Bren became serious for a moment, dropping his ale. “Thessa, why are you getting so upset? You’re the one who dresses like a man. I’m to be yelled at because I accept you for what you are?”

“Just because I don’t want to wear dresses or have blouses that show off my tits doesn’t mean I’m not a woman. So, I can’t cook or sew well. There are better things to do in life than sew and cook. Or moon over pig-headed men like you!”

Thessa jumped from the table, incensed. She knew deep inside that he was right. She’d never given him a reason to see her as a beautiful vixen, one that could win his heart. So why was she so mad that he couldn’t see past the braies, the tight braid, and the fact that she rode horses better than any man she knew? Tears streaked down her face as she stormed from the inn, bursting out the door before anyone caught the wetness on her face, least of all, Bren.

The wind had picked up even further, the howling sounds roaring through the night air brought chills to her skin. She ran as fast as she could, pride pushing her harder than the gusts ever could. Before she could get very far, she heard Bren behind her, screaming out her name. A small flicker of thankfulness filled her that he was following after her at all.

She heard a noise behind the tree line and the hairs on the back of her neck rose. It was probably just a deer scurrying out for a bit of the moonlight, but she couldn’t shake the feeling. Clouds swarmed over the face of the moon and darkness fell around her like a curtain. No sound besides the howling of the wind reached her ears and goose bumps rose on her flesh. Had she fallen victim to her own tall tale, the web she wove wrapped around her mind?

A twig broke just ahead of her as she closed in on the woods that led to her cottage. Before she could take more than a few steps on the well-worn path, two large, snarling beasts jumped out to the trail, blocking her way. She stopped in her tracks as she saw the glowing emerald eyes of both beasts lock on her.

Wolves. The biggest ones I’ve ever seen. They are unnatural.

Fear swirled within her as she considered her options, which were few. Bren’s voice reached out to her, she heard him yelling behind her. She could run, hopefully making it back into the inn. Or she could reach for her small hunting knife in her boot and try to fight them off before they devoured her.

Bren will know what to do. He’ll help me.

The beasts stepped forward, growling low in their throats, and her legs locked in total terror. Bren’s voice was getting louder as he caught up to the scene.

“Almighty, what have you gotten yourself into?” She could feel Bren at her back, but was too afraid to turn around to look at him. She needed to see where the wolves were at all times.

“Bren, what should we do?”

“We? They aren’t looking at me, now are they?”

Anger ripped through Thessa. “Bren, you really are an ass. How did it take me so long to see that?”

Thessa leaned down slowly as the wolves continued on their offensive, moving closer bit by bit. She reached into her tall boot to gather her knife. Before she could brandish it, both beasts jumped clear over her head to land behind her. Thessa twisted to determine their location. They began to growl deeply at Bren, their gaping maws showing a row of sharpened teeth.

Bren let out a scream of the girl variety, turned tail, and ran back toward the inn. She shook her head as he abandoned her, her humiliation complete. Instead of giving chase, the wolves turned back to her and began to circle. She twirled within their ring, trying to keep them both in her eyesight at all times, the knife clutched desperately in her hand.

Her heart beat loud in her ears, the howling of the wind nearly extinguished from her own fear alone. Sweat beaded at her forehead as she stood awaiting her own death. She hoped it would be quick and painless, though if she fought, she doubted it would be. They would punish her for any attack; torment her for abusing them. That she was sure of.

She uttered a silent prayer and took a deep breath. A flood of courage filled her. She was unsure where she found the fuel, but she thanked the heavens as she stood her ground. Locking her arm to prevent it from shaking as the butcher’s had done, she knew she could not show these two any cowardice. It would spell her end. “Go ahead, beasts, do your worst.”

The wolves stopped circling and looked to one another. They began to bend into unnatural angles, anguish forming on their muzzles. Faces? No, it can’t be! She wasn’t sure what she was seeing until two men stood in the spots that two large black wolves had just occupied.

Two very large, naked men.

The scant moonlight filtered through the clouds. She couldn’t be sure of anything she’d seen this night, especially in the low light of the approaching storm. Still, she could make out swells of muscle, a curve of a hip, and a twist of a lip, but nothing much more. Rubbing at her eyes, she looked again. The men were still standing before her.

One was slightly taller, besides that, there was little she could see to discern their difference. Both were giants of men. Men? Their glowing emerald eyes told her the truth. Werewolves. Her own joke was coming back to haunt her.

“Prankster, you have heart, but not much brain,” the taller one spoke, the rich roll of his voice flowing over her.

Did he just call me stupid? She’d already been insulted by one man tonight so she was definitely at her limit.

“At least I’m not standing outside naked when it’s about to rain. Now who is the stupid one?” She still gripped the knife before her, unsure of what these two wanted with her. The growl that came in response to her question made her tremble.

“You have quite the mouth on you for a female.”

At least the beast knew she wasn’t a boy. “Perhaps, but you both should be ashamed of yourselves, picking on a defenseless woman.”

The shorter werewolf chuckled, grabbing her attention. “You hardly look defenseless to me.”

“Then leave me be. I’ve done nothing to you.”

“Nothing? The prank you played in the inn was nothing? You seemed to enjoy instilling fear into your neighbors. Perhaps we just wanted to return the favor on their behalf.” The shorter one then turned to the other and spoke in a tongue she wasn’t familiar with. The taller of them nodded in assent and turned his glowing eyes on her.

The taller leapt forward, easily avoiding her knife and capturing her wrist. His hold was tight, hard enough to nearly hurt, yet she recognized great control. Sensing that he could snap her arm in half if he wanted to, she dropped the knife as he shook her hand. He gathered her up in his arms, hugging her to his body tightly. She was unable to move in his grip and froze, never before touching a naked man.

“It has been some time since we’ve had a guest in our home, perhaps you’d like to see the castle on the bluff you told of in your story.” He dropped his nose down into her hair, sniffing it.

She trembled, the heat of his body leeching into her. She felt the thick mass of his cock jutting into her side and was surprised to feel it lengthen and thicken as he pulled her even closer. Her heart stopped, panic rising in her throat.

“Let me go.”

“But what fun would that be?” His whispered words made her shake.