Page 156 of Claimed By the Rival Alpha
I nodded again. “I know what you mean.”
He glanced at me. “Do you…do you know what happened to her?”
“No. And even if I did, I couldn’t tell you what it was, Dom. Not without her permission.”
“Right. Of course. I’m sorry.”
I patted his arm. “Don’t be. You shouldn’t feel bad about being concerned.”
“I just want her to know that I want to be there for her. That I want to help her in any way that I can. But I just don’t know what I can do for her.”
“I’m so sorry, Dom. But I think the only thing you or anyone else can do is wait for her to reach out. She’s too fragile right now.”
He looked over my head, back in the direction Tavi had gone. “I know,” he murmured, “but I miss her.”
His words grabbed hold of my heart and squeezed. He’d said so much in just those few words, and it made me want to burst into tears. If he really cared about Tavi, I could imagine the anguish and yearning he felt for her now. How could I not when I had a mate of my own?
We arrived at the cabin, and I let go of Dom’s arm. I looked up at him and found him staring in the direction of Tavi’s cabin again. His honey-blond hair fell over his eyes as a breeze blew by. He didn’t even move to push it out of his handsome face.
“Dom.”
My voice pulled his attention.
“I know you’re hurting, but I wanted to tell you something I should’ve told you a while ago.” I wasn’t used to being open with a man other than my mate, but it felt okay with Dom. “Thank you so much for saving my life, and for being there for me from dayone. You were the first one to make me feel normal, even before Tavi, and I appreciate it more than you know.” I smiled. “To me, you’re more than just a friend; you’re my brother.”
His eyes widened, and then the grin he gave me was just like the ones I’d become familiar with at the Wargs compound. “I’ve always liked your spunk and tenacity, Bryn,” he said. “I knew the second Night saw you that he was done for, no matter how hard he tried to hide it from the two of us.” He and I laughed, and he pulled me in for a hug. “Thanks, little sis,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “Alpha looks good on you.”
62
NIGHT
Istepped out of the shower just as I heard the front door close. After a pause, my wolf began to pant. Bryn was back. I waited for her to enter the bedroom, and when she did, her eyes widened.
“Wow,” she said with a slight groan. “You need to put all this away. I don’t have time for that body right now.”
I laughed and walked over to her. Pulling her in for a kiss, I caught a whiff of my beta on her. I growled before I could stop myself.
She snorted and kissed the underside of my chin. “Such a possessive mate,” she purred, slipping her hands over my neck. She pulled me down and kissed my jaw, my cheek, and my ear, where she whispered, “It was my brother who kissed the top of my head, Night. You better keep those teeth to yourself or I’ll kick your ass.”
Desire curled in my stomach. If the Alpha ceremony wasn’t so close, I’d have bedded the hell out of this woman right then and there. As things were, I slipped my hands over her hipsand kissed her long and slow. She tasted sweet and hot and completely mine.
All too soon, she pulled away. Her hand found my cheek, her thumb pressing gently to my lips. “Down, boy,” she whispered.
Mm. I couldn’t get enough of this woman.
She stepped out of my embrace so she could change into the simple, earth-toned wrap Glenda had given her for the ceremony. I tried not to go wild at the sight of her smooth back and that perfect ass, but it was hard. So I focused on getting dressed.
“Were the Kings receptive to your help?” she asked. “I didn’t get to talk to you about it before we met with the council.”
“It went better than I was expecting. There was almost a fight, but I think it helped clear the air more than anything else.”
“Oh good!” At her happy tone, I had to turn around. She had wrapped the dress around her shoulders and waist, cinching it tight at her side to show off her curves. She tied the excess fabric of the wrap into a bow, the tail ends of it dropping to her ankles.
When I had seen the cloth draped over the bed, I hadn’t thought much of it. But now, seeing it on, I loved the way the deep brown fabric looked against my mate’s skin. It almost matched the chestnut color of her hair.
“Bryn,” I said gently.
She looked at me.
