Steal Her Heart (Kaid Ranch Shifters #1)(40)

“I meaaaan, I just watched Hunter do a bunch of weird spells and science shit over you for the past two days, and you bit him like four times. I’ve never heard a man cuss so much in my life. At one point he yelled, ‘I changed my fuckin’ mind. I don’t want no woman werewolves around here. They’re terrible.’”

She laughed again and rolled over gingerly to face him. “Oh, come on, I probably wasn’t that bad.”

Bryson tucked his chin to his chest and cocked an eyebrow. “You escaped twice, and we had to tranq you so you wouldn’t kill the Kaid’s herd for funsies.”

“Bryson Locke, you tranqed me?”

“You got me back! Jesus, I think you clawed up every inch of my body when you came to. Your wolf…she’s a monster.”

Inside of her, the wolf smiled. “I think she says ‘thank you.’” Maris pursed her lips to hide her grin.

“That’s great.”

“Look,” she said teasingly. “It’s not our fault we’re like this.”

“Awesome, you’re already saying ‘we.’”

“I’m probably going to be a really good werewolf.”

He snorted. “You destroyed my cabin.”

With a gasp, she sat up and looked around. “Oh, my God, I’m in Bryson Locke’s cabin? Scandalous.”

He cleared his throat, and the humor faded from his eyes. Softly he said, “It’s your room for a while, too.”

No. She had a home. She had a bedroom and clothes and all her— The last seconds of her human life hit her like a tidal wave. The look on that wolf’s face as he sailed toward her. Bryson’s bear. The flames.

“I want to see it.”

He trailed his fingertip down the side of her jaw. “You should see something else first.”

She knew what he meant. She was different. Maris felt it down to her bones. Heart beating fast, she stood unsteadily and padded across the cold wood floors littered with herbs and blankets and shredded pillows to a sink against the wall with a mirror over it.

There was a soft knock at the door, but she didn’t have the capacity to answer. All she could do was stare at the unfamiliar woman who looked back at her from the reflection in the mirror glass.

Her hair was straight and mussed, that was the same. Same lips, same nose, but her cheekbones were sharper, and her canines looked slightly longer, and her eyes…well, those were a bright green that didn’t look anything like her soft brown human eyes. And the scars…

She ran a light touch against her jaw and down her neck. They didn’t hurt, but it looked like she’d had her throat ripped out and it had healed badly.

“Everyone will stare,” she murmured.

When she looked up, Bryson stood behind her, Wes and Hunter behind him.

“If anyone stares, I’ll knock their fuckin’ teeth out,” Wes murmured.

“You look real pretty,” Hunter said. He looked pale and drawn, and he wasn’t standing up straight. He looked weak, but he gestured to her reflection in the mirror. “If they’re staring, it’s probably because you got them beauty pageant eyes now.”

“Shut up, Hunter,” Wes mumbled. “You don’t have to kiss her ass. She’s stuck with us now be default.”

“Default?” she asked, turning slowly to face the three cowboys.

“You’re a female wolf without a brand.” Wes gave her an empty smile. “Welcome to the pack. Lucky fuckin’ you. I’ll be outside.” Wes stomped out and slammed the door behind him.

“We bought you some girl shit,” Hunter said, kicking a large bag toward her. “Bryson wouldn’t leave your side so he gave us a list and we got what we could. Probably got all the sizes wrong. Girl stuff is real confusing. I don’t enjoy bra shopping.” Hunter put his hands behind his back and rocked his weight back and forth. “Also the make-up aisle was stupid so we didn’t get you any because you’re too pretty to wear that glittery shit anyways.”

“That’s good, Hunter,” Bryson muttered.

“Also the grocery store sells the ugliest panties God ever created and—”

“Yep,” Bryson said, ushering him toward the door.

“Hunter?” she asked as he lingered in the open doorway, letting in a stiff, cold breeze.

“Yes, we will come look at your burned down house with you. For support and all. Because…pack.”

“Are you okay? You smell…” She sniffed again, and the air still held that bitter scent. “You smell sick.”

Hunter’s gaze dropped to the floor immediately. “I’m fine. You just worry about getting control of the wolf, ’kay?”

“Okay.”

She wanted to ask him more, but he made his way out the door without looking back.

Bryson tracked his exit, and she didn’t miss the worried look in his eyes.

“Will my eyes go back to brown?” she asked.

He stooped and picked up the bag of clothes and emptied it onto the bed. “When you get more control, they probably will.” He made his way to her and pulled her in close…just wrapped her up completely in his strong arms. In her dream, Wes had said she was the glue, but Dream-Wes had been wrong. It was Bryson who was the glue, keeping all her pieces together.