Embracing the Wolf (Anna Avery #2)

What the hell just happened? I’d been known to stand up for myself, but publicly attacking someone for just looking at me was a bit extreme. So much for making a good impression. I was sure, come tomorrow, the story of how Adam’s new mate assaulted one of his visitors would be on the lips of everyone.

I cut across the hall and disappeared into the office. A large mahogany desk jutted out from the left wall. Two bookcases rested on the other side of the room, filled with various volumes. An arched window overlooked the backyard and had a swath of hunter green fabric framing it.

I walked over to one of the bookcases and lifted a pewter statue of a moose. Turning it, I slid a secret compartment open and retrieved a key. Heading over to the desk, I sat down and stuck the key into the center drawer. When the key turned, I opened the drawer and retrieved the Everwood pack book. Adam had placed the book in the main house while guests were visiting because he didn’t want outsiders finding and reading it. Not that it held super-secret information, but packs tended to be protective of their history and heritage. It was in this book that I learned that Chantes were an ancient wolf legend. Elle and I had stolen the book from Adam and Eve’s house just a few short weeks ago, and now it was mine to browse through as I pleased.

I ran my fingertips over the aged leather and settled into the large chair, pulling my feet up underneath me. Flipping the book open, I examined each page. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I’d know when I found it. The book was hand-written by each prior alpha. Adam’s father had handed it down to him and when Adam had children, he would do the same. I paused and thought about kids. While I didn’t have anything against them, I also couldn’t see myself as a mother. Would time change my mind? If Adam found out I didn’t want to carry his offspring, would he feel differently for me? Now that I was bonded to Adam, so many questions filled my head. Before the only question on my lips was whether Adam would leave Eve. My wish had come true, and Adam was mine, but I was finding out, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

I sagged against the soft leather of the chair and stared off into space. Though Eve was a psycho, I could now understand where her attitude came from. As the mate of the alpha, she had an appearance to uphold. I frowned as I thought about her and her tough exterior. Could I mimic that attitude to scare off power hungry werewolf women, and would I be any good at it? I had a feeling I would have to work twice as hard as Eve did being branded a mutt. Without alpha blood running through my veins, people would assume I’d be an easy takedown. I had to do everything in my power to prove them wrong. I would train with Elle all day every day if that was what it took. Being responsible for someone other than myself had me almost in a panic, which is where my fear of having kids came into play. I couldn’t allow another woman to take my spot because I knew it would destroy Adam. Being tied together sounded sweet in theory, but it was wreaking havoc on my nerves. I was sure Adam didn’t share my dilemma since he came from one of the strongest bloodlines. Our union was only as strong as its weakest link. Unfortunately, I was it.

I snapped out of my thoughts and resumed browsing through the book. Elaborate drawings of past alpha ceremonies were charcoaled against the parchment paper in great detail. Every time I looked at them, the pride of my wolf swelled inside of me. There was something magical about being a werewolf. The bond between packs was an invisible force tethering all of us together. Adam and I may be bonded, but I’m also attached to the rest of the wolves. They are my family now, and I would do everything in my power to not let them down.

I flipped to the next page right when the door to the office opened. My head snapped up, and my eyes met with Maggie Everwood’s.

“What are you doing in here?” she said it as though she found a vandal snooping through her son’s things.

“Reading,” I replied. I decided keeping my responses as minimal as possible was best when dealing with Adam’s parents. They didn’t need any other reasons to hate me—my dirty bloodline did that for me.

“Does Adam know you’re reading that?” She nodded toward the book in my hands. I looked down at the book and then up at her, stupefied for a response. It dawned on me right then that, though she didn’t like me being mated to her son, she also didn’t think I was even good enough to read a book based on our pack.

“He’s sleeping,” I told her. “I didn’t wake him up and ask, if that’s what you mean.”

Maggie walked farther into the room. Coming around the desk, she rested one hand on her hip and held the other out to me.

“I think it’s best to wait for Adam. If he wants you going through the book, then he can help you with it.”

I stared at her outstretched hand and ground my teeth until my jaw ached with the pressure. Attacking my boyfriend’s mother was tempting, but I didn’t think Adam would appreciate it. It sucked having to force a smile while biting my tongue. Standing, I handed her the book and stepped around her.

“Do you love him?”

I spun around and met Maggie’s crystalline eyes, surprised by the question. “He’s the only man I’ve ever loved.”

Maggie walked the short distance to me and reached for my hand. Turning it over, she stared at the upraised scar on my palm. I watched her face as she examined the mark. Her lips curled down in a frown while her jawline stretched tight.

“You would put him above yourself?” Her eyes slid up to meet mine.

I nodded. “Of course. I would do anything for him.”

Her mouth rose in a small smile as though I said the right thing. “Then you should leave Wyoming.” I began to speak, but she held up her hand to stop me. “I know how cruel that sounds,” she continued, “and I know you and Adam think this mark is a testament to your destiny—it’s not. It’s a target on my son’s life. When word spreads that an alpha from a superior bloodline is branded by the Chante mark, and to a mutt no less, rivals will come to take him out and claim his spot.” Maggie dropped my hand and crossed her arms. She looked away, but I didn’t miss the blur of tears in her eyes.

“Our enemies will take one look at you and know just how easy it’d be to kill you and, by doing so, ruin Adam. Once you’re dead, what possible threat would Adam be to them? You are his weakness, Anna, the one thing that can undo everything he’s accomplished.” Maggie looked at me again. A lone tear slid down her peaches and cream cheek. “If you love him—truly love him—you have to let him go. So long as you guys are together, Adam’s life is in danger.”

Maggie gave me one last look before stepping around me and heading toward the door. She turned around and said, “Think about it, Anna,” before she left me speechless.

Chapter Six

I was wide awake when Adam woke up. After the conversation with Maggie, I had crawled back into bed with Adam, but hadn’t been able to fall back asleep. I didn’t notice he was even awake until he spoke.

“You look entirely too serious for six a.m.”

I blinked, his voice jarring me from my thoughts, and looked up to find him propped up on an elbow watching me. His hair was ruffled, and his face still held the relaxation from sleep. He was gorgeous all of the time, but mornings he was divine. I tried for a smile, but it felt awkward on my lips.

“How did you sleep?”

“Really well, considering…”

I pursed my lips in question.

“I woke up last night and felt an extreme case of anxiety.” He brushed my hair away from my face. “I knew it was coming from you, but I wanted to give you space. I don’t want our bond to make you feel like I’m smothering you.” Adam smiled. “What happened last night? Where’d you go?”

I looked away and stared out the window on the other side of the room. I couldn’t tell Adam about what Maggie had said. He would only try to convince me it wasn’t true, and I knew it was. His life was in my hands just as much as mine was in his. The only difference was, Adam was completely capable of keeping me safe. I couldn’t say the same for him.

“Just nerves about the conference and the alpha ceremony,” I told him. It was half-true and, by the look on Adam’s face, he bought it.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Adam said. “You’re tougher than you look, and someone challenging you is the worst case scenario. I doubt anyone actually will.” He winked, causing me to smile wide.

“What’s on today’s agenda?” I asked, wanting to change the subject. Though I was nervous about being challenged, it wasn’t what was tormenting my mind at the moment, and lying to Adam didn’t help.

“The rest of the packs will be arriving,” Adam said, rolling over and positioning himself between my legs so that he was lying on his stomach. He peeled my tank top up to expose my stomach and placed a kiss just below my navel. “There will be a group dinner.” Adam wound an arm around my leg, his fingers squeezing my flesh as he tugged my thigh closer to his mouth. “Today will be low key. The fun stuff starts tomorrow.” He looked up the length of my body at me. A strand of blond hair fell across his hungry eyes. Gold was already starting to bleed through his sapphire irises, a sure sign he was turned on.

My wolf came alive, revving my own sex drive into motion. I could spend day and night in bed with Adam and never tire of feeling his skin against mine. I held my breath when he hooked his fingers in the hem of my shorts and began tugging them down. He knelt up and drew them off my legs, tossing them over his shoulder. His lips spread into a big grin when he lowered himself back down.

“It looks like the fun stuff is starting right now,” I breathed.

“Indeed,” Adam replied, bringing his mouth closer to my sweet spot. Speaking against my center, he said, “Do you have any idea how hard it’s been getting out of this bed every morning?” His tongue seared a path all the way up to my clitoris. A sweet shudder worked its way through my bones. “I find myself thinking of the sounds you make when I’m inside of you.” Another slow, languid stroke. “How wet you get for me when it’s my dick filling you.” He flicked his tongue against my clit and then slid two fingers into me. I moaned as I watched his hand move in and out. My eyes fell to the tent of his boxers, causing another hungry shudder.