AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The next night, Braden leaned against the bedroom doorframe. Maeve lay on her stomach and was still sound asleep. Every once in a while, the fingers of her left hand twitched. She’d been dead to the world for over twenty hours.
It was almost eleven at night, but a full day had passed since Kiara’s rescue.
Sheba slept at the foot of the bed. She’d stuck close to offer her cat-comfort.
Mug in hand, he sipped his coffee, his thoughts sobered and very pointed. He could think of little else than Maeve and what she’d come to mean to him.
When he’d put her to bed, he’d begun to wonder how far down the road he’d already traveled with her. He even admitted to himself they were as close as he and Laura had been.
He’d gotten her clothes off, all the while trying not to become aroused and failing. As he settled her on the sheets, he’d even tried to kiss her neck. But she murmured something incomprehensible, rolled on her side and had fallen into a deep sleep.
So, here he stood, sipping his coffee and wondering.
Only he really wasn’t wondering anymore.
After the mission to rescue Kiara, he knew he was in love with Maeve Lennox. Somewhere over the months of getting to know her through his twice-weekly interviews, of being brought back from the dead by her, of being with her and making love to her, and of rescuing her mentor, he’d fallen in love with the witch.
He might not understand how or why it had happened, but he’d chosen his next alpha-mate. She had red curly hair, a no-nonsense approach to life, a profound, almost wolf-like desire to serve her community, and despite everything she’d been through, she still cared deeply about those in her charge.
She was a woman of worth and when she woke up, he’d start the process of courting her. Could she love him in return? Would she be willing to serve in Savage Territory the way she did in Elegance? Could she leave the Landing?
Of course, all he wanted right now was for her to wake up so he could make love to her again. His body was in tune with Maeve and now that he’d come to a full awareness she was the one, he needed to stake his claim. He needed to bond with her.
It was all he’d been thinking about for hours.
And still she slept.
He forced himself to turn away from the bedroom.
Moving back into the living room, he opened up his telepathy and focused on Warren, the alpha wolf of Caldion Pack.
How’s it going? Heard you rescued a witch from Veyda’s coven?
We did. He told Warren about the Landing wolves and the rescue itself. Kiara’s recovering. She’s got terrible burns on her stomach. Acid-like. One of the burns had pierced her intestines. Alfonso had to do surgery.
Warren was a badly scarred wolf himself and had experienced a similar torture at another witch’s hands. He didn’t say anything for a long moment, but Braden had a strong sense his mind was full of invective.
Finally, Warren telepathed, Grateful beyond words you and Maeve were able to get her out of that hellhole.
It was Maeve’s doing. She organized the rescue and I was happy to help. But that leads me to something I need to ask you.
Shoot.
Braden took a deep breath. I want to bring her back as my alpha-mate. What do you think? Could my pack accept her?
Warren was silent again, this time for what felt like a year. Fergus’s pack has had no problem accepting Mary as the alpha female and she’s fae. But I see a different issue.
Because Maeve’s a witch. More statement than question.
Wolves don’t like them. You know that. On the other hand, her Graveyard rescues are well-known in Savage. There are times around the bonfire when she’s celebrated as a folk-hero.
Braden thought it was the least his woman deserved. What she does is amazing for a woman who’s gone through so much. Veyda killed her still-human husband just before he left Five Bridges for good. They’d said good-bye and Veyda killed him.
Braden heard Warren growl telepathically. That woman needs to be brought down for good.
Maeve wounded Veyda during Kiara’s rescue, but she was still making threats when we left. She’s got power you wouldn’t believe. She can make herself invisible.
This time, Warren didn’t hold back but sent a line of telepathic invec
