Wolf's Bane (Shifted) (12 page)

“
Is that why he named you his heir?”

“
As you know, he had no children. My brothers and Lexi became his family. Our parents are more than just close. My dad and Drew are like brothers. When Aiden and I were born Alpha, it was decided that one of us would take the Alpha position eventually.”

“Why you and not Aiden?”

“Aiden and I might look alike, but we are very different. “

“
He’s the serious one,” Aiden said as he appeared in the doorway.

“I was wondering why it was so
quiet. Thanks for this,” Bryce said clutching his brother in a man hug.

“
Anything for Drew’s niece. Hey gorgeous.”

“Hey
Aiden,” Ashley said shyly.

“Did
I mention Aiden is also a ladies man? Listen brother, I love you, but don’t hit on my girl,”

“
Your girl?” Aiden raised an eyebrow looking from Ashley to Bryce and back again.

“
Yes. Where are the others?”

“Matt’s
somewhere around here, and Brendan’s doing what he does best. He has the whole place wired. If anything bigger than a squirrel gets within two miles of the place, we will know about it.”

“Good.
Ash, are you tired? Our room is at the top of the stairs. First door on the left.”

“Our room?
” Aiden blurted.

“I
am kind of tired. I’m sure you and Aiden have things to discuss.” Ashley said nervously. She could see that Aiden had about a thousand questions he wanted to ask his brother.

“I’ll wake you for dinner then.” Bryce said leaning down to kiss her.

Bryce watched as Ashley made her way up the stairs, turning back to Aiden only when she was out of sight.

“Okay
, I knew you had the hots for her, but when did
this
happen?” Aiden said waving his hand in the air.

“Yesterday
, after I took her to the clinic. When she got the call from her friend, she kind of had a meltdown.”

“I’ll bet she did
, but that doesn’t answer how you’re now sharing a room.”

“I’m sharing everything
, Aiden. Ashley is my mate.”

“
Whoa, seriously?”

“
Yes, seriously. Trust me when I tell you it’s intense. The moment I touched her, I knew.”

“Mate
fever?”

“
And then some.”

“Better
you than me. Don’t get me wrong. She seems like a very nice girl. “

“
Someday, brother, you’ll understand.”

“I
don’t think I’ll ever understand, Bryce. I like playing the field. I can’t imagine the instant connection they say the mate fever causes.”

“I
can’t say as I understand it either, but it’s real.”

“
Well then it’s even more important that we take down Bane,” Aiden grinned

“
I’m glad you understand. Nothing can happen to her Aiden. It would kill me.”

14

Ashley had been ready for a fight since she left the Bane pack. She had been expecting Warren to show up at any moment or for Dan and Julian to make a move to capture her.  What she hadn’t expected was the waiting. The waiting was worse.

Brendan had set up monitors that showed the surrounding area
. So far, the most excitement had been a family of deer that wandered through.

“What are they waiting for?”
She breathed an exasperated breath. It had been three days since they arrived at the lake house. Although her mate and his brothers tried not to show it, they were going stir crazy as well. Other than Bryce and Aiden, none of the other men could shift and run without alerting whoever might be watching that there were more than just Ashley and Bryce there. The only reason Aiden even got to run was they were identical, even in wolf form.

“
They are smart,” Matt said watching the monitors for any movement.

“
Smart? You almost sound like you admire them?”

“No. not even close, Ashley.
Making us wait is smart, even if they think they have not been detected. It is wise for them to give us time to get comfortable, lull the target into a false sense of security. Give them some rope, so to speak. The more relaxed you are, the easier it would be for them to surprise you. I have to think they don’t know we are on to them.”

“
Maybe they aren’t even there?” Ashley groaned. If all this waiting had been for nothing, she was going to scream.

“
Oh they are there. I’d say there are definitely more than one, and they are waiting on the North side.” Matt smiled.

“How
can you tell? I mean, I haven’t seen a thing .”

“That’s
what makes me say that they are there.”

“
You lost me, Matt.”

“Brendan has this place wired
. Between the five of us, plus you, of course, we would see them if they came into view, right.”

“Right
.”

“So
we can safely say they are not in range.”

“
But you say they are there.”

“
Ashley, you have to look beyond the obvious signs. The North side shows subtle differences. In that sector, we have seen nothing, no birds, no squirrels, not even a field mouse.”

“So
?”

“
So, that’s not normal for these woods. The only thing that would keep the wildlife away is if they sensed a predator.”

“A wolf.
” She was starting to see now.

“I’d say the
re is more than one close to the boarder of the property, the North side. Here, where it’s the quietest. Their wolf stink has to be keeping the wildlife away.”

“Bro, why are you wasting that kind of talent on construction?” Bryce exclai
med while clapping his brother Matt on the back.

“Someone has to make sure Colin doesn’t accidently saw a finger off or something,”

“Hey, I resent that,” Colin whined.

“No
, seriously Matt, you should consider it.”

“Yeah
, when Bryce is Alpha, you could be his guard, maybe even his second.” Brendan said fiddling with some sort of gadget.

“I’ll think about it,” Matt said quietly. The answer surprised Bryce. He knew his brother had thought about becoming an enforcer at one time
, but he hadn’t realized he thought about it recently.

“
Why didn’t you consider it sooner?” Bryce asked. Matt was a natural.

“Mom
.”

“What
does Mom have to do with it?”

“Bryce
, when Drew named you his heir, Mom … well, let’s just say mom kind of freaked out. Alpha is a big job. It’s also risky.”

“I am aware.”

“What you’re not aware of is she also worries that Aiden will be your second. Then, when I mentioned being an enforcer, I thought she’d have a cow.”

“She’s afraid for any of her children.
That’s normal,” Ashley pointed out.

“I just didn’t want to give Mom one more thing to worry about.”

“Matt, Mom is the one that sent you and the others here with me. She’s a Beta’s wife. She knows the risk. Sure, she’ll worry, but if it’s what you want to do, then that’s what you should be doing.”

“I
know. You’re right. Maybe after this is all over.”

“Do you want me to talk
to her? I could say I need my little brother to have my back.” Matt knew Bryce was trying to make a joke.

“Right
, throw in words like little brother, and I’m sure she’ll agree.”

“
You’re a grown man, Matt. You don’t need her to agree. I’m pretty sure she didn’t agree with me taking the Alpha position at first. You being an enforcer will grow on her.”

“M
aybe you’re right,” Matt beamed. “I will consider it.”

“
Good, because I need my little brother to have my back,” Bryce smirked.

“
Shut up,” Matt said rolling his eyes.

“
Hey guys, if the love fest is over, I think we have something.” Aiden said as he squinted at the monitor.

“
North side. What did I tell you?” Matt was already zooming in on the fussy image. “Brendan, can you clear this up?”

“Sure
give me a second,” Brendan said tapping on his lap top. There, is it better.”

“
A little better yes. Two figures… no wait, three on the Northern edge.”

“Could
it be one of Cheveyo’s guards?” Ashley asked as her heart raced. She had been complaining to herself about the boredom, but now she wanted it back.

“
Nope, they have trackers. If it was one of Maverick’s people, this light would flash green.”

“Hold
on. There’s more. I see five now.”

“
Shit,” Bryce muttered. “Call Maverick. Tell him to have his men move in but not to engage until they are closer. Brendan, can you tell me anymore?”

“
Not yet, but they are headed this way. It’s still pretty dark, so they will have to be closer to see their faces.”

“
Bryce, maybe it’s just hunters or something?” Ashley suggested. She was hoping it was hunters. If it wasn’t, then more than just Dan and Julian had come to the party.

“I Know
, Ash. That’s why I have Maverick’s men standing down for now.”

“
Oh,” she squeaked. Bryce was in Alpha mode. As much as she didn’t like the situation, seeing him in action was a beautiful thing.

“Ash
, can you tell if these are Bane’s men?” Brendan said swinging the monitor with the enhanced images toward her.

Ashley studied the hazy figures. Three taller
, two shorter. As the images became clearer she screamed.

“What
?” Bryce said hovering over her to look.