by Jenny Penn
Of course, she could be wrong. They weren’t even in the room, and already she felt seduced by their lingering scent. It was rich and wild and so full of masculine pheromones she felt half intoxicated already, but that wasn’t what made her heart melt. What did was the wall of pictures that hung over the dresser.
Her parents, her grandparents, her entire family was framed and smiling back down at her, alongside the pictures of what could only be Tex and Brock’s family. There was one that had damn near a dozen people in it, almost all men, and one lone female standing in the center that had to be their mom. That was going to be her…she was supposed to have that many sons.
There was no way. No way!
Three kids, tops. That had always been her number. Daisy could have stretched it to five or six, but a dozen? These people had obviously never heard of birth control, and Daisy wasn’t interested in getting stuck in the woods, in a cabin, raising an entire football team’s worth of boys.
She had higher aspirations than that.
Daisy was going to teach and write books and…oh God, they probably didn’t even have a library! She couldn’t live without a library, because she couldn’t afford to buy as many books as she read. This was a disaster. She needed to pack her bags and go.
That thought echoed through her head as she lay there staring up at the wood-planked ceiling. She didn’t move. She couldn’t. Just the idea of leaving made her heart ache in a way that wasn’t normal. Normal didn’t matter. What mattered was giving this a chance, and since when did she run from a challenge?
Never.
If there was a way to be happy here, Daisy would find it. She at least had to try. Besides, she still needed to get to the end of the mystery of the dreams still haunting her. They'd changed last night from a nightmare she couldn't escape to a cause she had to succeed in.
Daisy just didn't know what that cause was, not yet, at any rate. All she knew right then was that she had to get dressed and then go talk to the two men who might have some answers for her. They better have some answers for her, or she really would go get a bat.
That thought helped galvanize Daisy, prompting her into motion. Rolling off of the bed, she headed for the door she suspected led to the bathroom. There were five doors to choose from, and it took her trying two of them before she realized that the master bedroom came not only with his-and-hers closets but also his-and-hers bathrooms. Her bathroom was nicer than the men's, and all of her toiletries were already arranged on the counter.
The sight unnerved her because, while it was nice and thoughtful for them to have moved all her stuff, it was also presumptuous and a little unnerving to think of strangers going through her things. That thought alone had her eyeing her toothbrush with a certain amount of hesitation. Thankfully, she found fresh, unopened packages of more toothbrushes under the sink.
They were the same brand and even color as hers. So was the soap, the moisturizer, the toilet paper. Everything she preferred was stockpiled in the cabinet, including toothpaste. That really was thoughtful and unnerving again because it lent strength to their comment that she wouldn’t be leaving. Ever.
Even if she didn’t want to leave, Daisy wanted the choice.
It was time to make that clear to Tex and Brock. First, she needed clothes, because something told her there would be no getting them to focus if she wore her sheet instead. Remembering to layer, Daisy pulled on both tights and jeans, followed by a tank, a tee, and a sweater. She was a little hot when she was done but certain she’d bought herself the time to come to her senses if they made any moves.
Daisy’s confidence took a hit, though, when she came back down the stairs to find a very attractive redhead laughing it up with Tex and Brock in the kitchen. Daisy knew from the pictures she wasn’t a relation, and could tell from the way they were talking that she was very close to Daisy’s men. That made her hate the other woman instantly.
The redhead’s smile, though, had her melting as the other woman noticed her coming down the steps. It became instantly clear that she hadn’t come to see the brothers. She’d come to meet Daisy and welcome her with such glee that Daisy felt a little overwhelmed, especially when the woman rushed across the great room to throw her arms around Daisy and sweep her up into a big hug.
“There you are!” the woman declared as she squeezed tight. “I’ve been so dying to meet you. It’s going to be so exciting to have a new woman in the pack. Not that the men are that bad.”
The redhead shoved Daisy back but still held on to her arms as she revealed that bit of information. She didn’t hesitate, though, or even take a breath before she kept rambling on.
“But still, if you ever need to talk, I’m here, and trust me, I know what you’re going through. I’ve only been mated for a year,” the redhead imparted in a whisper. “Sometimes I still can’t believe how much my life has changed…but all for the better. I mean, except for not being able to leave the mountain.”
“Josie,” Brock cut in with a disapproving tone. “Don’t be putting worries into our mate’s head.”
“Oh, please.” Josie released Daisy to wave away Brock’s concerns. “I’m sure they’re already there, and trust me, there are a whole lot more rules than that,” Josie warned Daisy with a pointed look that left Daisy frowning.
“What other rules?”
“Josie!” Brock cut her off before she could even get a word out. “It’s not your place to introduce our mate to our life.”
“Of course not,” Josie easily agreed but wagged a finger at them anyway. “But I know how you guys are, especially when you’re first mated. You get so preoccupied with fucking you barely remember to introduce yourselves.”
“Josie!” This time, that reprimand came from a new man, who filled in the doorway with sizable bulk and dark scowl. “I told you not to come over here. This is Tex, Brock, and Daisy’s honeymoon. They don’t want or need your interference at this time.”
Josie rolled her eyes and shot Daisy another pointed look. “We’ll talk later.”
“Now, Josie,” the man commanded, holding out a hand to her that Josie all but skipped across the room to take.
“It wasn’t like I was trying to interfere. I was trying to help, and you know better than to growl at me, Cameron. Why, when I think back to how…” Josie’s happy complaints faded away as the man dragged her out of the cabin and all but slammed the door behind him, leaving Daisy, Tex, and Brock sharing an awkward silence.
“Well.” Tex finally sighed and glanced over at Brock. “That was bracing.”
That was not what Daisy wanted to talk about. Josie seemed sweet, a little too bubbly, but sweet. She’d also been informative and blunt enough to prove that there was no point in making with pleasantries. So, Daisy just blurted out the first question that came to mind.
“We’re on our honeymoon?”
Chapter 6
Brock didn’t like the note of dismay in Daisy’s question or the dejected look in her eyes. He suspected he knew what was wrong. Humans planned massive, expensive trips to celebrate their matings, but his kind didn’t see the point in going through all that.
First, it was a waste of money, given they going to spend the majority of their time in bed. Second, his kind didn’t really care to travel. Third, the farther Daisy went from the pack, the more vulnerable she became.
None of that mattered when it came to that little pout on her lips. It almost tempted Brock to promise her things he didn’t have the ability to give. He managed to hold those words back as he crossed the room to take Daisy by the hands. They were small and cold.
“Come on and have some French toast.” He guided her to the large island they’d built and settled her into a stool. “We’ll answer all your questions and explain everything while you eat.”
“And you’ll start with Sally Mosby,” Daisy instructed with a slight tartness returning to her tone.
Brock couldn’t help but smile, pleased to see her spunk returning. “Very well. We’ll start wit
h Sally Mosby.”
“And proper introductions.” There was definitely a little sass in her now as she shot that one over at him with a pointed look.
“Without hesitation,” Brock assured her before sweeping into a dramatic bow. “Brock Cantor at your service, and my brother, Tex, is here to assist me.”
“What he means to say is he is here to assist me,” Tex corrected as he slid onto the stool beside Daisy and shot her a grin. “How you feeling this morning, beautiful?”
“Confused and a little panicky,” Daisy answered honestly with a grumpiness that had Tex coughing up a laugh.
“Well, we can help with the confusion, and hopefully the panic will subside.” In fact, Brock was certain it would. “This will probably help, too. I make the best French toast in the whole pack.”
“That he does.” Tex nodded, pulling his own plate forward as Brock passed Daisy’s over to her.
Brock already had the syrup, powder sugar, and butter out on the island. He’d also set the coffee pot out, along with a pitcher of juice, and quickly got Daisy a glass as she picked up the juice.
“This is a long story,” Brock warned her as he took the pitcher from her hand and poured the glass for Daisy. He slid it back across the counter, meeting her gaze as he continued on. “And I’m sure you’ll have questions, so just ask…but try to keep them focused on what I’m telling you, or we could be at this all day.”
There were more pleasant things Brock wanted to get to. Daisy seemed to read his mind and frowned, already trying to distract him with questions that were not on-point.
“Speaking of…You two better be clean, and I better not be pregnant.”
“What?” Tex perked up at that. “You don’t want kids?”
“One or two, but not as many as would be needed to fill out that upper floor.”
“You’ve been snooping.” Brock had been afraid of that. It had taken Daisy just a little too long to get dressed, but he and Tex hadn’t dared to interfere, wanting to give her the space to relax and accept the situation.
“You will be wearing a condom in the future,” Daisy shot back.
“Don’t think so.” Brock knew so. He didn’t like condoms. “But don’t worry about the pregnancy. You’re not in heat.”
That made Daisy flush a bright red as she puckered up. “I’m not a dog, either, to go into heat.”
“Every living creature goes into heat,” Tex informed her, wrong as usual, but then that was why he hadn’t been selected to conduct this conversation.
“Ants do not go into heat,” Daisy shot back. “Nor do bees⎯”
“But frogs do…and so do lizards.”
“I’m not a lizard!”
“I know, beautiful, and you’re not capable of getting pregnant right now.” Tex took a pointed sniff of the air, making Daisy flush as he waggled his brows at her. “The nose knows…but you are a little hot. How many clothes are you wearing?”
“Shut up, Tex,” Brock snapped, certain that was not helping. He knew he was right based on the blush that all but consumed Daisy’s face. So, he quickly moved on. “And you don’t have to worry about diseases. Our kind doesn’t carry any.”
“And what is your kind?” Daisy asked, immediately jumping on that comment and coming to a very human conclusion. “Werewolves?”
“Please.” Tex pulled back as if insulted. “Werewolves are abominations. They come from the beast itself. We’re wolven, the descendants of a true god, Malsumis.”
“Uh…okay.” Daisy blinked, clearly confused by that comment.
“What my brother is trying to say is that we are the children of the god Malsumis,” Brock quickly tried to explain. “Malsumis fell in love with a beautiful woman and took her as his bride, but the humans…they fear and hate things they don’t understand, and when she became pregnant, they killed her.”
“Just like Sally?” Daisy asked, proving that her mind was as quick as he’d suspected.
“Something like that.” Brock hesitated before revealing the real truth. “Except that Sally is damned. Malsumis’s bride was blessed. Before her, we were just wolves called to duty in Malsumis’s army, but after the humans killed his love, he gave us the power to shift, to become human and fight them on their own terms.”
“So…you battle humans?” Daisy blinked, clearly unnerved by his comments. “But I’m human.”
“Not your soul.” Tex shook his head, talking around a mouthful of French toast. “That comes from Malsumis. You’re a child of his line.”
“Uh-huh.” Daisy stared at him for a moment before pointing out the obvious. “But I can’t shift.”
“No woman can…not unless you descend from the beast.” Tex shrugged as if that weren’t anything, but the truth was it was everything. They were called to protect and love Daisy because she was weak, and that was their mission.
“What the hell is the beast?” Daisy demanded to know, her food sitting untouched before her.
“That’s a totally different story.” Brock cut Tex off before he could lead the conversation any further astray. “And I believe you wanted our story to start with Sally Mosby.”
Daisy hesitated for a second before nodding. “Fine. Let’s start there, though I’m pretty sure I already know that story.”
“Then tell it,” Tex retorted, pausing to offer Daisy a quick smile. “We’ll tell you when you’re wrong.”
That earned him a dirty look from their mate, who responded with enough stiffness to assure Brock that she was somewhat insulted by Tex’s manners.
“Fine,” Daisy finally responded with a hint of annoyance lingering in her tone. “We’ll start there, but I still want to know what this beast is.”
“The beast,” Brock quickly cut in, “doesn’t bother us. It has nothing to do with us.”
“Hmm.” Daisy looked unconvinced. “We’ll see, but first, Sally. According to her journal, she fell in love with one of your kind and went up into the mountains with him.”
“Yes.” Brock nodded, not that Daisy spared him any mind.
“But her father, Richard, had already arranged her marriage to his friend Nathaniel Crockett, so he tricked her into coming back down the mountain to the trading post, and then Nathaniel attacked her.”
“They all did.” Brock took a deep breath and steeled his heart against the pain as he told himself everything was all right. Daisy had chosen a different path than Sally, and they’d never let her choose another.
“She died,” Daisy stated with simplicity that belied the horrible truth. “That’s the dream.”
“Yes.” Brock hated that she’d had to endure those dreams, but they wouldn’t plague her anymore. “But what isn’t in the dream is how Nodin reacted to his mate’s demise. He cursed the god Malsumis, blaming him for his own failings and then sacrificed himself to the beast⎯”
“I thought you said the beast wasn’t in this story.” Daisy frowned.
“The beast is not relevant to us,” Brock insisted. “Now, do you want to hear the rest?”
“I want to hear what the hell this beast is,” Daisy shot back, “especially if I’m likely to run into it.”
“You won’t run into the beast,” Brock assured her. “It was defeated a long time ago.”
“By the armies of Malsumis?”
“By our ancestors,” Brock clarified. “It was our descendant who opened the portal to the wastelands and invited the beast in.”
“Wastelands?” Daisy’s eyes rounded. “Are you talking about another dimension?”
“I’m talking about the space that exists between the heavens the gods created and the hell that exists under the rule of the angel Lucifer.” Brock paused, feeling the cold chill of his own words. Nobody cared to talk about the truth of the afterlife. They simply lived in fear of it, which was just why they obeyed the rule of Malsumis.
“When our kind defies our god, we’re cast into the wastelands…and sometimes, Lucifer drives his armies into it to slaughter and steal souls.” Tex h
ad finished his plate of food and was now eyeing Daisy’s untouched one. If he reached for it, then Brock would slap his hands down.
“Sally’s soul is not there,” Daisy stated with a certainty that had both Tex and Brock giving her a quick glance.
“And why do you say that?” Brock prodded, unnerved by the sadness he’d heard in her tone.
“Because I saw her last night.” Daisy paused, clearly bracing herself as she remembered a dream she should not have had. “Along with the others…the other mates? They’re all trapped in the trading post, trapped in agony.”
Tex and Brock shared a look, having hoped to avoid that conversation. It didn’t matter to them. Daisy wasn’t trapped, but she was waiting on an answer. Finally, Brock spoke up with one.
“They made their choice, just like Nodin.” He quickly turned the conversation back on point before Daisy could give voice to the objection he could see forming on her lips. “Nodin sacrificed himself to the beast and opened a portal that Malsumis closed with the⎯”
“Devil’s Peak,” Daisy finished for him. “That’s where it came from, isn’t it?”
“Yep,” Tex answered before Brock could, his eyes still glued to Daisy’s plate. “You gonna eat that?”
“Here.” She started to slide the plate over to Tex, who was licking his lips and then frowning as Brock shoved it back toward Daisy.
“No. That’s Daisy’s food.” Brock shot his brother a pointed look as Tex sulked back into his seat.
“What my brother is trying to say is that that we live under the curse. Nodin was our ancestor, and so all of our mates must be tested, be allowed to choose the fate Sally chose or to find the happiness she would have had if she’d simply obeyed her mate.”
“Obeyed her mate?” Daisy lifted a brow at that. “Is that what you expect me to do? Obey you?”
“You make it sound like we have a list of rules, when we only really have one,” Brock assured her, though it was a big one. “You can’t leave the mountain.”
