by Mel Favreaux
“How do you feel about that?” She saw the worry in his eyes.
“I don't know. He was right, I couldn't kill him. Without my uncle behind him, I don't believe Elan will have the courage or the strength to try and form another coupe against me.”
She shook her head. “I don't know your brother, Braedyn, but I can assume it will only be a matter of time before he attempts something again.”
“I know.” He cleared his throat and looked in her eyes, stroking her cheek.
She kissed him, feeling his firm but soft lips against hers, making her forget for a moment the near total exhaustion that consumed her.
“Are you cold?” he asked when she shivered.
“A little.”
“I'll go in and start a fire.”
Casey smiled. “I just want to sit out here for a little while longer. I want to watch the sun set.”
Braedyn kissed her again. “Okay then, I'll go and start the fire and have some coffee waiting for you.” He stood and went into the cabin, leaving her on the porch.
She sighed, looking out over the front yard. Her gaze picked out the places where Braedyn, Amber, Elan, and Harlan had fallen. A fresh layer of snow had covered all traces of the horrible events that had taken place.
“I sat in a two thousand year stasis before I decided to come back,” the Silver Wolf’s voice whispered through Casey’s mind. “I exacted the revenge I sought. Harlan Walker was an evil man, and in all the time after my death, he still managed to step no further than his brother’s shadow. I was the very first of our kind. I’d learned early on about life’s unexpected qualities. My life took a drastic turn two hundred thousand years ago, simply because I’d taken pity on an old man and saved him from starvation and hypothermia.”
Casey knew him to be the same man at the airport she’d given her blanket and twenty dollars to. She leaned back on the stairs and closed her eyes, listening to the Wolf. The Silver Wolf hadn’t talked to her much, and Casey knew what she had to say was important.
“My life drastically changed, but do I regret it? Do I regret that I showed compassion to a strange man, where before the only thing I’d learned about humans was how cruel they could be, to their own and to everything else? With all I’ve discovered, could I possibly go back to the blissful innocence of just being a wolf?
“As I look through your eyes, Casey, I realize I don’t bemoan it one bit. No matter the pain and torment I went through in my first incarnation, this is where I am meant to be.
“I enjoy sharing you as a host and revel in the awareness that our souls are so similar, and your views, pure as my own. I can’t wait to show you the things I’ve seen and the knowledge I’ve gained. Have no doubt, we will have a wonderously long and fulfilled life together with Braedyn. He and his wolf are the ones we are meant to be with. In our heart, I know they love us beyond reason and would never do to us what Harlan did to me.”
Casey blinked back the tears that came to her eyes.
“Elan is another worry, and will need to be dealt with soon,” the Silver Wolf warned. “Trust our sister in souls, she’ll never lead you astray.”
Her nose picked up a familiar scent and smiled when the white Siberian Tigress made her way to the side of the porch and climbed up gracefully.
“Glad to see you're out and about,” Casey said rubbing her hands together to warm them.
The tigress shifted into human form. It was the first time Casey had watched the change in full light. The transformation was beautiful. Fully clothed in black jeans and a long black leather trench coat, Amber sat down on the stairs next to Casey.
“I haven't had the chance to thank you,” the brunette said while they watched the sun begin it’s descent in the sky.
Casey shook her head. “You don't have to thank me. I did what was needed for purely selfish reasons. I couldn't lose you anymore than I could've lost Braedyn. I can't explain it. To not have you in my life... would feel like I'd lost a vital part of myself.”
Amber smiled and resituated herself on the stair. “I feel a connection with you I’ve never felt with anyone before.” She laughed and looked over at Casey. “I guess we're soul-sisters or something.”
Casey couldn't help but agree, it made sense to her too. The Silver Wolf had just called her her ‘sister in souls.’ “Maybe so. Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”
She shook her head. “No, I think Braedyn has other plans for you two this evening. I just wanted to come over and thank you while you had a moment to yourself.”
“How is Aquene?”
“Good. When I left, she was sitting in her rocking chair working on another dream catcher.” Amber shrugged. “Hard to keep her down, I swear.”
She laughed and turned to look at Amber; then with a more serious note to her voice, “There is something I need to ask of you. Something I never thought I would ever ask of anyone.”
Amber's brows rose. “Is this something you don't want Braedyn to know?”
Casey shook her head and bit her bottom lip. “No, I don't know how he would react to me even asking this of you.”
The tigress looked down at her feet for a moment. “You want me to take out Elan, don't you?”
Casey ran her hands through her hair. “I don't know what I want. I just worry this will start all over again. Maybe not now...or even ten years from now. But some one, somewhere will be able to give Elan the backing he'll need to challenge Braedyn again.” She rubbed her eyes and looked out over the snow covered lawn.
“I'll keep an eye on him once he’s released. I am not too keen on the idea of him coming anywhere near Aquene, though she is his mother. Part of the plan the other night had been to kill her and Braedyn. I can't understand how Braedyn can allow him to live. Family or not, I know first hand how family can hurt you far more than a total stranger.” Amber gave her a haunted look. “I think I am going to go back to the house and check on Aquene again.” She put a hand on Casey's shoulder, squeezed, and then rose to her feet. “I'll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Casey nodded, reaching back to squeeze her friend’s hand. Amber lingered, her hand on her shoulder a moment longer, conveying an unspoken sentiment, and then pulled away, shifted back into the Tigress and left.
Sighing, Casey got up and stretched. The setting sun, cast purple-blue shadows across the snow. She turned and walked in the door. The smell of fresh coffee was inviting and so was the blaze in the fireplace. Walking into the kitchen, she saw Braedyn was pouring them both fresh cups.
“How is Amber?” He asked handing her a mug of coffee.
“Better.” Casey took a sip. “She and I have a...connection. I can't really explain it.”
Braedyn nodded. “I can feel it.” He smiled and leaned back against the counter. “If I didn't know you two well enough, I'd be worried.”
“Worried?” She looked up at him frowning. “What do you...” She laughed and shook her head, giving him a slight shove. “You're an ass, you know that?”
Braedyn shrugged. “I can be.” He grinned when Casey set her mug on the counter and leaned into him. “But never for long.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I've been so busy I haven't been able to take much time with you.”
“I understand. You have a responsibility to your Pack and your community.”
He put a gentle hand in her hair, turning her to face him. “I made a commitment to you as well, Casey. One I've not gone into lightly. I love you and I've not had the time to devote to you as I promised.”
“But I've been with you the entire time. It's the only place I wish to be.” She put her arms around his neck. “Life is going to happen, but when we have a few moments in between like this, we'll be fine.”
He stroked her hair back from her face. “You've kept me sane these passed few days. I don't know what I'd have done without you.” His thumb stroked across her lips.
Feeling arousal rise in him, she smiled. Casey was tired but she'd planned to enjoy him later. It was a fine tim
e to draw their play out and make him sweat a little. “Maybe we should go and enjoy the fire for a little while?” she asked, placing a hand against his chest.
With a nod, he picked up his coffee and followed her into the living room. Braedyn laid a throw out in front of the fireplace and she pulled a few pillows down so they would be more comfortable.
She watched him settle down and stretch his legs out and lean back, propping himself on his elbows. Unable to resist herself, Casey snuggled a little closer and brushed his hair back from his shoulders, running her fingers through the length of it.
* * * *
Braedyn smiled and closed his eyes, loving the attention of her fingers caressing his scalp and down through his hair. Who knew the simplest of touches could make him feel so much? He opened his eyes. Looking down at her, it struck him again just how immeasurable his love was for her.
She put a hand on his chest. “I can feel it Braedyn,” Casey said softly.
He gave her an amused grin. “You can read my mind now?”
“I don't have to, I can tell by the way you look at me.” She shook her head, her silvery blond hair falling over her shoulders. “Just by looking in your eyes, feeling your touch; I can feel what I mean to you. I’ve not said it much to you, but you do know I love you too, don't you?”
He rolled onto his side facing her and took the hand on his chest. Kissing her fingers and curling her hand into his. “I know you love me. You don't have to tell me all the time. I just want to make sure you understand how I feel about you. This is all still so new to the both of us, I need to make sure nothing happens to mess this up. It’s too important.”
Casey shook her head again. “No,” she said with a smile. “That's not going to happen. I love you, and I'll tell you now, the Silver Wolf...will never let you go. It’s been hard for her to trust again after what happened to her, but she fell in love with you the moment she woke in me.”
“You have such a powerful connection with your wolf.” He shook his head in wonder. “I envy that. My wolf was a new spirit, so he has nothing of a past to share with me. He's learning as I do. I bet it’s amazing learning about completely different times and eras, especially with one as old as her.”
She nodded. “It is. Sometime, I'd like to sit down and write her story. To give fact to the myth that was the Silver Wolf.”
“I would love to read it.” He couldn't help but smile at the excitement in her eyes.
“Now I have something to keep me busy when you're out and about.”
“It’s kind of like you're seeing a politician,” he said with a shrug. “I'm the leader of a community but it takes me all over the place sometimes. I have had to make trips to Europe and other countries before to meet with the other Alphas.”
“I know and I can't wait to go on one of those trips with you. Just to be with you, I don't care where it is.” She bit her lower lip, looking at him.
He leaned forward and freed her abused lip with a gentle brush of his own. With all the chaos, he wouldn't have blamed her if she'd run away screaming, but she hadn't. Casey was admittedly in for the long haul and there was no way he could express with accuracy how that made him feel.
That she was willing to stand by his side through the good and the bad was more than he had dreamed could be his. If it hadn't been for her, he'd have died. She had saved him, Amber, and countless others simply by taking out Harlan.
* * * *
Casey felt herself melt under his touch. There was no urgency in his caresses. Warm and gentle, they made her feel at peace. She didn’t think it was possible to be more in love than at this moment. The simplicity of just sitting in front of the fire with her handsome man in their home.
Slowly, her hands slid to his waist, pulling the tail of his black turtle neck from the waist of his jeans. She loved seeing him barefoot, without a shirt on, wearing only jeans with his long, black hair down. He was a gorgeous man. Casey loved admiring his body with her eyes, her hands, and her mouth.
Pulling the shirt over his head, she tossed it aside and ran her hands over his chest. She was excited. He always aroused her, but tonight seemed different. It was almost as if they were making love for the first time. That brought another smile to her lips. The connection they shared seemed stronger to her. She felt everything about him. Every touch had meaning. Every kiss was heartfelt.
Braedyn laid her back on the blanket and slowly kissed each exposed portion of her skin while removing each piece of clothing. He didn’t miss an inch of her body. When he nuzzled the area between her breasts, she unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his hips. Casey wanted him more than ever. Needed him now more than ever, but there was no urgency in her movements. Her passion for him built with each kiss, their kisses growing longer, deeper. She felt dizzy from it all.
Her hands roamed over his back and shoulders and into his hair. He nestled her breasts. Parting her thighs with a knee, Casey nearly came when Braedyn pressed himself against her. Moaning in his ear, she took the lobe into her mouth to nip at it.
* * * *
Braedyn shivered, capturing her mouth in his. He moved her arms over her head, gently sliding his fingertips up her arms, and intertwined their fingers. Looking into her eyes, he entered her slowly. His entire body tingled when their hips met. She closed her eyes and gasped in pleasure. Casey jerked against him and arched her back. He nibbled at her chin and around her throat, establishing a gentle rhythm she followed. Slow, deep, thrusts that drew their bodies together, stitching together their souls as well.
He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked in the firelight. Her eyes so filled with love and passion, she’d found a place in his soul he’d never known was there. This was love.
Casey moaned against his lips. His hands slid down her arms. Braedyn needed to touch her all over. The tingling in his body grew stronger until every nerve in his body vibrated. Every touch she gave sent shivers through him. He could feel her reaction mirroring his own to his touch as well.
Though their passion grew, their movements stayed slow, deep and steady; drawing them both into a long and drawn out orgasm which left them both gasping and shuddering. Braedyn rolled onto his side drawing her into his arms, her back to him and intertwined his fingers in hers, holding her to him. Never wanting to let go. Sighing, he laid his head in the space between her shoulder and neck.
* * * *
Casey gasped, her muscles tingled all over. It prickled all through her body, more extreme than her orgasm had been. She clutched the hand Braedyn had drawn around her waist. Her entire body spasmed a moment; then ceased when a sharp pain burned the inside of her left arm, and she felt Braedyn jerk too. Lifting their hands, she watched in amazement as an emblem slowly appeared on the inside of their left wrists. A crescent moon and star. She couldn't hold back her smile and turned to him.
“What was all of that?”
“That was the power of the Alpha surging through you.” He furrowed his brows. “There's only one thing left to do now,” he said gruffly.
“What?”
He licked his lips, a nervous habit she’d seen him do a thousand times. “Will you join me in eternity, Casey Maynard?”
She had been expecting a proposal, but it still took her by surprise. Even with the tattoo appearing on their arms, marking them as life mates the fates had chosen, his words were unexpected. Given what they’d gone through in such a short span of time, there was only one answer she could give.
“Yes.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, but Braedyn’s eyes danced in the firelight. He kissed where the tattoo would forever remain, marking her as his. Casey could feel the wolf in him howling in joy and the Silver Wolf sighed with content, happy at last.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Casey took a deep breath and slipped out of Braedyn's truck. She'd driven him over to Elan's, where they had been keeping the traitor under watch and took a ride around town, getting the lay of the land. It was her first time
out alone since arriving in Walker's Run.
She walked up onto Aquene's front porch and knocked at the door. A moment later the door was answered by a spry, elderly woman. Her eyes were no longer squinted when she smiled up at her.
“Oh! Come in.” Aquene reached through the door, grabbing Casey's hand and pulling her in. “I got up this morning, and I have to say I’ve not had this much energy in years!”
Casey laughed. “Braedyn was busy this morning, so I figured I would drop by and check on you.”
Grinning, she gave her a huge hug. “I just feel so wonderful.”
“Well, I just may have a little bit more news that may make you even happier.” Her voice was soft and Aquene turned to look at her.
“With my health better than it has been in years, I'd be very surprised if you could give me better news than that, child.” She placed her hands on her hips.
Casey took a deep breath and held out her left hand, palm down, not showing Aquene the mark yet.
Furrowing her brows, she touched Casey's hand, not understanding. Turning her hand over, she pulled up her sleeve. Aquene's squeal of delight nearly shook the rafters of cabin, and the old woman grabbed her in a fierce hug.
A moment later the back door slammed open with such force, the entire cabin did shake. Amber appeared in the living room cat-quick, looking to kill. She took a deep breath, putting a hand to her chest, looking at them. “Don't do that! What on earth are you going on about woman?”
“They are a mated couple!” Aquene shrieked grabbing Casey's arm with surprising force, turning her so Amber could see the mark on her wrist.
Laughing, she gave Casey a grin. “I couldn't be happier for you.” She turned her gaze back to the elderly woman. “What has gotten into you this morning? I know you were feeling better last night, but this...I don't think I've seen you like this in the five years I've known you.”
The old woman’s smile was bright when she turned to Casey and touched her cheek. “You, child, you did this to me, on the night of the battle. I was hanging on for dear life...you touched my hand and held it to your lips. I felt a tingle and ever since I have gradually felt better and better. This morning I was able to get up and walk without pain. You healed me.”
