Brandt’s Rule by Sandra R Neeley

“You ever think you got things organized, lined up like it’s supposed to be, everything’s good in your world, and then something completely unexpected falls into the middle of your plans like a bomb, making everything scatter into a million pieces and proving to you that you don’t have control of a single thing?”

“Um, no,” Ronan answered.
“Yeah, me neither,” Brandt said.

Brandt was raised in a shifter clan. It was apparent from a very young age, that Brandt — a Black Bear shifter — would be Alpha of the new generation. He has embodied that calling through character, strength, control, and honesty all of his life. As his cousins moved on and up in pursuit of their dreams, he’s held down the fort at home, making sure they all had a safe, secure place to come back to when the time was right. He’s more than happy with the life he chose. The only thing that is still a question to him is who his mate will be. He’s watched the generation before him made better, stronger even, when they met their mates, and he looks forward to the same. Which is why he’s thrown for a loop when the female that crashes into his life manages to do just the opposite.
Tempest has been lonely all her life. Sure, she had family who adored her, but she had no real friendships to speak of. It wasn’t that she did anything to make herself stand apart, she was just too powerful. The paranormals in her community could feel it rolling off her in waves — especially the children she so wanted to play with. They feared her. Now that she’s an adult she’s decided it’s time to move on. To find the place she can be herself, accepted and not feared. Unfortunately, the place she’s chosen to settle has one thing she didn’t count on. Her mate. And he’s doing everything he can to push her away despite sneaking around her place when he thinks she’s not aware he’s there. It’s fine. She’s used to being ostracized. It’s nothing new, and nothing she can’t handle. She doesn’t need him anymore than he needs her. The fact that his friends and family welcome her… well that’s just the icing on the cake. Makes it kinda fun to push his buttons.

Flowing silver hair, emerald green eyes, and more power than any one being has a right to hold within themselves is exactly what fate has planned for Brandt. And he’s not impressed. She doesn’t make him stronger. She doesn’t even soothe him. She drives him to the brink of losing his temper. She torques him intentionally at every turn, and takes pleasure in it! How can the fates have possibly thought sending him this female was the thing he needed most?!