by Liv Brywood
Captive of the Wolf Pack
Liv Brywood
Aria Hunt
Contents
Description
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
About the Author
Captive of the Wolf Pack
Copyright© 2019 Liv Brywood
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Created with Vellum
Description
Our forbidden love will spark a war…
I’m in love with three wolf shifters who also happen to be my best friends. They don’t know how I feel, but I can’t keep this secret much longer. Our relationship is strictly forbidden. Witches and shifters don’t mix in my world. Falling in love with them would mean punishment by death, so I flee. My stepmother Lexus, High Priestess at Dark Magic Academy, is enraged by my disobedience. She’ll stop at nothing to get me back. She wants to control my magic, but she’ll never control my heart. It already belongs to three irresistible men.
Nyx, Remus, and Torak are my guys. I don’t care if we’re not meant to be together. There’s an undeniable connection between the four of us. I can’t ignore it anymore. Our love is dangerous, but it’s worth risking everything. War is coming to Bonfire Falls. There’s nothing I can do to stop it. Love is the strongest magic of all, but I don’t know if it will be enough to keep us safe.
Captive of the Bear Clan is a stand-alone book with a HEA and no cheating. It’s the second book in the Bonfire Falls Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance series.
Excerpt
Nyx leans in closer. I think for a minute that he plans to kiss me. I know I shouldn’t want his lips on mine so much, but I can’t stop the desire. It’s an odd turn of events. We’re friends. So why would I want more? Isn’t friendship enough?
I shake off the thought.
He kisses my cheek gently. I’m disappointed and relieved at the same time.
“I care about you a lot. More than you know,” he says. “That’s why I’m always extra careful when I go on runs. I want to be around to protect you. I know Remus and Torak would protect you too, but I also want to be here for you. Besides, we always have a lot of fun together. I won’t miss out on that for the world.”
Nyx kisses my nose and then runs to the crystal-clear pool. “Last one in is a rotten witch.”
When he jumps in, he splashes so hard that he completely drenches the other guys. They laugh and splash Nyx as he emerges from the water.
As they swim around together, I can’t help but envision Nyx’s lips against mine. This isn’t the first time I thought he would kiss me. We’ve been in a lot of situations like this before, but always at the last minute, he turns away or kisses my cheek like I’m his sister.
Why am I disappointed? Why do I want more?
1
Iris
As I walk through the dark forest, I scan the shadows for the hundredth time. I’m holding a magical orb of light which illuminates every tree, bush, and flower for ten feet in every direction. But it’s not enough to keep my heart from racing.
The shadows outside the circle are a living, breathing horror. I gulp a deep breath and try to slow my thundering heart. A cold shiver runs down my spine. Towering branches block the moonlight. I’m completely shrouded in darkness except for the small amount of light my orb gives off.
Every hoot of an owl and every flutter of a leaf makes me jump. I stop for a second to listen for footsteps. The snap of a twig makes my heart pound so hard my whole chest vibrates. The forest is quiet except for the occasional caw of a bird or the incessant buzz of insects.
I can’t shake the sensation that an unseen stalker is lurking somewhere in the darkness.
Although I sneak away from the Dark Magic Academy every night at midnight, tonight feels different. I’m supposed to be meeting my friends from the small town of Bonfire Falls soon, but I might not make it on time, or at all.
Another shiver ripples through my body. The feeling of being watched intensifies.
Briefly, I consider my options. I don’t want to lead anything negative toward where my friends are waiting. I don’t know what I’m dealing with yet. I don’t know if the person stalking me is another witch or a shifter, but it doesn’t matter.
Malevolence rolls off the unseen force in waves. Dark magic swirls in the shadows. It feels like a thousand little spiders crawling across my flesh.
No matter what, I mustn’t get caught. I’ll be in trouble if that happens. If my stepmother Lexus finds out that I sneak out to visit wolf shifters every night, she’ll never let me leave the Academy again.
Every day at the Academy is hell. Being able to sneak out to see my friends each night is the only way I manage to survive. I hate the Academy and everything for which it stands. Lexus is a monster, but nobody realizes just how evil she can be. If I tried to tell anyone, no one would believe me. So, I stay silent.
The thought of seeing my friends sends a fire through my body, a fire that burns brighter and hotter lately each time I’m near them. When I picture them in my mind, it calms me. My heart settles, and warmth replaces the cold shiver of unease.
The forest is completely silent again. I don’t know if I’m being paranoid or not. I’ve never sensed a presence like this before, so what could it be... or who?
I feel it following me all the way to the waterfall. I could have turned back, but I didn’t. I’m not about to let whatever it is win. It could all be a figment of my imagination, because whatever it was had ample chance to attack me, but it didn’t. So, I’m probably overreacting to being in the woods alone at night.
When I arrive at our spot, my eyes light up. Remus and Torak are already in the pool at the base of the waterfall. They’re playing and splashing around until they see me. They walk out of the water to greet me with wide smiles. I can’t stop staring as rivulets of water drip down their broad chests and chiseled abs. Unfortunately, they’re both wearing swim trunks.
“Hey, guys. How’s the water tonight?”
“Come see for yourself,” Remus calls.
I smile because he’s looking at me with enough hunger in his eyes to make my knees buckle. His gaze sweeps down to take in my curves. I chose a gauzy white dress for tonight. It’s not the most practical thing to wear for a hike through the forest, but I like to dress up for my guys.
My gaze drops from his face to his lips. I wonder how they might feel pressed against mine and
how they might taste.
I shake my head slightly and brush off the idea. These are my friends. We’ve been friends since we were young, and it would be weird to be intimately involved with any of them. Still, the thought lingers in the back of my mind.
A splash draws my attention to the pool. Torak wades into the waist-deep water. I’m awestruck by the sight of his naked torso glistening in the moonlight. His muscular arms are built to hold a woman close to him. I picture myself pressed against his brawny chest, which has a hint of hair that runs down the center and disappears into the water. I groan softly, thinking about what the water might be hiding.
Remus gives me a funny look.
“Are you coming in tonight?” he asks.
“I didn’t come all this way to watch you have fun without me.” I grin. “I’ll be there in a second.”
I hesitate, suddenly too shy to undress in front of them. We’ve swum together since we were kids, but now that we’re older, it’s different. Very different. The young boys I’ve known my whole life have become sexy men with incredible bodies. The sight of them invokes fantasies that will never come true. But I can’t help but think about them. Maybe it’s my hormones gone wild.
The night is warm and perfect for a swim in the cool, clear water. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be completely naked. I have a bikini underneath my dress. I quickly pull off my dress, fold it, and set it on a rock next to the pool.
Remus and Torak walk closer to the edge of the water as if hypnotized. Their eyes are glued to me as they take in every curve of my body. I smile at them. A rush of familiar warmth fills me when I see the bulges that their swim trunks can’t hide.
Although I still think it’ll be weird if any of our friendships turns sexual, I like their reaction to me. It’s natural to at least think about it. In a weird way, I wish we weren’t such close friends. They’re so sexy.
Liquid fire runs up and down my spine. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. The drum of my heart is very different from what it was on my jaunt through the woods.
Rather than jump in like the men, I walk into the pool like a goddess. The water slowly envelops me. I close my eyes as cool water caresses my bare skin. When I lean back to let the water surround me, all of my stresses and worries drain away.
“Where’s Nyx?” I ask.
“Late as usual, but he’ll be here eventually.” Remus looks me over again.
I shake my head and sigh. Nyx is never on time. I used to get frustrated about it, but now I just expect it. He lives in his own version of time.
Torak comes up behind me and splashes me. I turn around to splash him back, but I’m drenched a second time as Remus sends a shower of cool water over my head and down my back. The game is on.
When we tire of the horseplay, we float around the pool, talking and laughing as if none of us has a care in the world. Outside of our little paradise, we’re surrounded by danger. But here, we’re safe. For now, all is well.
As we float, I can’t help but notice Remus and Torak’s fine bodies.
Remus has the arms of a bodybuilder, strong and athletic. Every muscle in his chest is well-defined. I’d love to lick the lines along his skin, but that would be totally weird.
I sneak glances at him as we drift around in the water and chat. My thoughts start to wander. I can see him pulling me tight against him, touching me in every way. I imagine how he would taste, how my mouth would cover his, and how I would breathe in his essence.
Then, my attention turns to Torak. He’s also well built. But aside from that, he’s incredibly smart. His ability to solve almost any problem awes everyone he meets. He’s talented and everyone respects him. He’s the brains of our little group.
As I contemplate his physical and mental attributes, I find that I want to feel his arms around me. I want to feel his hands on my skin and his lips pressed against mine.
If my fantasies ever come true, it would change the dynamics between us forever. It would surely affect all of our relationships. Not just my relationships with them, but their relationships with each other too. Falling for any one of them could hurt our friendships.
But what if it didn’t? It’s so tempting to think about the possibilities.
Either way, I guard my fantasies. No one ever has to know about my secret desires. I shouldn’t think these things anyway, but I can’t seem to stop.
Remus and Torak circle around me. Every so often, they float close enough that their hands and bodies brush against mine. I think it’s an accident, but what if it isn’t? Is it my imagination? I know it’s crazy to think about my friends like this, but I do.
As Remus stands in a shallow part of the pool, I spot a bulge in his trunks. Maybe it’s not all in my head after all.
Torak then drifts closer. His fingers lightly graze my bra. My nipples instantly harden. An immense ache overcomes me. My desire for him—for them—is getting worse every night. I live for these men. If I didn’t have them in my life, I’d have nothing. That’s why I can’t ruin our friendships.
Suddenly, Remus stands up and announces he’s brought a beach ball to toss around. I’m relieved to be ripped away from my thoughts.
My feet touch the bottom of the pool as we toss the ball around, laugh, and have fun. I wish moments like this could last forever.
A dark cloud of anxiety looms over my head as I think about returning to the Academy. My stepmother, Lexus, makes my stomach churn. Just being in her presence makes me sick. I can’t stand her. I don’t know why my father ever agreed to marry her. I hate my life, which is probably why I fantasize about my friends. I dream about a future without Lexus, and in these dreams, I’m always surrounded by my guys.
A sense of unease hovers over me for a moment. I shrug it off, banish it, and decide I’ll enjoy this moment with my friends. I won’t think about anything else until I have to. I just want to destress and enjoy the moment.
After a while, Remus and Torak stop their horseplay and glance at an area beyond our paradise. I hear someone approach, so I turn to look. Both men move to stand in front of me, ready to protect me from danger.
We sigh in relief as Nyx steps through the foliage. The tension in my body is carried away on a breeze as I climb out of the pool to greet our friend.
“Sorry I’m late. I had a delivery, and it took a lot longer than usual.”
“Do you think you could have made any more noise?” Torak rolls his eyes.
“I didn’t want to sneak up on you guys. I didn’t want you to kill me because you thought I was an intruder. I would like to live another day, meet up for another secret rendezvous, you know, the usual.” Nyx smirks. His lips are plump and sexy as hell. I can’t look away.
Torak and Remus smile and nod.
Although no one ever bothers us at our special spot, we’re all aware of the possibility of ever-present danger. We don’t let our guard down. Witches and shifters roam the forest looking for trouble. I just hope they never find us. My magic is strong, but others are stronger.
Torak and Remus begin to toss the ball back and forth again, leaving me to talk to Nyx.
“Who were the deliveries for?” I ask.
“You know.”
I close my eyes briefly and heave a heavy sigh. “I wish you didn’t have to work for Howlers MC. I’ve heard a lot of things about them, and none of it’s good. I don’t want you to get hurt. Or worse.”
Nyx touches my face gently and caresses my cheek with his thumb. “I promise I’ll be very careful. I always am. After all, I’ve lived this long, right?”
“I do worry. I worry a lot. I care about you so much. I don’t think I could bear it if something happened to you.”
Nyx leans in closer. I think for a minute that he plans to kiss me. I know I shouldn’t want his lips on mine so much, but I can’t stop the desire. It’s an odd turn of events. We’re friends. So why would I want more? Isn’t friendship enough?
I shake off the thought.
He kisses my cheek gently. I�
�m disappointed and relieved at the same time.
“I care about you a lot. More than you know,” he says. “That’s why I’m always extra careful when I go on runs. I want to be around to protect you. I know Remus and Torak would protect you too, but I also want to be here for you. Besides, we always have a lot of fun together. I won’t miss out on that for the world.”
Nyx kisses my nose and then runs to the crystal-clear pool. “Last one in is a rotten witch.”
When he jumps in, he splashes so hard that he completely drenches the other guys. They laugh and splash Nyx as he emerges from the water.
As they swim around together, I can’t help but envision Nyx’s lips against mine. This isn’t the first time I thought he would kiss me. We’ve been in a lot of situations like this before, but always at the last minute, he turns away or kisses my cheek like I’m his sister.
Why am I disappointed? Why do I want more?
It must be nerves. I don’t want Lexus to catch me sneaking out. She’d have a fit, or worse. Honestly, I don’t know what she’d do if she found out I was meeting three wolf shifters in the middle of the night. Thinking about the possibility of being caught makes my stomach clench.
I sit on one of the rocks for a few minutes to watch them play. They’re my best friends. I’d do anything for them. I’d give my life to protect them.
I don’t know when it happened, but my love for them has changed. I still adore them as friends, but now I want more. The summer heat and fear must have cooked my brain. No, it’s not that. I just love hanging out with them. I can be myself. I can be serious or silly and they’re okay with it. I’m a witch, not a shifter, but they don’t care. To them, I’m the same Iris I’ve always been.
