by DJ Bryce
“Try to get them on the phone, we’re headed out,” Mateo ordered.
I nodded, gave a small smile when Max kissed me on the cheek, then turned to get my phone as they all left the bar.
“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I chanted as I listened to the phone ring. “Shit,” I swore when Natasha’s voicemail message came on.
I pushed the off button and tried Heidi’s cell.
Same thing.
I looked around the dining area, heart pounding as my soul filled with worry. I could see there were customers that needed help, but I couldn’t focus, all I could think about was that fact that Natasha and Heidi were with the same animals that shot Kevin last night.
“Gilly, are you okay?” I looked up to see Taylor, one of our best servers, watching me with concern.
“Ah, no, actually… Can you cover for me for a minute, I need to run upstairs and get my brother?”
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks, Taylor,” I said, then rushed to go find Brick.
I opened the door to find my apartment pitch black. I used the flashlight on my phone to navigate the room and get to my bed, where Brick was snoring away.
“Brick,” I whisper shouted, shaking his arm as I did. I didn’t want to scare the crap out of him, but he could be a hard sleeper, and I really needed him to wake up. “Brick.”
“Hnnwhama huh?” He muttered, trying to scoot away from me.
“Brick, wake up, Tasha’s in trouble,” I said a little louder.
Brick’s eyes flew open and he struggled to sit up.
“I’m up,” he said roughly as he rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palms. “What’d you say about Tash?”
I explained everything that was going on in one long string of words, luckily, Brick had been a witness to me in panic mode before, so he understood what I was saying.
“Holy shit,” he exclaimed as he pushed back the covers and jumped out of bed.
“Jesus, Brick,” I chastised as I covered my eyes. I couldn’t unsee he naked form however, and I was worried I’d be scared for life.
“Please, I know you’ve seen a penis before.”
“Ewww, gross, you’re my brother,” I squealed.
“Yeah, and we used to take baths together, get over it,” Brick replied, then his voice got tight. “So Mateo went after them?”
“Yeah, he, Max, and Calin all left to go out to the Threehorn Pack property. I tried calling both Natasha and Heidi, but neither answered.
Chapter 19
Maximus
“Where are the women?” Mateo growled at Josiah and the fourteen members of his pack who surrounded him.
I was beginning to think Mateo, Calin and I should have grabbed some more of the guys to come with us, but we’d been spurred into action when we realized Natasha and Heidi had come to Threehorn land.
That had been our mistake. Reacting without thinking things through first. I just hoped Tasha and Heidi wouldn’t pay the price for it.
“I have to say, Alpha, I don’t like the tone of your voice. Considering you are currently guests on my land, I’m thinking you should be a little more respectful. I am, after all, your elder,” Josiah said haughtily, a smirk on his lips.
“We had a deal,” Mateo bit out, ignoring everything Josiah had just said.
“Yeah, well, things change,” Josiah said as he walked down his steps, his men flanking his movements. “I’ve decided that I like it here, and although your little town and pack are but a small annoyance, I think we’d like to settle down. Do a little, expanding. And to do that, we’re gonna need you and yours to relocate.”
Mateo’s face contorted with rage.
“This is our land, our home. We aren’t going anywhere. If you need more space for your pack, it’s you who needs to relocate.”
Josiah chuckled, which only caused Mateo to get angrier.
“We’ll see, young Alpha. But for now, I’m going to need you and your boys to get off my land.”
The men facing us shifted, leaving only Josiah standing before us in human form, surrounded by wolves.
“We aren’t leaving without our women,” Mateo said, not moving a muscle.
Before anyone could say another word, a loud crash, followed by pounding, had us all turning toward the woods just in time to see Logan’s bear come crashing through. He stopped on the edge of the tree line and stood on his hind legs.
He had to be almost ten feet tall.
He roared ferociously, and when the wolves answered back with snarls and gnashing teeth, he dropped back down to all fours and ran straight for the pack.
“Logan,” Mateo shouted, worried for his friend who was about to battle fourteen wolves.
“Heel,” Josiah commanded, and I flinched at the disrespectful way he spoke to his pack, as I watched Logan continue his charge toward them.
Josiah turned to Mateo and said, “Make him stop and I’ll bring out the women.”
“Logan, he’s letting them go,” Mateo shouted.
Logan ran until he was a mere feet in front of Josiah and stood on his hind legs until he was towering over the older Alpha. Then he roared in Josiah’s face, his spittle landing on the man’s jaw.
I turned my head to see an older woman open the screen door and usher Heidi and Natasha out onto the porch. They looked a little shaken, but otherwise unharmed.
They started to make their way through the wolves slowly, and I could see Heidi had started crying, but Natasha’s eyes were rapt on Logan. When they were almost to us, and out of the wolves reach, Logan dropped to all fours and moved toward Natasha, holding her gaze.
I heard Calin telling Heidi everything was going to be okay and saw her collapse in his arms, then watched with shock as Logan stood in front of Natasha, grabbed her gently and lifted her into his arms, before turning and taking her back into the woods.
“Logan,” Mateo called again, then looked to me as if to ask what he should do.
I shrugged, then said, “He’s got her. Let’s get out of here.”
Mateo nodded, took one last look toward the tree line, then we turned to leave.
“This isn’t over,” Josiah called after us, and Mateo replied, “You’re fucking right, it isn’t.”
Later that night, I held Gilly in my arms after making love to her, and felt overcome with exhaustion. The last few days had been insane, and although I couldn’t wait to have a claiming ceremony and start a normal life together, I didn’t think that was going to happen any time soon.
“I think we should wait until things calm down and we get everything with situation with the Threehorn pack. When I claim you, I want the whole pack to celebrate and I want to spend a month in bed with you while we make our cubs.”
“Okay,” Gilly said, even though I could tell by her tone that she didn’t want to wait. Hell, neither did I, but I didn’t want trouble hanging over our heads either. “I’m still moving in though.”
I chuckled and kissed the top of her head.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“What do you think Logan’s doing with Natasha?” she asked, and although I knew she was worried about her sister, I didn’t know if I should share my suspicions with her just yet.
“He’s making her safe. She’s in good hands, I promise you.”
I felt her nod against my chest.
“Brick’s going to stay. He’s worried about Natasha, and everything with mom and dad. I told him he can use the apartment since I won’t need it anymore.”
“What about his classes?”
“He’s almost done and said he may be able to get his last few credits taking online classes. If not, he’ll stay until things calm down, then go finish. I know I should encourage him to go back to school, but I like having him here,” Gilly admitted softly.
“I know you do, babe, and I want you to have everything you want. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get it. We’ll have the best claiming ceremony you’ve ever seen, with your sister and
brother by your side, and I’ll have your back when it comes to your folks, whatever you decide. You want them out of your life for good, their gone… You want to try and make them see reason so they can be grandparents to our children, I’ll make it happen. I know you were raised to be with the Alpha, and I can’t change my status to give you that, but, baby, I’ll be your Alpha at home.”
“You’re all I’ll ever need,” Gilly said, lifting her head to give me a sweet smile. “I love you, Maximus, just the way you are.”
What’s Next
Want to find out what happens with Natasha and Logan? Their story, Right Girl, Wrong Alpha, is coming soon!
About the Author
Author DJ Bryce loves her men tall, dark, and Alpha. She can often be found relaxing with a cup of coffee, a handful of RedVines, and a dirty book, with her three dogs snoozing happily at her feet.
She's a lover of The Walking Dead, Romantic Comedies, and writing sexy shifters.
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Also by DJ Bryce
Brothers of the Heart Series:
Alpha at Home
Right Girl, Wrong Alpha - Coming Soon
Writing with Meredith Clarke:
Her Bear for Life
Her Bear to Keep
Her Bear to Hold
Her Bear Box Set - Her Bear Forever
Writing with Terra Wolf:
Diesel
Blaze
Hunter