acing each other over her ruined bookstore. The smell of old paper and the sharp tang of broken glass

h bone-deep terror current

ce a warning that seemed to vibrate acr

umor. "Trespassing? That's rich, coming from you. Tell me, b

his stance widening. She could almost feel the power radiat

ng from his mouth measured and controlled. "A

twisted into something feral. "I did what needed to be done. Ou

t him off, "not tyranny. You murdered

ive years ago – how Richard Stone had been found dead in the woods, apparently mauled by a wi

would have. He hadn't been just running away from her; he'd been

floor. "A choice you were too weak to make. And now?" His gaze darted to Emma and she felt her heart run

stant and savage. "L

smiled, showing all teeth. "She has

kiss had been passionate, desperate, and at one point Lucas had kissed her neck w

sarcastic laughter that could be heard across the store. "Oh,

d, his tone dropping

warning. "That little love bite? It was a claiming mark. Incomplete, of course-he r

stood in her ruined bookstore, staring at two werewolf brothers

" Lucas growled, baring his te

ropped silky smooth. "That's why I'm

see his fingernails lengthening into cl

Give me what's rightfully mine, and I'll leave your precious mate alone. Refuse." His ey

. Emma watched as Lucas's body shook visib

"Do what you do best. Using others as leverage. Threatening people who

ised a brow. "A

med Emma

ll those hours of training she'd thought were just paranoid precaution, clicked into place. She grabbed the heavy bras

ith a satisfactory thunk. Not enough to seriously hur

f at his brother. The transformation came mid-leap, clothes tearing, bones cracking

o. The two wolves-one black as night, one dark gray-tore into each other with sava

eem to plant her feet and take flight. It was either because of concern for Lucas or

controlled, while Marcus fought in a desperate rage. Finally, Lucas pinned his broth

his gold eyes fixed on his brother as he shifted back to human form. Som

g of authority in it she'd heard before. "Leave Silver Creek and never ret

atters but the smirk firmly in place despite the b

night," Lucas

n window. "Sweet dreams, Emma," he called out mockingly. "Do ask my brother

ad dream he was. But the destruction he'd left in his w

lass and what appeared to be claw marks in her antique reading chair. Then she looke

only shook a little. "Want to te

again - that familiar gesture - an

he said, crossing her arms. "I just threw a book

t his lips. "That was

uk

ath. "The truth. You might

ding chair a pointed glance

t up in the moment. I kissed you because my wolf recognized you as our mate. Our true mate. The claiming m

a's anger surged. "Did it ever occur

st. Had to become strong enough to protect you. And then with my father's murder, becoming Al

d n

se of me. Because I was selfish enough to mark you, even partially." His gaze foun

ate to the Alpha of the local pack, her first real kiss had indeed been some sort of supernatural claimi

s had been her best friend, who always took care of her and seemed to have stayed away for five ye

"I always did think my lif