the threshold and took a deep breath, fighting to control my feelings before I entered our room.
Brenna waited with arms crossed over her chest. She didn’t look afraid. She looked incensed.
She met my gaze boldly, but when I prowled up to her she had the good sense to back away.
My hand went around her neck, collaring her. My skin burned when it touched the silver torc we’d given her to wear.
My own beast was close to breaking free.
I forced it back.
With effort, I removed my hand from around her throat. With both hands, I wrenched the torc open and removed it. I dangled the bent metal in front of her face.
“Ye agreed to wear this, aye?”
She nodded.
“Knowing what it would mean? Knowing that ye would have to live among the pack, and obey us?”
She nodded again. I threw the torc on the floor. She flinched as silver struck stone, but her eyes never left mine.
“You agreed to live among us, to obey Samuel and I and follow our rules? Rules that protect ye? Rules that keep ye safe?
Her forehead furrowed, but she still nodded. She knew where I was going and didn’t like it.
“Ye are a woman of honor, Brenna, I knew it from the first. Were ye trying to leave? To go back on yer word?”
She shook her head.
“Ye broke a rule, Brenna. We left ye alone, but I was soon to return with food. We will never leave you alone for long. That is the reason Samuel and I claimed ye together. If one of us falls, the other will provide for ye.” I dragged a frustrated hand through my hair. My wolf was howling for me to throw her to the floor and take her now, mark her with my seed, so she and any other wolf knew who she belonged to.
The beast also lurked, ready to pounce the minute I lost control. Like the wolf, it wanted to claim our beloved, but it also craved blood, and pain.
I dragged in a breath and tried to stay calm. “We care for ye. But we need ye to follow the rules. Understand?”
She nodded, the anger had left her face. She wasn’t yet contrite, but close enough.
I pointed to the torc on the floor. “So choose again, Brenna. Will ye stay? Knowing ye must submit to our rules?” My heart quivered a little. She could say no. Was I really allowing her to choose again whether she would leave us? Would return her to her family if she refused to pick up the torc? In my heart of hearts I knew I would. It would mean death for me and Samuel, and possibly the entire pack, but I would do it.
The knowledge should’ve frightened me. Instead, I felt stronger. “Do ye choose us?”
She nodded. Inside, I rejoiced, but kept my voice stern. Brenna could’ve died today, torn apart by wolves in rut. I had to make her understand.
“Then ye deliberately disobeyed us and must face the consequences.” I pointed to the floor.
Uncertainty crossed her face.
I snapped my fingers in her face. “Submit. Now, lass. I’m not in the mood to be trifled with.”
She stiffened, but she sank down.
At the sign of her submission, my anger receded.
“Pick up the torc.”
She did so. Her usually graceful fingers trembled, but not with fear. With need. My eyes widened as I realized my dominance excited her. As I watched the pulse flutter in her throat, my own body quickened at the scent of her desire.
“Offer it to me.” Instinct kicked in and she kept her eyes lowered as she offered up the circlet. I felt more powerful in this moment that in a lifetime of conquering others on the battlefield.
“Good lass.” I accepted the torc and moved behind her, keeping my voice gentle. “Lift yer hair.”
She obeyed and I felt my body tighten further at her submission. I replaced it around her slender neck.
“Rise, Brenna.”
My hand cupped her neck again, pulling her close. “Look at me,” I encouraged, and she did.
“Ye belong to us. Forever.” My thumb played over her lips. Eyes on mine, she opened her mouth, and bit the tip of my finger.
My control snapped.
I pushed forward, half lifting her and carrying her to the
Brenna waited with arms crossed over her chest. She didn’t look afraid. She looked incensed.
She met my gaze boldly, but when I prowled up to her she had the good sense to back away.
My hand went around her neck, collaring her. My skin burned when it touched the silver torc we’d given her to wear.
My own beast was close to breaking free.
I forced it back.
With effort, I removed my hand from around her throat. With both hands, I wrenched the torc open and removed it. I dangled the bent metal in front of her face.
“Ye agreed to wear this, aye?”
She nodded.
“Knowing what it would mean? Knowing that ye would have to live among the pack, and obey us?”
She nodded again. I threw the torc on the floor. She flinched as silver struck stone, but her eyes never left mine.
“You agreed to live among us, to obey Samuel and I and follow our rules? Rules that protect ye? Rules that keep ye safe?
Her forehead furrowed, but she still nodded. She knew where I was going and didn’t like it.
“Ye are a woman of honor, Brenna, I knew it from the first. Were ye trying to leave? To go back on yer word?”
She shook her head.
“Ye broke a rule, Brenna. We left ye alone, but I was soon to return with food. We will never leave you alone for long. That is the reason Samuel and I claimed ye together. If one of us falls, the other will provide for ye.” I dragged a frustrated hand through my hair. My wolf was howling for me to throw her to the floor and take her now, mark her with my seed, so she and any other wolf knew who she belonged to.
The beast also lurked, ready to pounce the minute I lost control. Like the wolf, it wanted to claim our beloved, but it also craved blood, and pain.
I dragged in a breath and tried to stay calm. “We care for ye. But we need ye to follow the rules. Understand?”
She nodded, the anger had left her face. She wasn’t yet contrite, but close enough.
I pointed to the torc on the floor. “So choose again, Brenna. Will ye stay? Knowing ye must submit to our rules?” My heart quivered a little. She could say no. Was I really allowing her to choose again whether she would leave us? Would return her to her family if she refused to pick up the torc? In my heart of hearts I knew I would. It would mean death for me and Samuel, and possibly the entire pack, but I would do it.
The knowledge should’ve frightened me. Instead, I felt stronger. “Do ye choose us?”
She nodded. Inside, I rejoiced, but kept my voice stern. Brenna could’ve died today, torn apart by wolves in rut. I had to make her understand.
“Then ye deliberately disobeyed us and must face the consequences.” I pointed to the floor.
Uncertainty crossed her face.
I snapped my fingers in her face. “Submit. Now, lass. I’m not in the mood to be trifled with.”
She stiffened, but she sank down.
At the sign of her submission, my anger receded.
“Pick up the torc.”
She did so. Her usually graceful fingers trembled, but not with fear. With need. My eyes widened as I realized my dominance excited her. As I watched the pulse flutter in her throat, my own body quickened at the scent of her desire.
“Offer it to me.” Instinct kicked in and she kept her eyes lowered as she offered up the circlet. I felt more powerful in this moment that in a lifetime of conquering others on the battlefield.
“Good lass.” I accepted the torc and moved behind her, keeping my voice gentle. “Lift yer hair.”
She obeyed and I felt my body tighten further at her submission. I replaced it around her slender neck.
“Rise, Brenna.”
My hand cupped her neck again, pulling her close. “Look at me,” I encouraged, and she did.
“Ye belong to us. Forever.” My thumb played over her lips. Eyes on mine, she opened her mouth, and bit the tip of my finger.
My control snapped.
I pushed forward, half lifting her and carrying her to the
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