Dell lost his grip and also shifted as he rolled . The brothers went at each other and fur flew. Vicious snarling rent the air and twenty minutes later the two brothers lay laughing on the forest floor. Blood trickled from Briggs’ nose and Dell’s lip was cracked. Each bore bruises and scratches and when Brigg’s picked part of a dry leaf off his tongue the brothers erupted into laughter again.
“Christ, you like to cheat in your old age!”
“Old age? ” Dell laughed, “I’m a spring chicken.”
“Yeah,” Briggs lifted a hand to rub his sore bicep, “a chicken at least.”
Dell sat up then hauled himself to his feet before extending a hand to help his brother up . “What’s wrong? Did this big bad wolf hurt more than just your body?”
Briggs frowned at his brother, but accepted his hand. “I assure you my pride is intact.” He dusted leaves off himself when he stood. “Besides, I had to let you win. You’re the Alpha.”
Dell winked at his brother then rolled his head from side to side. “I needed that.”
Briggs slapped him on the back, “Anytime.”
“Same time tomorrow?” Dell challenged.
“Hell no,” Briggs rubbed his lower back gingerly. “You better call Pony he’s younger and has more to prove. I’m getting to o old for this shit!”
The brothers both laughed as the y headed back toward the compound.
Chapter 12
Chloe had just finished showering and dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and t-shirt . She’d spent the morning at the local rec center gymnasium. While the facility was cramped and dingy, it was suitable for her needs, plus she didn’t have to worry about any more wolf encounters.
She was descending the stairs when the door bell rang. She paused at the landing wondering who could be calling . When the bell sounded again , she descended the last few steps to jerk the door open . Shock froze her in place as she stared at the woman she knew to be Dell Blackbird’s mother.
Chloe simply stood and stared slack-jawed at the elderly woman before she finally found her tongue. “ Uhh , forgive me.” Chloe stood back holding the door wide, “Please come in.”
Mama smiled but remained outside. “You know who I am?”
Chloe nodded, “Yes.”
“And you know my son Dell?”
Chloe stiffened and bit out a nother clipped, “Yes.”
“Good,” the older woman’s dark eyes crinkled in the corners when she smiled, “I’m too old to futz around , s o I’ll just say what needs to be said.” She lifted her head and pursed her lips a mome nt before she began, “My people, my family, we’re descendents of wolves. Shape shifters. Some call us skin walkers. You’ve heard the rumors?”
Chloe merely nodded.
“ We live in packs and e ach pack has a leader, an Alpha , and it is this Alpha’s responsibility to act in a manner that will both protect and strengthen his people. ”
“All due respect Mrs. Blackbird , but why are you telling me this?”
Mama sobered then, seemingly drawing to her full height , slight as it was . “Because Dell is the le ader to our people. My son is A lpha to our clan . They are not rumors. We are shifters, ” Mama leveled her eyes on Chloe, “and you are my son’s mate.”
Chloe’s eyes widened and she took a cautious step back, “ Look, I don’t want any trouble. ” Chloe peeked over the woman’s shoulder wondering if she were alone. This has to be a joke. “You should go .”
“I’ll go, but I want you to know that his claiming is going to b e stron ger with you because he is the A lpha.” Mama let her eyes slide up and down Chloe’s lithe frame. “You must be very strong to have resisted to this point.” Mama began to turn then, “But it cannot last young la dy. No matter how much you pray it to the contrary, your hate will give way to love.” Mama stopped to eye Chloe suspiciously, “I suspect it’s begun already.”
Chloe’s blush
“Christ, you like to cheat in your old age!”
“Old age? ” Dell laughed, “I’m a spring chicken.”
“Yeah,” Briggs lifted a hand to rub his sore bicep, “a chicken at least.”
Dell sat up then hauled himself to his feet before extending a hand to help his brother up . “What’s wrong? Did this big bad wolf hurt more than just your body?”
Briggs frowned at his brother, but accepted his hand. “I assure you my pride is intact.” He dusted leaves off himself when he stood. “Besides, I had to let you win. You’re the Alpha.”
Dell winked at his brother then rolled his head from side to side. “I needed that.”
Briggs slapped him on the back, “Anytime.”
“Same time tomorrow?” Dell challenged.
“Hell no,” Briggs rubbed his lower back gingerly. “You better call Pony he’s younger and has more to prove. I’m getting to o old for this shit!”
The brothers both laughed as the y headed back toward the compound.
Chapter 12
Chloe had just finished showering and dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and t-shirt . She’d spent the morning at the local rec center gymnasium. While the facility was cramped and dingy, it was suitable for her needs, plus she didn’t have to worry about any more wolf encounters.
She was descending the stairs when the door bell rang. She paused at the landing wondering who could be calling . When the bell sounded again , she descended the last few steps to jerk the door open . Shock froze her in place as she stared at the woman she knew to be Dell Blackbird’s mother.
Chloe simply stood and stared slack-jawed at the elderly woman before she finally found her tongue. “ Uhh , forgive me.” Chloe stood back holding the door wide, “Please come in.”
Mama smiled but remained outside. “You know who I am?”
Chloe nodded, “Yes.”
“And you know my son Dell?”
Chloe stiffened and bit out a nother clipped, “Yes.”
“Good,” the older woman’s dark eyes crinkled in the corners when she smiled, “I’m too old to futz around , s o I’ll just say what needs to be said.” She lifted her head and pursed her lips a mome nt before she began, “My people, my family, we’re descendents of wolves. Shape shifters. Some call us skin walkers. You’ve heard the rumors?”
Chloe merely nodded.
“ We live in packs and e ach pack has a leader, an Alpha , and it is this Alpha’s responsibility to act in a manner that will both protect and strengthen his people. ”
“All due respect Mrs. Blackbird , but why are you telling me this?”
Mama sobered then, seemingly drawing to her full height , slight as it was . “Because Dell is the le ader to our people. My son is A lpha to our clan . They are not rumors. We are shifters, ” Mama leveled her eyes on Chloe, “and you are my son’s mate.”
Chloe’s eyes widened and she took a cautious step back, “ Look, I don’t want any trouble. ” Chloe peeked over the woman’s shoulder wondering if she were alone. This has to be a joke. “You should go .”
“I’ll go, but I want you to know that his claiming is going to b e stron ger with you because he is the A lpha.” Mama let her eyes slide up and down Chloe’s lithe frame. “You must be very strong to have resisted to this point.” Mama began to turn then, “But it cannot last young la dy. No matter how much you pray it to the contrary, your hate will give way to love.” Mama stopped to eye Chloe suspiciously, “I suspect it’s begun already.”
Chloe’s blush
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