Prowl (Winter Pass Wolves Book 3) (5 page)

C
hase peeled his eyes open
, licking his dry lips. It took him a moment to focus his vision, but his sister’s delighted squeal rang in his ears as he sat up in his bed. Brooke flung her arms around him, making him grit his teeth at the pain in his left arm and ribs, a thousand daggers arcing through his whole body.

“Don’t you ever, ever scare me like that again, asshole,” Brooke whispered into his ear. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”

“Avery?” he croaked in response, hugging her back with his good arm.

Brooke snorted and pulled back.

“It’s the first time she’s even dared to take a shower in a couple of days,” Brooke said. “I’m sure she’ll be back shortly—”

Chase wasn’t listening to a single word, because Avery had appeared in the doorway of his bedroom. Her hair fell in damp waves, her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the shower. She wore simple cotton pajamas, probably Penny’s by the look of them, but Chase had never welcomed a sight more in all his days.

Brooke turned to see Avery standing there, and rose with a hefty sigh.

“Fiiiiiine,” Brooke said. “I’m sure Pax will be more interested in my company anyway.”

Chase snagged Brooke’s hand and tugged her down, kissing her cheek.

“Later,” he promised, but already his eyes were back on Avery.

“Are Pax and I this gross?” Brooke asked Avery on her way out.

Avery just shrugged, making a beeline for Chase. She let out a stifled sob as she collapsed on the bed next to him. Chase gathered her in his arms, burying his nose in her clean, damp hair. He held her silently for several long moments, just dragging in her delicate feminine scent and trying to believe that it was real, that they’d taken down the Hunters and lived.

That they could be together now, nothing between them and the rest of their lives.

“I thought—” Avery said, her voice breaking.

“I know,” Chase said, kissing the tender spot at the corner of her jaw. “Me too, honey. Me too.”

She wound up her hand and smacked his chest, pulling back and scrunching up her face.

“That hurt,” Chase groused.

“Good! You did
not
follow the plan! You almost got killed!”

“Speak for yourself. If I recall correctly,
you
were supposed to wait until Harlan tear gassed the War Room to take down your uncle. But noooooo, you had to almost get us
both
killed.”

“You weren’t supposed to get captured!” Avery spat back. “Aren’t Marines like basically ninjas or something?”

“I got caught on purpose,” Chase said with a grin that he knew would only frustrate her further. “How else was I supposed to swoop in and save your ass?”

“You— I—” Avery stuttered, looking furious.

“You’re welcome,” Chase said, wincing when she slapped his chest again. “Easy on the broken ribs, honey.”

Avery’s instantly apologetic expression made him chuckle. Avery mellowed after that, her anger abated.

“God, I really thought you were dead,” she sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“Me too, kind of. It hurt bad enough,” he said, glancing over at his other shoulder. It was bandaged up now, but the spot where the bullet grazed him hurt like nothing else he could remember.

“I want the same promise as Brooke,” Avery said, taking his hand and squeezing his fingers. “Promise me that you’ll never, ever do something like that again.”

“You first,” Chase challenged, arching a brow.

“Gladly!” Avery said. “I hope we are boring for the rest of our lives! Nothing but jogs in the woods and Netflix and bran muffins for us from here on out.”

Chase had to laugh at that, despite his busted ribs.

“Fine by me,” he said. “I’m not having any more adventures for a while.”

“I know what you mean,” Avery mused. “I don’t even know where to start, or how to feel… the fact that it’s all done with is overwhelming.”

“I guess you better get used to it, because I’m not letting you go anytime soon. We’re in it for the long haul now, A.”

Avery glanced up at him with a grin.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You and me forever. That’s a promise.”

Chase held Avery close, kissing the top of her head and sighing with contentment. This feeling right here, this must be what happened when you got everything you’d ever wanted.

W
hat would
you sacrifice to save what you love most?
Three rugged, dominant bear shifters are about to find out...

Dark powers stir the shadows in New Orleans' paranormal underworld. A sociopathic Voodoo king launches a quest for power that may bring the world to its knees. Rather than watch her proud city crumble, ancient priestess Mere Marie forms a plan.

There's just one catch
: not just any group of men can defend New Orleans. She needs the fiercest, most valiant bear shifters she can find. Mere Marie will have to bend the laws of time, going back in history to find her warriors.

A Highland Laird, desperate to save his struggling clan. A powerful young sorcerer whose magic brings tragedy into his life. A mysterious champion, betrayed and left to die in a dark cave. Mere Marie offers a single chance at redemption,
but at what price?

Witness the beginning of the Alpha Guardians, three mighty shifters sworn to protect and serve.
Pulse-pounding action, steamy romance, and sultry bayou nights await...

V
ivian is an erotic romance writer
, author of the Alpha Guardians, Winter Pass Wolves, Red Lodge Bears, Werewolf’s Harem, and Louisiana Shifters series.

Vivian has been an autodidact from a young age, and to this day she'll read anything she can get her hands on - back of the cereal box, billboards, whatever. When she's not reading or writing romantic stories, Vivian likes making drinks from her Trader Vic's cocktail recipe book, snuggling her badly behaved dog, and drinking great coffee on rainy wraparound porches in New Orleans.

Vivian really enjoys her work, and is always excited to see what's in store next for her beloved characters.

For more information….

• @viviankwood
  
• vivianwoodromance