyes. She blinked and looked around the bright, spacious room in confusion.
This wasn’t her room.
And this wasn’t her bed.
The bed that she slept in every night was hard, creaking and lumpy. It was a bunk bed, and she shared the windowless room with seven other low-ranking she-wolves at the basement of the pack house.
This bedroom had nice wallpaper, curtains and a beautiful ceiling light. And the bed she was in was really, really comfortable. She had never slept so peacefully and soundly in her entire life.
Hollie tumbled out of bed and rubbed her eyes. She looked down at the large t-shirt she was wearing and her memories came back to her in a rush.
She was in Kyle’s house. She had slept in his bed. She blushed when she remembered how Kyle had pleasured her last night in this very bed.
Hurrying into the attached bathroom, Hollie washed up quickly and finger-combed through her wild red curls. Stepping out of the bathroom, she stared at the bright sunlight streaming through the window and winced.
Had she slept through the morning? It looked like it was almost noon already.
Gingerly, Hollie opened the door and peeked out.
She saw Kyle sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee. He turned around and his entire face lit up. It was as if the light of his life had just stepped into the room. No one had ever been so happy to see her before.
“Good morning,” she said shyly.
“Good morning,” Kyle said, pushing his chair back. He came up to her and kissed her softly on the top of her head. “Did you sleep well?”
“Very well,” she said, blushing.
“I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” Kyle said, leading her to the dining table. “Oh, the package on the table is for you.”
“Huh?” She had a package?
Hollie stared at the package on the table in confusion. Kyle grinned as he poured the coffee. “I ordered some clothes for you online,” he said.
“Oh. You ordered them last night?” Her eyes rounded in surprise and bewilderment.
“Yup. I opted for express delivery. The package arrived an hour ago. I just guessed your size and ordered some blouses, dresses, um...bras...”
Her cheeks were flaming, but she was deeply touched by his thoughtful gesture. “Thank you, Kyle,” she said, ducking her head.
She glanced at the clock and saw that it was late morning. “Let’s go out for brunch,” Kyle suggested. “Joe’s Diner is just round the corner.”
“You don’t have to keep me company,” Hollie said. “If you need to go to work...”
Kyle shrugged. “I’ve taken the day off. Shane and Ian can manage without me. Come on, it’s a beautiful day. We shouldn’t be cooped up at home. We can spend the day in town.”
Hollie knew that Kyle was encouraging her to get out and see more of the town. She had been trapped in the Black Blade pack for so many years and had never really gotten to know the town of Nightbrook. She only realized now how unnatural and bizarre it was to have lived in Nightbrook for so long and yet not know anyone in town.
She had been cut off from the world on purpose. The Black Blade pack really was run like a cult. It was easier to control and abuse the members when they had no contact with the outside world.
Hollie clenched and unclenched her fists. All her suppressed emotions were swirling to the surface. She felt anger, regret, sadness and guilt. Why hadn’t she done something to free herself? But what could she have done? If she had fought back, she probably wouldn’t be alive today.
“Yes,” she said at last. “We should go out.”
Hollie picked up the package and stood up. “I’ll go change, and then we’ll go out for brunch and explore the town. I want to see everything.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Hollie felt both nervous and excited as she stepped out of the house with Kyle. It felt like she was stepping out into the world for the first time.
She had never been allowed to wander around town on her own. On a few rare occasions, she had gone to the shops to purchase some necessities for the pack.
But she and her pack mates had been escorted by two lieutenants who never let them out of their sight. They couldn’t walk around and talk to the shopkeepers or the town residents. They were to get whatever the pack needed and return to the pack house without delay.
It was just a short drive to Joe’s Diner, but Kyle drove around a bit to show her the park, the cinema and the shopping mall that had just opened.
Hollie stared in wonder and fascination at the buildings and houses.
Nightbrook was such a lovely, bustling little town, and the people looked so happy and friendly. She had been confined to the pack house almost all her life. The pack house was at the edge of Nightbrook, near the forest, so there weren’t any houses in that area.
For the longest time, she had thought that Nightbrook was a secluded, lonely, remote small town. How wrong she was.
Kyle pulled up in front of the diner and parked the car. When they entered Joe’s Diner, a middle-aged, bespectacled woman behind the counter looked up and beamed at them. “Hi, Kyle,” she said with a warm smile.
“Hi Maria, this is Hollie,” Kyle said. “Maria is the boss here,” Kyle told Hollie.
Maria chuckled and handed Kyle the menu. “I run this place with my husband, Joe. He’s the chef, and I am...everything else. I’ll be with you guys shortly.”
She winked at Kyle and tilted her head towards an empty booth. “I guess you’ll be at your favorite booth.”
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