Free Alpha Scent (Amber Woods Shifters) by Arabella Rose

appreciating the high quality build or huge tub. Turning the jets to full power she rested her hands against the sink. Her eyes tracked to the mirror above which was quickly fogging up. Yep she really did look like shit. Pulling her grimy top off, she turned to see the damage. She looked like a fuckin barber pole, half her body was white and the other red, blood was coagulating around the puncture site. At least her body was healing. Trying if she could to breathe a sigh of relief she stripped the rest of her clothes off, throwing the stained material on the ground.
    The shower was heaven, all her aching muscles softening up in the heat. Reaching for the shampoo above her, the room spun. Hands automatically planted against the tiles to stop the dizziness. What the hell is wrong? My body is healing. Her wolf was whining which confused the heck out of her. Just to be sure she checked the site again, a faint red scar remained. Shaking her head, she finished washing, dried and dressed in yoga pants and vest top, comfort clothing. Dizziness washed over her again, carefully she sat on the bed. Maybe she was just hungry, it had been a long drive. A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
    “ Bri, can I come in?” Luke asked.
    “No, Luke I’m tired and need to rest, I’ll speak to you later”
    “Don’t be a bloody fool Brianna, I know you are injured, let me come in”
    “Luke it’s fine I’m healing” Her voice was quieter, she just could not seem to get enough air in to her lungs.
    Brianna heard Luke’s footsteps echo down the hall, then the sound of another male. Crap!
    Right on cue another knock at the door.
    “Brianna, it’s Marcus can I come in?”
    His voice was so smooth and calming , she almost forgot she was feeling like crap. Steadying her breathing, she put as much effort as she could to sound well and like her usual self.
    “What is it with you men wanting to be in here, can a girl just not sleep, I’ll see you in the morning”
    Her door opened, presenting her with Marcus, any other time he would quite literally take her breath away, but something else had already done that. She blinked and he was kneeling before her. How the hell did he do that? His hand cupped her face.
    “Brianna, where are you hurt?”
    Was he being tender? Now that was a surprise, a whole different side of the dominant alpha before.
    “ Nowhere now, I’m healed” she whispered.
    Wow, he really did smell good, it was sending her quite literally into a spin, or was it? She was really confused, things were not adding up. As soon as Marcus had entered the house he could hear Luke arguing with Brianna . He met him halfway down the hall, Luke was genuinely concerned for her, but her stubbornness was winning. As an alpha he could break down her masking scent and underneath that he could smell fear and pain. His wolf was restless, needing to protect their mate. Entering her room, his heart nearly stopped, she was pale and breathless, the fierce need to protect and take away her pain was so intense, a completely new emotion and one he welcomed with open arms.
    “Don’t lie to me baby, what happened?”
    Brianna tried to speak but her sentences were getting shorter, no matter how hard she tried her lungs were striving for oxygen. Raising her top she pointed to the scar so freshly made.
    “Puncture wound” she gasped.
    “Luke!” He yelled.
    Everything seemed to be happening so fast her brain could not keep up, feeling the dominant energy and demands had her wolf panicking. Her eyes darted to the door as her friend came in the room.
    “Tell me what to do Marcus”
    “Get Michael in here now, I don’t care if he is busy you find him and get him here”
    Luke raced out the room. Her panicking had her breathing faster and rapidly. Marcus placed both his hands on the side of her face, sending every part of his alpha strength to her. Brianna could only stare into those green eyes.
    “That’s it Baby, focus on me, I won’t let