Destined Bonds

clutched her leather tighter around her as she continued down the darkening streets of Silver Creek-small mountain town, home to

lf off upstairs in the cozy apartment above the bookstore from anything remotely smelling of romance or adv

ht it was ominous as it echoed through the deserted street. Emma had been working late at the lo

an attempt to shrug off this watched feeling. Her fingers fumbled with

hand reached past her and scooped them up in one easy motion.

here

was longer now than it had been five years ago, falling in waves that now brushed his collar. His jaw was s

amber-brown eyes cut through e

the way down her spine. He held the keys out toward her, but when she reached fo

er when her chest rioted with so many warring

orner of his mouth. "News t

ize." Finally, Emma reached for her keys and clasp

suddenly tempered, overridden by something much

k', especially from the man who'd left town without saying good-bye five years ago; the man who'd been her best fri

. Whatever it is

his body stirred her memory of what it felt like to lean against him, like standing too close to a fire-

ked toward the source of that sound, and for one moment-a fra

hread of command in his voice that

ma's shaking fingers moved to the door lock. The next instant, Lucas was crowding the

pine and leather and something wild she couldn't quite place. She flicked on the lights and watched as warm go

is eyes roving over the shop

her chest. "You come back after five years and say we

hair, the gesture so autom

he Alp

ha. Leader of the Silver Creek pack." He watched her, expectant, a

ghing just a fraction hysteric

es, Emma. I'm talking about werewolves. You're in danger." Her laughter caught in her thr

was a werewolf. An Alpha werewolf. And he was telling her, "You are in jeopardy.". "I," she began to say, but the tinkle of breaking glass drowned her out. Lucas was moving before she even saw it, inserting himself between her and the front window a second before something huge and dark burst through it. Books exploded off the shelf, and glass rained down around them as Emma let out a scream. Lucas tensed, a low rumble rising up from his chest that was less than human. "Stay behind me," he ordered and his voice was lower, huskier now. "Whatever happens, stay behind me." Dust did not stir-or, at least, it did not seem to do so-as Emma peered around