Suffering & Salvation by Kenzie James Celia Kyle Read Free Book Online Page B

off and forcing him to stop. Cougar growled lower still, pure menace imbued in the animalistic sound, keeping him still. Her tail flicked of its own accord, anger and protectiveness pushing her toward the edge. Stranger wolf wouldn’t hurt her new mate. Cougar could and would submit, hurt, and even kill, if needed. She’d done it before and she could do it again—if she were left no choice.
    The crackle of leaves and twigs being broken reaching her acute ears caused her to immediately turn her attention to the man coming toward them. Teeth bared, back on her haunches, she was ready to pounce. Cougar dug her claws into the cold-hardened earth, just waiting for the man to make a wrong move.
    The stranger coming into full view made her muscles tense. A single flicker of aggression and she would rip his throat out.
    “Brand?” the unknown wolf called to her mate. Knew his name. But it could be a trick. She had to be alert. Malcolm had tricked her. Hurt her. Locked her up. More times than she cared to remember, and he’d been someone she knew.
    Cougar growled and advanced…cautiously.
    Thick fingers dug into the fur at her nape, grabbing skin and scruffing her, holding her back. She turned her head and nipped, teeth coming inches from the tender skin of her shifted mate restraining her. She jerked her head, mad as hell at Brand for keeping her from protecting them.
    Cougar against this wolf. Cougar would win. Cougar killed Bear.
    “Easy, Cougar. Just my brother. He’s not going to hurt me. Easy now.”
    Some of the tension faded, but nevertheless, she narrowed her eyes at the man, this wolf, Brand’s brother. She sniffed the air, separating the scents of her mate from this stranger. He smelled like her mate, but not as good, not as appealing.
    Cougar finally relaxed and Brand released her. She turned and rubbed her muzzle against him, nearly toppling him with the force. He chuckled and hugged her neck before rolling to his feet from his kneeling position, hand stroking the top of her head while he addressed his brother.
    “Dean, this is Cougar, my Simi’s counterpart.”
    Not ready to shift back as her mate had, Cougar approached the other man, this Dean, sniffing the air as she went, searching for any sign of malice, but she found none. Cougar nudged his outstretched hand and allowed him to pet her, fingers gently combing her fur.
    “Nice to meet you, Cougar.”
    She turned, flicking her tail, showing him she wasn’t afraid of the new wolf, and returned to Brand’s side.
    Dean crossed his arms, staring at Brand. “ Your Simi? Would this be the woman who caused all the trouble? The reason I’ve had to deal all morning with leaders of Pack and Flock? Not to mention, the humans? Hmm?”
    Cougar fixed her gaze on Dean. She wondered if Brand’s brother knew what really happened. When the other man’s met her stare, some of the color left his cheeks. With a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, a gesture quite similar to Brand’s. “Okay, okay. I won’t pass judgment until I have the whole story. Can we go to the house? Talk through some of this?”
    “That work for you, Cougar?” Brand asked, beautiful in his naked glory.
    She sniffed, a bit annoyed, but in the end acquiesced, then nudged Brand’s leg.
    Brand started forward and toward the house, his hand resting on her head, stroking her fur the entire way. The only time they weren’t touching was when he was gathering their clothing along the way. Even that seemed too long.
    Arriving at the patio door, Brand sent Dean on his way. “Go inside, we’ll meet you in the den.”
    Dean arched his brow. “Really?”
    “Yes, really. My mate, my rules. Regardless of your status, until she’s comfortable, she shifts with no one but me.”
    Brand’s brother tilted his head in an almost imperceptible nod of agreement before turning and leaving them to go into the house. Their house. Simi and Cougar had a place to call home again. A great one. Providing her with