Wolf Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

good sense to hunt our own livestock last night. I stood over the remains and pulled a blue handkerchief over my sensitive nose. The wolf in me didn’t mind the smell of rot, but the human in me sure enough did.
    The flies had already found the deceased animal. I pulled on my gloves and gathered the back hooves before dragging the carcass off into the woods. Normally, I wouldn’t worry about it because there was enough space on our property that the other cattle could escape the gore and predators and scavengers it would bring in. However, I’d taken this one much too close to the watering hole for comfort. Cattle needed to drink.
    The sound of hoof beats in the distance motivated me to work a little faster. Jeremiah’s horse wasn’t even stopped yet before he jumped off.
    I said, “Now look—”
    His fist crashed into my jaw like a stone. I was quick too though, and tackled him at the waist before pummeling him to the ground.
    “I didn’t bite her!” I yelled through the flying fists.
    The fight lasted longer than it should’ve, but my instincts said my brother needed this. He needed to let his pent up rage out on something or someone, and my face wasn’t made of glass. After it was finished, we sat in knee high grass gasping and bleeding as the cattle watched us like the show had been acceptable.
    Jeremiah broke the silence. “Ever since she showed up, you’ve been acting a crazy fool. You had her pinned in the dirt like a rutting animal last night and then your wolf chased her into the house. What were you thinking? You think the first night is the time to introduce her to what you are? Did that really play out well in your mind, Luke?”
    “I explained about last night by the barn, and yes, I changed, and yes I chased her into the house but I did it for a reason. I don’t know what she was doing out at that time of night, but she can’t be wondering around outside. What happened to Anna can’t happen again.”
    “Don’t,” Jeremiah said. “Don’t use Anna as an excuse for your behavior.”
    “I have to! I can’t let that happen to this lady. She should be scared of going outside at night. It ain’t safe for her. If we don’t learn from our mistakes with Anna, then our bloodline might as well fade into oblivion. If we can’t protect them, we don’t deserve wives, children, none of it. Now she knows not to leave the safety of the house at night. I saved her life and she don’t even know it.”
    “Well, what did you expect her to do?”
    “What do you mean?” I asked. Why did I already feel guilty?
    “She had to use the outhouse, Luke.”
    My stomach slumped to the grass beneath me. I hadn’t put enough thought into the reasons she was outside in the first place. Sure, the animal ruled when I changed, but I still had some human logic syphoning through. With a soft oath, I shook my head. “I didn’t know.”
    “The point is, yes, you’re right. She should know the dangers of going outside by herself at night. At the same time, situations like this are going to come up, just like they did with Anna. She needs to be taught to protect herself if ever there comes a time we aren’t here to keep her safe.”
    I chewed slowly on a sweet stem of long wheat while I mulled that over. “What do you suggest?”
    “She needs to be taught to shoot. She needs a backbone if she’s going to make it out here.”
    “So who teaches her that stuff?” I asked.
    Jeremiah pushed me over as he stood. “Her husband does, you dipshit.”

Chapter Five
    Kristina
     
    I tried not to laugh at my workmanship, but if I didn’t laugh I was going to burst into tears. After scouring the house, I’d discovered a full length pane of mirror glass attached to the back of Luke’s bedroom door. Even in the fading light, the dress I’d tried to sew looked atrocious. Single-handedly, I’d ruined all that fine fabric. I was in a fit of hysterical laughter when Luke burst through his door with a look on his face that