An Everlasting Bite Read Online Free

into view. Down a bit further, a boat sat tied to a dock with a huge body of water resting quietly.
    Briggs pulled up to the front of the log cabin, pushed out the kickstand, then reached back to take her hand and help her off. Instantly, they walked toward the cabin, hands still joined. It was so silent here. Not even a gentle wind in the air to make a sound.
    Peaceful. Everything that home should be.
    At the door, he gave her a little grin, then opened the door and nodded her in. Rynn stepped through and smiled.
    The cabin was essentially one room that had been broken up into a bedroom, living room and kitchen. Two large chocolate brown couches sat huddled around a wood burning stove on the right. To the left, a little kitchen with pots hanging from the ceiling, and at the back of the room was a king-size wooden bed with a country quilt on top.
    Luxury was nice but this was so much better. It was home.
    Briggs stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “It’s not as lavish as Valor’s—if you want something…”
    Rynn glanced over her shoulder, interrupted him. “I love it.” Love might be a strong enough word to describe it, but maybe it wasn’t the home as much as it was who lived in it. Briggs’ personality was all over this house—simple, full of heart, charm, and comfort.
    Briggs’ worried eyes settled and a smile grazed his lips. He leaned down, laid a butterfly kiss on her shoulder, then lowered his hands. Rynn stepped forward to have a better look, while he headed over to the kitchen, filled a pot of water, set it on the burner and turned on the stove.
    The oversized couch looked inviting—big and fluffy. Rynn sat down, embarrassed that her feet didn’t even touch the ground. Being only five-foot-three, her height always left her a little flushed. Instead, of sitting there like a child, she tucked her legs in underneath her.
    A moment later, Briggs returned, tea in hand. “Sweet, but not too sweet, right?”
    She nodded and took the porcelain mug from his hand, raised it to her lips and took a sip. Perfect. Only took him a couple days to get the pinch of sugar with just a dab of milk right. After another sip, she lowered the mug and rested it on her legs, her hands wrapped around the warm cup. She was still worried about Briggs returning to his duty to Valor and needed to understand more of what she was getting herself into. “How often does this gathering happen?”
    “As often as it needs to,” Briggs settled on the couch next to her. “Something must be up. Valor wouldn’t even discuss it on the phone.”
    Her mind felt lost and confused, not a position she liked to be. Sounding stupid was never fun, but her curiosity of this world intrigued her too much to say nothing. “What could be up?”

    “Feelin’ a bit lost, are you?” His eyes were laughing, even though his face showed no humor.
    She shrugged, pushed away the embarrassment that threatened to rise even though she suspected Briggs liked seeing her in this position because he thought it cute. “Diddly squat would know more.”
    Briggs laughed, gave her cheek a rub with his fingers, which only proved her suspicion. “It’s quite simple, love. As you know, Valor leads the Utah pack, but he is also the head of the United States Alphas. When problems arise within, they’re settled by Valor’s decisions.”
    Okay, that all made sense. She wasn’t quite sure she liked where this was going. “So what’s going on is something serious then?”
    Briggs nodded without hesitation. “Very serious. Gatherings are only called when the resolution is not easily found.”
    Nope, she didn’t like where this was going at all. It sounded dangerous. “What kind of problems do Alphas have between each other?”
    “More than you can know.” Briggs sighed. “It’s a job that never rests and why Valor hired me. The duty was straining on him.”
    “So you’re not an Alpha, then?”
    “Alpha blood runs through me, yes.” He began