Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,59

muscle. Still, the young male didn"t flinch when Brand approached him. Satisfied that Gunni would do what was needed if required, Brand tilted his head to look at Alice.

By her wide eyes, she knew Brand couldn"t back away after a challenge like the one Gunni offered. She understood the subtleties of power plays, even if she didn"t participate. She reached for Gunni"s arm. “It"s all right.” She tried to pull him back, but he wouldn"t budge. Her hand slid around his waist.

“Gun, he"d never hurt me.”

Gunni craned his head to look at her. She smiled up at him, a beautiful expression Brand had never seen from her before. Without a word, Gunni deferred to her with a fluid bow of his head.

Brand cleared his throat. “I apologize for acting as I did.

I was trying to protect you. I have since been reminded that not every choice in the lives of those I care about is mine to make.” Alice"s eyes flickered to her car before coming back to Brand. “She"s quite something.”

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He nodded, feeling a smile at the corners of his mouth despite his resolve to remain stone-faced. “I would still prefer it if you"d allow Gunni to take you somewhere safe.” Alice ran forward, squeezing him in a tight hug. Her head rested against his chest. She tilted her head back to look up at him. “Thank you.”

He wrapped his arms around her and returned the embrace. “You"re welcome.”

“I"ll agree to stay away on one condition.”

“What"s that?”

“Take me back into your brood, and Gunni, too. That way, we"ll know if you need us.”

He frowned, considering her offer. “I gave you back to Erik to protect you from this.”

“You said it"s my choice whether I take that protection or not.” He struggled to keep his voice reasonable. “If I fall, there will be pain like you"ve never felt.” He remembered the agony of his sire"s death vividly. The sensation had been akin to what he thought being skinned alive might feel like.

Alice appeared unmoved. “Pain doesn"t frighten me.”

“You would end up in another brood not of your choosing.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Björn could be your leader again. Is that what you want?” The memory of her state when he had taken her haunted him—terrorized, starved, and so badly beaten that she couldn"t stand. The desperation he"d felt when he"d seen her discarded like trash had changed him.

She stared into his face, a pensive crease between her eyebrows. “I fear your death more than what he might do to me.”

“Very well, my sweet.” He lowered his head to press his lips to her cheek.

A rumble of anger came from Gunni. His hand slid around Alice"s hip to pull her away from Brand. Rather than get into a tug-of-war match with her as the rope, Brand released his 165

hold.

Gunni drew her back against him and wrapped both his arms around her torso, backing against his car. He fixed Brand with a menacing glare, the glowing blue of his wolf"s eyes sharp in the failing light. “She"s mine.”

Rage flared to life in Brand"s gut, hot tendrils of fire racing through him. He was about to pounce on them and rip Alice free, when he glanced at her face. Eyes half-closed and lips parted, her expression wasn"t at all the terrified one he"d expected. Gunni"s arms held her close, but not in a tight grip.

He held her as though she were delicate and precious.

Gunni dropped his head to her neck, sinking his teeth into the skin above the fine network of scars. She let out a soft moan and shut her eyes.

Brand watched for any sign of resistance, but the only move she made was to pull his arms tighter around her. He felt their wolf energy twist as Gunni began to tie the mating bonds.

Several minutes later, Gunni released his bite and closed the wounds that made his mark. He whispered against her neck. Alice shuddered as the bonding settled into her.

Gunni nuzzled a spot under her ear. “Forgive me, I should have asked first. The thought of him biting you was more than I could take.”

She raised her hand to his face and held his cheek against hers. “Forgiven. The end result is the same.” Brand ignored the warning snarl coming from Gunni when he approached. “Let"s get this done.” Gunni glanced down at Alice, who nodded. He offered Brand his left arm, the other still wrapped around Alice"s middle. He shifted Alice further away in a move