Brendon knew that he was pushing the limits of his friendship with the wolf and risking his own neck but he had to. He had to use some kind of leverage to get Grange to help him and since Dawn wasn’t outside he couldn’t use her.

“I can deal with whoever comes. I don’t need any new members of my pack.” Grange said matter of factly without turning back around to face him.

Brendon sighed and dismounted his horse, leaving Maggie on the saddle. He walked toward Grange but stopped when he heard the wolf growl.

“Who is she?” Grange asked in a low voice. Brendon looked back at Ella who was staring straight at Trig, her nostril’s widening.

“What is it, Ella?” Brendon asked.

“I smell something familiar.” she replied simply.

“I don’t like her staring at me.” Trig whispered as he took a little step back, using Nickolai as cover. “She gives me the heebiejeebies.”

“What do you smell?” Brendon asked again.

“Faugrimm.”

“I told you that I killed Faugrimm.” Brendon countered as Brie and Anika both took a sharp intake of breath and Grange snorted.

“He had help.”

“I smell someone familiar but she isn’t out here.”

“Farrah.” Nickolai replied and Ella nodded.

“Yes, that was her name.”

“What do you want with my mate?” Trig growled as he stepped around Nickolai and toward Ella. Brendon met him halfway, the threat to Trig clear in his body language.

“Back off, pup.” Brendon warned.

Brendon noticed the look that passed between Nickolai and Grange and then the alpha stepped forward.

“Take the girl inside and get her something to eat.” he said to Brie. “You,” Grange pointed to Brendon. “Come with me. We need to talk.”

Brendon watched Brie walk to Maggie and Ella scrambled from her horse and quickly ran to him as he and Grange began to walk away.

“Where are you going?” she demanded. Brendon knew that Grange was watching them closely, assessing the situation.

“I have to go talk to Grange. I’ll be back, Ella. Just stay with Maggie. Go on in and meet the rest of the pack. This is going to be your home.”

“It is?” Grange questioned as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Can we trust these wolves?” Ella asked, ignoring Grange.

“You said you know Farrah, right?” Brendon asked and Ella nodded. “She trusts them. I trust them.”

Brendon searched Ella’s eyes and saw the conflict.

“If you trust them then I will trust them.” she finally relented. Brendon nodded, kissed her lightly and then remembered he was being watched.

“Go on now.” he ordered Ella and then he turned his back to her and began to walk into the woods. “You comin’?” he called over his shoulder to Grange and the wolf said nothing but followed after him with Trig, Nickolai and Blain on his heels.

“Just Grange.” Brendon added and Grange looked back at his fellow wolves and nodded. They stopped and Brendon and Grange continued on their way away from Grange’s cabin.

***

“Who is she to you?” Grange asked once the two of them were a short distance from Grange’s cabin.

“Her name is Ella, she is a vampire.”

“Wow. I never would have guessed either of those things on my own.” Grange growled sarcastically as he leaned against a tree and crossed his arms over his chest.

“You’ve been spending too much time with Trig. His smart ass nature is rubbing off.”

Grange grinned and then raised a brow.

“Tell me, Brendon. What is she and the girl to you?” Brendon rubbed the back of his neck and stared into the woods.

“I am… responsible for them both.” he finally replied.

“Responsible?” Grange sounded skeptical.

“Yep.”

“Do you lay with all the women you feel responsible for?”

“Shut-up, Grange.”

“Be honest with me, Brendon. You come here, you tell me someone wants me dead and then you tell me that you’ll help me if I take in a vampire and a crippled mortal girl. The vampire has been a prisoner of Faugrimm’s at some point so that alone tells me that there’s probably some kind of trouble since that name always brings me trouble.”

“She won’t bring you any trouble, Grange.”

“Then tell me why she’s with you?”

Brendon knew he had no choice. So he explained to Grange about the council sending him after the vampire killing mortal men. He told him about learning the vampire was Ella and always discovering that she was prisoner to Warren. He explained about Warren’s attack on Maggie and then his death at Brendon’s hands.

He also told him about the life mate bond between he and Ella and the fact that he planned to lie to the council.

He chose to leave out any mention of his own feelings toward Ella.

“So you love her then?” Grange questioned.

“No.” Brendon replied quickly. “No.” he insisted when Grange sent him a look that said the wolf clearly didn’t believe him. “I’m a Hunter, we aren’t allowed to feel things like love.”

“Just like I was a lone wolf and not allowed to fall in love with Dawn without putting my own life in jeopardy?”

“I….”

“Love doesn’t give a shit what you’re allowed to do. If you tell me you’re in love with her and need me to keep your mate safe then that’s what I’ll do.”

“I’m not in love with her.” Brendon insisted, though he wasn’t sure anymore that that was the truth. It would probably help if he knew what love was. Truth was he and Ella hadn’t done much talking in the last couple of weeks. At least not about anything deep or serious. During the day Maggie was always around and at night well… Brendon and Ella had found better things to do.

“Fine. Is trouble following you?”

“No. I killed the trouble.” Brendon promised him. “Well I killed half of it and Ella killed the other half. I just can’t have her coming to the council with me because they would kill her and maybe even me if they found out what she means to me.”

“And that is?”

“When did you get so damn pushy about feelings?” Brendon grumbled and Grange chuckled.

“Sorry. Married life I guess.”

“Will you watch out for her for me? And for Maggie? The girl knows all about things like us. She needs to be raised by someone who can love her and keep her safe. I trust your pack to do that.”

Grange was quiet for a long moment and Brendon wondered what was going through the wolf’s mind. Finally the other man spoke.

“You’re a friend, Brendon. If you need my help then you have it. Your woman and the girl are welcome to stay here. After all, I do owe you one for saving Dawn.”

“That was going to be the next tool I pulled from my kit.’ Brendon assured him and Grange chuckled.

“I’d say it was.” his face turned more serious. “Now who wants me dead?” Brendon laughed.

“Some young pup alpha of the southern pack. Says you killed his dad.”

“But I got a letter from the alpha of that pack saying he wouldn’t cause me trouble. I thought he was the trustworthy sort.”

‘He was.” Brendon replied, pulling a rolled cigarette from his pocket since Maggie wasn’t around to curl her tiny nose at him. “This is the new one. Took over a few months ago.”

Grange rolled his eyes. “Great. So a pup is out to get me.”

“Yep. But I’m sending the council his way as soon as I check in. He’s keeping a nice assortment of pets judging by the scents at that place.”

Grange just shook his head and ran his hand through his thick dark hair.

“Some things never change.”

Brendon nodded his agreement. Suddenly Grange became tense and Brendon whirled around when Ella’s familiar scent reached his nose. She was crying.

Instantly his temper was riled. Who would dare make her cry?! The damn woman had been through enough! He had thought Dawn and the pack would welcome her not send her running in tears.

He threw a glance at Grange who just shrugged and then he caught a sobbing Ella in his arms as she slammed into his chest.

***

Ella turned her attention to the female werewolf that was talking to Maggie who was still sitting on Brendon’s horse. Ella was ready to protect the girl if necessary.

“What’s your name?” Maggie asked the wolf.

“I’m Brie. What’s your name?”

“Maggie.” the girls dark eyes went to Brendon’s back which was quickly fading into the trees. “Where is Brendon going?”

“To talk to Grange. They’re old friends.” Brie assured the girl. “Do you know that there is a baby in that house? Would you like to go in and meet him and get something to eat?”

“I already ate.” Maggie said matter of factly. “Brendon chased a wild chicken.” Trig’s snort of laughter drew Ella’s attention back to him. He smelled like Farrah. Her mate?

“The baby then? I’ll bet you like babies.”

“Yes I do.” Maggie replied with a big nod. “I always helped Widow Callahan with the babies.” Maggie’s face became sad. “But I had to leave there. Brendon said there wasn’t even time to say goodbye.”

Nickolai and Brie shared a look. That sounded like trouble.

“Well come in then and you can meet little Creed. I’m sure his mama would love to have a big helper like you around.” Nickolai stepped forward and held his arms out for the girl who stared at his scarred face in shock.

“You’re scaring the girl, Nickolai.” Brie scolded her stern mate. Honestly he looked more like he was dealing with some prisoner of war than a little girl. Nickolai smiled apologetically and instantly Maggie smiled back and let him lift her from the saddle.

Brie took the girl by the hand once she was on her feet and motioned for Ella to follow her.

“Come on then. You can meet the rest of the pack.”

Ella followed Brie, noticing just how close Nickolai stayed to her as if to stop Ella from making an attack. Did the wolf think she was a danger to the pack?

Upon entering the cabin, Ella was struck with the hominess of the place. The scent of baking bread and ham. The quilts tossed over the couch and armchairs. It reminded her of the home she had shared with her family so long ago.

Much to her surprise the hint of a smile pulled at her lips. She quickly forced it away and turned her attention back to the pack members inside here with her. She smelled the scent of the baby and saw him in the arms of another female werewolf. This woman was a heavier set woman, soft bodied but beautiful with golden hair, tinted with red.

She smiled welcomingly at Ella and Maggie.

“Hello.” she said as the baby chewed on his fist. “I am Dawn. This is my house. You met my mate Grange outside, he was the tall, moody one who was not very kind or welcoming toward you.”

“Don’t’ take it personal. At least he didn’t beat the hell out of you like he did me when I first showed up here.” Trig said matter of factly as he crossed the room and took his place next to Farrah who was staring at Ella with recognition in her eyes but not saying a word.

“I’ll do a quick introduction of everyone else,” Dawn continued. “This is Creed,” she motioned toward the baby in her arms who let out a coo at mention of his name. “And this is Farrah, Trig, Brie, Nickolai, Anika and Blain.”

“I’m Ella. Brendon tells me that this is going to be our home.” Ella stated as she moved behind Maggie and put a hand on the girls shoulder.

Dawn blinked several times and then nodded.

“Well then, welcome. I’m sure you’ll fit in fine.”

“Your mate, Grange, he says we are not welcome here.” Ella countered.

Dawn just waved her hand and laughed lightly.

“He’ll change his mind.” she promised and then she winked at Ella, who found herself liking and trusting this Dawn already. Which was a big deal for her given her natural dislike and distrust of everyone she met.

“Farrah, outside she said she knows you.” Trig said as Maggie stepped toward Dawn and the woman knelt down to let the girl look more closely at the black haired baby in her arms. “Do you remember, Ella?”

Farrah’s posture was anything but friendly and her scent was threatening. Her lips pulled back in a hiss which Ella met with a matching snarl.

Memories came back to Ella. Memories of Farrah. The hell cat. The murderer. Faugrimm’s favorite little soldier.

“You killed them all.” she said coldly and Farrah’s angry expression faltered while everyone looked at her questioningly. “All those women. Some no more than girls. Too weak from starvation and beatings to fight back. You killed them because he told you to.”

“I had no choice but to kill them!” Farrah countered as she took a step toward Ella. Her shoulders tense with fury. “It was either them or me!”

“You should have chosen death!” Ella exclaimed. “They did nothing to deserve what you did to them! You did not even have the decency to kill them all quickly! I heard them screaming. I watched you walking back past my cell covered in their blood once their screams had grown silent. Faugrimm behind you, laughing with every step he took.”

“I don’t think we should be discussing this in front of the child.” Dawn stated firmly. Trig nodded and took his mate’s shoulders but Farrah shook him off and took yet another step toward Ella.

“I did what I had to do to survive. And what excuse do you have for what you did?”

“What are you talking about?” Ella demanded. Farrah’s cat eyes flashed with hatred and disgust.

“You are pure filth. No man ever touched me. If he tried, I killed him and punishment be damned.”

“Farrah, ENOUGH!” Dawn growled, sounding much like an angry Grange.

“She is no better than a whore. She has lain with hundreds of men, or more, simply to ensure she would have food and no beatings.”

Ella wanted to argue, she wanted to fight back, but Farrah was right. Strangely enough, tears began to fill her eyes and then she turned and ran from the cabin.

She hadn’t had any destination in mind when she had run but she found herself following Brendon’s scent. She needed him. Being with him made her feel less like the monster that she knew deep down she was.

The trees were a blur as she ran and then she saw him and sent her self barreling into his arms, crashing into his chest as his arms closed around her.

“Ella, what’s wrong, honey?” he asked gently as he kissed her hair and rubbed his hands comfortingly on her back.

“I’m a monster.” she replied with a sniff as her hot tears soaked into Brendon’s black shirt.

“No, you’re not.” Brendon assured her with a sigh. “Now what happened to make you cry? Who’s ass am I kicking?”

“Yep, sure.” Grange said with a shake of his head. “You’re not in love at all.”