Free Bound to the Pack (Bound to the Pack, #1) by Sonja Morelle

remember that. No magical beings dancing in the moonlight.” He grinned back at me and gestured for me to start.
    As if his movement had opened the flood gates, my story began to pour out. Slowly at first, then before I knew it I was telling him everything. I told him in a way I had never told anyone before.
    My awkward childhood that turned into my awkward teen years, never quite fitting in. The few friends I’d had before meeting Kris.
    How drastically my life had changed for the better when she had entered it. She had broken down most of my defenses, bringing me out of my shell, to let me actually live life for the first time.
    I talked of going down to D.C. to attend George Washington University, and meeting Mike in a class we had together.
    How odd I had felt at first, and then the new feeling of the unbridled passion of a late bloomer’s first love. I spoke of Mike’s betrayal, every detail, something I had never told anyone and had even been avoiding in my own mind. Talking about it relieved a pressure I hadn’t know was even there.
    For his part, Liam was an excellent audience, though he often responded differently than I would have expected. He laughed at parts that weren’t meant to be funny, had no reaction to parts that were, and was generally just offbeat.
    Until it came to Mike’s infidelity.
    “And when I walked into our apartment, there they were. Completely naked, fucking on our couch.” I walked right into Liam’s back. Surprised, I looked up.
    He was looking back down at me, noticeably upset. “He betrayed his bond to you with another?” His voice dripped incredulity.
    “We weren’t married, just engaged...”
    “He betrayed his bond to you! He is no man! ” Liam was definitely angry.
    “It’s ok, I’m over it now.” And, surprisingly, I wasn’t lying about that anymore. I really was over it.
    “This is far from ‘ok,’ though you will be fine. You are free to choose another as you will. But him! He will have to live with himself for the rest of his life.” Liam turned back to the path, growling under his breath.
    “Um... thanks?” I didn’t need, or even want, some White Knight charging in to ‘save me,’ but it was somewhat comforting in a Giant Werewolf Wants To Tear Up My Ex kind of way.
    My smile was the most genuine I’d worn in a month.

Chapter Fifteen
    Liam
    L ooking towards the sun, I realized we were quickly running out of time. If I shifted... No. I glanced towards Jen, sitting on a boulder to rub her feet. She smelled of contentment, undercut with a hint of pain and exhaustion.
    She also smelled strongly of my own scent. It was the scent of possession. I hadn’t even taken her, yet. Still, she was covered so strongly, marked as mine to any shifter who came across her. That brought new problems, ones I wasn’t ready to face yet. I hadn’t received permission.
    Can I continue the pursuit of my sister while having thoughts of transgressing in an even worse way than she was? It was a troubling concern.
    I will continue on as I have been, properly addressing this situation after I find Kris. I must.
    “We will make camp part way up the mountain.” I was distracted, thoughts tumbling through my mind faster than I could keep up with. There should be a suitable camp well before sundown. I could then shift to race up the mountain and hopefully find my sister before she completes the rite. It would be cutting it close.
    Too close. All I could do was try.
    Movement beside me said that Jen was ready to continue, so I started off, leading the way forward. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly as we crossed the valley. An easy comfort had settled between us, the hike spent with small talk about everything and nothing.
    I marveled at our differences, the stark reality of how at odds our worlds were. Things I took for granted as just common knowledge would widen her eyes, yet she could talk easily about the way humans flaunted their disconnect from nature.
    She had,