Sean picked up Adira and Gareth lifted Ethan from her car seat. “Ready.”
She led them to the house, and Gareth sensed what was coming. It was hard to surprise a wolf. She pushed open the door, and the room erupted in “Surprise” calls from everyone inside. They stepped over the threshold and were absorbed into the throng of guests, who slapped them on the back or wished them well or just wanted to adore the kids.
Dani came over to Gareth and took Ethan. “Lyram wants to have a word with you. He’s in the office.”
Before he could reply, Dani snuggled Ethan to her and went into the kitchen. Gareth nodded to Sean, who smiled at him, then walked down the corridor to what used to be his office. He was about to open the door when he realized it was no longer his. He knocked.
“Come in.”
He pushed the door, and it opened on Lyram sitting on the sofa with Caleb.
“You wanted to see me, Alpha?”
Lyram’s gaze narrowed. “Yes, Supreme Alpha.” He chuckled. “You know my name, and since you’re my boss still, I’d prefer that to a title.”
“Only if you call me Gareth.”
“Okay, then, Gareth. Yes, I’d like to talk to you, if you don’t mind.” He rubbed Caleb’s head. “Would it be okay if I spoke with Gareth for a few minutes?”
Caleb got up and hopped off the sofa, then headed out the door.
“How’s he doing?”
“Still won’t shift back. I know he can, but he hasn’t.”
“Oh? How do you know he can?”
“I can sense when he’s out of his wolf form. His thoughts are clearer and more concise. I want to talk to him, but I need him to feel like he can come to me.”
“That makes sense.” Gareth took the chair. “What did you want to see me about?”
Lyram blew out a breath. “Are you sure I’m the man for the job? You’re the Alpha. I was happy being your Beta.”
“We talked about this. You’ve changed, and for the better. You’re stronger now, more in control. Mother has tasked me with a job, and in order for me to do it, I have to turn over Lydon to someone I trust. That’s you.”
“But you had training. I’ve had nothing. What if I screw up?”
“You won’t. You’ve done this job many times—the only difference now is that it’s going to be permanent.” Gareth leaned in. “Okay, what’s really bothering you?”
A grin split Lyram’s face. “You can still see right through me.” He got up and padded to the window, where he stood looking out. “My greatest fear is that I’m going to disappoint you. You’re leaving me in charge, and what happens if the pack collapses? What if later you decide this was a mistake and want the pack back? What if—”
“What if you do an amazing job and the pack thrives? What if you do it better than me?”
Lyram spun, his eyes wide. “What? I could never—”
“You’ve got your council if you want it. You have your brains. And you’ve got heart. What more do you need?” Gareth got up and joined Lyram at the window. “The pack will never collapse. You’re too stubborn to allow that to happen. And, if it ever happens that you need advice, you know you only need to call me. No matter where we go, our hearts will always belong here.”
A slow sigh rolled out of Lyram. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. There’ve been so many changes, what with us absorbing another pack. And we’re getting a ton of applications to join. Everyone wants to belong to the pack that the Supreme Alpha belongs to.”
“All this tells me is that you’re the right man for the job. You’re not jumping in or running away. You’re assessing, contemplating your alternatives, and once you have the facts at your fingertips, you’ll make a decision.” He nudged Lyram with a shoulder. “And never doubt it’ll be a good one.”
Though they’d never been overly affectionate, Lyram turned and pulled Gareth into a hug. “I’m going to miss you, Alpha. Lydon won’t be the same without you and Sean here.”
“No, it’ll be better. You’re going to make it into something that everyone in the pack will be proud to call home.” He kissed Lyram’s forehead. “And for the record, I’m going to miss you too. You were always by my side, and you never once wavered in your convictions. Let those carry you forward now.”
They stepped back.
“Now, I have a mate to get to the car so we can head out. Milwaukee is a long way from here, and I want to meet with the Great Lakes pack next week. Then it’ll be down to Chicago, where the Windy City Alpha has been dealing in some questionable things.”
“Mother picked the right man for the job, you know.”
“Like you, I certainly hope so.” Gareth tilted his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go down and party. Milwaukee will always be there one more day. Tonight, I want to celebrate with my family.”
And as they walked down the stairs, the sounds of celebration drifting up to meet them, Gareth had a flash of intuition. He saw Lyram working hard, building Lydon into something even greater than Gareth had ever imagined. There were still things that needed to be settled. Would Caleb open up to Lyram about how he felt? Would Deke be able to help Quinn find himself once more? Yes, there were stories still to be writ.
And Gareth couldn’t wait to hear all about them.
More from Parker Williams
Patrick Lane escaped his alcoholic parents when he made it to college. But when they ditched his siblings under the pretense of returning in a few hours, Patrick made a solemn vow that he would raise Joey and Jenna as his own, ensuring they would never doubt they were loved. And it’s a promise he’s done his best to keep, no matter how hard it’s been.
Seth Clarke owns his own business, has a nice house, and parents and a brother who love him. But he isn’t satisfied and never has been. The men he’s been with complain he’s a perfectionist, and Seth knows it’s true. When he meets Patrick, he’s intrigued. Just when it seems something wonderful is getting off the ground between them, Seth meets Joey and Jenna, and he panics. He hates messes, and kids are the worst.
It takes two very strong women to open Seth’s eyes to the truths he’s been doing his best to forget. Now Seth has a choice. He can walk away from Patrick, leaving his heart behind, or he can step up and discover that family matters more than anything.
A Links in the Chain story
Can two hearts stained by past pain find healing together?
Tom Kotke held his husband of twenty-five years on the day he died and spent nearly a year adrift. Determined to force Tom back into the world, his family takes him to the Park View Diner, where he meets young stained-glass artist Aiden Dawson. For a brief moment, Tom doesn’t think about his deceased husband—a terrifying prospect.
Slowly, Aiden draws Tom out of his shell and helps him feel alive once more. But Tom isn’t the only one who has suffered. Aiden fears no one sees beyond his wheelchair. Even if Tom can convince him he’s different, they’ll still have to overcome their age difference and a secret that could destroy their future together.
Lock and Key: Book One
When he was eight years old, Scott Fogel died. Paramedics revived him, but he came back changed. Ghosts and spirits tormented Scott for over a decade until, thinking he was going mad, he did the only thing he could.
He ran—leaving behind his best friend, Tim Jennesee.
Scott’s had five normal, ghost-free years in Chicago, when the spirit of Tim’s mother comes to him and begs him to go home because Tim’s in trouble and needs him.
He isn’t prepared for what he finds when he goes home—a taller and sexier Tim, but a Tim who hasn’t forgiven Scott for abandoning him… a Tim whose body is no longer his own. The ghost of a serial murderer has attached itself to Tim, and it’s whispering dark and evil things. It wants Tim to kill, and it’s becoming harder for Tim to resist. To free the man who has always meant so much to him, Scott must unravel the mystery of the destiny he shares with Tim.
Matt Bowers’s life ended at sixteen, when a vicio
us betrayal by someone who he should have been able to trust left him a shell of himself, fighting OCD and PTSD, living in constant fear and always running. When he buys a remote tract of land, he thinks he’s found the perfect place to hide from the world and attempt to establish some peace. For ten years he believes he’s found a measure of comfort, until the day a stranger begins to run on Matt’s road. He returns every day, an unwelcome intrusion into Matt’s carefully structured life. Matt appeals to the local sheriff, who cannot help him since the jogger is doing nothing wrong. Gradually, after tentatively breaking the ice, Matt begins to accept the man’s presence—
But when the runner doesn’t show up one day, it throws Matt’s world into chaos and he must make the hardest decision of his life.
A Collars and Cuffs Story
Since the death of his submissive lover two years ago, Leo hasn’t been living—merely existing. He focuses on making Collars & Cuffs, a BDSM club in Manchester’s gay village, successful. That changes the night he and his business partner have their weekly meeting at Severinos. Leo can’t keep his eyes off the new server. The shy man seems determined to avoid Leo’s gaze, but that’s like a red rag to a bull. Leo loves a challenge.
Alex Daniels works at Severinos to scrape together the money to move out on his own. He struggles with coming out, but he’s drawn to Leo, the gorgeous guy with the icy-blue eyes who’s been eating in his area nearly every night.
Leo won’t let Alex’s hesitance get in the way. He even keeps him away from the club so as not to scare him. And as for telling Alex that Leo is a Dom? Not a good idea. One date becomes two, but date two leads to Leo’s bedroom… and Alex discovers things about himself he never realized—and never wanted anyone to see.
Readers love Parker Williams
Stained Hearts
“An absolutely gorgeous story that reminded me how important love is and that, once again, the family you make together is often far better than one you are born into.”
—Rainbow Book Reviews
“Another beautiful love story. Not without hardship or moments of grief or hurt, but one that endures it all to form a bond to last all time.”
—Love Bytes
Galen’s Redemption
“This is very much a slow burn romance but seeing these two men come together for their HEA was simply divine. I loved every word of this story!!”
—Open Skye Book Reviews
“As always Parker Williams has delivered a lovely novel, I was so happy to meet these two men and see how hard they worked for their HEA.”
—Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
The Spirit Key
“Fast paced, edge of your seat, suspenseful and intriguing beginning to a series that I am looking forward to diving into further.”
—MM Good Book Reviews
PARKER WILLIAMS is a bestselling author of MM romance and suspense. One of his recent works was nominated for the Lambda Literary Awards, and several books have been runners-up at the Rainbow Awards.
Parker loves the written word. A chance encounter with an amazing author changed the course of his life as he began to write the stories his men were whispering to him. With the help of some amazing friends and a community of writers he’s proud to be part of, Parker continues telling stories of love, hurt, comfort, and sometimes tosses in a little angst for fun. He believes in love, but also knows that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (and maybe a little hurt and comfort too). The course of true love never runs smooth, and he enjoys writing about it.
Parker lives in Milwaukee, WI, with his husband, Paul, and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Most days you’ll find him on Facebook, sharing stories and pictures of the zoo, or even about Paul, who is always good for a laugh.
Website: www.parkerwilliamsauthor.com
Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641
Email: [email protected]
By Parker Williams
Family Matters
Runner
LINKS IN THE CHAIN
Lincoln’s Park
Galen’s Redemption
Stained Hearts
LOCK AND KEY
The Spirit Key
THE WOLVES OF LYDON
The Night Wolf
With K.C. Wells
COLLARS AND CUFFS
An Unlocked Heart
Trusting Thomas
Someone to Keep Me
A Dance with Domination
Damian’s Discipline
Make Me Soar
Dom of Ages
Endings and Beginnings
SECRETS
Before You Break
An Unlocked Mind
Threepeat
On the Same Page
Published by Dreamspinner Press
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
Dreamspinner Press
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Night Wolf
© 2020 Parker Williams
Cover Art
© 2020 Reese Dante
http://www.reesedante.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-64405-647-9
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-646-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019957156
Digital eBook published May 2020
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
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