Free An Everlasting Bite by Stacey Kennedy Page B

smile, then headed back to their tables.
    Briggs glanced across the table. Valor had pride in his eyes. “Destiny has brought a wise mate to you, Briggs.”
    “Aye,” Briggs responded as he looked at Rynn. It sure had.
    She dismissed them both with a wave of her hand and fiddled with her napkin. “Its common sense, not wisdom.”
    Valor leaned forward, tapped his finger on the table to grab her attention. “No, sweetling, it is human smarts. You think like a human. We have not had that within the United States wolves before.”
    She gave him a baffled look, then turned toward Briggs. “What does he mean?”
    “He means,” Briggs answered, a little lost in her sweet expression. He wished it were proper, amidst a pack meeting, for him to kiss those pouty lips of hers. “As Wolves we have been raised having these gatherings and solving the problems within them. Plus, Alphas are Alphas, whose answers usually result in the death of someone.”
    “So…” she exhaled long and deep, then seemed to gather her thoughts. “Sayer would have been killed tonight, then what?”
    “Hendrix would have requested the new Minnesota Alpha to give him aid in finding his daughter.”
    Rynn snorted. “Well that is just plain stupid.”
    Valor laughed and winked at her. “Isla could be right. You might be just the one to change our ways.”
    Just then, Echo, Sayer’s mate, approached Briggs. He glanced at her just as she said,
    “Looks like you saved the day.”
    Rynn rolled her eyes and let out another loud snort. Echo smiled at her before glancing at Briggs. “Would you mind if I had a moment alone with your mate?”
    Briggs eyed her curiously. What would Sayer’s mate have to discuss with Rynn? If it had been anyone else, he would have said hell no. Echo was a kind and gentle woman and he suspected that if anyone would welcome Rynn, it would be her. So far, his instincts had never led him astray.
    But he did think it wise to look to Rynn for her answer. When Echo directed the question at him, he felt pings of annoyance running through their bond. Of course, it was proper, but Rynn hadn’t yet learned that.
    He glanced at Rynn. She nodded and shrugged at the same time, equally mystified.
    Briggs looked back to Echo and gave a firm nod. “Of course.”
    After a final curious glance his way, Rynn stood. Echo took her hand and led them out of the Grand Hall.
    Briggs had to wonder what the two women would discuss.
    * * * *
     
    Echo held Rynn’s hand tight as she pulled her into a foyer. A fireplace about the size of the hotel room where Rynn once lived sat in front of her. She could only giggle at the sheer size of it. Two lounge chairs rested next to it and Echo pulled her down into one, while she took the other. Echo didn’t say a word, simply stared at Rynn. Rynn began to feel uncomfortable and looked around. Was she supposed to say something here?
    “I wanted to make sure you were all right?” Echo finally asked.
    “All right…” All right, with what? Becoming a wolf? Tiago? She needed more than that to understand what she was asking. “…with what?”
    Echo looked away, her cheeks tinged pink, then cleared her throat. “Mating with Briggs.”
    Rynn blushed.
    Echo continued, looking anywhere but at Rynn. “Alphas can be rough at times and with Tiago’s interest in you, I’m sure Briggs felt threatened. It can be scary when you are forced into submission.”
    “Forced into what?” Rynn gasped.
    Echo glanced at her, eyes soft. She reached for Rynn’s hand and squeezed tight.
    “You can open up about this. You don’t need to keep it in. It’s better if you talk about it…”

    Rynn let her drone on for a while longer before she had enough. “Excuse me, Echo. I have no idea what you are talking about. Briggs never forced me into anything.”
    Echo’s eyes widened with surprise. “He didn’t?”
    “No.” Rynn sighed, not wanting to have this conversation at all, especially with a virtual stranger. “He