Page 3 of Claimed By the Wolf
“Where is everyone?” She looks nervously over her shoulder, the sunshine catching the flaxen strands of her waist-length hair as she looks for the rest of the pack.
“Lunch,” I answer, forcing an element of brightness into my tone. “If you’re hungry, I can text Connor to bring you something back.”
I’m trying to disarm her, but my niceness only heightens her suspicion. I’m laying it on too thick. Her head whips back toward me before she gazes at her brother.
Brax shrugs helplessly. “I’m hungry,” he offers.
“You can text Connor yourself.” I scowl at him. “Come inside.”
Slowly, she mounts the steps, her uneasiness uncharacteristic. She can tell something’s off; her usual feistiness is subdued as she falls into step behind me. Holding open the screen door, I glance back at her, and for the first time, I realize how tiny she seems beside me.
I’ve known her my whole life and never noticed just how much I tower over her.
And out of nowhere, my dick hardens against my pants.
Fuck! What is with me today?
This is Brynn. Brax’s little sister. Not a female I can just fuck and forget.
Then a surge of possessiveness hits me.
She’ll be this small against Emeric, too. Will she be able to fend for herself if things go awry?
I need to stop. And I tell myself I’m not being possessive, just protective of one of my pack members.
Nothing is going to go wrong. Arrangements like these are made all the time. Brynn will be just fine.
Her head cocks back, and she gives me a weak smile, my six-foot-three frame not intimidating her as much as the empty packhouse.
“I’ve never been in here when it’s so quiet before,” she admits, following me through the hallway toward the office, with Brax on her heels.
“Isn’t it peaceful?” I joke. I usher her into my office and close the door, signaling for her and Brax to sit down. “I could get used to it.”
Brynn perches on the edge of one of the comfortable chairs and fiddles with her fingers in her lap, biting on one of her plump lower lips, her thick lashes hiding her hazel eyes.
“I’m sorry!” she blurts out. “I couldn’t say no! The twins insisted I go with them, and you know how Sierra and Sienna are!”
Brax and I exchange a look.
“What?” I drawl slowly.
“I warned them you would be pissed, Nox, but Sienna said they have family in Willow Grove. I know I wasn’t supposed to go because of what’s going on with them, but all my friends were going, and they said it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
She trails off and looks at me under thick lashes, biting on her lower lip again.
Damn, she can be very cute when she’s trying to avoid trouble, but the core message isn’t lost on me.
“You went to that party?” I growl, eying her brother.
Brax groans and flops back in his chair, rubbing his temples. “I didn’t know!” he grumbles, casting his younger sister a scathing look. “Are you looking for trouble?”
Brynn moans dramatically, realizing she just betrayed her own secret. “No, I’m not! And nothing happened! I mean, come on, guys. Don’t you think this territorial dispute has gone on long enough?”
“If I thought that, I wouldn’t have warned the whole fucking pack not to go!” I roar at her, standing to slap my hands furiously on the desk.
Brynn gasps and swallows, but she holds her defense defiantly. “I’m twenty-three years old. I’m not a kid. I shouldn’t have to check in with my brother and his best friend every time I want to go to a party!”
“I’m not just your brother’s best friend, and that wasn’t just a party!” I snap back. “I’m the Alpha of your pack, and the WillowGrove pack was there. There was a reason I told everyone to stay away from that party and out of their territory. You’re just lucky nothing happened this time.”
