Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(30)

Soren took the branding iron from him and stuck into the fire. The metal, a special amalgam that heated quickly, burned red hot. Holden reached for the handle, bracing himself for the pain that would come soon.

He met the little boy’s eyes and gave a slight nod. The child let out a breath and screamed as soon as Holden pressed the hot iron to his skin. Only Holden knew from the look in the kid’s eyes it was all an act on his part. The little boy didn’t feel a thing—thank God.

Red hot flame scorched through Holden—burning through his soul. Agony swept through him, his brow starting to sweat. He was used to this, but something was off. He wasn’t feeling as much as he should have. He looked at the kid again, but didn’t see an ounce of real pain on his face, nor did he scent pain coming from him.

No, the pain he scented was from himself…and from the woman holding his back.

“Fuck,” he cursed. The guards snickered beside him but he didn’t pay them any mind.

“Keep going,” Ariel whispered, pain laced through her tone.

They might not share a physical bond like so many humans thought they would, but they still had a sense of belonging, a connection like no other. Because she was his mate, the mate of an Alpha, she could take some of his pain, some of the child’s pain away.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

“No,” he grunted as he pulled the iron away. “Go home,” he grunted. He’d been thinking she’d see him as a monster for what he had to do, but now it was different. Now he was hurting her. Again.

She shook her head then reached up to cup his face. “Holden Carter. I am your mate,” she whimpered then looked over her shoulder at the humans who were studying them with avid curiosity. “Let me help.”

He cursed then kissed her forehead, knowing he couldn’t do more with so many prying eyes. She was just so f*cking strong. She’d been thrust into this situation and was talking like a dominant Alpha. He couldn’t ask for anything more from her.

He’d hurt her with every brand, but she’d soothe his soul and he’d find a way to soothe hers. The humans had forced this on them, but he’d find a way to make his mate heal in all ways.

She’d already started with him, and he could never repay her. Despite the brevity of the situation, he wanted his mate, wanted the other half of his soul. And he’d found her.





Chapter 8


Ariel’s body ached. Not only did she still feel the remnants of the branding with Holden, but her wolf, or whatever it was, kept pushing at her. According to Holden, after most brandings, he was out of commission and in need of rest. She had no idea how he’d thought he’d be able to go on a hunt tonight after that.

But he didn’t need to think about that now. Apparently, her being mated to him and taken some of his pain and bled it into her. It might have hurt like hell, but it wasn’t as bad as the actual branding she’d faced. She’d have done anything to protect those children and Holden. For the first time since she’d woken up in this strange place, she felt as if she had a purpose.

She was Holden’s helpmate. The one he could lean on in times of strife.

And it felt damn good.

Now, though, would be another test of fate. Her first hunt. Soon she’d figure out how to shift into a wolf and know her new life was truly real and not a figment of a dream she’d never thought she’d have.

“We aren’t out in the wild, so we can’t hunt game or anything like that,” Holden said from behind her. She didn’t turn, instead inhaling his spicy scent as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Things had changed that afternoon, and they both new it. She’d felt the connection between them and had taken as much pain from him as she could. She’d do it again in a heartbeat. They were a true mated pair even if she didn’t have the tattoo on her arm yet. That would come though, she knew. She wanted it. Her wolf wanted it. Holden wanted it.

“So we’re just going to run around in wolf form?” She never thought she’d say those words. Even though it scared her, she wanted to run, to shift. She wanted to let whatever was burning inside her to come out and be free.

Holden brushed her hair away from her shoulder and kissed the side of her neck. Shivers rocked her body. “It’s more than that. You’re letting your wolf out so she can breathe and run. You’ve felt the higher energy you have, even if you ache. You need to burn that before it turns to aggression or an anger you can’t control. Running allows that. We do it as a group because we’re not human. Running together brings forth our need to be a Pack and not be alone.”

She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his waist. When she nuzzled into his chest and growled softly. “The nudity thing might be a problem.”

Holden didn’t laugh at her. Instead, he squeezed her once and laid a kiss on the top of her head. “We’re used to it since we’ve always had to shift. For now, you’ll strip down behind me, and only I will see you naked.” His eyes darkened and he let out another growl—this one louder, deeper. “I don’t want anyone to see you but me.”

“That kind of goes against the whole okay with nudity thing.”

“I’m a male with a mate. I don’t need to make sense.”

She rolled her eyes, feeling a bit more at ease. It was surprising how easily Holden did that to her, and she had a feeling he wasn’t aware of it. She hoped she did the same for him.