Ensnared (Book 6) The Brazil Werewolf Series

Chapter One/ Enigma

I worried my bottom lip between my teeth as my body tingled with the awareness that I was sitting next to the man I was to marry. Crossing my arms over my chest, I tried to fight the curiosity welling up inside of me, but I couldn't keep my eyes from sliding toward him to study his face.

I had never seen a picture of him. I had no idea what he would look like. My parents had never even described his family. So, I had only been left with what my imagination had offered, meaning I had dreamed up thousands of likenesses. As I continued to study him, I knew none of them had come close to the real man.

He was so handsome it caused my heart to leap at his beauty. His ebony hair touched the collar of his shirt and his beautiful caramel eyes were trained on the road. With a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones, I was so stunned by his beauty I couldn't force my eyes away.

"Did I pass your inspection?" He asked, giving me a sidelong glance. I blinked as my cheeks reddened at being caught ogling him.

"You'll do," I said, raising my chin as I struggled to regain what dignity I had left. "Did I pass yours?"

His eyes glowed with amusement. "A beautiful girl who can escape the Grey wolves on her own?" he said, nodding as a grin broke across his face exposing dimples denting each cheek. "You'll do."

My gaze slid over his face as I remembered arguing with my parents before I left about the betrothal. Though I understood the reason for the arranged marriages of werewolves, I still didn't want to be forced into marriage with someone I didn't know. As I studied this man, I wondered what he thought of marrying a total stranger.

"So, are we going to fight this marriage at all?" I asked, raising my eyebrow as I tried to find a single flaw in his appearance and coming up empty.

His eyes moved to the road in front of us and for a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer but then, he shrugged one broad shoulder. "Not on my end," he said pursing his lips as he glanced at me with a raised brow, his eyes darkening in worry. "Are you?"

I shrugged as my stomach twisted because I didn't know how he was going to react to what I was about to say. "I thought about it,' I said, pulling my arms tighter across my chest. "But I don't think any fight I put up would work."

He took a deep breath and let it out, his lips parting and gaining my full attention as he spoke. "I understand that," he said, tensing as his hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Why were you going to fight it?"

I tilted my head realizing how much it bothered him. "I don't know you," I said my voice soft and his lips lifted in a crooked grin as I continued, "I wanted to marry for love. You can't love a total stranger."

"There is a simple way to fix one of your concerns," he said, raising his brows. "Get to know me. Ask whatever you want and I promise I'll answer."

I nodded, twisting my hands in my lap as I regarded him with furrowed brows. "Why wouldn't you fight it?"

He was silent for a few moments as pain crossed over his features. "There are two reasons," he said, glancing at me as the pain faded and taking a deep breath. "The first is the easiest to explain. My brothers and their wives fell in love. I've witnessed the betrothals work. That makes you have hope that your parents knew what they were doing when they chose your mate."

"Your brothers and their wives are happy?" I asked as my eyes widened.

"They are," he said, his voice becoming wistful. "Though I have a feeling you won't believe it until you see it."