Redemption: Montana Wolves, Book Three (Montana Wolves series 3) by Chloe Cole Page A

than a minute later, a crackling fire roared, and she groaned in appreciation as she leaned in to hold her hands over the flames.
    “So much better.”
    “Have a seat.” He gestured to a long, wide log in front of the fire and she sat obediently.
    The suspense was killing her and she eyed him expectantly. “Okay. So let’s hear it. What’s your secret?”
    What if he decided to kiss her first instead? She probably had beer breath. God, why hadn’t she grabbed a mint on the way out of the bar?
    "I think it's better if I just show you."
    Any thought that he’d decided to take her up on her offer to share something silly with her about his favorite chick flick or his embarrassing middle name fled when she saw how serious he’d grown. So much so that her muzzy brain urged her to make a joke to ease the tension. Ask him if he’d brought her here as a ritual sacrifice for a raccoon worshipping cult or something. But his solemn expression sealed her lips and she waited, silent, heart galloping wildly in her chest.
    He turned around and yanked his shirt off. Hysteria began to build inside her, and laughter bubbled from her mouth. Maybe he really was going to kill her after all. Or maybe he was a flasher and he was about to whip it out.
    But even through the haze of the alcohol, a deeper part of her, the part that already knew—had always known—wasn't laughing at all. Visions from her nightmares battered her brain, images of monsters and men and teeth gnashing melded with the present. Shadows dappled Billy's skin as he moved, shucking off his boots, unbuckling his jeans and letting them drop to the ground, leaving him in only a pair of black boxer shorts.
    He straightened and she almost told him to stop. Almost told him that she'd rather live in ignorance. She could still walk away right now. Go back to her little Victorian house and work her ass off to forget that she'd ever met Wheeler or Billy or any of his friends.
    "Amber?" His low voice centered her and she met his intense gaze. He was offering it to her now. The chance to back out.
    She took a steadying breath, suddenly as sober as a priest in church, and nodded. "I'm ready."
    She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but it paled in comparison to what she got.
    One second, Billy stood there, tall and strong and handsome, like a God from Greek Mythology. Thor without need of a hammer.
    The next, he leapt into the air, head tipped back, body flexed, and exploded into something else entirely.
    It happened so fast, the shock of it hit her like a bucket of ice to the face. The last thing she saw before she hit the ground was that tawny, green-eyed wolf of her dreams loping toward her.
----
    " A MBER ?"
    He was starting to get worried now. He'd done everything he could think of to wake her, and had followed all the protocol to stave off shock. For the past ten minutes, though, she lay in his now-clothed lap, knocked the hell out.
    She didn't seem to be in any discomfort so he was loathe to move her, but it was getting to the point that he was considering bringing her back to the compound to have the pack doctor take a look at her. That wasn't the way he'd imagined breaking the news to the pack, but Amber's health was more important than covering his own ass, and if that was what needed doing-
    "Billy?"
    The chunk of ice wedged in his stomach melted at the sound of her soft voice.
    "Hey there. You scared me there for a second."
    She shook her head slowly and her body went stiff as she became more aware of her surroundings.
    "I scared you ?" She shoved at his chest and scrambled to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes, hotter than the fire that crackled between them. “You son of a bitch.”
    Her voice dripped icicles, and she nearly spat the words at him.
    “I asked you. I begged you to tell me, and instead, you let me think I’d lost my mind.”
    He rose and stepped toward her, but she backed away.
    He had to slow it down. She was still reeling and she had every right