Liam

by Toni Griffin

  Published by Silver Publishing

  Publisher of Erotic Romance

  A SILVER PUBLISHING BOOK

  Liam

  Copyright © 2012 by Toni Griffin

  E-book ISBN: 9781614957737

  First E-book Publication: November 2012

  Cover design by Reese Dante

  Editor: Monti Shalosky

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S.

  Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to copyright@spsilverpublishing.com.

  This book is written in Australian English.

  PUBLISHER

  www.SPSilverPublishing.com

  NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

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  Lodewyk Deysel

  Publisher

  Silver Publishing

  http://www.spsilverpublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  For everyone who kept asking me for more wolves, I hope you enjoy Liam's story.

  And to my editor Monti, without whom this story wouldn't be what it is today.

  Thank you.

  TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  De'Longhi Nespresso: De'Longhi Appliances SRL

  Viagra: Pfizer Inc.

  Kmart (Australia): Wesfarmers

  iPod: Apple Inc.

  CWA: Country Women's Association of Australia CHAPTER 1

  Another week passed and Saturday night arrived as it invariably did and Declan Morgan once again found himself alone. Sometimes the fact he had no friends really bothered him. He had a younger brother, Tommy, and they were close, but the ten year age difference kept some distance between them. Declan didn't really want to hang out with his little brother all the time. They were members of the Cairns pack, but neither of them had made many friends.

  Tommy had only really connected with two guys his own age. Declan, however, hadn't managed to hit it off with a single person. Declan never felt very comfortable around other people. He always worried he would say something stupid and end up embarrassing himself, so most of the time he didn't say anything at all and just kept to himself. Being a pastry chef didn't make it conducive to gaining friends. Declan woke up at four most mornings and crawled back into bed by no later than nine at night.

  Since their parents' deaths a couple of years ago, Declan had watched over Tommy. They had packed up their lives last year and moved to Cairns, Queensland.

  Coming from the sweltering heat of central Australia it seemed the perfect place. Declan hadn't really wanted to move halfway across the country, but he had to go where he could find work.

  Now he just had to stick it out at his current job for another year or so, until he'd saved up enough cash to open his own little bakery. As much as he loved what he did for a living, he didn't really enjoy the job he had at the moment. It was much too commercial for his liking. He didn't want anything huge, just a small little bakery, and he thought with Cairns' large tourist population, it would suit his needs. Declan had started to count down the days until he could realise the dream he'd had since he'd been a little boy.

  Pulling his phone from his pocket Declan dialled his brother.

  "'ello." The voice of his younger brother came through the phone.

  "Hey, bro."

  "Dec, where are you, man? I expected you home hours ago." Tommy sounded worried, and Declan really hadn't wanted that.

  "Sorry, Tommy, got caught up at work. They had two staff call in sick and I had to stay back to make sure everything got done. I'm just out at the pack grounds. I need a run. I should be home in about an hour," Declan told his brother.

  "Okay, no worries. Chase, Jackson, and I will save you some pizza."

  "Hah."

  "Yeah, like there's going to be any left when you get through with it." Declan heard Chase say clearly through the phone line due to his enhanced hearing.

  Declan laughed. His brother's friends were right; the way those boys ate food, it would be a miracle if any survived for him.

  "Don't stress about it, Tommy, I can get my own food. Enjoy your evening with the guys and I'll see you soon."

  "Will do. Later." Tommy hung up the phone and Declan checked to make sure the call had been disconnected then stored his phone and his wallet in the glove compartment of his car before getting out.

  Sighing, Declan glanced around, making sure no one could see him then he stripped his clothes and stashed them on the passenger seat. It had been forever since he'd had an opportunity to change and let his wolf run free. Yes, he and Tommy had joined the local pack, but Declan really didn't like the Alpha. The man really epitomized the word sleaze, with a capital 'S'. Declan had yet to attend a meeting where the Alpha hadn't been leering at or trying—

  unsuccessfully most times—to get into the pants of most of the pack members. He didn't seem to care what gender they were or if they were already in a relationship. After the Alpha's first attempt at Declan, which he shot down, he did his best to avoid pack meetings.

  He shivered in the cold night air before taking a deep breath; Declan relaxed his body and let the change come over him. Once complete, Declan shook his entire body, from snout to the tip of his tail. God it felt good to once again be on all fours. Lifting his muzzle slightly he sniffed the air. Catching the scent of a nice juicy rabbit in the distance, Declan took off through the trees.

  He'd been running for maybe twenty minutes when he finally got sick of playing with his food and pounced.

  He didn't always hunt and eat when in his wolf form but it had been a while, and he could feel his wolf getting antsy.

  Hunting always calmed his other half down.

  Happily chomping down his small feast, it took Declan a minute to realise what the sounds were that drifted through the trees. Taking one last bite, Declan cautiously got up from where he had been lying on the ground and slowly made his way towards the angry voices.

  Step after careful step, Declan didn't want to make any noise and alert whoever to his presence. Crouching down low behind a shrub, Declan could see through into a clearing on the other side. He had thought he would be alone out here, not only because it was a Saturday night and people usually had something better to do, but also because he
hadn't seen any other vehicles in the car park. There were two lots and he hadn't bothered to drive around to the other one because it surrounded the entrance all the way on the other side of the pack lands.

  The angry voice of his Alpha brought his attention back to the group of men in the middle of the clearing.

  "How dare you steal from me?" Alpha Kegan Wallis's hard, icy tone caused the fur on the back of Declan's neck to stand on end.

  Declan could finally recognise the man currently being held between the angry Alpha's two Betas, Gregory Stone and Barry Stuart. Nigel Cummings stood slumped over and Declan believed the only reason he remained on his feet, and not on the ground, was due to the two Betas holding him up.

  Nigel looked like shit, Declan had no idea what he'd done to piss the Alpha off so much, but whatever it had been he was copping a beating for it. His eyes looked to be almost swollen shut, blood steadily oozed from a split lip, and his right cheek seemed to have split along his cheekbone.

  "I didn't take anything. I swear, Alpha."

  "Liar!" Declan watched Kegan Wallis punch Nigel in the stomach. Nigel doubled over, the air expelling from his lungs before the two men holding his arms, roughly grabbed him and pulled upright.

  "Do you have any idea how much a kilo of coke is worth on the Australian market?" Alpha Wallis snarled at the bruised and battered man.

  "No, sir, I don't do drugs" Nigel pleaded.

  Alpha Wallis sneered. "You cost me upwards of a hundred grand. All because you wanted to be cool and fit in with some fucking humans."

  "I didn't, I swear. I don't do drugs. Please," Nigel begged, struggling against the men holding him.

  Declan wouldn't have thought Nigel the type to steal or try to impress what sounded like a bunch of drug fucked humans if they wanted a kilo of coke.

  Declan watched in utter horror when his Alpha pulled out a gun and pointed it at Nigel. "You really shouldn't have fucked with me Nigel."

  "No please, it wasn't me. You have to believe m—"

  Alpha Wallis cut Nigel off in the middle of his struggles when he put a bullet through his head. Declan whined quietly and quickly backed up, wanting to get away as fast as possible. Unfortunately his back leg came down on a twig and snapped it clean in half.

  "What the bloody hell was that?"

  Declan didn't want to hang around and find out if he had been spotted. It would be easy enough for them to know who had seen everything as soon as they caught his scent.

  He took off into the forest. He had speed—probably the only thing going for him. So far, the only wolf who'd ever kept up with him had been his old Alpha, one of the fastest wolves Declan had ever met.

  Declan knew the exact moment they caught his scent. Three howls ripped through the night. He didn't head back to his car. Declan kept on running. If he stopped or got caught, he would be dead before the sun crested the horizon. No way in hell his Alpha would let Declan live after he'd witnessed him killing a pack member in cold blood. Let alone overhearing the information his Alpha and Betas were apparently selling illegal drugs.

  Declan heard them, chasing him through the dense forest trees. He'd never been so scared in his life. Not when his parents had died and he'd found himself responsible for raising his younger brother, or when he had packed up their lives and moved them both across the country. He started to think that particular move had been a bad idea. But seriously, who would have guessed his new Alpha would turn out to be a drug dealing murderer? Declan wouldn't have.

  Declan raced through the trees, his heart pumping, the adrenaline flowing, and he could only think about being caught and never getting to see his brother grow into the man Declan knew he could be. Tommy currently walked the fine line between teenager and responsible adult at the tender age of nineteen. Declan wanted to witness his brother's journey into manhood.

  Would anyone tell Tommy what happened? Or

  would he go the rest of his life without being aware. Would he believe his brother dead or would he think Declan had abandoned him? Declan didn't know which option would be worse.

  Silently vowing neither of those things would happen, Declan put on another burst of speed and ran.

  He had no idea how long he'd journeyed, but it had to have been several hours. The sounds of pursuit were distant, but still there. He stopped for a moment to rest and catch his breath. Listening intently, he could just make out the echoes of those following him. It sounded like there were only two of them now. More than likely the Alpha had sent his Betas to do his dirty work. Kegan Wallis wouldn't want to be involved in a long drawn out chase through the forest. Plus, he had to get back. What would the pack say if the Alpha and both betas suddenly disappeared?

  Deciding two should be easier than three to outrun, Declan took off again. He had no idea in which direction he headed. He hadn't had a great deal of time to visit the area surrounding Cairns so didn't know any of the landmarks, not that he had come across any yet.

  Declan stopped every time he found a stream of water, not only to drink, but he also walked through or swam across the cool water in hopes of losing those following him.

  The sun had risen and resided high in the sky, meaning he had been running all night and well into the next day. Declan lost count of the number of streams and rivers he had crossed in the forest covered hills. He stopped hearing sounds of pursuit some time ago, but wouldn't stop and rest in case Gregory and Barry were still on his tail. He hoped he'd lost them but didn't want to risk it just yet, so he trudged on.

  Fatigue barrelled through him, the adrenaline long since gone. Exhausted and hungry, his paws hurt from travelling for so long and not being able to rest properly, and even with his thick fur coat the constant in-and-out of frigid waterways made him cold; he hadn't had a chance to dry completely which caused the numbing temperature to seep into his skin.

  Nothing compared to the concern he felt for his younger brother. Looking at the sky, he would guess the time to be somewhere close to noon. Tommy must be worried sick about the fact he hadn't come home yet. He hoped to Christ Alpha Wallis hadn't gone after his brother.

  He didn't really think it a possibility but then again, he was batting a thousand with things he didn't think were possible lately.

  Declan stopped for a short break and lapped at the chilly water in the stream. He sat and watched a couple of platypi swimming lazily, wishing he could be just as carefree at the moment. He decided it couldn't hurt to continue on for another hour or so, or at least until he got to a decent sized town and could find out where the hell he'd ended up. Declan pushed his tired and aching body to continue forward.

  The only noises Declan heard were the natural ones of a forest. Trees swayed in the breeze, their leaves rustling. The occasional bandicoot and echidna scurried about looking for food. And even the intermittent larger creatures like kangaroos moved about.

  Perking up at an echo through the dense trees, Declan stood still and listened. He had never been so happy in his life to hear the steady hum of a motor and the heavy thud of tyres moving over bitumen. Once certain he could pinpoint the location the sound originated, Declan took off in that direction.

  Less than five minutes later he came to the edge of the forest and cautiously poked his head around the trees that lined the road. He wasn't stupid, he realised wolves weren't exactly native to the area. He didn't want to startle someone when they were driving at high speeds and cause an accident. Declan looked left and right down the black asphalt, but couldn't see anything in either direction. The lack of signage annoyed him greatly as he really would have loved to know how far he had travelled and where he'd ended up. Not knowing which way would lead to the closest town, Declan decided heading away from where he had been coming from would be his best bet.

  Ducking fully back under the canopy of trees, Declan followed the road. The occasional car went flying past, but Declan ignored them, continuing on until he finally looked through the trees and saw a sign.

  Atherton 5km Declan breathed
a sigh of relief, finally knowing his location. He honestly didn't know if it would be far enough away from Cairns to hide or if he would have to keep moving. Too exhausted to think about it, he decided he needed food and rest before he could make any decisions.

  CHAPTER 2

  Liam Anderson pulled his beat up old truck into the driveway of his modest three bedroom home and shut off the engine. He couldn't quite shake the odd sensation he'd had for the past year. He felt restless, as if waiting for something to happen but he didn't know what.

  As a Beta to Benjamin Taylor, the Panneath Alpha of Australia, Liam's life would never be described as dull.

  The Panneath Alpha didn't only have his own pack to run, he also oversaw all the other Alphas in the country. Ben made a great leader and the Australian packs had prospered since he'd come to the position. Liam felt privileged to count him as one of his closest friends. But Liam still felt as though a small part of him remained missing. He wanted, above all else, to find his mate.

  The feeling started about a year ago when Jake Richmond, the Beta from the Leyburn pack and his mate, Patrick Holland, the pack Alpha's brother, came to stay for a while. Their visit had been interesting to say the least, and Liam really couldn't be more pleased Jake and Rick had finally sorted out all their problems and settled down into mated bliss. Liam wanted what they had so badly he could almost taste it. He wished he could be so lucky. Liam had been searching a long time for his mate. Being one of the Betas required a great deal of travel, visiting other packs on behalf of the Alpha. He enjoyed the travel as it made it easier for him to continue his search for his mate. Liam had also been born with a gift. Not many wolves that he knew of had additional abilities to the ones they all had of super strength, enhanced sight and hearing, immunity to disease, and a longer life span.