The Chase Is On (Pack Everhart Book 1)

by Brooke Warren

  “I see Blave’s not here?” I point out.

  Milo shakes his head. “No, I couldn’t find him, but I sent him a text letting him know we were here. You know how he gets when he drinks. We won’t hear from him until tomorrow.”

  Yeah, I know all too well how Blave gets after a night of binge drinking. A few beers or cocktails now and then is fine, but killing several bottles each weekend is overdoing it. A wolf shifter’s regenerative abilities slow as we age. We aren’t invincible. The more damage done to your body at a younger age, the harder it kicks you in the ass years later. He doesn’t give a shit though.

  “Probably for the best that he’s not here.” I run my fingers through my hair. A burning sensation in my eyes has me rubbing them, trying to soothe away the pain. All the anger and adrenaline has left my body, replaced by a lethargy that's making my arms and legs heavy. I feel like I’m toting around an extra hundred pounds.

  “What are we going to do about Claudia and that guy?” Ascher asks in between mouthfuls of chips.

  I blink a few times, clearing my vision. “Well, the question is, how much can we do? Claudia isn’t pack, and neither is Bryce.”

  I lift a brow at Ascher’s growl. “Fuck that. She was scared shitless when she saw him. The scent of it is still burnt in my nose. And someone obviously invited him there, which means we have every reason to know who he is. Something’s not right about him.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you. I don’t like the male either, but . . .”

  “There shouldn’t even be a ‘but.’ She’s a female in trouble. Shouldn’t we help her? I figured you of all people would want to.”

  I curl my lip at him and advance a step but come up short when Milo blocks my way.

  “Stop it, before you wake her up. I’ll see what information I can pull on my own about Bryce. If I find anything worth noting, I’ll let you guys know.”

  “Fine,” Ascher and I grumble at the same time.

  “If you want to kill each other, take it outside.” Milo sighs, exiting the room.

  Claudia

  “Please, don’t kill him!” I plead.

  Bryce has Kylan pinned to a tree by his throat, and his face is turning beet red. This is all my fault. If I don’t do something quickly, Kylan’s death will be on my hands.

  “Bryce, please don’t do this. If you care about me as much as you say, let him go.”

  “Why should I? He’s the one who attacked me.”

  “Because you were hurting me,” I cry, tears streaming down my face.

  “I’ve given you plenty of chances to leave this pathetic excuse of a wolf, but did you listen? No! What, you two thought you could take me out? Planned this little meeting together?”

  Kylan’s hoarse, choking sounds churn the bile in my stomach, and his wide, terrified eyes could fuel nightmares.

  “It’s not true. I don’t want either of you to die. Please, Bryce, please stop!”

  The hysterical screams and cries ripping from my chest and echoing in the air, sound distant and somehow unfamiliar. I never imagined the night turning out like this. How could I? Bryce has never acted this way.

  “Bryce, please don’t do this!”

  He continues to squeeze Kylan’s throat. The fight Kylan had in him is slowly dwindling, much like his life. My pleas are falling on deaf ears, but I can’t stop trying.

  I don’t stop trying.

  I know what I have to do.

  I’ve only got this one ace to play. If it works, I’ll save a life in exchange for my own. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

  “If you let him go, I will mate with you. That’s what you want, right? You want me, complete control over me. Well, take it—but let him go.”

  When I lock eyes with Kylan, sharp slices of pain rake along my heart. He knows what offering myself to Bryce entails. But it’s the only possible choice. I have to save Kylan.

  Bryce whips his head in my direction and I can’t stop my body from shrinking in fear. The twisted features of his face are devoid of any humanity. The glow of his eyes so bright, I can tell he’s started to merge with his primal side.

  “Don’t fucking lie to me, bitch. How stupid do you think I am?”

  “It’s not a lie and it’s not a game. I’m telling you the truth. If you let him go, unharmed, I will mate you and serve at your side. Killing him isn’t what you really want, and you know it. You want me; here I am. Take me.”

  Bryce mulls over my words. Finally, he smiles and turns back to Kylan. The sadistic amusement on his face chills me to the core. Will he agree to my terms? I’ve got no moves left if he doesn’t.

  “I’ll agree to let your boyfriend go—unharmed—in exchange for you seeing to my every need.”

  My shoulders sag, but relief never comes. Though I may have saved Kylan from an early death, my own fate is still up in the air.

  “Leave now and never return. If you do, I’ll kill you both, then string your corpses up as a warning to anyone who dares cross me.” Bryce releases his grip, and Kylan drops to the ground, clutching his throat and gasping for air. “You’ve got ten minutes to get off my fucking land before I change my mind. Tick tock, Kylan, boy.”

  Bryce chuckles, rubbing his hands together as he turns to face me. He approaches me, licking his lips. Bile rushes up my throat, setting it on fire. I swallow hard, fighting the urge to vomit and back away from him. I can’t give him any reason not to believe me. That would be the end of me for sure.

  “Get up.”

  I do as I’m told—slowly—never taking my eyes off him, not even when I see Kylan pushing himself up off the ground out of the corner of my eye. For a second, I worry that Kylan will try to attack Bryce again, while his back is turned. Bryce is confident he’s safe, but I’m not. I hold my breath, wishing I could look into Kylan’s eyes one last time and urge him to leave. Time stands still. Not until I hear footsteps fade into the night, do I sag on my feet, relief finally sweeping through my body.

  Bryce grabs a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’ve agreed to be mine.” He runs his nose along my neck. My eyes rise to stare at the stars above me, and I plead with them for strength. “You smell like him—like shit. Go home and wash up. I never want to smell his scent again, so you better get rid of anything he’s marked.”

  He closes his lips over my ear. I ignore the muffled barks and growls from my wolf, who’s currently blocked behind my mental walls. “I can’t wait to have you underneath me and show you what a real man feels like.”

  Eyes to the sky, fresh tears flowing freely, I make a promise to myself that I will survive this or die trying.

  Through the haze of my tears and the rushing of blood in my ears, I hear something, though I’m not sure what it is. A grip on my wrist has me searching for the source, but I can’t move—paralyzed by something much stronger. Darkness and trees and Bryce are all around me.

  “Little One, please wake up.”

  It’s a voice.

  I hear it clearly this time, but I still can’t move and I don’t know why. The voice sounds again. It’s familiar and soothing.

  Granger.

  My eyes fly open. Panic weighs me down from head to toe. My heart beats hard and fast like it’s climbing its way up my body.

  “Hey, there you are. You were having a hell of a dream.”

  Cool air drifts over me, chilling the beads of sweat covering my face and neck. Blinking rapidly, I look around the unfamiliar room.

  “You’re in my room at the condo.”

  I nod, the nightmare choking me slowly recedes. It’s been a long time since Bryce took over dreams. “What time is it?” I ask, my voice hoarse and scratchy as if I was actually screaming and crying. How many hours left until the sun comes up, driving out the monsters and the shadows?

  “Late. Do you want to talk about it? I know we don’t know each other well, but I’m a good listener.”

  I inhale his scent, letting it grou
nd me and clear my head. The worry etched around his eyes has me frowning. It must’ve been a terrible dream to leave that kind of emotion on his face. It makes me want to crawl into his arms and hold him like he held me earlier.

  Why can't I? Whispers in the back of my mind.

  “Thank you, but I’ll be alright. Nothing to talk about.”

  His brows draw together while he studies my face like he can see all the secrets I’m harboring, all the lies I’ve told. I struggle not to squirm under his intensity. I’m not about to spill my guts to him or admit that even now, I can still feel the pressure of Bryce’s touch all over me.

  But the longer I lie here staring at him, the more I start to question why I can’t let him comfort me. He may not have all the answers, but he can at least make the questions go away for a little while.

  A blond strand falls across his face, and without thought, I reach up and tuck it behind his ear. The move is innocent enough, though, as I pull my hand back, I can’t help but brush my fingertips across his jaw. His breath catches in his throat, the sound raising my heart rate higher than I thought possible.

  Neither of us moves, both waiting to see what the other will do. He’s the first to break the silence. “If you change your mind, come find me. Get some more rest. You have time before we head out.”

  I snatch his wrist when he starts to get up. He looks down at my hand, then up at me. My tongue is suddenly swollen and won’t move. If there was ever a time for me to forget how to speak, this is the worst moment.

  I want him.

  I want, no, I need to feel his skin against mine.

  I have to lock the darker parts of my mind back in their cages, and some instinct tells me he can help.

  I clear my throat, hoping to jolt my mouth into working again. “Please . . . stay with me?” I chew on my lower lip, seconds passing while I wait for his answer.

  What if he doesn’t want me?

  What if he has a girlfriend?

  Oh no. I should’ve asked. I mentally slap myself.

  “Are you sure?” He asks hesitantly. Well, that doesn’t make me feel any better. “I mean, you’ve been through a lot tonight.”

  His words make me melt inside. I trace my fingers down his neck to the collar of his shirt. As if the past has come alive, a pulse between my thighs has me pressing them together. My skin becomes hyperaware of him; my body evidently remembers the way he made me feel.

  “Make me forget. Kiss it all away.” I grab his shirt and tug him down to me, letting the fleeting thought that I’m using him for my personal gain disappear with the rest of my nightmare.

  That’s all the encouragement he needs. His mouth crashes into mine, his body shifting to cover mine. The weight of him is like heaven. The taste of him is pure ecstasy. We both groan in satisfaction from the contact, like our bodies are no longer deprived of our deepest desire.

  My hands fumble, trying to get his clothes off as fast as possible while he does the same to me. We break our kiss only long enough to finish pulling our clothes the rest of the way off.

  His kiss is exactly as I remember—all-consuming. I tangle my hands in his hair, tugging it to the side and nipping along his jawline. He moans, capturing my mouth again. Desire builds in my core, my pussy wet and needy.

  “Please,” I cry into his mouth.

  His hand slides between our bodies, and the first touch of his finger on my swollen clit has me gasping for air and my back arching. “I need . . .” I whimper, licking and kissing along his neck and chest.

  “I know what you need.”

  He lifts and lines his cock with my center. I wrap my legs around his waist as he slams into me.

  “Fuck,” I scream out, relishing the pain and the pleasure.

  There’s no slow and tender touches or kisses. This is pure, carnal passion between two people whose souls call to each other. Cracks begin to form along the emotional walls I spent years building and reinforcing. The harder he thrusts, the higher my orgasm builds. He grips my leg, stretching me out wider. I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his neck as I fall apart.

  Wave after wave crashes through me. A string of curses I can’t make out rumbles next to my ear as Granger finds his own release. When my post-orgasmic high fades and my breathing evens out, I pick up on the scent of tears. My lashes are wet when I blink.

  Granger lifts his head, frowning when he looks at me. Not wanting to address why I’m crying—I’m not even one hundred percent sure—I tuck some of his hair behind his ear and bring my mouth to his. This kiss is slow and languid. It’s everything I need but not enough at the same time.

  “Let me get you cleaned up.” He moves off me and a sense of déjà vu builds as he slips to the edge of the bed.

  “Wait—don’t go.”

  He crawls under the comforter, pulling my back against his chest. My eyelids droop. The emotional rollercoaster I’ve been riding takes its toll, pulling me into a deep sleep free of monsters.

  Claudia

  The glorious smell of bacon has my eyes fluttering open. My stomach rumbles in response, yelling at me to fill it. Whoever is cooking will definitely be getting a hug. I didn’t get the chance to eat last night because of all the commotion, and now I’m starving.

  The edges of my mouth lift at the thought of Granger and what we did last night. I shift my legs, relishing the soreness between my thighs. Worth it. But I do feel bad; the twinge of guilt in my heart is a not-so-helpful reminder. I used him, plain and simple.

  He didn’t seem all that put out about my demands, though. Not that I gave him much of a choice.

  Maybe I should apologize?

  “Why does everything have to be so complicated?” I mumble, splaying my arms wide and rolling onto my back to stretch out my body. I retract my arm fast when my elbow connects with something hard.

  “Ow!”

  What the . . .

  I look over my shoulder and meet Granger’s eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I gasp, turning to face him. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to do that. I forgot you were in bed with me.”

  “You like to lay it all out on the line, don’t you? I’m sorry I wasn’t memorable enough for you,” he snorts and winks.

  I groan, burying my face in the pillow. Is there ever a point where I won’t say something utterly mortifying in front of this man?

  “Not funny. That’s not what I meant at all.” I smack his arm.

  He shifts to his back and the light creeping through the curtains displays his god-like features. Granger is fucking hot to begin with, but Granger first thing in the morning, post-sex, bare-chested, with bedhead, is attractive on a new level. Pleasure ramps up, heating my blood as I take him in. He glances at me, the corner of his mouth twitching.

  He clears his throat, breaking the spell I was under, and I realize I was two seconds away from pouncing on him. Grateful for the distraction, I get out of the bed before I do or say something to ruin this moment.

  I eye the pile of clothes on the floor, forgoing my own and grabbing his shirt instead. I slip it over my head, the fabric caressing the tops of my knees. I scan the rest of the floor, looking for my bag.

  “Hey, where’s my . . .”

  Oh.

  My.

  Gosh.

  Granger is standing with his back to me, arms stretched over his head. I swear I can feel my ovaries applauding and my pussy weeping for joy. He’s stark naked with an ass I’d totally sink my teeth into. I try swallowing back my drool but find my mouth parched like a dried-up lake. Red streaks run down his back, evidence of the damage I did to him last night. The sight has my head going fuzzy and a different type of hunger gnawing at my belly.

  “It’s out in the living room. The bathroom is next door,” he states, walking over to the dresser. My goodness, look at the way those thighs bunch when he walks. “Ascher’s making breakfast.” He pulls out a shirt and boxers then disappears into the walk-in closet. The haziness in my head disappears with him. Now’s the perfect time to
leave while my brain can focus.

  “Thanks.”

  I tiptoe down the hall, fully aware I’m wearing nothing but a shirt. Fingers crossed no one sees me so I can get my stuff and get out without being seen. At the end of the hall, the room opens into a modern-style living room. The walls are a light grey color, except for one wall that is covered with white curtains. A section of the curtains is pulled open, revealing a suite of windows that lures me in. I’m a sucker for a gorgeous view.

  I gaze out the glass door and over the metal railing. Miles and miles of Cedar City stretch out before me. We’re up so high that very few buildings rival us in height. If I lived here, I’d sit on the balcony every morning and watch the sunrise.

  Spinning, I spot my bag on the floor near a huge, dark-brown leather sectional sofa that sits in the center of the room. Other than some basic knickknacks and furnishings, this place seems more like a temporary dwelling than an actual home. It reminds me of how I lived for years—sparse.

  Weird.

  Why do they have a place off pack land and in the city no less?

  I go to snatch up my bag but stop dead in my tracks when I catch movement in my peripheral vision. Somehow, I completely missed the kitchen attached to the living room. But that’s not what has heat radiating up my neck to my cheeks.

  Ascher is shirtless.

  Ascher is shirtless and wearing low-hung sweatpants.

  Ascher is shirtless and wearing low-hung sweatpants while standing at the stove.

  This is literally a wet dream.

  If there was ever a time to call upon the stars to give me strength, this is it. First, I get a naked Granger. Now I’m gifted with broad shoulders, defined arms, and a massive greyscale tattoo on Ascher’s back of a wolf standing in a forest with its head tilted toward the sky.

  Before I even know what’s happening, I’m reaching out and brushing my hand over the wolf on his back. The image is so life-like it almost looks alive.

  “Hello, Claudia.”

  The richness in his voice startles me out of my inappropriate perusal of his backside.