Read Online Embracing the Wolf - Book #2 (Anna Avery) by Stephanie Nelson - Free Book Online
Authors: Stephanie Nelson
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driver’s side window. This wasn’t Wade’s idea of “playing it cool”.
“Oh, hey,” I said, trying to pull off nonchalance. The slight bend in Anthony’s lips told me he wasn’t fooled.
“I heard you were going into town,” Anthony said. “Do you mind if I tag along? I need to pick something up.”
I could learn a thing or two about nonchalance from him. How could he stand in front of me and act like he hadn’t kidnapped me and watched as Eve abused me? His face was slack and free of emotion, but his eyes couldn’t shield the truth of our history together. Silence settled between us as I thought of what to do. On one hand, Adam would flip the hell out if he found out I was alone with his brother, but on the other, Wade wanted me to get close to him and find out the truth. I stared ahead, almost hoping one of the busy pack members would look in my direction, tell Adam, and I’d be saved from having to make the decision. When that didn’t happen, I turned toward Anthony and hesitated to speak. The answer was on the tip of my tongue, but my wolf was wary to voice it. Maggie’s comment about me being the downfall to everything Adam had worked for stuck in my head. If I agreed to take Anthony into town, it could be a ploy to try to kill me. The best way to take his brother down was through me, and he knew it. But how would I know if I didn’t try to get a vision? Maybe Anthony’s sights were set on Adam. I would never forgive myself if I could have prevented his death.
“All right,” I heard myself saying. Anthony smiled and walked around the front of the truck. I watched him in what seemed like slow motion. Had I really just agreed to be alone with him? I was already regretting it, and we hadn’t even left yet.
He hopped into the cab of the truck and said, “Thank you. I know being around me isn’t easy. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to come. I want to apologize for my behavior.”
I stuck the key into the ignition and turned it. I couldn’t respond, not yet. As I pulled out of the drive, Adam came bounding out of the house. I had one of two options: stop the truck so Adam could haul his brother out, or gun it and ignore the blast of fury radiating into my body through our bond. My eyes volleyed between Adam and Anthony until the decision made itself. I continued to drive, needing to hear what Anthony had to say. I gave Adam my best apologetic look and hoped like hell he would forgive me. I better not have just signed our death certificates.
“Anna!” Adam screamed.
I looked in the rearview mirror to find him standing at the end of the drive. I quickly tilted the mirror down and away from the look of hurt on his face.
“He’s a little protective of you, huh?” Anthony joked.
“For good reason,” I snapped. “You and Eve tried killing me just weeks ago.” Hearing myself say it aloud was like a smack in the face. Realization overwhelmed me. My heartbeat echoed in my eardrums. The truck slowed until we were just idling in the middle of the road.
“What am I doing?” I said to myself, looking over at Anthony. I hated—absolutely hated —that he looked so much like Adam.
“Get out,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Anna,” Anthony said, turning in his seat to face me. “I know what I did was horrendous. I’m not asking you to forget about it, but I want you to know that I am sorry, whether you believe it or not.”
“I don’t,” I said. “If you had any morals at all you wouldn’t have kidnapped me and watched while Eve beat the shit out of me.” I took a shaky breath. “You just … stood there. What kind of person does that?” I never thought I’d rejoice in someone’s death, but I was elated that Eve was gone. If she were buried on the mountain, I would have made a daily visit to spit on her grave. I know how horrible that sounds, and that we’re supposed to respect the dead, but Eve didn’t deserve my, or anyone else’s, respect. Countless families
“Oh, hey,” I said, trying to pull off nonchalance. The slight bend in Anthony’s lips told me he wasn’t fooled.
“I heard you were going into town,” Anthony said. “Do you mind if I tag along? I need to pick something up.”
I could learn a thing or two about nonchalance from him. How could he stand in front of me and act like he hadn’t kidnapped me and watched as Eve abused me? His face was slack and free of emotion, but his eyes couldn’t shield the truth of our history together. Silence settled between us as I thought of what to do. On one hand, Adam would flip the hell out if he found out I was alone with his brother, but on the other, Wade wanted me to get close to him and find out the truth. I stared ahead, almost hoping one of the busy pack members would look in my direction, tell Adam, and I’d be saved from having to make the decision. When that didn’t happen, I turned toward Anthony and hesitated to speak. The answer was on the tip of my tongue, but my wolf was wary to voice it. Maggie’s comment about me being the downfall to everything Adam had worked for stuck in my head. If I agreed to take Anthony into town, it could be a ploy to try to kill me. The best way to take his brother down was through me, and he knew it. But how would I know if I didn’t try to get a vision? Maybe Anthony’s sights were set on Adam. I would never forgive myself if I could have prevented his death.
“All right,” I heard myself saying. Anthony smiled and walked around the front of the truck. I watched him in what seemed like slow motion. Had I really just agreed to be alone with him? I was already regretting it, and we hadn’t even left yet.
He hopped into the cab of the truck and said, “Thank you. I know being around me isn’t easy. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to come. I want to apologize for my behavior.”
I stuck the key into the ignition and turned it. I couldn’t respond, not yet. As I pulled out of the drive, Adam came bounding out of the house. I had one of two options: stop the truck so Adam could haul his brother out, or gun it and ignore the blast of fury radiating into my body through our bond. My eyes volleyed between Adam and Anthony until the decision made itself. I continued to drive, needing to hear what Anthony had to say. I gave Adam my best apologetic look and hoped like hell he would forgive me. I better not have just signed our death certificates.
“Anna!” Adam screamed.
I looked in the rearview mirror to find him standing at the end of the drive. I quickly tilted the mirror down and away from the look of hurt on his face.
“He’s a little protective of you, huh?” Anthony joked.
“For good reason,” I snapped. “You and Eve tried killing me just weeks ago.” Hearing myself say it aloud was like a smack in the face. Realization overwhelmed me. My heartbeat echoed in my eardrums. The truck slowed until we were just idling in the middle of the road.
“What am I doing?” I said to myself, looking over at Anthony. I hated—absolutely hated —that he looked so much like Adam.
“Get out,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Anna,” Anthony said, turning in his seat to face me. “I know what I did was horrendous. I’m not asking you to forget about it, but I want you to know that I am sorry, whether you believe it or not.”
“I don’t,” I said. “If you had any morals at all you wouldn’t have kidnapped me and watched while Eve beat the shit out of me.” I took a shaky breath. “You just … stood there. What kind of person does that?” I never thought I’d rejoice in someone’s death, but I was elated that Eve was gone. If she were buried on the mountain, I would have made a daily visit to spit on her grave. I know how horrible that sounds, and that we’re supposed to respect the dead, but Eve didn’t deserve my, or anyone else’s, respect. Countless families
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