4. Brielle

Isneezed as a puff of dust billowed up from the protective cloth previously covering an ornate chaise lounge. Waving a hand in front of my face, I blinked against the dimness filtering through the smudged windows of Briar House. My new place of employment—and my first job landed entirely on my own merits rather than my family name.

Another sneeze turned into a trio that made my eyes water, but I didn't walk out the door. I folded the dusty cloth and shoved it in a temporary corner home.

This was my chance to prove myself, to start fresh and forge my own path after years of relying on my father's wealth and connections. The antique settee was just one of countless items I'd been hired to sift through and catalog for the new owner renovating the rundown estate.

Tracing a finger along the intricate wood carvings, I admired the exquisite craftsmanship. I had more experience with art than furniture, but the preservation principles all came down to careful handling. The dust cloth on the chaise was just one of many in the parlor alone. Three stories of rooms needed inspecting and cleaning before the new owner arrived at the end of the summer.

An unexpected tingle of excitement rippled through me at the prospect of immersing myself in the history of the home. Maybe retreating to Crescent Hollow was fate's way of steering me onto a better course.

A ghost of Orion's earthy, masculine scent seemed to linger in the air, conjuring the vivid memory of his searingly hot kiss on the side of the road a week ago. I imagined I could still feel the tingling of my lips as heat blossomed low in my belly. The way his rough palms had gripped my waist, pulling me flush against all those rigid muscles...

I squeezed my thighs together as heat pooled between them. Hell, I could still taste the slick slide of his tongue against mine, could still feel the rasp of his stubble setting my skin on fire. My nipples peaked beneath my thin camisole, aching for the brush of his calloused fingertips.

Swallowing hard, I dragged in a shaky breath and tried to push the intensely arousing memory from my mind. Orion might be panty-meltingly sexy, may have even played a recurring role in several thousand fantasies, but he was also the kind of man who would easily bring more heartache and drama into my already upside down life.

But damn, did that lingering spark of desire burn bright and hot at the thought of him. Of that scorching, no-talk-only-touch night we'd shared.

Part of me hoped he'd make good on his promise to have me for lunch.

Even if I hadn't told him about the job yet.

With an annoyed huff, I tackled the next dust cloth. I wanted to prove I could be serious and responsible. I needed to prove I could live outside my father's influence.

An infuriatingly sexy man would only prove a distraction. A very, very tempting distraction.

I kept to the parlor and continued sneezing and removing dust clothes, my focus narrowed on exposing the pieces underneath and herding dust bunnies into the trash. Working through the morning and into the afternoon, I lost myself in the rhythmic motions of dusting and polishing until I couldn't ignore the grumbling of my stomach.

I shoved the last dusty cloth into a bag and glanced at my phone. Just after 2pm. Not bad for a morning's work clearing out the parlor.

A sudden flicker of movement outside the window caught my eye. Squinting through the grime, I peered into the overgrown yard. Nothing moved except some leaves skittering across the cracked flagstones leading to the wraparound porch.

The hair prickled on the back of my neck. I strained to listen for any other sounds. The old home creaked and groaned as it had all morning. A bird chirped somewhere on the other side of the glass.

No car engine rumbled outside, no gravel crunched underfoot.

Another dark shape moved across the window, too quick and large to be anything but a person. My pulse kicked up as I clutched my phone, thumb hovering over the emergency call button.

I crept to the front door and stood on my tiptoes to through the peephole. Two men in crisp suits stood on the other side, their icy eyes fixed on the door with a distinct lack of friendliness.

Before I could react, one of the men rapped sharply on the door. "Ms. Simmons? We know you're in there. Open up."

A lump formed in my throat. I didn't recognize the gruff voices, but the way they carried themselves screamed trouble.

"We're associates of your father, Barrett Simmons. We need to have a word about his outstanding debts."

Dread wanted to sink me straight into the earth. These men clearly weren't lost hikers or curious locals. Professionals, that's what they were. The same type Dad met behind closed doors. I didn't want to be around to find out what they specialized in.

Or how they knew to find me alone.

The doorknob rattled as one of the men tested it. "Don't make this difficult, Ms. Simmons."

A whimper of panic clawed out of my throat. I backed away from the door. Just as I lifted my phone to call for help, a deep growl outside made me jump.

"I believe the lady would prefer you two pricks to get lost."

I rushed to the peephole to see Orion materialize from the side of the house. Naked from the waist up, his tanned skin glistened with a sheen of sweat.

The suited men faltered, their bravado wavering as Orion glowered at them with arms crossed and eyes narrowed to slits. Even I shrank back a little at the intensity blazing in the green.

"This is a private matter," one of the men blustered, but his voice lacked conviction.

Orion's lips peeled back in a feral snarl. He'd laughed when he got into the fight at Hollow Leg. Laughed!

"And this is private property. I'd leave now if I were you."

There was no hint of amusement in the tightly clenched fists.

The two men exchanged an uncertain look before giving terse nods. "We'll be in touch, Ms. Simmons," the taller one sneered as they backed away from the porch, never taking their eyes off the glowering Orion.

I flung open the door as soon as the suited men disappeared down the overgrown driveway. Orion crossed the porch in a handful of steps, his eyes blazing with a protective intensity that made my knees go weak.

He palmed my cheeks, callused thumbs grazing my skin as he studied me with a furrowed brow. "You okay? Did they hurt you?"

"N-no, they didn't get in." My gaze drifted over the rippling muscles of his chest and abdomen before I shook my head and jerked my eyes to his. "Where did you come from?"

He shrugged those broad shoulders with the hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. The lightness in his movements didn't match the fierceness still in his eyes. "I was out for a jog."

I frowned up at him. "You were just... jogging? Out here?"

He grinned, all cockiness and mischief. "What, you city folk don't exercise?"

The flippant response instantly doused the flare of attraction simmering inside me. I narrowed my eyes.

"Hey, I heard raised voices." Orion's grin faltered, but he held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Figured I'd make sure my favorite city girl wasn't in trouble."

I melted a little despite myself. Those were the cool, casual words of someone who didn't really care, but he'd stuck his neck out and sent those creepy assholes scurrying with just a look.

He'd been there when I needed it.

I swallowed hard and took a step back. I barely even had a job. As much as I wanted to let him strip away all my worries and my clothes, he was a stranger. Call it shame or falling back onto old habits, but I didn't want him caught up in my family's trouble.

"I'm glad I got here when I did." Orion frowned, that crease deepening between his brows. "Those fucks didn't seem to know the meaning of get the fuck gone."

A tremor went through me at the thought of those cold-eyed men forcing their way through the door. "I… I think I need to go see Cassidy."

Orion nodded once, his jaw tightening. "Then I'll follow behind you. Wouldn't want there to be any surprises on the drive home."

Part of me bristled at the idea. He'd appeared out of nowhere the same as the goons. But after the oh-so-pleasant visit, the thought of being alone made my skin crawl.

I liked the idea of him looking out for me.

I locked up the old house as quickly as my trembling hands would allow, keeping a wary eye out for any other unwanted visitors lurking in the overgrown bushes. With the key securely in my pocket, I hurried to my car and slid behind the wheel, exhaling a shaky breath as I peeled out of the driveway.

My knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel, and I stole frequent glances in the rearview mirror at the empty road behind me. Where were those men now? Had they really left, or were they biding their time to follow me? A thousand awful scenarios whirled through my mind, each more dreadful than the last.

Just as panic began to claw its way up my throat, a familiar truck appeared in my mirrors, rapidly closing the distance between us. Relief washed over me at the sight of Orion's beaten-up tow truck, and I slowed to let him catch up.

My shoulders loosened as some of the tension ebbed away, but a new worry gnawed at me—what if those goons decided to pay Cassidy a visit next?

I urged the engine faster.

I pulled into Cassidy's driveway, gravel crunching beneath my tires. The second I cut the engine, Orion's truck rumbled up behind me. He hopped out and strode to my door, expression grim.

Clutching my bag to my chest like a shield, I hurried up the porch steps. Orion's hand hovered at the small of my back, protective but not quite touching.

Cassidy poked her head out of the kitchen as soon as I stepped inside. Her brows shot together as she took in Orion behind me. "What's going on?"

I drew in a breath to explain, but Orion spoke first in a low, gravelly tone. "Had a run-in with a couple of your uncle's associates at Briar House."

Cassidy's gaze snapped to Orion, the two exchanging a loaded look rife with meaning I didn't understand. Dread coiled in my gut at the silent communication passing between them.

"What?" I demanded, whipping my head between them. "What is it?"

Cassidy bit her lip, wringing her hands. Orion simply stared, an unreadable intensity burning in those green eyes.

"Tell me," I pleaded. If there was some other part of the nightmare with my father that I didn't know...

Cassidy sighed, dropping her hands. She shot one last glance to Orion before wincing. "Last year, when everything fell apart for Brittany's wedding? Well, there was a reason why your father pushed so hard to use this place as the new venue."

I leaned against the back of the couch and tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut. "What do you mean?"

Cassidy shot a nervous glance at Orion. "Declan will be pissed."

He shook his head and gave a great shrug. "So will Rafe, but what else are we supposed to do?"

My cousin winced, her eyes darting back to me. "Your dad and his guests, they're part of a group that hunts supernatural creatures. Like werewolves. Wolf shifters."

A shocked laugh burst from my lips. "You can't be serious. Werewolves? What is this, a bad movie?"

"I know it sounds crazy," Cassidy said gently. "But it's the truth. There's an entire pack of them living right here in Crescent Hollow."

My gaze flicked to Orion, taking in his tense stance and the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. A hundred little clues clicked into place—the way he'd appeared out of nowhere at Briar House, the predatory gleam in his eyes when he faced down my father's associates, the feral snarl before he threw himself into the bar brawl.

"You…" I breathed, realization crashing over me. "You're one of them, aren't you?"

Orion's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny the accusation.

The room spun as the words sank in. Werewolves—wolf shifters—were real. And if they bothered to clarify the wolf in front of the shifter, how many others hunted in the shadows?

Hunted. Like what they accused my father of doing.

"Did they kill someone?" I whispered, throat tight. "At Brittany's wedding?"

Cassidy sank a sympathetic look to the floor, but it was Orion who gave a terse nod. "They killed one of my pack, Fiona. Then tried to use Cassidy as bait for more."

His voice was a low rumble, barely restrained fury simmering beneath the surface.

The room started to spin, air becoming scarce as I gasped for breath. My knees buckled, and I clutched the arm of the couch to stay upright.

This wasn't just scamming investors. Dad didn't just disappear with all the cash. He had blood on his hands.

"Cass?" I choked out, fixing my cousin with a wild stare. "Are you...? Is Max...?"

"Not me," Cassidy answered with a soft shake of her head. "I'm human, but Max is my mate."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying and failing to process the utter insanity of what she was telling me. Supernatural creatures didn't exist. Not in the real world, not outside of fantasy stories and movies.

Except now Cassidy was telling me they did. And my own father had put a target on their backs.

A cold sweat broke out over my skin as I rattled off a list of places I'd been a year ago, people—shifters—I'd interacted with. "The bartender—Jackson? Ayla, at the bakery? The guy working check-ins for all the cabins? What about—fuck."

"Shifters, or their mates," Orion growled, green eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that made me flinch. "Part of our packs."

"Packs," I echoed numbly. As in wolf packs. As in werewolves moving among us, hidden from the human world.

Packs of wolves my father hunted.

Hunted to death.

I clutched my head, certain I was losing my mind. This couldn't be real. Any second, I'd wake up from this insane dream and be back in my luxury apartment, trying to find the perfect outfit for the Met Gala while Mom and Dad vacationed on a private island.

Cassidy took a hesitant step toward me. "Bri, I know this is a lot to take in..."

"A lot?" The hysterical laugh that burst from my lips sounded half-crazed even to my own ears. "You just told me fucking werewolves exist! That my own family has been murdering them!"

Orion tensed, radiating an aura of danger that raised the fine hairs on the back of my neck. "Brielle..."

I shook my head, stumbling back a step. I needed to get out of there, to put miles between myself and the utter insanity overtaking reality.

"I can't..." I choked out, back bumping against the door. "I just can't."

"Bri, wait!" Cassidy pleaded, but I shoved through the door and raced for my car.

Orion was right behind me, calling my name in that deep, gruff rumble that usually made my insides melt. Now, it only fueled the frantic need to escape.

I threw open my car door and scrambled inside, fumbling with the keys as Orion reached for the handle. "Brielle, let me explain!"

Explanation was the last thing I wanted right now. I couldn't bear to hear any more, to face the cracks rapidly fracturing my understanding of the world.

I peeled out of the driveway, tires spitting gravel as I fled down the winding road. Orion's imposing figure shrank in the rearview mirror, and I blinked back the hot sting of tears blurring my vision.

Maybe if I drove far enough, I could escape this insanity altogether.