Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(39)

Ariel sucked in a breath. “And now they will live with us. For good.”

“The humans found the perfect punishment. And they don’t even have to lift a weapon to carry it out.”

Two Packs. One den. A change had come, all right. And Ariel wasn’t sure she knew who would come out on top. Yet, no matter what, she would be by Holden’s side. Her mate kissed her temple, and she let out a sigh. They would survive, they always had.

The future might be uncertain, but they had one thing on their side.

Each other.





Forgiven





Prologue


The wolf slid through the wooded darkness, careful to avoid the man-lights that turned the night to day in the middle of the compound. The communal area where the River Pack publicly gathered to meet was always bathed in the harsh glow of lanterns.

Thankfully, this part of the compound was thick with pines and moss, hiding him from view. He was alone, surrounded only by the rich gifts offered by Mother Earth.

He might be a Pack animal at heart, but on this eve, he had no desire to run with his brothers.

No. This was not an excursion to celebrate life and the joy of the hunt. Or to ponder the growing danger from the humans after his Alpha had sliced his claws through the throat of the doctor trying to take away his mate.

This was an attempt to exorcise the demons of his past.

Almost as if to mock his efforts, his large silver and black fur-covered body came to a sharp halt as he caught the unmistakable scent of feline.

Tiger.

He’d known the Golden Pack had arrived earlier in the day, spreading among the precious few cabins that were scattered throughout the outer part of the den. But he hadn’t expected to pick up her scent so swiftly.

A dangerous yearning curled through his belly.

Something that was a mixture of hunger and lust and need.

Tilting back his head, the wolf howled at the moon.





Chapter 1


Seated in front of her bedroom mirror, Cora Wilder pulled a brush through her long curls that shimmered with red and gold highlights in the muted glow of the nearby lamp.

She ignored her own reflection. She was too familiar with her thin, feline face and slanted emerald-green eyes rimmed with pure gold to see the beauty. Nor did she care that her sleek, well-toned body with a hint of copper in her satin-smooth skin featured in the wet dreams of most males who crossed her path.

But the large tiger shifter standing behind her was aware of Cora’s ability to daze and befuddle the opposite sex. And as her father, and Alpha of the Golden Pack, Jonah Wilder was prepared to use her as a weapon when necessary.

“I don’t know why you have to be so stubborn,” he growled. Although well into his fifties, Jonah was still a handsome male with a lean, arrogant face and dark red hair that was cut short. His body was spare, but there was no mistaking the strength in his fluid muscles.

He wasn’t Alpha because of his ability to win friends and influence people.

He was the meanest, baddest cat around.

Cora, however, wasn’t about to be intimidated, manipulated, or bullied.

The dominance structure among the feline Pack wasn’t nearly as structured as the wolves, and while she respected her father’s authority, she was too independent to be told what to do.

“Probably because I’m your daughter,” she told him.

“Ha.” The male’s emerald eyes narrowed in triumph. “So you do accept your position as the Alpha’s eldest child.” He planted his hands on his hips, stretching the crisp white shirt that he’d matched with a pair of black slacks tightly across his chest. “Which means your place is at my side as I greet our newest neighbors.”

She shrugged, keeping her voice light. “Trust me, the wolves have no interest in a spoiled tiger princess.”

“I assume you speak of one wolf in particular?” her father challenged.

Her delicate features hardened. Oh, no. He did not go there.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Cora, I’m not stupid, and I’m certainly not blind.” Something that might have been regret darkened his eyes. “I was well aware of your fascination with Soren.”

Cora dropped the brush on her dresser. She didn’t want her father to see her hand tremble. She may not have much after Soren Slater had crushed her soul, but she did have her pride.

“I was young and stupid.” Golden sparks glowed in her eyes, warning the older male that her ready temper was about to explode. “I was fascinated by a lot of different males.” Lie, lie, lie.

“Maybe, but not all of them broke your heart.”

With a sharp motion, Cora surged to her feet, her hands clenched at her sides as she moved toward the suitcase that she’d left on a chair.

Like most cats, Cora was not only fastidious in her grooming; she was a neat freak. Something that used to drive Soren nuts…

A low growl rumbled in her throat.

Dammit. She’d promised herself that she wasn’t going to allow this forced move into the wolves’ den to catapult her into the past. She’d wasted enough time mourning the loss of the mate her cat had chosen. She wasn’t going to give the bastard one more tear.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It did.” Her father grimaced. “And I would have neutered the dog if I’d thought he’d deliberately tried to hurt you.”