Page 31 of Doubly Tied

“Agreed. But we need to focus on how we can protect Ani now. A challenge, Brody. She accepted a fucking challenge.”

Pride in her bravery warred with fear for her well-being. He felt the sentiments echoed in his Alpha and though it was his place to calm the Wolf, he found he didn’t have it in him. He was too wrapped up in his own turmoil.

“Stop. We must believe in our mate. Ani is smarter than both of us and braver too,” Brody said with a proud grin. Reversing their roles for the first time in memory, the Alpha brought calm to the Omega.

A knock sounded on the door and Brody beckoned whomever the fuck it was to enter. Mayne was in no mood for guests. His Bear snarled, and he allowed the sound to travel past his human lips. Erik, the Pack Keeper, came in slowly.

Head averted, book in hand, the Keeper of the Laws was an extremely valuable member of the Pack. Brody nodded at the man who had been just a year beneath them in high school.

“Alpha, Omega,” Erik said, showing both his respect for their positions. “I found something that might help your mate avoid a one-on-one fight to the death with Pack member Megan Cornick.”

“Speak then,” Brody snarled.

His anger was palpable, and, for the first time, Mayne could not fault him. His own inner beast was roaring with fury at the thought of any harm coming to their sweet Ani.

Unacceptable.

Mine.

Ours. Brody pushed the word through their link and Mayne acknowledged him with a sharp nod. He would hear what Erik would say. Whatever else he was feeling would simply have to wait until they both had Ani secure in their den for a good long while.

“There is a challenge here listed for human mates dated back in the 1800s. Because it was unfair for a human to be expected to battle a Werewolf, the old-timers back then, mostly cowboys, agreed to a rodeo.”

“A rodeo?”

“No fucking way. She’s a city girl,” Mayne shook his head.

“And there will be no battle?” Brody asked, and Mayne could tell the Alpha was intrigued.

“Correct, Alpha,” Erik said.

“Brody! Fuck no. Anise works in advertising! She doesn’t know diddly about rodeos!”

“It’s her only chance, Mayne. If Megan gets her in the training ring, Ani is as good as dead,” snarled Brody. “If that happens, I’ll take the whole fucking Pack apart and no one will stop me. You know it’s true.”

Mayne turned around and punched the wall. His fist shot straight through the sheetrock all too easily. His emotions were all over the place, but yes, he agreed with Brody. The man was already in love with Ani, and if anything happened to her, then yes, he would most likely fly into a berserker like rage.

In that state, the Alpha had the power to drain the Pack’s life force through their metaphysical bonds. Not every Alpha could do that, but Brody was a true Alpha. It was part of his genetic makeup, and it was also the reason he was destined to rule the Big River Pack as part of a Triad.

With Mayne to temper his unparalleled dominance and Ani to warm his heartstrings, the Alpha beast inside was soothed. Without her, they would both perish. Only, if Brody went, so did everyone else in Big River.

“Fuck,” he growled. “How long does she have to prepare?”

“You need to make the announcement as soon as possible. Afterward, she has the next day to prepare. The rodeo begins at dawn the following day.”

“Fuck.”

“Yes. But she can do it, Mayne. I have faith in her.”

Brody surprised him, but when he looked inside himself, Mayne realized he did too. It was easy to believe in her. Ani Freeman was like no one else he’d ever seen. His beautiful, resilient, cactus flower, shining light and bubbling with potential even in dire circumstances.

She was a gem.

Phenomenal.

Superb.

“I love her,” he murmured, nearly stumbling in his tracks.

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