Brandy wanted to stay in the warm embrace of Reardon’s strong arms for a long, long time, but he was right. They’d both attacked—and made bleed—their only means of getting back to the sanctuary, her wolves, her family, her home, her time. They needed to find a way to zap themselves back. Quickly.

“How do we find Flidae? If she could beam out of here, she can’t be dead.” Brandy released Reardon and nudged the fallen sword with her boot tip. She jumped back when a flash erupted from the sword and it completely disintegrated into a pile of black ash.

Reardon grabbed her arm and pulled her up against him. “Flidae might not be done with us yet. Be careful.” He bent and poked a tentative finger at the violet cloak the goddess had left behind. When he did so, the garment shimmered and moved as if it were alive.

“Get away from it.” Brandy pulled Reardon to his feet. She didn’t want to see him suffer any more than he already had. She wanted to get him home. Get him home and keep him.

Forever.

The cloak slowed its movement then changed from the violet color to something black and gray. Fabric swirled, a blurry pinwheel of motion. When it stopped, a pair of black jeans and a gray T-shirt were left in place of the cloak.

Brandy and Reardon stared at the clothing as if it were going to suddenly rise up from the stone floor on its own and attack them.

“I realize you desperately need those,” Brandy whispered, “but I’m afraid of what putting them on might do to you.”

“It won’t do anything.”

Brandy’s heart nearly leaped right out of her chest at Flidae’s voice behind them. Instinctively, she stood between the goddess and Reardon. She wasn’t letting Flidae harm her werewolf. Not happening.

“You’re not dead.” Brandy’s voice crackled a little and she cleared her throat, wishing she had some magic of her own that would transport them back to the sanctuary before Flidae had the chance to toy with them further.

“Goddesses are eternal, mortal. While you can temporarily incapacitate us, you can’t kill us.” Flidae was fully restored. Not a trace of blood anywhere though Brandy had seen Reardon’s wolf teeth tear into her leg and she’d skewered Flidae with that sword as if she were a cube of meat ready for the grill. The goddess even wore a new cloak. This one was a rose color and appeared to be as soft as a rose petal too.

“You live forever?” Brandy asked.

“Live might not be the correct word.” Flidae floated deeper into the cell. “A better word would be exist. We exist forever.” The goddess’s eyes darted to Reardon. “I live through what I command. When my wolves don’t act honorably—as in they change their men without consent—I feel that betrayal as well. When you lead wolves onto the battlefield and massacre the enemies of your employers, I feel that wrath, that hatred, that fierce clinging to the last shreds of life. I could tolerate when it was just you out there, killing your way through your life, as a human. Once part of your army was wolves and you and those wolves killed, however, it was too much. Too much for even a goddess to shoulder. My protection binds us. I punished and scattered all of you to spare myself the grief.” Flidae closed her eyes for a quiet moment. “I feel all those emotions, and when you… love, I feel that too. I’m not supposed to, but I do.”

Reardon regarded Flidae for a stoic moment. Her expression gave her a faraway look, as if she were somewhere else, with someone else. Who was she thinking of?

When she shook her head and pointed to the clothes, Reardon retrieved them. He put them on and stepped in front of Brandy. After lowering to his knees before the goddess, he grabbed Brandy’s wrist and gently tugged her down into position beside him. His head was bent low, so Brandy did the same.

Her gaze zeroed in on Flidae’s feet. Hooves. The goddess had hooves instead of feet.

“You’re willing to take on paws, human?”

Brandy flicked her gaze up to Flidae’s face. “If it means I get to be with Reardon longer, I get to be with my son longer, then yes, I’m willing to be changed.” She was destined for this to happen to her. She knew that now.

Flidae turned her attention to Reardon. “And you truly want to make her happy? It’s not just what you will get out of the union?”

Reardon squeezed Brandy’s hand which he now held. “I only want to please this woman beside me. I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted. Her son too.”

Flidae glanced from Reardon to Brandy and back to Reardon. Brandy would have paid big bucks to read the goddess’s mind. Was she going to spare them? Was she going to allow them to be happy?

Or were these their final moments together? Their final moments period?

Flidae rubbed her thigh where Reardon had bitten her then her hand grazed over where Brandy had impaled her with the sword. “I witnessed firsthand what you two are willing to do to protect each other. It may surpass the protection I offer all the wild things. You were able to injure me and spill actual blood because I got too caught up in your very human emotions, your mortal reactions to one another.” She looked at Brandy. “You said love was something worthy. I have never experienced love, but have witnessed it between the two of you. I won’t deny you something so powerful.”

Brandy wanted to pop up to her feet in excitement, but Reardon held her firmly in a kneeling position.

“Thank you, Flidae. We are humbled by your gift,” he said as his hand squeezed Brandy’s again.

“See that you don’t waste the gift, wolf.” Flidae eyed Brandy. “I suppose I should say wolves. Turn her and you shall both be returned to her time if that’s what you choose.”

Now Reardon dragged Brandy up to standing. “What of my men? Shall they be granted access back here?”

Flidae had turned toward the cell door and was on her way out. She paused and glanced over her shoulder at Reardon. “They shall be granted access when they complete their own journeys.”

She left and neither of them moved for a long beat of silence.

“So we get to live?” Brandy leaned her head on Reardon’s shoulder then looked up at him.

“Aye, we do.” He turned those beautiful green-gold eyes her way. “We get to live our days together. Loving each other.” He caressed her cheek with his fingers, and she couldn’t resist pushing her face into his warm palm.

“That sounds perfect to me.” Brandy brought Reardon’s hand up to her lips and kissed his knuckles.

“Are you sure you want to be turned? Take your time with this decision. It can’t be undone.”

Brandy stepped closer, slid her hands up Reardon’s chest, and clasped them at the back of his neck. When his arms came around her waist, answering him was the simplest thing in the world.

“There is nothing I want more than to be a werewolf, Reardon. It will be the best of both worlds for me. I can still be the wildlife biologist who oversees wolf residents at Silver Moon and raises Dylan, but I can also fraternize with the pack as I’ve never been able to. You can communicate with them in wolf form, can’t you?” She knew she probably sounded like a super excited dork, but the potential to speak to her wolves exhilarated her.

“Aye. I can speak to them in wolf and human forms.” He laughed when Brandy’s eyes widened.

“Score! I’ve spent all these years researching lycanthropy and now that I can become a shifter myself, I can’t refuse.” She hugged him. “Plus, I get you in the deal too. Winning all around.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, but I think I’m getting the best deal here. I get a home, a pack, a son, and the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Spending our lives together is like a fantasy.”

“Let’s get started on that fantasy, shall we?”

Brandy corralled her hair onto one shoulder, baring her neck to Reardon. When his pupils zipped open, only a thin, golden glow surrounding them, she shivered in anticipation. She felt like prey again. Happy prey. Eager prey.

Reardon made slow work of it. He took his time dropping light kisses along her shoulder and around her neck. His tongue glided over her skin, making her entire body quiver. He slid his hand into her hair, cradling her head and pressing his nose to her ear. His teeth closed gently over her earlobe then he tugged. In the next second he was soothing the area with his tongue, his lips.

Brandy wanted to simultaneously melt into him and jump around like an excited kangaroo. The conflicting sensations had her groaning with need.

“Reardon, please.” The more he toyed with her, the more aroused she became. “I can’t take anymore.”

A raspy chuckle rumbled in his throat which she silenced with an aggressive, fiery kiss. She owned his mouth, her hands kneading his shoulder blades while she pressed her front to his as his arousal sought to bury itself deep within her. She wanted nothing more.

Well… maybe there was one thing she wanted more.

“Turn me. Now,” she pleaded.

Her eyes widened as his canines extended and he ran his tongue over the sharp points.

“I have a feeling,” he moved in closer, “you’re going to be delicious.”

She was more than happy to be his snack. When his teeth pierced her flesh, she let out a small cry, but the pain was gone before her body had time to register it. Her blood soared in her veins, racing to all points like a red hot current. She threw her head back, arched her spine, and gripped Reardon’s shoulders as they both sunk to the stone floor of the cell. Her breathing was labored and the bite area was slick with her blood when Reardon retracted his canines, but she didn’t care.

She. Felt. Amazing.

“Brandy? Are you all right, lass?”

“All right? I’m wonderful.” Her entire body was a tuning fork, vibrating, sensitive, aroused.

“The change must be different in females then.” Reardon’s brows lowered. “When I changed my men, they were not feeling as you are now.”

“Soul mate, remember?” She pointed to herself. “That bite was meant for your soul mate. That’s probably the difference.”

And she was overjoyed to be his soul mate.

“I need to be inside you,” Reardon whispered hoarsely. “Please.”

All Brandy could do was nod as Reardon unzipped her shorts and slid his hands in to cup her bottom. In mere moments, he had those shorts down around her ankles and she stepped out of them. He nearly ripped her tank top in two as he yanked it from her torso. It landed in a heap by her shorts and she set to work on ridding him of the pants and T-shirt he’d only donned a few minutes ago.

She took a beat to look at him, to relish in his muscled perfection. Even with her blood staining his lips, she wanted him. Maybe more so. Was that normal?

None of this is normal.

But shit, Reardon was exactly what she wanted.

“Did I hurt you?” Reardon ran his fingers over what must have been two bite marks on her neck.

“No.” Brandy cut a path over his pectoral muscles with her fingertips. “I liked being bitten.”

Reardon grinned. “Good to know, fairy lass.”

In one quick motion, he swept her up by the backs of her thighs and she automatically clamped her legs around him. He settled himself inside her, easing in inch by precious inch until she was so full of him. So gloriously full.

Rocking gently at first, he increased the pace and soon she was moving in time with him, synchronized, thrust for thrust, climbing impossibly high in the circle of each other’s arms.

“I love you so much,” Reardon said as he shuddered inside her, causing the most amazing sensations to ripple throughout her body, touching her soul somehow.

Soul mates. Yes, that was what they were. The very definition.

“I love you too.” She tightened her hold on him as she crested over the wave he’d built between them and floated into pure bliss.

He slowly lowered them so he could sit on the edge of the stone bench in the cell. Resting his forehead against hers and breathing raggedly while she sat in his lap, still surrounding him, Reardon said, “Let’s go home.”

****

Was there anything more beautiful than his soul mate wearing his bite marks proudly on her neck? He’d finally claimed her and nothing would ever tear them apart. Nothing.

“Why aren’t we zapping back to the sanctuary?” Brandy asked.

Reardon detected the change in her heartbeat, the increased rhythm of her breathing, the somewhat wild look in her blue eyes.

“You haven’t turned yet.” He smoothed his hand over her long red waves of hair. “I can’t wait to see your wolf form.”

The smile Brandy gave him could have set an ocean on fire. Full of excitement, desire, allegiance to him. He’d never felt so completely bonded with anyone. He could feel her.

“How long will it take for me to shift?” Brandy held her arms out as if expecting to see wolf legs.

Reardon cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. The blue was now electric, softly glowing, and intense. “Judging by the light in your eyes, I’d say we’ll be on our way in seconds.”

“Really?” Brandy gripped his biceps. “My eyes are glowing like yours do?”

“Aye. A brilliant shade of blue, fairy lass. They’re lovely.”

Brandy leaned forward and pressed her lips to Reardon’s. In the next moment, she stumbled off his lap and wrapped her arms around her stomach, an expression of pain scrunching up her face.

“What is it?” He stood, gripped her shoulders, and found her skin hot to the touch. “Aye, it’s the change. Are you ready?”

Brandy nodded then let out a cry as she sunk to her knees.

Reardon winced, thinking about the stone floor connecting with her kneecaps. Soon small pains like that won’t mean anything to her. For once in his life, he felt as if being a werewolf was, in fact, a gift. A gift he was able to share with her.

“It’s happening!” Brandy looked up at him, her blue eyes on full glow now.

After a powerful roar, her flesh rippled, her bones crackled, and gorgeous copper-colored fur covered her wolf form. Her eyes remained blue and her new body was lithe, sleek, and fit. She stole his breath away with her beauty.

Brandy shook out her body then wagged her tail at him. That was all the invitation he needed. He shifted and immediately rubbed noses with her.

This is amazing. Her thoughts rang out loud and clear in his own mind.

Wolf looks good on you. That earned him a sloppy lick on his jagged ear.

We can hear each other? She rubbed along his side.

We are more connected than two people can ever be. Body, mind, soul. Reardon couldn’t stop looking at her. You are truly a sight, fairy lass.

Brandy turned in a circle as if trying to see herself. When she pressed her nose to his again, the stone cell around them flashed out of existence and was replaced by a field of crunchy, dead grass.

Where are we? he asked.

Again, she turned in a circle. The sun reflected off her fur and got caught in those marvelous eyes.

Hank Swift’s field just past the sanctuary’s borders.

Reardon scanned the trees nearby, happy that home was so close. But first…

We’ve taken care of my problem, he thought. Now let’s take care of yours.

He took off at a run. Brandy matched his pace, and he’d never felt so free, so perfectly in sync, so fortunate.

Soon an unkempt farmhouse came into view. The roof was ready to cave in and the wraparound porch veered away from where it should have been secured to the house. Though flower pots flanked the front steps, nothing green and summer-vibrant grew in them.

No wonder he’s miserable, right? Brandy thought.

Reardon nuzzled her neck, loving the pure smell of his mate. He led them—cautiously—around the house and to the equally decrepit barn where it sounded as if someone was using a handsaw.

Follow my lead, Reardon thought.

Using his paw, he pushed open the askew barn door. After a quick search to see if any guns or traps were in range, he eyed Brandy then let loose a ferocious bark.

Hank shouted, dropped his saw, and whirled around from the piece of wood he was cutting. He too looked around the barn for something to use as a weapon, but Brandy rushed forward with her own vicious snarling. The fur around her neck stood out like a lion’s mane and she bared absolutely every one of her teeth as he had.

All the color drained from Hank’s face, leaving him a nice shade of gray. Corpse gray. He attempted to flail his arms and shoo them away, but his attempt was stilted by outright fear.

This is fun! Brandy increased the frequency of her barking and rose to her hind legs a few times.

The two of them circled around the stunned man, each revolution bringing them closer.

Hank backed up until he hit the worktable behind him. “Where’s that stupid sheriff now? I’ll see that Silver Moon Sanctuary is shut down for good. Nothing but a bunch of rabid dogs over there.”

As soon as those words left his lips, Reardon shifted to human and Brandy did the same.

“Did he call us dogs?” Reardon said to an open-mouthed Hank. “No, I don’t think you’ll be shutting anything down. I think you’ll be packing your bags and moving to another location.”

“You don’t want to live next door to wolves that are much more than wolves, do you, Hank?” Brandy’s naked form distracted Reardon, but when he looked to Hank, the man didn’t seem to notice her incredible body. In fact, the only thing he did was wet himself.

“What are you?” Hank whispered.

“Your worst nightmare,” Reardon said as he lunged forward and grabbed Hank around the neck.

The older man sputtered and clawed at Reardon’s grip on him. “P-please, please. D-don’t hurt me.”

“If you leave this place and we never see you again,” Brandy said, coming up next to Reardon and giving Hank a look of pure disdain, “we won’t tear you, limb from limb. You’ve injured my wolves for the last time, Hank. No more guns. No more traps. No more you.” She poked her index finger into his chest at each period.

“And if we do see you around here,” Reardon added, tightening his hold, “it will be the last time anyone sees you. Got it?”

Hank nodded, speechless by this point. He had barely blinked through the conversation and looked as if he wanted to cry.

Reardon regarded him. The old Reardon McAlator would have simply charged ahead and torn the old curmudgeon to shreds. He knew Brandy wouldn’t approve of that, however, nor would Flidae.

You are learning, wolf, Flidae said from the distant recesses of his mind.

He’d learned so much already. About family. About pack.

About love.

“I’ll leave. I’ll put out a for sale sign today.” Hank’svoice crackled and Reardon felt a little bad. Just a little. “I don’t know why I’ve stayed here this long anyway. It hasn’t been the same without my wife. My livestock’s gone. I have nothing here.”

“Time to build your life somewhere fresh, Hank,” Brandy said. “Away from my wolves.”

Convinced Hank had read their message, Reardon shifted again to wolf form to drive the point home.

“And if you try to tell anyone what you’ve seen here today, consider what they will do with a crazy old man who spouts tales of wolves turning into humans.” Brandy shifted as well and bolted to the tree line after Reardon.

Staying in wolf form, they followed the sanctuary’s perimeter fence to the entrance gates.

We need clothes, Brandy thought.

Stay here. Reardon darted off to his secret stash of supplies and returned clothed in human form. “I’ll get you something to wear at the house and see if anyone’s here.”

Brandy sat on her haunches and he couldn’t resist scratching her between the ears as she had done to him so many times. She pushed her nose into his thigh then rubbed her body against his leg. She slithered around him, something of a purr humming in her throat.

“I feel exactly the same way, fairy lass.” He dropped a kiss on her muzzle and opened the gates. “Be right back.”

He jogged to the house, scanning for anyone who might be around. So far he’d only come across a few of the wolves and could smell the others heading in his direction.

Give me a few minutes, my friends. He had to get Brandy’s clothes to her first.

After rummaging around in her bedroom closet, relishing in her heavenly scent, he returned to her at the gates with a pair of denim shorts and a Silver Moon tank top. She shifted to human, and he had a moment to appreciate her nakedness, then she got dressed.

“Is anyone home?” Brandy gestured to the house with her chin.

“I didn’t see anyone, but maybe Dylan and Meredith are at Meredith’s.” He held his hand out to her. “Let’s check it out.”

Brandy didn’t hesitate. She stuck her hand in his and let him lead her to Meredith’s cabin.

When they got to Meredith’s front door, Reardon tugged on Brandy’s hand to slow her down. “How much do we tell them?”

“They can definitely handle it. Dylan has grown up on comic books. When he saw the video of you shifting, he was psyched and called you a superhero. He and Meredith will understand why I wanted to be like you. Besides, they already love you in wolf form. It won’t be long until they love your human form too.”

Reardon couldn’t help smiling at that. “I had a connection to the boy and your mother as soon as I met them. I believe the term soul mates means much more than finding one’s life partner. It means finding all those with whom your heart bonds.”

“Those people that complete you. I like that.” Brandy grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt and pulled him in close. “And I love being counted among your soul mates.”

He captured her mouth with his and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her as close as possible while they were still clothed. Hopefully, there would be un-clothed times later on tonight. He was really fond of un-clothed times.

“I’m not going to get sick of that.” Brandy brushed her fingers against his lips. “Ever.”

“Good, because we have a long time together ahead of us.”

Brandy clapped, smiling widely at him. How did he get so lucky? Banishment from Ireland had brought him unimaginable treasures. He only wished he could be sure his men enjoyed the same fate.

Maybe you can. Flidae’s voice was faint in his mind.

He was about to ask how when the door to Meredith’s house ripped open and Dylan came barreling out. The boy threw himself at his mother, nearly knocking her off her feet.

“Mom! You’re back!” He stepped back to look at her then buried his face against her chest again.

Brandy smoothed a hand over his hair and held him close. “I’m back, baby. And I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good.” Dylan released her and tossed himself at Reardon next, warming Reardon in a way he’d never quite felt before. “I’m glad you’re back too,” he craned his head back and grinned up at Reardon’s face, “Alator.”

“You accept that I’m both that wolf and this man?” Reardon stepped back from the boy’s embrace and angled his hands at his human form.

“Sure! It’s like finding out that two really cool things are all rolled up into one!” Dylan took Reardon’s hand and reached for Brandy’s too. He sniffed his mother’s hand and looked back at Reardon. “And you turned my mom, didn’t you? She smells… different. You like her, right?”

“I did turn her.” How had the boy smelled the difference in his mother? Was there some wolf in Dylan? Reardon planned to investigate that later. “But I don’t like your mom.”

“What?” Dylan and Brandy asked together.

“I love your mom.” Reardon looked at Brandy over the boy’s head and the love reflected back to him in her bright, blue eyes overwhelmed him. How had he gotten so damn lucky?

“You’d better love her.” This from Meredith who leaned in the doorway of her cabin, a smile on her face as well. “She risked everything to get you back.”

“Aye. She’s a brave lass.”

“It runs in the family.” Meredith took a turn hugging her daughter then Reardon. “Welcome home. Both of you.”

“So you’ll stay with us, Reardon?” Dylan led them around to the back of Meredith’s cabin where the view of the sanctuary’s woods was breathtaking. Mountains in the distance. Full treetops swaying gently in the summer breeze. Wolves lounging in the sun, waiting patiently for their Alpha—and Brandy—to run with them through the forest.

“Aye, I’ll stay with you.” Reardon turned toward Brandy. “On one condition.”

“That we still play catch every day?” Dylan asked.

Reardon laughed. “Oh, we’ll play catch every day, but that’s not my condition.” He took Brandy’s hands in his own, running his thumbs along her knuckles and searching for the right words. “I’ll stay here if your amazing mother will be my bride.”

Brandy slid her hands up to Reardon’s shoulders, her gaze full of something that made his insides ignite. She traced a finger along his jagged ear. “Deal. Now let’s seal it with a wolf kiss.”

He rubbed his nose against hers then caught her lips in a kiss so heated he almost shifted. Brandy’s scent swirled around him and he knew she was close to turning as well.

“Are vampires real too? How about mutants?” Dylan’s voice—and Brandy’s and Meredith’s laughter—brought Reardon back from the brink.

“I don’t know, lad. I’ve never met any.”

“But they could be, right? We should do some research, don’t you think, Mom?”

“Spoken like a true scientist. My heart is filled to overflowing.” Brandy put her hand to her chest and smiled at Reardon.

Reardon corralled Brandy in one arm and Dylan in the other. “Mine too.”