Free Between Two Wolves and a Hard Place by Cassie Wright Page B

kidding? I was about to call you. I have so much I need to say."
    Dean's got his back to us, fingertips resting on the windowsill. His stillness draws the eye. When did he grow so hard? The Dean I knew was prone to moods, could even be called taciturn, but was easily drawn into laughter and goofing around by Drake and me. This man - he looks like he's forgotten how to smile.
    "Yeah? Why was that?" Drake steps closer, and I step back. It's not that I'm afraid of him. Rather, it's that I don't trust myself close to him. Don't trust my hands not to rove. To explore.
    I lick my lips. "I've realized a lot of things. Today. Things I didn't understand. About myself. About you two."
    Drake lowers his chin and crosses his arms. He's not mad. He's not closed off and cold. He's receptive. He's listening. So I take the plunge.
    "I - I ran away from you both. You know that, but I didn't realize it. I buried my past. Honeycomb Falls. Even my parents. I took it all and hid it at the back of my mind."
    "Because of me," says Dean, his voice harsh.
    "I - yes." It's hard to say. To admit. I want to soften my words. But the truth is hard, and it needs to be spoken. "You scared me. I was young. I didn't know what was going on. I felt vulnerable. So I ran. And I've been running ever since. Venice. Seattle. New York. Never staying anywhere for long. Avoiding anything that reminded me of you two. Of anything dangerous. That I couldn't control."
    Dean turns to stare at me, and his gold eyes catch the faint evening light and seem to glow. I shiver. He's not a man. He's not a human. He's a werewolf. Dangerous. Both of them. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be alone with them - no. I force those thoughts down and take a deep breath.
    "And I hooked up with a guy. Marv. Who was your complete opposite. I thought I could control him. And in the end, I was wrong. Dead wrong." I give a bitter laugh. "He stole everything from me. Hurt me worse than I thought was possible. He shattered my world, and stole my art. So I did what I always do. I ran away. But this time I came home."
    They're both listening intently, as if nothing in the world is more important than my words. Dean pushes off the windowsill and approaches. I fight to not step back. My heart is racing. The tension between us is so thick I feel like I'm underwater.
    "And..." It's hard to speak. To string words together. I just want to drink them in. " I realized I can't run anymore. I'm going to fight him. I'm going to create new art. And win the Harrowgate nomination. But..."
    They're moving closer. Anticipation builds in my chest. I know what's coming. I can feel my pussy getting wet. A sweet ache is building within my core. They're listening, but their wolves are doing much more. They're moving in for the kill. And I want to be caught. I don't want to run anymore.
    "But?" prompts Dean, voice soft.
    "But to make new art, I had to dig deep." My voice is little more than a whisper. The three of us are moving now. I'm backing away, but it's not running. It's a dance. They move subtly, flanking me, and I keep edging back, turning first to face one and then the other. The shadows are growing darker, their eyes brighter. "And discover my truth. Where I was. What I wanted."
    Drake steps close enough to reach out and touch my hair, move a curl behind my ear. His skin on mine sends excitement bubbling through me. "And what do you want?"
    Dean is close to my left. The wall is only a few paces behind me. I want to say the word rebirth . Instead, I hear myself say, "You."
    "Kiera," says Dean, and lord have mercy. I've never heard him say my name like that, so low and rough and sexy as hell.
    "I'm sorry," I whisper, and one last step takes me to the brick wall. I press my back against it.
    "Shh," says Drake, leaning forward and pressing his nose to my neck. "You smell so fucking good."
    My pussy is throbbing, my heart fluttering like a bird caught in a net. I feel so raw, so vulnerable - and so aroused. I'm losing