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  It was a long time before he managed to crawl over to the wall and pull himself up to a standing position. It took a lot longer before he made it to the house and all the way up the stairs. But it was okay. He could smell her sweet scent coming from under his bedroom door. She was safe. And inside. In his bed. He slid down the wall and collapsed on the floor. Curling up with his back against the door, he slept.

  Chapter 5

  Gage groaned as something knocked him, hard, in the back, and his eyes popped open. Bridget hurtled over him and slammed into the opposite wall. Fortunately she got her hands out in time to keep from hitting it head first. She must not have seen him lying on the floor and tripped over him trying to get out of the room.

  She turned, caught sight of him lying there across the doorway, and screamed. He struggled to sit up, but every muscle in his body had tightened up as he slept and it wasn’t going well. Bridget screamed again.

  The door opposite his opened, revealing a shirtless Eli, quickly followed by Zeke. Also shirtless. Pounding feet on the stairs to the great room echoed from down the hall and a moment later, Lucas burst into view. Bridget stood frozen in the hallway, her arms wrapped around herself.

  Lucas took in the scene with one look. “Shift.”

  It was an Alpha command, and Gage felt it reverberate through his bones. He shifted. The sweet relief from the pain was so intense he whined. Bridget screamed again and backed all the way down the hall, smelling terrified. Gage pulled in a deep breath and rolled, exposing his belly. Or he would have, except he was tangled in his clothes. His tail tried to brush the floor in apology but it was trapped in his jeans. He stretched out his neck, exposing his throat instead.

  Lucas pursed his lips and gave a quick angry shake of his head. “Shift back.”

  He did. Lying there on his back, grateful to be able to breathe again without pain, he waited to see what else would happen. Somehow he had managed to get his shirt tangled around his neck when he rolled onto his back, but that didn’t matter.

  Lucas shook his head again. “You missed breakfast,” he said, and turned and left.

  Gage groaned and sat up, struggling to get his arms back in his shirt and pull it down from around his collarbone. Eli came over and helped him, then gave him a hand up.

  “Rough night?”

  “You could say that.”

  Eli indicated Bridget with his chin. She stood cowering at the end of the hall, watching them with big eyes. “Want help?”

  Gage sighed. “No. Just… give us a minute, would you?”

  “Sure thing.” Crossing back to his room, he collected an open-mouthed Zeke—who was silent for once—hooking an arm around his brother’s neck as he went. They disappeared inside, closing the door with a soft snick.

  “Honey,” he tried with a half-hearted smile. “I’m home.”

  “Don’t you honey me. What the hell was that?”

  She gestured at him, indicating—he thought—his former state before the shifts could heal most of the damage. But it could have been the shifting itself. It was hard to say. And he wasn’t really up to discussing the finer points of pack Law.

  “Just a disagreement. It’s over now. Don’t worry about it.”

  “Gage. You were… purple. Black and blue… Your face was so swollen I didn’t even know it was you.”

  He rubbed his forehead. “Well, for the record, that never happens. My brother thinks I trapped you on purpose and he’s not happy about it. But… he’ll come around. He’s a fair person.” At least, he always had been. Maiden’s own, what would happen when he found out about Mikey? He winced.

  Bridget took a step towards him. “Are you okay?”

  That was good. He didn’t want to move towards her or do anything to make her feel more trapped. She’d pretty much pinned herself in a corner. That end of the hallway was a dead end. He took a step back instead, pointing to a spot on his cheek that was still a little sore. Come to think of it, his ribs were still pretty sore too.

  “I’m feeling much better, but you could help. I think a little kiss right here is just what the doctor ordered.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I got a bump on the head last night, not a lobotomy. Try again, Gage.” But she took another step toward him. “So, um… you can…” She broke off and made a gesture toward the floor. “Shift, or whatever you call it, whenever you want? Not just on the full moon?”

  “That’s right. Want me to do it again? I should really take my clothes off first…”

  “No thanks.” She gave him look. “Been there, done that.” But she took another tiny step towards him. shaking her head. “Well, I can see you’re feeling better. What did your brother say about breakfast?”

  “Ah. Breakfast. I missed my turn. Mari is going to be angry.”

  “Mari?”

  “My teammate. We have a breakfast competition going on, and our team is fighting to stay in the lead.” He shook his head. “She is going to be pissed. She is a fierce competitor.” He grinned suddenly, thinking of Mari in full warrior mode. “You’ll like her. Come on, let’s see what she managed without me. Are you hungry?” He shot that last over his shoulder and started down the hall to the stairs without waiting. And, yes. She followed.

  To his surprise, she caught up with him on the stairs. “Did you?”

  He looked back inquiringly.

  “Trap me on purpose?”

  He stopped. “I don’t think so. I saw the car spinning. And I— ran. It was only then I realized I hadn’t shifted all the way.” He reached out a hand slowly and stroked a finger down her jaw. “But you are mine. I know it.”

  She leaned away and he dropped his hand. “Dream on, buddy. But I don’t get it. Why are you all mating humans? Don’t you want to mate your own kind?”

  “There aren’t any. Well, very few. And… we only mate really special humans.” He leaned in suggestively and laughed when she raised her eyebrows in a ‘tell me another one’ expression.

  I knew it. She’s mine. Here she was after just seeing him shift—twice—bantering with him on the stairs. He turned and trotted the rest of the way down, whistling.

  “Mari, ma petite renarde, what have you made me? I am starving. Come and meet my lady-love. I want you two to be very close.”

  Bridget shook her head and continued down the stairs. She had to hand it to him, he bounced back quick. There was a growl as she reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to follow Gage into the kitchen. Bridget froze at the tableau that confronted her. A tiny woman with wispy strawberry blond hair was standing in the kitchen as Gage approached. Without looking, she stuck her arm out like a tollbooth gate and neatly blocked Lucas’s progress. Lucas stopped short, towering over his diminutive roadblock, glaring at his brother. And was he still growling?

  The woman dropped her arm and marched forward. “Gage Daniel Ardennes, I have something to say to you.” She grabbed Gage by the ear, twisted it and marched him through the living room and out the front door to a covered porch. And he let her. Protesting all the way, but still…

  Bridget could hear his earnest entreaties fading as he went, but he never touched her. He had to be at least twice her size. He could easily have stopped her, but he didn’t even try.

  “Huh. So that’s how it’s done.”

  Lucas’s dry laugh reminded her that she wasn’t alone, and she felt her stomach tighten. Had he really beaten his own brother to a bloody pulp the night before? On her behalf, no less? She had no idea how to feel about that. On the one hand, she was angry with Gage for kidnapping her— although that was fading. He really was a werewolf. She’d seen him change into a wolf and back with her own eyes. Yes, it had been a shock, but— wow. The implications boggled the mind.

  How could nobody know about this? Because they kidnap anyone who finds out— that’s how. Still. To keep this a secret, in these modern times… well, it was impressive. And the fact that they had laws, a set of rules governing that, wasn’t lost on her. Well, they’d need them.
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br />   Trapping her on purpose wasn’t allowed, judging by the state she’d found Gage in this morning. The memory made her wince. There was just something endearing about Gage. She wasn’t really sure what it was—and to find him like that? She shuddered. Still, it was fascinating the way shifting to wolf and back seemed to heal most of his wounds. He still had a split lip, and there was a gash across his cheekbone, but his normal handsome features had returned from the swollen, grotesque purple they had taken on.

  She eyed Lucas nervously, but he was ignoring her, his focus riveted to the scene playing out on the porch. Was he abnormally violent for the species, or was that the expected reaction for such a violation of their laws? He didn’t seem deranged or anything. Just— intense. Fascinating. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

  She stood there for a moment. Hmmm… what to do?

  Crossing over to the kitchen, she skirted widely around Lucas and helped herself to a mug of coffee. First things first. And while she was at it, might as well take the bull by the horns.

  “So, you people are werewolves?”

  Lucas turned to her and regarded her silently for a moment. Just long enough to make her stomach start to flutter nervously.

  “We are the People. People of the Moon. Your kind sometimes refers to us mistakenly as werewolves. But I assure you— we are not.”

  “What’s the difference?”

  His mouth tightened, but after a moment he continued. “Werewolves are bloodthirsty creatures deprived of reason. As you can see—” he made a sweeping gesture around the room, but she wasn’t sure what he meant to indicate, “we are not that.”

  “You should eat,” he said, changing the subject abruptly. “There is food on the stove.” He started to leave the room, and then turned back.

  “Do not leave the house without Gage.” He pinned her with his gaze until she felt compelled to answer.

  “Um… okay.”

  He nodded and headed down the hall. She watched him go. Alpha indeed. The man had a will that was very hard to resist. Things seemed to be winding down out on the porch, and Bridget wandered over to the stove to check out the offerings. Scrambled eggs with cheese and sausage. Not bad. All she needed was some toast.

  ***

  Gage stood on the porch gazing down at his small human friend. Sometimes he didn’t understand her at all. “I really don’t see what the fuss is about. It’s no different from Lucas bringing you here, or Cray with Elizabeth.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. No one intended to trap Elizabeth. That was an accident. And your brother rescued me when I was left to die in the woods. It’s not at all the same.”

  “You only think that because you were unconscious at the time.”

  Mari crossed her arms, her small mouth set in an angry meu. “What’s that supposed to mean? You don’t think your brother had anything to do with that? That was all Jerry.”

  “No. Of course not. But he kept you here with him, no?”

  “The difference is your brother brought me back here so I could heal.”

  Gage felt his mouth tighten, remembering finding Mari, battered and naked, tucked into his brother’s bed. Best not to go into that. Lucas was mad enough at him already.

  “And he never forced me to stay. He worked very hard at persuading me to stay.” She glanced away, and Gage thought he saw the first chink in her armor. “I will admit he is very good at persuasion.” She turned back to him. “But what you did— it’s not right, Gage. You can’t just grab a woman at random and decide she’s going to be your mate.”

  “She is not a random woman, Mari. And I did not just grab her.” But he had an uncomfortable memory of slinging her over his shoulder and winced. He was positive Bridget was meant to be his mate. He couldn’t possibly misinterpret such a clear sign from the Maiden. Could he?

  Suddenly, he felt drained.

  “Let’s not fight, Mari. You know I am grateful that Lucas found you. That he brought you back here so you could heal. And be safe. I am grateful for your friendship. You will be friends with my Bridget too, won’t you? Help her feel comfortable?”

  Mari put her hands on her hips. “Don’t think you can get out of this by trying to get on my good side, Gage.” She gave him a resigned look. “But of course we’ll do our best to make Bridget feel at home.”

  Then she crossed her arms, shaking her head. “I never would have expected this of you, Gage.”

  He looked down at her for a long moment, wondering what he could say. He needed Mari to understand. Why did no one understand? “Don’t be angry, ma petite. I am right. Trust me.”

  “Well for your sake, I hope you are. But I have to tell you, Gage, I’m very disappointed in you.” She pointed a finger at him. “You are in the doghouse with me.”

  Gage nodded and did his best to hide the pain her words caused. He’d been so proud to be the first to earn her trust. Something even his brother was still working on. But she didn’t trust him now. Didn’t trust his instincts or intentions. And why should she? His instincts didn’t seem to be working all that well at the moment. And it wasn’t like he didn’t have a huge secret he was keeping from the pack.

  “You will see, Mari.” But even as he said it, he was uncomfortably aware of a small pinprick of doubt.

  She gave him a skeptical look and shook her head, lips tight. Then she turned her back and marched into the house, leaving him standing there alone on the porch.

  ***

  Bridget had just finished locating the plates and was about to fill one when the petite blond woman reentered the house. She came over and put out a hand to Bridget.

  “Hi, I’m Mari. You must be Bridget.” Her voice had the slight twang of a Southern accent, and for a second Bridget had the disconcerting notion she’d accidentally fallen onto the set of Gone with the Wind.

  “Um… Yes, it’s… nice to meet you,” she stammered, trying to get reality to snap back around her. She felt a wave of awkwardness. The social niceties of this particular situation were a little ambiguous. It didn’t help that she felt like a giant looming over her diminutive host.

  “I have to apologize for Gage’s behavior. He doesn’t think sometimes.” She made a face and glanced back out to the porch. “But he’s generally a good guy. Are you feeling okay? I understand you were in a car accident.”

  “I’m definitely sore, but nothing serious.” She’d woken feeling like her body had gone a few rounds with a professional wrestler but had begun to feel better as soon as she started moving around.

  Mari regarded her skeptically. Since Bridget knew she had a purple lump about the size of a walnut over her left eye, surrounded by a nasty bruise the size of an orange, she couldn’t blame the woman.

  “Well, let me know if you need anything. Elizabeth said she’ll be over a little later and we can try to figure out what to do about this. I’m sure Lyla and Aster will be here too.” She glanced back toward the porch. “I’m not sure about Nina though. But you met her last night, right?”

  “Yes. She was kind enough to take a look at my head.” Bridget smiled, trying to lighten the mood. “Make sure I wasn’t going to keel over or anything.”

  Mari nodded. “Well, go ahead and eat. I’m just going to have a word with Lucas.” From the look on her face, Bridget got the feeling Lucas was about to get a piece of her mind too. “My room is just down the hall, last door on the right. Feel free to come find me if you need anything.” She glanced up as Gage appeared in the doorway to the porch. “Or if you just want to get away.”

  She gave Gage a penetrating stare, shook her head and patted Bridget’s arm. “I’m right down the hall,” she said again and left.

  “Thank you,” Bridget called out belatedly.

  Mari turned and gave her a little wave before spinning back around and marching down the hall. The woman appeared to be on a mission.

  Chapter 6

  Bridget turned back from watching Mari’s retreating form in time to see an unguarded expression flicker across
Gage’s face before it assumed its usual mask of jovial indifference. But for that one moment, she would swear she saw hurt cloud his features as he watched Mari exit the room.

  Huh.

  But in the next second he turned to her, a genial smile on his face. “I smell eggs. And sausage. Excellent. Not as good as it would have been if I had been involved, of course, but—”

  She raised her eyebrows. “You’re trying to tell me you’re a good cook?”

  “I am an excellent cook. See here,” he gestured to a chart fixed to the refrigerator by magnets. She looked closer. Wolf magnets. Really? She gave him a look. He shrugged one shoulder, looking innocent, but she had a strong suspicion he had been responsible for them.

  He moved past her toward the cabinets, brushing his shoulder against hers as he went. It was such a casual gesture, such a minimal contact, but it managed to convey camaraderie, support and even acceptance without being in any way intrusive. She stared after him, impressed. How had he managed that just by brushing the upper part of his arm against hers? The weird thing was how much it settled her. It was amazingly comforting.

  “Coffee?” he inquired, looking over his shoulder at her. “Or, no. Café au lait?”

  She had the oddest feeling he could see things about her that weren’t apparent to the naked eye. “Um... yes, please.” She liked coffee, but she loved café au lait.

  The impression was heightened when he gazed at her with those expressive, soft brown eyes. “You are… feeling okay this morning?” He leaned closer. Reaching out, he touched her gently on the chin, tilting her head slightly for a better view. “That looks painful.”

  She reached up and touched his cheek, just below the gash across the cheekbone. “So does this.” His skin was soft and warm under her fingertips and she had the curious urge to keep touching him— explore him. She dropped her hand.