Chapter Two

Brinnah stared out of the side window as the forest gave way to a picturesque town. Chalet-style buildings lined a main street. Pitched roofs with front gables, and wide eaves supported by decorative brackets. The upper floor windows had flower beds with a variety of colors spilling over. Souvenir shops rested between clothing stores, hiking stores, various others, with a hardware and DIY store thrown in the mix. People buzzed up and down the sidewalk, greeting others who smiled and waved. Women walked without a care in the world, holding bags as they shopped.

She'd never seen anything like it. Her pack in Canada was extremely conservative. They believed in taking the pack back to the dens, to a time when the strict hierarchy of male domination was observed. Women weren't allowed to go anywhere, and if they needed to, a male had to accompany them. According to the alpha, women were only meant to breed and clean.

The pack kept to themselves, only trading with other like-minded packs. No one ventured into human territory, preferring to shun the outside world. Unmated females were given the task of taking care of everyone else, and in return they were given a stipend of food and other necessities. Brinnah had taken to foraging in the woods, finding anything that would make her life and those of other unmated females, a little easier. Willow bark for inflammation. Bearberry to help with gout or urinary tract infections. Omega wolves were slow to heal, so herbs had become her specialty.

"Are you hungry?" Everett asked.

She turned her head to look at his profile. "Yes."

"Esmeralda owns that diner," he said, pointing. Brinnah glanced at it, noting the full parking lot. "After the healer, we'll go there. You can eat while you talk to her."

"Okay," she said.

A few minutes later, Everett pulled into a parking lot of a small building with a sign in front of it that stated it was a clinic. He parked and turned off the engine.

"Stay there," he ordered. "I think there's a puddle outside your door."

She nodded and he hopped out and hurried around to her door, opening it, and helping to lift her over the water. With his arms banded around her hips, she was about a foot taller than Everett. She looked down, he looked up, and their gazes met and locked. Hazel eyes traced her features. His thick, dark hair lay short on his nape, and she resisted the urge to run her fingers through the dark locks. Her heart rate accelerated, thumping quickly in her chest. Butterflies fluttered low in her belly. What was happening to her? She'd never had such a visceral reaction to a male before. Certainly not to her unwanted moon-fated mate. She never experienced any type of attraction to Vadin, not even after the bond snapped between them. Vadin was a harsh, unpleasant man, and she couldn't believe that out of all the men in her pack, he was what the High Luna bestowed on her.

Truth be known, Brinnah had been glad when Vadin rejected her, even if a dull throb still lurked in the area where her ribs met. Why couldn't Everett be her moon-fated mate? There was kindness in his eyes, and little laugh lines radiating outward from smiling. Although she didn't really know him, she sensed the goodness in his soul. The gentle brush of his fingers only confirmed that this man was nothing like Vadin at all.

Once away from the puddle, Everett slowly lowered her down until her feet touched the ground once more. However, they didn't move apart, studying each other. Hands down, Everett was the most handsome man she'd ever met, and she had the strongest urge to kiss him. Shocked, she stepped back and turned. Everything was a mess with one man, and there was no way she would drag Everett into it.

He gently grabbed her arm, halting her retreat.

"Hey," he said. "Look at me."

When she turned, he cupped her face. She had the urge to lean into his touch.

"Do you feel it?" he asked softly. "This pull between you and me?"

She bit her lip and gave a slow nod. He let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I knew I wasn't crazy. I want so badly to kiss you, but I know we just met. I don't want you to feel like you can't trust me."

"Okay," she whispered.

He ran a finger down her cheek. "Come on. Let's get your ankle looked at."

He helped her into the clinic and she immediately sat down because her ankle throbbed. An older man came out, wearing a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck. A neat white beard and mustache gave him a Santa vibe, although he wasn't as round.

"Hello," he said, smiling at her before looking at Everett. "What's going on?"

"Hey, Doc," Everett greeted. "This is Brinnah, and she's here visiting. Sprained her ankle, I think, but I thought you could look her over just to make sure everything is okay."

"Absolutely," Doc said. "Can you help her into an exam room?"

Without warning, Everett scooped her up, bridal style, causing her to throw her arms around his neck. Which only brought their lips closer together. She couldn't help but stare at them, wondering how they'd feel. She'd never been kissed. Never even held hands with a male. Until this very moment, she hadn't ever wanted to do either.

He gave a little groan. "You've got to stop staring at me like that."

Heat engulfed her cheeks. "W-what do you mean?"

"Like you want to kiss me."

She tried to swallow through her suddenly dry mouth. "Um. What if I … you know, wanted to?"

As he sat her down on the exam bed, he murmured in her ear. "Then I'd say hold that thought, because it's the same one I'm having."

Doc cleared his throat and Everett took a step back. What was happening to her? Her body had suddenly lit up. Embarrassment flooded through her, and she couldn't look at the physician as he pulled a rolling seat up near the table. He gently lifted her foot, carefully bending her ankle in different ways. Every time she hissed with pain, he stopped. When he was finished, he scooted back and rose to wash his hands.

"Just a mild sprain, I think," he said. "Nothing broken and I can't feel any torn ligaments. With a little ice you should be fine in a few hours."

"Oh, but I'm an omega," she said. "It'll take a few more days."

The doctor tilted her head, studying her for a moment. Brow furrowing in confusion, he moved her hair around her ears and sucked in a breath. "Oh, my. I haven't seen ears like yours in quite a while."

"You've seen others with ears like hers?"

"Yeah," Doc said. "From packs in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Backwoods beliefs if you ask me. More like a cult mentality."

Fear sliced through her. "Please don't send me back. I need asylum. I don't want to return."

Everett took hold of one of her hands. "You don't have to. Alpha Jericho will take care of it."

"I would never betray the trust of one of my patients," Doc told her, patting her shoulder comfortingly. "I know what those packs are like. Who rules them. You're safe here, my dear. Now, let me get a wrap for that ankle and then you can go."

He left the room, leaving her and Everett behind. Suddenly self-conscious, Brinnah looked down at the floor. A gentle finger lifted her chin until she was looking at him.

"Don't be scared," he said. "You'll never have to go back there again. I'll protect you."

"You don't have to—"

He placed his finger across her lips. "Don't finish that statement. Yes, I have to, because your scent is intoxicating. My wolf wants to wrap itself around yours. Brinnah, I think you're my moon-fated mate."

Immediately she shook her head. "No, I can't be."

"Why not?"

"Because I already have one." Tears clogged her throat and it took her a moment to be able to talk again.

Stunned, Everett shook his head. "What? No, that can't be."

"That's why I'm here," she continued. "I'm trying to find out how to break the bond, because he's awful. He's mean to me. To all us unmated females, actually. He likes to hurt people. Threatens to rape us."

Before he could respond, Doc came back with a bandage. If he sensed the tension in the air, he never let on. He simply wrapped her ankle then helped her off the table.

"You can take some anti-inflammatory painkillers to help ease the ache."

"I know herbs," she assured him. "Do you know where I can find willow bark?"

"Probably down the street at the apothecary," he replied. "Savannah has a large collection of medicinal herbs, but for now, ibuprofen should help."

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "Helping me out, well, this means everything."

The doctor smiled at her and helped her to the door. Brinnah glanced behind her and saw the confusion on Everett's face as he trailed after them. He didn't say anything during the short ride to the diner, and he didn't linger, dropping her off and then immediately driving away.

Brinnah stared after him, far sadder than she should have been. They'd just met. Knew nothing about each other. Yet something deep inside her soul told her they could've been something great. Taking a deep breath, she pushed him out of her mind. She was in Sheridan for a purpose. To break the link with Vadin. Nothing was more important than that.