Page 87 of Bound

River smirked, raising the demon guinea pig to give it a warning look. Unimpressed, Dean chittered his fangs. “How are the nightmares?”

“Why ask questions you already know the answers to?”

My youngest brother’s expression grew serious. “You told me to stay out of your head. I’m trying. Really, I am. Blocking people out is exhausting. Mentally it feels like running at a full out sprint. I can only keep it up for so long before I’m drained. And the fact that I rewrote your memories…”

He hesitated.

Ellie narrowed her eyes. “Spill, oh dark one.”

River traced the scar that ran the length of his jaw. “Several times this past year I woke up in the compound up in Dallas because you were having a nightmare. I… heard you.”

She stilled. “Does that happen with all the people you—”

“No.” He studied her. “I have to be close enough to hear someone speak in order to read their mind. It doesn’t work over the phone. And I can’t explain why out of all the people whose memories I altered, your voice got trapped in my head.”

“I’m human. That shouldn’t be possible.”

River said so quietly that I barely heard him, “I know.”

August nudged me. “You ready?” He had his phone out, recording everyone as we got ready for the ceremony to start. “It’s nearly time.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Just off the patio, my mother’s bright airy kitchen had been taken over by the caterers, servers from our favorite Mexican restaurant in town busy preparing pans of sour cream chicken enchiladas, refried beans and rice, plus huge bowls of chili con queso and guacamole with white corn chips.

“Mom?” I called, tugging at the collar of my dress shirt.

“We’re in here.”

The lights were off in the living room except for a single lamp. A football game was playing on the TV. A large gray wolf sat motionless on an oversized plaid dog bed, not looking up when I entered the room. Major sat on a matching dog bed beside him. Mom was fussing with Cal’s tie.

Seeing me, she growled. “Brody, fix your brother’s collar.”

“It’s fine.”

“Did your wolf tie it with its teeth?”

I rolled my eyes but stood still while Brody yanked the silver tie at my neck free and began redoing it.

Cal had been adamant that we take shifts so that Dad was never left alone. Wolves were pack animals and after the trauma and isolation of the past two years, we needed to reassure him we weren’t going anywhere.

My phone began blaring Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

Mom said dryly, “He hates that song.”

“It’s ironic.” Swiping to answer, I put the call on speaker. “Hey, Uncle G.”

“That’s three of my nephews now who are mated. You’re making me feel old.”

“So come down to Austin at the end of the month for paintball.” I didn’t mention that we were switching the start time to dusk for the first time ever because Jori, Vlad and Rowan wanted to play.

There was a long pause. “Unfortunately, I’m not able to get away at the present time.” His tone softened. “Any change with your father?”

My mother’s eyes flashed dangerously. “He’s fine. Thank you for asking.”

“I see.” A beat. “You know on a personal level how pleased I am he was recovered. Your mate’s brother and the others, too. All those families made whole. But your actions have had repercussions.”

Brody’s fingers yanked a little too hard. I gagged in protest. “Such as?”