Page 1 of In Plain Sight

Bran

Chapter 1

“Branimir, my beloved, rise.”

I slowly stood, legs trembling from kneeling for too long. “I pledge my allegiance to you, Alpha,” I said formally, careful to keep my eyes downcast in sovereign respect.

“I know the anger and hatred that runs deep within you. Channel that as you move forward on this most sacred mission. The Westins killed your father, your birth Alpha, and they continue to harbor the demon, Elena. Your journey will not be an easy one, but if you vow under the sacred blood oath to avenge your father, you will forever live in reverence and gratitude in this world and into the next by all true Bulgarian wolves. Do you so accept?”

I didn’t look around. Not a single breath could be heard as they waited for my response.

“I do. I swear to enact the wishes of my Alpha, or die trying.”

I looked up to face my Alpha. He smiled down at me, and I shuddered in his presence. Taking out a small dagger, he held it up for all to see, then passed it to me. The blade stung as it cut through my calloused hand.

I returned the dagger to him and he surprised me as he twisted off the top of the blade. I watched as my blood dripped into the hidden amulet in the dagger’s hilt. Securing the top, he handed it to the Pack Witch. I found it mildly ironic that he insisted on keeping a witch when he was so hellbent on killing the lost triplet, Elena—or Kelsey Westin, as she now was called—for being a witch. I knew there was more to it than that, but the irony was not lost on me.

The witch said some words and I watched the amulet glow. “It is done. From this moment forward you are bound by blood to obey the wishes of your Alpha,” she said at last, passing the dagger back to my Alpha. He looked it over, and, satisfied, handed it back to me.

“Sir?”

“I know you will take good care of it, my beloved. It will guide you to my wishes. Bon voyage and safe travels.”

“I will not let you down,” I vowed.

The Alpha turned and left as the murmurs began throughout the room. It was done. I would be on the next flight to America, and the most important mission of my life was about to begin.

Nothing could get in my way.

Ruby

Chapter 2

I was awake before my alarm clock sounded. I didn’t know why I even bothered with the thing. I woke to the sun just as the animals around the farm did each morning. I turned on the radio as I headed into the bathroom, then sang along as I showered and threw my unruly, curly, red, mass of hair into a messy bun. I dressed in worn jeans and a thick flannel shirt.

Signs of spring were all around, but the early mornings were still crisp with the chill of the final days of winter. I tugged on my favorite work boots, turned off the radio, and headed to my kitchen, still humming the last song played.

I had my routine down tight. A pancake topped with one fried egg and two slices of bacon, the precooked kind I just heated up in the microwave simply to save time. Orange juice rounded out my breakfast. I loved coffee, just not first thing in the morning. The pot was on a timer and already filling the house with the delicious aroma.

I ate, poured the entirety of the coffee into a thermos, and headed out the door, down the stairs and right into the barn. It had taken some convincing for my father to agree to let one of his daughters literally live in a barn, even while teasing that my mother had always chased behind me screaming, “Shut the door, Ruby. You don’t live in a barn!” Well, now I did, and I loved it.

For the most part my life was very simple. I was the only one of us seven kids to really take to the animals. Well, I guess you could say Clara did, too. She had gone on to university to become a veterinarian and I knew she loved caring for the animals, just not in the same manner as I did.

I had chosen not to go to college, which was a huge disappointment to our parents after both my older two sisters had gone on to excel in advanced degrees. I was just a wild child no one expected to ever amount to much. “Spoiled, “pampered,” and “overly dramatic” were common descriptions attached to Ruby Collier. I was okay with it.

I was the middle daughter, after all. Mom says I was born running, always trying to keep up with my older sisters. I grew up with skinned knees and the occasional black eyes, a complete tomboy helping out around the farm. I loved my life and wouldn’t trade it for anything. It had made me tough and opinionated. I certainly wasn’t afraid to speak out. Sometimes I was accused of just trying to shock people with my words, but honestly, that wasn’t it. I just said what I thought and to hell with anyone’s feelings.

All my life I had wanted to be nothing more than a cowgirl. Now, here I was living my dream. Maybe others didn’t understand it, but for me, life was pretty damn near perfect.

On rare occasions, I envied my sisters a little. Three of them had gone on to find their true mates. However, my nights rarely got lonely. There were plenty of eligible men in Collier, and even of the human variety in the next town over. I was never lacking companionship when I wanted it, but I would never settle down for anyone less than my one true mate. Since I was at peace in Collier with no desire to travel, the odds of me ever meeting him were slim.

Looking around the barn, I smiled. I could never just leave my animals and most males expected a girl to follow him to his pack. That wasn’t in the cards for me, and I’d choose my life alone any day, anyway. Nothing would convince me to give up this place, not even him.

I set to work feeding the cows in the dairy below my apartment. I loved the smells and sounds of the barns. My Alpha, Thomas, who was also my little brother, wanted to modernize things around here. Make stuff more efficient. I knew he was looking into some automated feeding system, but I had managed to thwart that idea every time he pitched it.

We’d been farming these lands for hundreds of years, and while we had always had animals, the ones for profit were a relatively new addition after a bad crop nearly bankrupted the entire pack.

Still, there wasn’t much to caring for the animals. Sure, it was hard work, but I didn’t mind, and neither did the cowboys. It gave us a purpose in life to be proud of. I didn’t want to just hit a button or go through a checklist to ensure the machines were functioning properly. I loved the hands-on care. Every creature in my charge had a name. I talked to them as I went about my day, and I petted and loved on them, too. Machines couldn’t do that for ya.

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