Kane’s knowing smile flat-out called Lucas a liar. “We only get one mate,” he said. “I know you aren’t all that familiar with Pack lore, but most of us would give anything to meet our mate.”
At the word, Lucas dropped his false bravado and winced. “There it is again. That word. Mate. I’m not sure I even believe in such a thing.”
Slowly, Kane shook his head. He finished the last of his beer and signaled for another before he spoke again. “Come on, man. Cut the bull. You know she’s yours. And you’re hers. Any Shifter who gets within a few feet of the two of you can tell. So what are you afraid of?”
About to protest, Lucas bit back the words, well aware the other man was right. He had nothing left now but truth.
“Blythe deserves a hell of a lot better than me.”
Kane’s incredulous expression paid Lucas the highest compliment. “You can’t be serious.”
Lucas’s casual shrug fooled neither of them. “Look at what happened to my sister. I wasn’t any good at protecting her. Blythe needs a man who can take good care of her and of Hailey. Someone better. End of story.”
To Lucas’s shock, Kane actually bared his teeth. “Then you’re more of a fool than I took you for.” He turned away, giving Lucas his back while he surveyed the interior of the bar. When his second beer arrived, he slid it over to Lucas without even looking. “Here. You need this more than I do.”
Because he suspected Kane might be right, Lucas accepted the drink. He couldn’t help but wonder if Kane could be correct about everything.
“You’ll never know unless you try,” Kane pointed out, swiveling back around to face him, nearly making Lucas spill his beer.
“Will you stop that,” Lucas demanded. “Damn. It’s like you’re reading my mind.”
“Well, hell, your thoughts are plain on your face.” Apparently undeterred, Kane continued to stare, grinning.
The burgers arrived and talk was momentarily suspended while both men dug in. True to Kane’s promise, Lucas thought this might be the best hamburger he’d ever tasted. He nearly rolled his eyes in bliss as he chewed.
Neither of them spoke until they’d both destroyed their meals.
“I told you,” Kane said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smile. Then, before Lucas could respond, he tossed a few bills down on the counter. “My treat. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
Halfway to the door, Kane shot him an exasperated look. “There you go again. You’ve got to stop that.” His cell phone rang and he stopped to take the call.
Glad to be outside in the parking lot, Lucas continued on to Kane’s vehicle. Ears still ringing from the loud interior of the place, he leaned against the door while waiting for Kane to finish his call.
“Hold on,” Kane was saying. “I’ll let you tell him yourself.” He held the phone out. “Someone wants to talk to you.”
Curious, he accepted and held the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“I have some news for you.” It was Blythe, sounding oddly breathless. At the sound of her husky voice, his stomach did a flip-flop.
He managed some sort of response, ignoring Kane, who stood a few feet away, grinning.
“I know Jacob said both your real parents were dead, but it turns out you and Lilly aren’t completely alone in the world. I had Samantha’s husband do some checking and I found out you have an aunt and uncle, another uncle and several cousins still alive.”
She took a deep breath, her voice wavering just the slightest bit as she continued, “I’m not sure what the circumstances are, or why they didn’t take you in when your parents passed away, but the information will be forwarded to Kane in case you want to contact them.”
Stunned and oddly humbled, he cleared his throat. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome.” Her voice an odd combination of happy and sad, she continued, “I know I can never pay you back for all you’ve done for me, but this is at least a start.”
“Pay me back?” He couldn’t believe she’d say such a thing. “You don’t have to...”
“Lucas,” she interrupted him quietly. “No matter what happens, know this. I am grateful. Thankful. You gave me back my family. Now, I’ve given you back yours.” She laughed, a strangled sound of relief mingled with sorrow. “I hope you and Lilly forge a wonderful relationship with your newfound family.”
Then, before he could articulate his reaction to her words, she ended the call.
Stunned, he wordlessly handed the phone back to Kane. “Let’s go,” he managed, his voice breaking. Waiting while Kane unlocked the door, he got inside, buckled up and waited for the other man to start the ignition.
He couldn’t think, couldn’t feel, couldn’t...damn him. What the hell was wrong with him?
He loved her. Loved her with everything inside of him.
Closing his eyes, he braced himself, trying to weather the pain the knowledge brought. Once again, without even trying, he’d managed to mess everything up. The question was, could he fix it?
“Hey.” Kane’s voice was infinitely kind. “Are you all right?”
Though he wasn’t, Lucas nodded.
Kane’s phone pinged, indicating he’d received a text. “I’ve got the information on your relatives,” he said. “I’ll write it down for you later.”
Though he knew he had to formulate a response, Lucas couldn’t force words out past the huge lump in his throat.
Apparently, Kane understood anyway. He started the car and put it into Drive. They rode the entire way back to Kane’s place in silence.
As they pulled into the driveway, Lucas turned to his new friend. “How far away is Blythe?”
“A couple of hours.” Kane watched him closely. “I could drive you there, if you’d like.”
Torn, Lucas considered. “I’ve got to see Blythe. But I don’t want to leave my sister for too long.”
Checking his watch, Kane grimaced. “Visiting hours are over in thirty minutes. I’m sure she’s going to need her rest. We have just about enough time to pop in there on the way out of town.
His heart suddenly light for the first time in ages, Lucas agreed. So this was what hope felt like.
Lilly was still sleeping soundly when they arrived, and since the nurse advised them not to wake her, Lucas left without telling her where he was going.
“If we drive straight through, we can be there by midnight,” Kane advised. “I don’t know about you, but I think if we stay a few hours, and then take turns driving, we can each catch a bit of sleep before heading back to the hospital in the morning.”
Again Lucas felt his heart expand. “You don’t have to do this,” he began.
Kane silenced him with a look. “Don’t start that again.”
Understanding, Lucas nodded instead. “All right, let’s go. It sounds like a plan to me.”
Once they were on the road again, Kane broke every speed limit, claiming he’d radioed ahead to alert the local authorities.
“I’m going to call Samantha and let her know you’re coming,” Kane told him.
“As long as she doesn’t tell Blythe.” Lucas smiled, feeling almost giddy with hope. “I want to surprise her.”
Kane made the call, keeping it brief. Lucas could tell from the light banter that his newfound friend truly was happy for him.
They pulled up in front of an older ranch house shortly after midnight. The porch light was on in what Lucas chose to believe was a welcome.
Kane pulled up to the curb and left the motor running. “Good luck,” he said.
Surprised, Lucas turned to look at him. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“Nah.” Kane yawned, and then smiled a sleepy smile. “I’m going to take a nap in the car. Wake me when it’s time to head back and I’ll drive while you sleep.”
Again Lucas found himself choking up. To cover it, he nodded once and got the hell out of the car.
Heading up the walk, he deba
ted whether to ring the doorbell or not. Luckily, the door swung open as he approached. A willowy redhead stood framed in the light, smiling warmly.
“You must be Lucas.”
He nodded, trying to see past her, hoping for a glimpse of Blythe. Now that he’d actually arrived, with his heart hammering and his palms sweaty, he had no idea how she would react.
His wolf, having been asleep until now, stirred. The yearning came from within, both the beast and the man, longing to be reunited with the one who was his mate.
Samantha laughed. “So it’s like that, is it? Well, come on in. Blythe is in the kitchen. She and Hailey fell asleep earlier watching TV. I just woke Blythe so she could put Hailey to bed.”
Heart in his throat, he tried to find the words to express his thanks, but the sight of Blythe in the next room crowded out any other thoughts.
Staring at him, she’d gone white, as if she’d seen a ghost.
He started forward. Behind him, Samantha closed the door.
“Lucas?” Appearing stunned, Blythe didn’t move. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to Lilly?”
“She’s fine,” he reassured her, taking both her hands in his. “I came to see you.”
From the slight frown between her brows, he could tell she still didn’t understand. Gently, he pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist, but still she held herself aloof.
“I’ve missed you,” he said. He had to choose his words carefully, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to let them burst out of the hidden place inside his heart, and tell her everything.
Finally, she buried her face in his neck, clinging to him. “I’ve missed you, too. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the prospect of life without you.”
“Don’t,” he growled.
She pulled back, surprise and consternation plain on her lovely face. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t even consider living without me.” He spoke with fierce tenderness. “Because you won’t have to. I was foolish to leave you. I’ve come back to rectify my mistake.”
At her gasp, he took a deep breath, suddenly realizing that he might be assuming an awful lot. “That is, if you want me.”
“Want you?” She laughed and he realized she was crying. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”
He kissed her then, a long, drugging kiss full of savage wonder and love. “I love you, Blythe. You heal me. Complete me. Somehow, you make me forget...”
Gazing at him, her heart shining in her eyes, she looked so beautiful he couldn’t continue.
When he didn’t finish, she tilted her head, a half smile tipping one corner of her lush mouth. “Forget what? The past?”
“Everything,” he said, drowning in sensation, his emotions and desire and existence all so closely tied up in her that he could scarcely breathe.
The slow smile that blossomed on her face had his heart lurching madly. “You are everything to me,” he whispered, kissing her face, her neck and finally her mouth. “I love you.”
She gave a glad cry. “I love you, too.”
He took another deep breath, gazing deep into her eyes. “Will you and Hailey consider going back with me?”
“Back where? To the cabin in the mountains?”
“No.” Realizing he’d told her next to nothing about his life, he smiled. “To Seattle. I have a condo there, but I’m going to need to find a larger place anyway, probably at least three bedrooms. Because as soon as Lilly gets out of the hospital, she’s coming home with me, too.”
“Of course.” She kissed him then, a kiss full of promise and passion. It was a kiss strong enough to make a lonely soul whole once again.
When they finally came up for air, he rested his head against hers, forehead to forehead, noses touching. Mates. No longer apart.
“What about your family?” she asked, her clear gaze searching his face. “Are you going to contact them?”
“I thought we could do it together.” He swallowed hard, wondering if she could hear the way his heart threatened to explode from his chest. “And maybe once we’ve gotten to know them, we can invite them to our wedding.”
She gasped. “Our...?”
Taking advantage of her parted lips, he kissed her once more. Caressing her, loving her, claiming her as his.
“Wedding.” Firmly he spoke the word. “I don’t have a ring, but I’d like to ask you to marry me.” Still holding her hands, he dropped to one knee. “Blythe Daphne, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Green eyes sparkling, she dropped down to her knees with him and took both his hands. “Of course,” she said, smiling. “As long as you promise to kiss me again.”
And pulling her close, so he did.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Karen Whiddon’s next romance,
TEXAS SECRETS, LOVERS’ LIES,
available October 2013 from
Harlequin Romantic Suspense!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Releasing the Hunter by Vivi Anna.
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Nocturne story.
You harbor otherworldly desires…. Harlequin Nocturne stories delve into dark, sensuous and often dangerous territory, where the normal and paranormal collide.
Enjoy two new stories from Harlequin Nocturne every month!
Visit Harlequin.com to find your next great read.
We like you—why not like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
Subscribe to our newsletter for special offers, new releases, and more!
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Chapter 1
The thump thump thump of hip-hop music vibrated over Ivy Strom’s flesh, making the little hairs on her arms stand to attention. The rhythmic noise was so loud she could barely hear her own rapid heartbeat.
She took another sip of her tonic and lime, the liquid quenching her dry throat. From her perch on the stool at the main bar, she scanned the dance floor once more for her quarry, her eyes pausing every so often on lone males.
She’d been told that Sallos, the Great Duke of Hell, would be here, lurking around like the degenerate demon he was. He’d taken two girls from here in the past four months. This was supposedly one of his favorite hunting grounds.
Now it was hers.
Ivy shifted in her seat; the silver daggers she had strapped to her sides underneath her T-shirt were starting to chafe. It was difficult to dress inconspicuously for a club and still carry as much hardware as she wanted.
She had no less than four knives on her, all silver; two ampuls of holy water, hidden carefully in her cleavage; and she’d hung a bag of salt from her belt. And of course she wore a blessed silver cross around her neck. She was prepared for anything to happen. With demons, it usually did.
She’d been hunting this one for a little over five months now. For the past year he’d been terrorizing the streets of San Francisco. Seven women had been murdered so far. They’d all been identified by their dental records and fingerprints. Because this demon didn’t leave much to recognize.
But his reign was over as far as Ivy was concerned. She’d gotten a reliable tip that he’d be here at this club tonight and Ivy was ready for him. She’d take him out, but not before she got a chance to interrogate him. It was her job to hunt him down, but there was also a personal reason behind her need to find him. This demon supposedly had information that could locate Quinn Strom, Ivy’s brother.
He’d been missing for three years now. He was the last of her family and she swore she’d never give up searching until she found him, dead or alive. At least then she’d know, and she could move on with her life. Or exact her revenge, which would be more like it. The Stroms were all about revenge and justice.
She’d been born into the hunting community. Her dad had been a hunter when he’d met her mother. He’d actually met her while chasing down a r
ogue priest who’d been possessed by a strong wrath demon. Ivy’s mother had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but her father had saved her life before the demon could do any permanent damage.
They never married, but they lived together, and she had learned the ways of the hunter. She had Quinn shortly after, then Ivy two years later. She’d died when Ivy was only nine. On the job, of course. It had always been about the job. Usually just their dad would go out on hunts, for days sometimes. But on a few occasions, both parents went. In this particular case, Quinn had been left to take care of her while their mom and dad hunted. Dad had come back alone.
Hunters rarely lived to a ripe old age.
Ivy ran a hand over the cross at her throat. The necklace had been a gift from Quinn about a month before he disappeared. When he gave it to her, he told her never to remove it. It would protect her day and night from everything, including the nightmares she sometimes had. After he left, she never did take it off. It was her last reminder of him. Everything else he had taken with him, wherever that was.
She missed him. When he disappeared it was as if he taken a part of her with him. They’d been close. Had to be to endure the constant moving around the country and their dad’s long absences while he hunted. Quinn had never let her out of his sight. He’d always been there for her. When she’d have nightmares, which was often, he’d be there to soothe her back to sleep. In many ways, Quinn had raised her. Not her dad.
Then he’d vanished and she’d been left to pick up the pieces of her life and of the hunt.
She finished her drink and slid off her stool. She’d do a walk around the club. There were some dark areas that she couldn’t quite see from the bar. This was where she could rely on the amulet she wore around her neck to help her search. When a demon was near, it lit up with a blue glow somewhat like a firefly. It heated up as well, so she’d feel it against her skin instantly if a demon crossed her path.
Brushing past some enthusiastic dancers, Ivy circled the dance floor. It was crammed with gyrating sweaty young people of every race and sexual orientation. As she moved past, she almost got swept up in the soulful throb of the music. The primal beats thumped in time to her heartbeat and she found she had to force herself not to move her body to the electrifying rhythm. On another night, she might’ve indulged. It had been too long since she’d had any sort of fun.
The Lost Wolf's Destiny (The Pack) Page 26
