Page 46 of Forbidden Love

Brock.

Even in wolf form, she knew it was him.

He fought with savage precision, teeth clashing with the wolf, his body moving with brutal grace. The rogue wolf yelped as Brock slammed it to the ground and pinned it there, snarling a warning that rumbled through the night like thunder.

Deb sat frozen, clutching Pepper, her breath hitching as the adrenaline crashed and the pain of her fall caught up with her.

Brock’s wolf turned toward her—those eyes fierce and golden. She’d know those eyes anywhere.

He slowly and carefully stepped forward as if to check on her. She met his gaze and gave a shaky nod, still clutching the squirming poodle to her chest.

Then, with one last growl, Brock turned and chased after the fleeing rogue wolf, disappearing back into the woods like a shadow on the hunt.

Deb exhaled a trembling breath and collapsed back into the mud, tears mixing with the rain.

“Holy hell,” she whispered to Pepper, who licked her chin in response. “I definitely owe that man a dinner now. Or my soul. Probably both.”

Deb lay flat on her back, staring up at the black, stormy sky. Rain pelted her face, cool and sharp, but she couldn’t bring herselfto move. Everything hurt—her foot throbbed like it had been stabbed, and her ribs ached from the fall.

“Pepper,” she whispered hoarsely, clutching the trembling poodle tighter to her chest, “you might have to drag me back. I’m officially useless.”

The woods around her were dark and alive with sound—branches creaking, water dripping, distant thunder rolling overhead. Then, something rustled to her right.

Deb’s breath caught in her throat.

“Okay,” she whispered, voice shaking, “please let that be a rabbit. Or a raccoon. Hell, I’ll even take a skunk. Just not—please, not another wolf.”

She turned her head slowly and blinked through the rain. A shadow moved through the trees—tall, steady, and human. Thank God.

She squinted, heart pounding, and exhaled sharply when she recognized the man.

“Asher,” she breathed, still not relaxing.

He stepped closer, keeping a respectful distance. “Brock sent me,” he said calmly, voice steady. “He’s not far. I came ahead to make sure you were safe. Are you hurt?”

Deb struggled to sit up, biting back a groan. “Define ‘hurt.’ I’m covered in mud, missing a shoe, pretty sure I’ll have a bruise the size of Georgia on my butt, and I twisted my foot chasing a dog that doesn’t even belong to me.” She gave a weak laugh. “Sorry, I ramble when I’m terrified.”

Asher nodded as he knelt, making Pepper growl.

“Oh, now you play hero,” Deb snorted, glaring at the poodle. “Where was the badass poodle energy a few minutes ago?”

“She likes you,” Asher said, looking from Pepper to her.

“I guess she does since I saved her from being a wolf treat.” She snorted, then frowned. “You know what she’s thinking?”

Before he could answer, a loud howl filled the woods. Ignoring the pain in her foot, Deb scrambled to her knees, ready to crawl if she needed to. She gasped as her foot throbbed but she ignored the pain.

“Don’t be afraid,” Asher said calmly as if they were discussing the weather, which was turning wicked again. “That was a victory howl.”

“A what?” Deb asked, still watching the woods.

“That was a wolf who is victorious after killing the enemy who threatened their Mate,” Asher said as he stood and turned his head to look behind him.

She stared at him like he was speaking another language. “And… that was Brock?”

“Who else would it be?” he replied, looking at her with his own confused expression. Asher shrugged off his jacket and gently draped it over Deb’s shoulders, shielding her from the worsening downpour. The fabric was warm, dry, and smelled faintly of cedar and rain, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her.

Deb was still trying to register that Brock had a Mate. Once again, she had been duped by a man, and the disappointment hit her hard. Had she been so desperate that she read him wrong?

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