Embracing the Wolf - Book #2 (Anna Avery) (22 page)

“I don’t know what that means,” I said. “This whole Chante bond is new to me, but I do know that my feelings lay with Adam. From the moment I saw him I just … knew.” I hoped he interpreted my words for what they were. I didn’t have romantic feelings for anyone other than Adam.

“And that day on the mountain when I stopped Eve from killing you, did you feel something when you looked at me?”

“What does it matter? I’m with Adam, and we’re bonded.”

“It matters to me.”

I thought for a moment, recalling the day I was attacked by Eve. “I thought you were beautiful,” I admitted, looking at the ground. I felt like I was cheating on Adam just by telling Anthony that. I felt sick to my stomach and couldn’t meet Anthony’s eyes.

Footsteps drew my attention away from the snow-covered ground. Anthony moved toward me, his eyes alight with an emotion I didn’t want to label. As he reached a hand out to me, a low, menacing growl filled the space, and an ebony wolf charged toward Anthony.

A high-pitched screech left my lips when Adam barreled into Anthony. Anthony went down, Adam on his chest. I ran over to the pair and gripped Adam’s inky black fur in both hands to help keep those sharp teeth away from Anthony’s jugular.

“Adam … Adam he wasn’t going to do anything. We were just talking,” I yelled. Adam continued to snarl and snap at his brother while I tugged on his fur. Anthony’s hands extended up to his shoulders to hold him off. With a hard push, Anthony shoved Adam off him long enough to transform into his silver wolf.

“Shit,” I mumbled. This was not good. I felt like I was standing on the sidelines of a hairy UFC fight. Adam charged Anthony, and Anthony charged at the same moment. They crashed into each other in a tangle of claws, teeth, and growls. In no way was I going to get in the middle of that, unless it went a step too far.

My breathing became labored as Adam’s fury slammed into me. Adrenaline raced through my veins, amplifying my worry. My eyes traveled from one wolf to another, unsure who was winning. I raked my fingers through my hair with nervous indecision. I knew better than to interfere with fighting wolves, but I also couldn’t stand to just watch them tear each other apart. What really ticked me off was that they were fighting over nothing. Did Adam really trust me so little to think I would cheat on him, especially with his brother? A small ball of hurt settled in my chest at the thought. Then again, hadn’t I gotten jealous over Chloe? This love thing was a tricky, tricky bitch. No wonder I stayed away from it for so long.

“Stop,” I yelled, coating my words with as much authority as I could. I didn’t expect it to work, but I needed to voice my inner thoughts.

Slowly, Adam and Anthony backed away from each other, walking backward, but keeping their eyes locked on one another. My forehead creased in surprise. They had actually listened. When I was sure they weren’t going to attack each other again, I walked with caution toward Adam. Kneeling, I ran my fingers through his silky fur and leaned my forehead against the bridge of his wide nose.

“Nothing happened,” I whispered, meeting his yellow eyes. “No one can threaten what I feel for you. Do you hear me? No. One.”

Adam had been staring over my shoulder at his brother, but his eyes flicked to mine. He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut, huffing.

“I never took you for the jealous type,” Anthony said behind me. “You sure as hell didn’t care that I was fucking Eve.”

I didn’t turn around because I knew he would be naked and me seeing his nudity would only add fuel to the fire. Though, to be honest, I had already seen him naked that day on the mountain. Adam didn’t need to know that, though. While nudity in the pack wasn’t a big deal, I was sure Adam didn’t want me to see that side of his brother.

“Ignore him,” I whispered to Adam. “Please, just let this go.”

Adam’s body shimmered for all of three seconds before he was crouching on the ground in human form again. He lifted his head to me, his eyes a storm of different emotions. Adam stood and held a hand out to me to join him. He pulled me to my feet and, without warning, kissed me. This kiss was not soft or innocent; it was hard, passionate, and possessive. His tongue slipped between my lips and caressed my own while his lips ravished mine with severity. When his hand snaked around my waist and landed on my behind, a small moan rumbled up my throat. I couldn’t help it; I could feel his excitement pressing against my leg. I didn’t care that we had an audience, or that he may be pissed at me, and this was his caveman way of staking his claim. My wolf surfaced and devoured the pleasurable sensations he elicited, ready to feel his erection buried deep inside of us.

The kiss ended sooner than I liked. One moment Adam’s lips were fierce against mine, and then they were gone. My lips felt swollen and lacking without his mouth against mine.

“You were right about one thing, brother,” Adam said. “I didn’t care that you fucked Eve because she was a heartless bitch. Make one move toward Anna, and I’ll have your dick in my trophy case.” Adam moved my hair to the side and kissed up the length of my neck, his eyes locked on his brother. “Go ahead and fantasize about fucking her, but know those moans falling from her soft lips will always be for me. She is mine, and I’ll kill any motherfucker who tries to take her from me—be it blood or not.”

Anthony snorted and ignored his brother’s threats. “You don’t own her, and that fancy brand on your hand doesn’t only pertain to you, brother.”

Adam stood up straight, his body going as rigid as the mountains surrounding us. His lips straightened into a hard line, and a deep growl traveled up his throat. My muscles tensed around my bones, ready to snap from the tension.

“It’s not true, Adam,” I said desperately. It couldn’t be true. I didn’t feel anything for Anthony other than irritation and disgust. How could a bond only work one way?

“Explain,” Adam said sternly.

“Well,” Anthony said, his voice holding smugness. “If you want to get technical, I saw her first.
I
came across her on the mountain.
I
stopped Eve from killing her.
I
felt the connection long before you ever did, brother.” Anthony paused, and I cringed when I heard his footsteps drawing closer. “I have to wonder, if it was me who slept with her first, would that brand be on my palm instead of yours? Is your bond all a matter of opportunity rather than fate?”

I stopped breathing. Anthony was taunting Adam openly, goading him into another fight. Did he really think he could beat his brother? That small, annoying voice in the back of my mind wondered if he could. They were both from the same bloodline, had the same strength and power. I knew Adam was undefeated, but I didn’t know Anthony’s history. The vision of me finding Adam’s dying body popped into my head. I had assumed the vampires were the ones responsible for his death, but maybe it was the man standing behind me.

Adam was so quiet, so still. I looked up at him while my mind fought for the right words to say. Anthony had succeeded in planting doubt in his mind. I could see his mind working through all that his brother said, wondering if there was truth to any of it. Was what we had so easily debatable? I wasn’t sure if I was more angry or hurt by the doubt racing through his sapphire eyes.

“If you believe him,” I said, reaching a hand up to guide his face down to mine. “He wins. He wants you to doubt us—to believe that the only reason we’re together is because you got to me first. It’s not true, Adam. None of it. I love you.”

Adam blinked as though seeing me for the first time. The storm in his eyes calmed, and the muscles in his face softened. It took me a moment to realize that was the first time I had actually said those three little words to him. I knew from the start that I loved him, but had always been hesitant to say it. This time those words just slipped out on their own accord, no overthinking required.

“Say it again,” Adam whispered.

I smiled. “I love you, Adam. I will always love you.”

A grin spread across his face, and his eyes flashed to his brother. “You always were a sore loser, brother. I don’t give a shit if there is any kernel of truth to what you say; the only thing that matters is
I
got to Anna first. You’re too late.” Adam smiled smugly, wrapping and arm around my shoulders and drawing me into his chest.

* * * *

Elle and I decided to sit in my bedroom and eat dinner. I needed to tell her about my vision, and I couldn’t have wandering ears listening in. We sat cross-legged on the floor with our plates in front of us. I was just about to go into detail when my bedroom door opened and there stood Wade and Adam.

“Having a slumber party?” Wade said with a smile.

“Yep,” I said, “complete with pillow fights and scary movies.”

My eyes slid from Wade’s face to Adam’s. He had been quiet all day, only speaking when spoken to. I knew he was thinking about what his brother said, and that bothered me. Sure, I had thought about it, too, but I didn’t spend more than ten minutes at a time. It was curious and that’s it. I believed it didn’t affect what Adam and I had, and no matter what Anthony said, I knew Adam and I were together because we were supposed to be.

“What are you doing?” Wade asked seriously. “Avoiding your guests?”

I shrugged. “Sort of, but not because I’m antisocial. I had a vision while on the mountain today. I was going to tell Eve about in hopes she could help me figure it out.”

Wade’s eyes went to my best friend and then back to me. “You didn’t think to tell me about it? Isn’t that the reason I’m here, to help you develop your sight?”

I smiled. “I thought you were here for a pretty brunette with hazel eyes?”

Wade snorted. “That too, but you’re priority at the moment.”

“All right,” I said, “Come in and shut the door. I don’t want anyone else hearing this. I still don’t know whom I can and can’t trust.

Wade filtered into the bedroom, Adam behind him. Wade sat on the floor, his back resting against my dresser. He drew his knees up and rested his arms on them. Adam sat on the edge of the bed, his arms resting on his knees while he stared at the carpeted floor. I proceeded to tell them every detail about the vision, down to the horrid porno to which I was subjected. Elle catcalled and asked for details and frowned when I told her I turned my back during that part.

“Prude,” she teased.

“Forgive me for not wanting to see two vampires, hell-bent on killing me, going at it.”

I told them about the phone call and how I thought the main vampire chick’s name was Veronica, but I wasn’t positive.

When I stopped talking, Elle asked, “Is that all?”

I shook my head, my eyes taking a trip around my bedroom to meet their eyes. I was almost embarrassed to recite the rhyme Taren had. What if it was nothing? What if he just made it up to be clever, and by reciting it, my friends and fiancé would think I was being egotistical.

“What is it?” Wade asked.

With a deep breath, I said, “White wolf, white wolf, better than the rest of tooth and claw. Rise above, take control, it is your destiny to rule them all.” I had been reciting those words in my head all day in hopes of not forgetting them. “What do you think it means?”

You heard one of the vampires say this?” Elle asked.

I nodded. “Taren said it, and when he was done, he looked right at the spot I was standing. It was creepy.”

“Then what?” Elle said.

“Then the vision ended.”

The room grew quiet and Elle, Wade, and Adam all took turns looking at each other, avoiding my eyes entirely. There couldn’t be any truth to it, there just … couldn’t be. I didn’t feel special or capable of ruling them all, whoever
they
were.

“Somebody say something,” I finally said.

“Our kind has many legends surrounding them, as do most supernatural beings,” Wade began. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but white wolves are not common, so when one pops up, people assume they’re
the
white wolf, the one tied to the legend.”

“So the rhyme Taren spoke is true?”

Wade’s head fell to the side as his shoulders bobbed up and down. “It’s hard to say. Yes, that rhyme is an old wolf legend, but no one knows if it’s just a nursery rhyme or a prophecy. There has never been a white wolf rise to that position, so it’s just been a story passed down through the generations. How a vampire knew it is beyond me.”

I snorted. “I think whomever hired them to kill me must have told him. What if …” I thought for a moment. “What if they’re not here to kill me for being bonded to Adam, but because someone thinks I’m the white wolf from the rhyme? Maybe someone is worried I’ll take his or her place in power.” I glanced at Adam and then away. His parents were of olde blood, very powerful. They were the only ones I could think of that would benefit from my death. Not only would I not be bonded to their son anymore, but they also wouldn’t have to worry about me supposedly rising to power.

“My parents are vindictive and snobby, but they wouldn’t kill one of their own kind,” Adam said. “Not without a threat.”

I gave him a sad smile. “What if they think I
am
a threat? They could believe I am the white wolf from the poem and want to kill me before the prophecy can happen.” I reached a hand up and placed it on his leg. “Just for the record, I don’t believe I’m that wolf, but superstitions have caused people to kill in the past.”