Embracing the Wolf - Book #2 (Anna Avery) by Stephanie Nelson

resumed browsing through the book. Elaborate drawings of past alpha ceremonies were charcoaled against the parchment paper in great detail. Every time I looked at them, the pride of my wolf swelled inside of me. There was something magical about being a werewolf. The bond between packs was an invisible force tethering all of us together. Adam and I may be bonded, but I’m also attached to the rest of the wolves. They are my family now, and I would do everything in my power to not let them down.
    I flipped to the next page right when the door to the office opened. My head snapped up, and my eyes met with Maggie Everwood’s.
    “What are you doing in here?” she said it as though she found a vandal snooping through her son’s things.
    “Reading,” I replied. I decided keeping my responses as minimal as possible was best when dealing with Adam’s parents. They didn’t need any other reasons to hate me—my dirty bloodline did that for me.
    “Does Adam know you’re reading that?” She nodded toward the book in my hands. I looked down at the book and then up at her, stupefied for a response. It dawned on me right then that, though she didn’t like me being mated to her son, she also didn’t think I was even good enough to read a book based on our pack.
    “He’s sleeping,” I told her. “I didn’t wake him up and ask, if that’s what you mean.”
    Maggie walked farther into the room. Coming around the desk, she rested one hand on her hip and held the other out to me.
    “I think it’s best to wait for Adam. If he wants you going through the book, then he can help you with it.”
    I stared at her outstretched hand and ground my teeth until my jaw ached with the pressure. Attacking my boyfriend’s mother was tempting, but I didn’t think Adam would appreciate it. It sucked having to force a smile while biting my tongue. Standing, I handed her the book and stepped around her.
    “Do you love him?”
    I spun around and met Maggie’s crystalline eyes, surprised by the question. “He’s the only man I’ve ever loved.”
    Maggie walked the short distance to me and reached for my hand. Turning it over, she stared at the upraised scar on my palm. I watched her face as she examined the mark. Her lips curled down in a frown while her jawline stretched tight.
    “You would put him above yourself?” Her eyes slid up to meet mine.
    I nodded. “Of course. I would do anything for him.”
    Her mouth rose in a small smile as though I said the right thing. “Then you should leave Wyoming.” I began to speak, but she held up her hand to stop me. “I know how cruel that sounds,” she continued, “and I know you and Adam think this mark is a testament to your destiny—it’s not. It’s a target on my son’s life. When word spreads that an alpha from a superior bloodline is branded by the Chante mark, and to a mutt no less, rivals will come to take him out and claim his spot.” Maggie dropped my hand and crossed her arms. She looked away, but I didn’t miss the blur of tears in her eyes.
    “Our enemies will take one look at you and know just how easy it’d be to kill you and, by doing so, ruin Adam. Once you’re dead, what possible threat would Adam be to them? You are his weakness, Anna, the one thing that can undo everything he’s accomplished.” Maggie looked at me again. A lone tear slid down her peaches and cream cheek. “If you love him— truly love him—you have to let him go. So long as you guys are together, Adam’s life is in danger.”
    Maggie gave me one last look before stepping around me and heading toward the door. She turned around and said, “Think about it, Anna,” before she left me speechless.

I was wide awake when Adam woke up. After the conversation with Maggie, I had crawled back into bed with Adam, but hadn’t been able to fall back asleep. I didn’t notice he was even awake until he spoke.
    “You look entirely too serious for six a.m.”
    I blinked, his voice jarring me from my