Steal Her Heart (Kaid Ranch Shifters #1)(35)

He didn’t realize right now, but he would someday when she showed Bryson all of her heart.

Having someone at her back had been the dream.

Someone protecting her like she would protect them? That was the dream.

Bryson? He was the dream.

She parted her lips to tell him that, but a terrifying noise lifted in the night air and stole her words.

Owooooooooooooooooooooo.





Chapter Sixteen


Bryson sat straight up as the wolf howl filled the night. A snarl ripped through him as he stood, all senses aimed in the direction of the pack. Another howl lifted to join the first. “They’re at the Kaid Brother’s Ranch,” he growled. “Get dressed.”

He didn’t even have to tell her since Maris had already flown into action. He yanked his jeans on and pulled Smoke’s reins off the fence. Picnic cleanup could wait. Something awful was happening.

“I should’ve known,” he growled, throwing his leg over the saddle. “I should’ve fucking known they’d be back.”

“I don’t understand what they want,” Maris said, reaching up to his offered hand.

As he pulled her up, she swung her leg over Smoke’s flank.

“Hold on,” he snarled and kicked his horse.

Smoke wasn’t some old, dependable horse. He was young and fast, only half-broke, with a gnarly attitude and an urge to go full-throttle. It was why Bryson had bought him a couple years back. That, and Smoke didn’t shy off predators like him. Shifters needed mounts that lacked that survival instinct and acted on piss and rage. And Smoke? Well, he was a stallion with zero mares around, and he was pissed off most the time, which came in mighty handy about now. One kick, and that horse was off like a shot.

Maris yelped, but Bryson had expected it. He had a grip on her arms around his waist, and held her in place until they got to the gate. She slid right off and bolted for it, opened it up, and closed it the second he and Smoke were through.

“Get on into your house,” he said as Smoke reared under him.

“I want to go with you to the Kaids! I can shoot! I’m a deadeye. Let me help.”

“Not on this one, Maris, please. Just get in and lock the door so I don’t worry about you. I’ll be back the second I get the Kaid’s place secure.”

Owooooooooo!

There was yelling. He couldn’t make out the words, but the voices he recognized. Hunter and Wes. “Shit, the boys are in trouble. I’ll be back soon!” He kicked Smoke again and yelled behind him, “Lock that door!” When he tossed a glance over his shoulder, she was sprinting for the house. Good. Because inside of him, he was burning alive with the bear, and everything was tinting with a red hue. All he wanted to do was rip this motherfuckin’ pack to shreds and send a message to any shifter who wanted to fuck with this territory that no mercy would be given.

His sensitive ears were picking up the snarling of a dog fight now.

Hang on boys, I’m comin’.

****

“Lock the door!” Bryson’s snarling voice echoed through the clearing.

Maris absolutely would lock the door. Behind her. After she got her rifle. Fuck those wolves. They were after the Kaid Brothers now? It was different. She knew the Kaids. She liked them, and her man was headed right into another war. She’d seen how savage those wolves were, and she couldn’t stomach sitting in the house waiting for word that Bryson and the boys were okay. That wasn’t the type of woman she was.

She took the porch stairs two at a time, but something drew her to a skidding stop on the old wooden floorboards right in front of the door. A smell. Something chemical. Something familiar, just on the edge of her memory.

Grrrrrrrrrr. With a gasp, Maris spun to see a gray wolf stalking up the porch stairs.

Swallowing a scream of terror, she turned and yanked the door open, then slammed it closed behind her as fast as she could. The rifle wasn’t on its hook by the door. Where the hell had she put it? Heart pounding, she did a quick search of the kitchen counters and dining table, then sprinted for the bedroom. When she clicked on the light, her heart seized in her throat.

“Hello, Maris,” Danny growled from the rocking chair in the corner of her room. Her rifle was resting on his lap.

Maris backed up a couple steps. “What the fuck are you doing in my house?”

He leaned over the rifle and slicked his greased red hair back out of his face. His eyes…they were too bright to be human.

“You’re a wolf,” she accused. “You’re one of them.”

“Them. You. Us. It was all supposed to be the same, Maris. I’ve been working all these years to follow through on my promise to you.”

The front door creaked open, and terror froze her in place. She was so scared to turn around and see whatever was behind her. So scared.

A soft growl rattled the air around her.

Danny gestured to the hallway behind her. “You remember Justin, don’t you?”

Clenching her fists, she glanced behind her at the gray wolf. “What have you done?” she whispered.

“I came back. We came back. Same as we all talked about. I’ve replayed that conversation in my head a thousand times.” Danny stood. “You were mine, Maris. You didn’t’ realize it, but you were mine. I just wasn’t strong enough to claim you then. I had to leave and grow and come back strong enough for a woman like you.” He blurred to her and gripped her chin so hard she flinched. His lip snarled up behind a deep red beard, and when he gritted his teeth, the canines were too long.