Brody had a busy day working on motorcycles. Thank God for that. He was going crazy with worry ever since Fallon decided she was working that morning. He tried to talk her out of going to the shop, but she effectively put an end to his argument.
Okay fine, she had a point, but he didn’t feel any better. The Dales were unlikely to try shit during the day since half of them were vampires. Slater made sure at least one enforcer was at Inktastic and another at his shop all day long. Besides, the more people with her wards, the better off everyone was.
Adam came through the door from the front. “Hey bro, I brought lunch. Fallon says she’s sorry she couldn’t come down.”
He nodded. God, he hoped she wasn’t mad. They hadn’t exactly fought. He figured out pretty fast she wasn’t going to budge so he didn’t push. Brody just expressed his concerns and let her decide.
“Hey, she’s not mad.” Adam insisted. “She’s just busy, and Jess fed her.”
“Yeah?” Brody walked over into the back room where there was a table and a few chairs and sat down. Adam followed. “Did she tell you I tried to talk her out of working?”
Adam shook his head, but the dick grinned. “I figured you would. Especially after what Clint said went down last night. Your woman wouldn’t say shit about what happened, and that if I wanted to know so badly, I could talk to the wolves if I was so inclined.” Then he snickered. “She did say one thing about you. Said you made everything all better. I can just imagine how with that sexy grin of hers.”
“You are such a prick.”
“You’re just easy to mess with.”
Brody didn’t want to trouble his brother with all the shit going on, so he changed topics. “So, how are you and Danika? And the wedding plans?”
“Great. Everything is pretty much ready. I can’t wait.” Adam grinned and sat the bag of Chinese takeout on the table before sitting down. “We’re just glad the wedding is soon. Dani is pregnant but we haven’t told anyone yet. She’s worried she’s not going to fit into her dress.” Adam grinned.
Warmth filled Brody’s chest. He smiled back. “I’m happy for you. And I’m sorry I haven’t been more help lately.” He felt like a bad brother for being so out of touch with Adam. Things had just been crazy since he crashed into Fallon.
“Oh, no you don’t, Brody.” Adam slapped him on the back. “You’re still there when I need you. I’m just glad you’ve joined the living again.”
“Was I that bad?” He knew the answer though.
“Yeah, but I understand. I’m sure I’d be a bigger mess if I lost Danika. You never fell into a depression, but you weren’t living.” Adam scrubbed a hand through his short hair. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I honestly think Fallon is the right one for you. Not that Sarah was wrong, but after Raj attacked you, she never fully accepted your furry side. Fallon does.”
“I came to that same conclusion when I told Fallon about that night and the hospital.” He grinned. “Fallon was a little ticked about Sarah’s reaction, but she didn’t bad mouth her.” He took a breath. “I almost feel guilty for not feeling guilty that I moved on pretty much the second Fallon came into my life.”
“Four years, Brody, you mourned that entire time. There was nothing fast about letting Sarah go. It was time, and you were ready, and you’re one lucky bastard. Fallon is everything you need.”
“You’re right.”
“Of course I am, little brother. Go ahead and eat. I have to get back to work.” Adam started back through the door.
Brody grinned. “Thank you. I needed that talk.”
“Hey, you’ve done the same for me countless times. You’re always there.”
* * * *
Fallon was finally home after a busy day. Man, she was getting tired of brushing off the questions about what happened the night before. They were a bunch of gossipy wolves.
Realization dawned on her as she stood in their bedroom, staring at his dresser and the lack of his wife’s pictures. She thought something was strange downstairs, but it didn’t register until she came up here and her eyes landed where the photo use to sit. Fallon didn’t know what to think, or what to feel.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” Brody asked softly as he moved to stand in front of her, blocking her view.
She shook her head and looked up at him. “You didn’t need to take them down.”
Brody glanced over his shoulder with a little smile and back at her. “I did though. I didn’t burn them or anything. They’re in a box.”
“I don’t need you to remove any trace of her. I’m not that cruel,” she whispered.
“Oh, sugar, I removed them because I was ready. I know you didn’t ask.” He brushed his lips over hers. “It was time. I needed to put the pictures away.”
“You didn’t. You don’t.” Shit, she didn’t want him to think she had to be everything to him. His past was important. “I don’t expect you to forget her. I….”
He pressed a finger over her lips. “Shh, Fallon. I’m not going to forget Sarah, but she’s not my present and she’s not my future. I didn’t put them away to make you feel better. I put them away because I was ready to let the past go. Please tell me you understand.” He combed his fingers through her hair, peering into her eyes.
Fallon nodded. “Okay.”
“Now, I have something to ask you.”
“What?” She frowned.
“When Slater welcomed you to the pack, you seemed real nervous. I think we need to talk about why.”
Her stomach dropped out. The dreaded conversation. “I don’t want to be a werewolf, Brody.”
“I wasn’t going to ask you to be. I told you, I don’t want you to change for me. That would be a pretty big change, Fallon. If you ever decide you want to be, we can talk about that decision then, but I don’t need you to be a wolf to be happy.”
“Really?” As much as she knew not to compare him, she was. She really needed to stop.
“Yeah. I wasn’t just talking when I told you I want you for you. That’s the truth. I just need one thing from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Honesty. If you have a problem, or a concern, talk to me. Please. I don’t expect us to agree one hundred percent on everything, but just like this morning, I’m not going to force my will on you.”
“For the record, you were pretty amazing this morning.” She gave him a quick kiss. “I expected a fight over working. Part of why I went was so that I wouldn’t sit here and do nothing. I didn’t want to think. I needed to be busy with work.”
He nodded. “I get that. I honestly do. I’ve done similar.” He pulled her toward the bed, and sat down. “Now, are you okay going on the hunt tonight? If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Hayden said he’d keep an eye on you if you wanted to do something else. I’m sure Danika would hang out with you too.”
Fallon laughed. “You asked another man to hang out with me if I didn’t want to run with the wolves?”
“I trust you, Fallon. Hayden is a good friend, and I trust him as well. I don’t think I could go on the hunt if someone with a little power wasn’t with you, but since Jess and Jamie have to go, I figured Hayden would work.”
“Well, I want to come. Just don’t expect me to rip into any live animals.” She shuddered. “I’m not opposed to everyone else hunting. I’m not a vegetarian or anything. I just can’t stomach raw meat in any form.”
“Good to know.” He chuckled. “So, tell me something. How does the clothes thing work with shifting? You startled me when you shifted and you were dressed.”
“Oh, shifting is just another form of magic for me. My clothes and whatever that is on me are stored magically… or something.” She shrugged, not totally sure herself.
His eyes sparkled. “So, what else changes in those forms?”
“I can still cast at least some magic shifted. My senses are elevated, and I take on some of their traits, but not all.” She looked him in the eye. “And I’ll warn you now. I don’t do furry sex, not in any form for any reason. I draw a line there.”
Brody’s eyes widened. “Don’t worry. I never even considered it. I will admit that being able to run as a wolf with you excites me, but it has nothing to do with humping.”
Fallon grinned. “Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“So, was that the only thing worrying you about Slater welcoming you?” Brody asked sincerely.
“Yes, and I know you aren’t those other assholes, but sometimes I have a hard time remembering that,” she admitted, and then took a deep breath. “Damon and Isaac both wanted to change me. We argued about it constantly. I think Damon wanted me to change because my magic bothered him, and most casters lose all their magic when they become a wereanything. Druids work differently from what I understand. Our magic changes, but doesn’t go away. I guess Isaac just thought I’d think more like him if I were a tiger. I don’t know.”
“I don’t think I’m ever going to understand why you put up with them when you knew they weren’t working.” He squeezed her hand.
She shook her head and laughed. “I honestly don’t know anymore. I’ve seen the error of my ways now that I have you.”
* * * *
Brody walked with Slater through the woods. They were heading to the meeting spot where they would meet all the other werewolves and Fallon. The mages, Hayden and a few of Edenton’s casters were already out patrolling.
“You sure you want Fallon out here?” Slater asked.
“I figure she’s safer with a hundred shifted wolves than by herself with Hayden.” Brody cut his gaze over. “She wanted to come, and she wants to protect me too. Besides, how are they going to know what she looks like as a wolf?”
Slater side-eyed him. “You do realize we don’t look like your average wolf.”
There was that, but some of the smaller wolves looked like natural wolves. That might be a good thing. “And if Jess were in the same situation, would you want her hanging with Hayden without you? Knowing she was capable of protecting herself?”
Slater shook his head. “No, but I’m real tempted to send you with her. They want you both, remember. Maybe they want her more, but you still figure in.”
“And I believe that if she’s safer with a hundred shifted wolves, I am too. Everyone is going full wolf and the Dales won’t be able to easily figure out who is who if they actually show.”
“True. I still think they’ll show.” Slater sighed. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, but what can we do?”
“Nothing yet. We don’t know enough.”
They stepped into the clearing. Fallon had gone ahead with Jess and Jamie. The twins were already stripping down, getting ready to shift. Fallon sat on a rock in her jeans, motorcycle boots and tank top. There were several wolves watching her, probably curious why she wasn’t getting naked.
She looked up and smiled as Brody walked over to her. “Hey there. I was beginning to wonder when you’d show up.”
“Just had to talk to the old man.” He nodded to Slater before pulling his shirt over his head. “You want me to shift first? Or you?”
Fallon stood and shifted instantaneously. He knelt down to run his fingers through her thick coat. There were hints of red like her hair through her cream colored fur. Her eyes were still as green as ever, though he had never seen a wolf with green eyes. “Oh, sugar, you’re beautiful.”
She bumped his chest with her head and he rubbed behind her ears. She woofed softly and nipped the leg of his jeans. “Okay, okay.” He got rid of the rest of his clothes and shifted. Most wolves took close to a minute to shift, but Brody never took more than ten seconds. The enforcers and Slater shifted about as fast as he did. He knew it was something to do with their natural level of dominance which Brody still wasn’t sure he understood.
Fur rippled down his back, his bone structure shifting as his muscles and flesh were pulled and compacted into his beasts shape. It wasn’t painful but it wasn’t exactly comfortable either. It always felt strange, until the process was over.
He opened his eyes and the colors faded into shades of gray but his vision sharpened. His hearing and sense of smell intensified. She brushed against him, and nodded into the woods. In this form she was so small next to him, but he was a big wolf.
Brody and Fallon followed Slater, who led Jess and Jamie into the trees. When Slater howled, the wolves broke off in different directions. Fallon stayed right with him, but he had a feeling she could easily outrun him. They ran and played, and just enjoyed themselves.
* * * *
Fallon was getting tired and hungry after hours of running and playing. She had stopped under a willow tree to rest. Brody had hunted down a rabbit and was happily munching away, and she was almost hungry enough to be tempted.
She was happy just to watch him. He was gorgeous, and big at almost three times her size. His fur was dark with lighter patches around his face and belly. All four of his massive paws were paler, his tail had a white tip, and his eyes were an icy shade of blue.
Like most of the wolves, he was more muscular than a normal wolf, definitely stronger and he was fast. Not as fast as she was, but she didn’t have his strength. She could watch his beast all night.
When he was done, he ran his tongue over his teeth and came to lie next to her. He was so warm and she loved to curl up beside him. Brody laid his head next to hers and sighed.
She felt the darkness intensify, like it was weighing down on her. Fallon sprang to her feet to prowl around, searching. She couldn’t hear anything other than the wolves in the woods, but she felt the dark energy of a mage and a Shadowstalker.
Fallon moved back to her spot under the willow tree and shifted back. She stayed on her hands and knees as she cast a shield that would not only keep her and Brody hidden from view, but also keep what she said inside her spell. Brody scooted in front of her and gave her a long look.
“No one can hear us,” she said. “There’s a Shadowstalker and dark mage nearby.”
Brody nodded once.
“I need to get in touch with Hayden and the mages. I’m going to text them real fast. I don’t know what to do about the pack just yet.”
Fallon pulled her phone out and sent a text to Preston, Robert and Hayden. She told them about the dark mage and vampire, and about her shield. Fallon moved to lean against the tree, and Brody walked over to her.
Her phone buzzed with Robert’s reply. With Preston and Hayden. We’ll be there soon.
“They’re coming. I’ll keep the spell up,” she told Brody who barked once. He didn’t sound too happy. She was beginning to think she should have eaten a bigger meal before leaving, but she really hadn’t thought about how long a hunt would last. With Jess’ pack, she always just left when she was tired. She could have gone home earlier but she didn’t want to leave Brody, especially with the Dales nearby.
A wolf went streaking into the clearing, and something in a dark cloak dove on him. She saw the flash of silver as the vampire’s mouth opened. Shit, she couldn’t stay under the cover of a spell when the wolf was pinned by the vampire. Fallon hadn’t bothered to work with the wolves in their full wolf forms because she figured they were more likely to be in their half human forms. She did all of her fighting as human, so she didn’t really know how to train them as a beast.
Fallon dropped the shield, rushed forward, and threw a bolt at the unsuspecting vampire, knowing full well that the wolf would get a jolt. She would deal with the consequences later but she wanted to stop the vampire from ripping into the wolf’s throat.
The vampire was blown off the wolf who yelped. She ran past the werewolf with Brody right behind her, but she didn’t bother to look as she drew her long blade.
She felt the darkness closing in and knew the dark mage had cast a spell. Fallon looked up in time to fling a lightning bolt in the direction of the black orb hurtling her way. Her spell penetrated the dark sphere and tore apart the spell before it could harm anyone. The vampire shot up, saw her blade and ran into the woods. “Chickenshit!” she screamed.
Preston came barreling into the clearing and stopped dead. “Thought you were staying put?”
“Was, but they attacked a wolf.” She turned around to find the wolf on his belly making a sound somewhere between a whimper and a moan. Brody stood over him, ready to protect him. “The mage is nearby. I didn’t get a good look at either. The vamp was wearing a cloak.”
She felt the chanting rather than heard, which tripped her up, but she spun toward the direction of the spell and saw Hayden swing a huge ax through the mages skull with a wet crunch. Fallon lost her appetite.
“Well, that’s one way to deal with him.” She turned back to Brody. “I’ll call Dakota to help the wolf after we deal with the vampire.”
Brody answered with a bark. She hoped she didn’t piss anyone off, but she didn’t want the wolf bitten either.
She was knocked to the ground from behind, a hand twisted in her hair, pulling her head to the side. Before she could do a damned thing, the vampire was torn from her with a growl. She sprung to her feet and found Brody chewing through the vampire’s throat.
Preston grimaced. “I’ve never seen a wolf decapitate a vampire like that.”
“Can I suggest you two go home?” Hayden asked as he stepped into the clearing. “There’s no telling if there are more nearby.”
“I don’t sense anything else out there.” Preston said. “That doesn’t mean they couldn’t be hiding, but these two weren’t. They were coming after whoever they could. They went for the first wolf they found.”
“I don’t know, Hayden.” Fallon said. I’m not opposed to going home, but who’s to say there aren’t more out here? I know what I’m doing, but I didn’t show anyone what to do in wolf form.”
“Your man easily figured out how to kill them.” Preston nodded to bloody remains of the vampire. Brody moved closer to her, and she knelt to rub his head.
Hayden took his enchanted axe and pressed it to the vampire’s bloody throat. Once it sizzled and started to burn, he did the same to the body. “You taught everyone enough. You two would be safer at home.”
Robert came into the clearing. “I can take you two back to Brody’s house, and one of us can bring his truck and the rest of his stuff by later.”
The werewolf she jolted with that spell crawled over. Fallon patted his back. “Sorry, buddy. I didn’t want to hurt you but figured a shock was better than a vampire ripping into you.”
He licked her face. Brody growled and she laughed. The injured wolf trotted into the woods with what sounded like a chuckle. Slater, Jess and Jamie came into the clearing and stopped when they saw the mess. Slater looked at her, then Brody and back at Robert but they were all still in wolf form.
Hayden spoke up. “I think that’s his way of telling you two to go home.”
Slater barked and nodded once.
She hated not being able to simply talk with the wolves, but she agreed. “Fine, but the cars can’t be that far. I’m not sure how Brody’s going to handle translocation.”
“True, but you’re tired, and you have to be hungry. You’ve been out here for hours.” Robert told her.
She looked at Brody and sighed. “Up to you, baby. If he takes us home, we’ll be there in a second. There’s a catch though, you will most likely throw up. Most people do the first time, and some people do nearly every time.” She tossed Preston a look because she knew Preston couldn’t handle traslocation.
Preston just rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure Brody would stomach it for you. He just ate a vampire for you which couldn’t have tasted so great.” He had a point.
* * * *
Being home in a second sounded good to Brody. Clint was the wolf she saved, and he was fine. The dickhead liked pain, so he probably got off on the shock. She may not have taught them to fight in wolf form, but that was something they all could do naturally, and they weren’t the only ones in the woods that night.
Brody walked over to Robert and nudged his leg with his head. Robert looked back at Fallon. “I think that means he’ll deal with the consequences.”
“All right.” Fallon shrugged. “You’ve been warned.” She took Robert’s hand. Robert put his free hand on Brody’s back. Then they were on Brody’s doorstep in the blink of an eye. A wave of nausea hit him. Brody trotted off the porch to heave up his guts, the rabbit, and the vampire blood. He hadn’t been that sick since he was human, and throwing up as a wolf was worse.
Fallon moved to him, and rubbed his back in long strokes. “Sorry. I tried to warn you,” she murmured.
“If anything weird happens out here, get in touch with me. We’ll be right here.”
“Call me if anything happens,” Fallon said as she stood. “I hate leaving things when they could still need me.
Robert gave her a dirty look. “What? So you can come back out there? Isn’t the point of going home to keep you safe and let you get some rest? We’ll take care of them if they come back, but I don’t think they’re going to try.”
“Fine, just remember, I’m perfectly capable of taking them apart.” She turned her back on the mage and walked up the steps to the front door which she opened. She stepped inside and Brody followed as Robert disappeared.
“I’m guessing you’re hungry now.” She smiled down at him before starting for the kitchen.”
He was still feeling a little off, but yeah, he was hungry.
“Come on,” she said as she opened the refrigerator. “I’ll get you some steak, and I’m going to eat something before I go to bed.”
He watched as she pulled all the fixings for a sandwich out of the fridge and the package of steak. She plopped both hunks of meat on a plate for Brody. Then she grabbed a big bowl that she filled with water and set it next to his plate.
She laughed softly. “You know? I feel weird feeding you this way, but I’m not sure what else to do.” Then she threw together a quick sandwich, put things away and sat down on the floor next to him.
When she finished her sandwich, she yawned. “Happy?”
He barked once.
“You can still snuggle me. I trust you.” She stood. “I’m tired though, so unless you need something, I’m heading up.” He barked again and she scratched his head before leaving the room.
He finished quickly, and went up to find her asleep. She had left her clothes on the floor, and was wrapped in the blanket. The full moon would keep him from changing for another hour, so he climbed up beside her, and went to sleep.