Page 20 of Brandt's Rule

“And you kept her all these years,” he said, letting go of Tempest and taking the doll gently from her with one hand.

“She’s my friend,” Tempest said.

“Girl, girl. Look at you!” Maverik said, handing her doll back to her and taking her by the shoulders as he looked her up and down. “All grown up, and still so much younger than I thought you’d be.”

“Good genes,” she said, smiling at him.

Suddenly his head canted slightly and he looked at her closely. “I don’t feel that power I remember, though.”

Tempest stepped back a few feet so that he wasn’t touching her anymore and let her shield drop just enough for him to literally be knocked backward a few steps.

“Whoa! There it is! There. It. Is!”

“I have to keep a hold on it, always.”

“But you can. And that’s what’s important.”

“What’s going on here?” Brandt asked, unable to remain silent anymore.

“Tempest, meet Brandt. He’s Alpha of the new generation of our clan. Brandt, this is Tempest.”

Tempest was too delighted in having found Maverik and learning that he remembered her to give Brandt more than a passing acknowledgment.

Brandt’s Bear was less than impressed with the fact that the beautiful female completely ignored him. He tried to shove Brandt toward her, but Brandt held his ground, though he wore a scowl that matched the one his Bear was currently sporting.

“How’d you find me, Tempest?” Maverik asked.

“Just thought of you, focused on you, and followed the pull I felt. I didn’t know exactly where you were, but knew you were in the vicinity. Then a friend told me about someone who matched your description and here I am.”

“I’ll be damned!” Maverik said excitedly, beaming happily. Then he turned to Remi. “Why didn’t you tell me Tempest was looking for me?!” he demanded.

“I did!” Remi said defensively.

“You did not. You said a woman was looking for me.”

“Oh, dear God,” Remi grumbled. “I need a break. I need a vacation from all you people. At least a drink.”

“If you come to Vince’s tonight, I’ll treat,” Tempest said, taking pity on Remi since he’d been the only kind one she’d met so far, other than Maverik and it was obvious Maverik was giving him a hard time.

“What?” Remi asked.

“I’m having dinner with Bailey at Vince’s tonight. Meet us there and I’ll buy you a drink.”

“I might just do that.”

“Who’s Bailey?” Maverik asked.

“The girl from the coffee shop,” Remi answered with a slight smile.

“She’d like it if you do,” Tempest said, encouragingly.

“He can go. You’re not. You coming home with me. Valerie is gonna be so blown away! Valerie is my mate. Did I tell you that? No, I didn’t. I hadn’t met her yet when I met you. Damn, you wasn’t nothing but a little bitty thing!”

“She will?” Ronan asked, having sidled up close enough to see why his dad was hugging a woman that wasn’t his mother.

“Yeah, she will! She knows all about Tempest!” Maverik grinned at Ronan, then looked at Tempest again. “That’s my youngest. Ronan. I got a set of twins older than him out on their own, and another set almost in their forties, grown ass adults. One running his own Pack, girl running her Pride with her mate.”

“I’m so happy for you. I was hoping you’d found your people, had a family and a place to be happy. Momma said you would, and assured me you had but I needed to see for myself.”

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