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CHAPTER7
Brie stretched gingerly, her body aching in all the right places. She’d be sore for a few more hours, but thanks to her wolf genetics, she would heal much faster than a human. While Gideon had been gentler once he knew about her experience—or lack thereof—he’d still been really…big.
She blushed at the reminder then scolded herself. She was a mated woman now. Blushing at the size of a penis wasn’t the most mature thing to do. Though it wasn’t that she was truly embarrassed. Hell no. Shelovedthe feeling of him inside her. The intimacy was one thing—something she’d have to learn to understand—but it had been the feeling of heat and hunger that surprised her. She’d craved more even as she’d risen over the crests and peaks. It wasn’t as if she’d ever felt something like that for a man before. No, thanks to seeing Gideon as a potential at such a young age, she’d grown up on a path unlike any other.
And now here she was, standing alone in Gideon’s house—not hers, as she hadn’t even moved anything in yet. But she wasn’t sure when orifthe house would ever feel like hers. Her mother had already made arrangements to send things over and Brie had done all of her packing already. Everything would be taken care of, and it was oddly easy to physically settle in as Gideon’s wife. It was everything else that would be difficult. She ran a hand over her face then frowned.
Gideon was gone before she woke up, but she vaguely remembered him cupping her face and growling something at her as she slept. Honestly, for all she knew, it could have been a dream. A dream where she had a mate who truly cared about her, rather than a mate who saw her as a means to an end.
Yes, it wasn’t fair to claim to know what he was thinking, but what else could she do? It wasn’t as if he was here to tell her. Even if he was here, he probably wouldn’t say anything along those lines. No, instead, he’d act like her uncles or cousins and grunt something that was supposed to make sense, and she’d end up as confused as ever.
Well, she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and get on with the rest of her life. Whatever that life would be. They honestly hadn’t talked last night—or even much before that—so now she had no idea what she was going to do. She couldn’t scent anyone in the house, so she knew she was alone.
However, what her next step would be was beyond her. She probably should have thought beyond mating him and what that would entail other than the pain and loneliness, but she hadn’t been able to get over her wolf’s desires. That and Gideon’s needs for his Pack.
Now she had to think of practical matters.
Such as if she should leave the house since she was the new Alpha female in a den full of wolves that had never met her. That wouldn’t be awkward or anything.
“Brie?”
She stiffened at the familiar voice that she couldn’t place and turned toward the front door.
“Brie? It’s Ryder. I have breakfast. Can you let me in?”
She immediately relaxed and went to the door. Ryder had performed the ceremony with such a composed tone that she’d calmed a little more than she probably would have without him. She’d been so freaking scared, and yet excited at the same time, that she wasn’t sure she’d remember what had actually happened for a long while.
When she opened the door, Ryder walked in, a small smile on his face and a bag in one hand and a set of coffees in the other. He looked so much like Gideon it surprised her. All of the Brentwoods looked similar and though Ryder was slightly more slender, she still thought her Gideon was the most attractive.
HerGideon.
She supposed that was the case now, even though she wasn’t sure she could truly feel that way and be honest.
“I brought doughnuts and coffee,” Ryder said as he wiped off his shoes. “I figured you’d need some fuel before the rest of us show up.”
Brie blinked then took a coffee from him, oddly relieved he was there even if she was confused. It was nice to not be alone. She’d grown up with dozens of cousins and more Pack members than she knew how to deal with, and now she found herself alone in a sea full of people.
“Thank you.” She took a step back so he could move into the room. “And what do you mean the rest of you? Did I miss something?”
Ryder gave her a quick smile then motioned for her to sit down. Still confused, she sat at one end of the couch as he sat on the other.
“Gideon didn’t mention that he called over the family to meet with you before the Pack hunt tonight?”
Brie blinked and set down her coffee, thankful she hadn’t taken a sip when he’d spoken. “No. He didn’t.” She looked away from his knowing gaze and mumbled, “He didn’t say a lot of things.”
She winced at that last part, annoyed she’d let it slip. She wasn’t this sad, little weakling, too afraid to voice her mind, but everything around her was new and stifling. She was in a home that wasn’t her own, but now she was expected to live here. At least that’s what she thought since she hadn’t actually spoken to Gideon about it. She was expected to be the Alpha’s mate and take on duties as such, but she hadn’t a clue what those responsibilities were. Now she was going to be surrounded by a whole family of Brentwoods who, most likely, had been expecting a stronger mate for their brother and cousin.
Brie wouldn’t be anything they expected.
Honestly, with the way she’d jumped in head-first without thinking, she wasn’t who she was expecting either.
Ryder sighed then set his coffee down as well. “Gideon isn’t a big talker.” He snorted then shook his head. “Actually,I’mnot the big talker. Gideon talks, but it’s more of a bark as he orders people around. He can’t help it. He’s Alpha.”
Well, wasn’t that the understatement of the century? Though she couldn’t get the image of him gently caressing her the night before out of her head. Her cheeks heated, and she ducked her eyes, embarrassed to be thinking about her mating while Ryder was in the room. Honestly, she needed to stop blushing at every dirty thought. It was getting annoying. Plus, with the family she’d grown up with, it wasn’t as if she’d lived in pure innocence. They all were open about how they loved one another, and more than once, she’d walked in on her aunts, uncles, and parents ‘enjoying their mating’ as they put it.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. There would be no use sharing her worries with a man she didn’t know. Especially since that man was her new mate’s brother.
“So, there’s a Pack hunt tonight?” she asked, trying to get to know the man in front of her. She might as well get started learning to be a Talon. The hollowness in her chest that came from losing her Redwood bonds ached, but she knew that, one day, the Talon bonds would cement fully. As of now, they were mere whispers of a promise. They even felt different, as if they were a whole new entity rather than the Pack bonds that she’d grown up with.
