by Anya Byrne
A Tiny Matchmaker for Two Star-Crossed Mates
Lone Wolf Pack 6.1
Copyright 2015 Anya Byrne
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
All Romance Edition April 2015
All Romance Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please forward them a link to buy their own copy, or use the gift function available on your All Romance account. Thank you for respecting the hard work and livelihood of this author.
This book is a work of fiction, not to be confused with fact, advice or suggestion. The characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is purely coincidental. Cover art is for illustration purposes only.
Blurb:
His whole life, Myles has suffered pain and rejection. He knows that he deserves it—what use could anyone have for a tiny, pathetic werewolf like him? In a last bid for survival, he seeks refuge with the Lone Wolf Pack—but he has no expectations or hopes for the future. He definitely doesn't expect to find his mate.
Braendan is one of the oldest Sidhe on earth. Endless centuries of loneliness have made him bitter and irritable, and when he meets the adorable werewolf, he reacts poorly and makes the worst first impression to the man—to his mate.
Both men are broken in different ways, and both think they are no good for one another. Shannon Simmons might be only a baby, but he will have none of that nonsense. Sometimes, adults need all the help they can get—and really, if he nudges them in the right direction, who can blame him?
Warning: Gay erotic romance. The material in this document contains explicit sexual content that is intended for mature audiences only. All characters involved are adults capable of consent, are over the age of twenty-one, and are willing participants.
10,839 words
Table of Contents
A Tiny Matchmaker for Two Star-Crossed Mates
About the Author
Other titles by Anya Byrne
A Tiny Matchmaker for Two Star-Crossed Mates
Lone Wolf Pack 6.1
Anya Byrne
Copyright 2015
Chapter One
When Myles had heard about what was happening in the small town of Willow Cove, he'd run in the other direction. He would have been truly hard-pressed to find something more distasteful than throwing random people together in such a tense situation and forcing them to make nice. He didn't actually think it was a bad idea. Indeed, people needed somewhere to go when they were alone, lost and in pain, and current circumstances—what with the humans becoming more and more of a danger—made that increasingly obvious.
Perhaps what he disliked most was that he wished he could be a part of it, but at the same time, he knew that would never happen. So, he had run and he had tried to think no more of it.
Of course, fate had never been kind to him, because two weeks later, he was limping into Lone Wolf Pack territory, still in wolf form, but unable to find enough energy to shift. His leg injury had stopped bleeding, but he'd lost enough blood that he still felt he was moments away from falling over. He'd forgotten when he'd eaten last, and all he wanted was a safe place to sleep—one night during which he didn't have to worry about sharp teeth and sharper claws, either wielded by members of his former pack, or by animals in the wild.
It was instinct that guided him to the Lone Wolf Pack, but he never reached whatever settlement Alpha Simmons had been building with his new Sidhe allies. The blood loss got to him before he could make it there. Whimpering, he crawled to the base of a tree, distantly wondering if he was going to die this way, in such a pathetic manner. But then, he'd always been pathetic, hadn't he? Maybe it was just as well that he would be gone. If he continued on, he'd simply burden someone else with his uselessness.
He didn't know how long he drifted in and out of consciousness when he heard the voices. He couldn't understand what they were saying, or distinguish much of anything really, but something inside him made him call out. He released a low, mournful howl, knowing that if he was making a mistake, if these new arrivals were enemies, he would be done for.
He needn't have worried. The earlier conversation came to a halt, and rushed footsteps approached, zeroing in on his position. A gasp of dismay sounded above him, and then, soft hands were in his fur, soothing him, even if he didn't deserve it.
Myles found himself lifted in strong arms, and he drifted in and out of consciousness as the stranger carrying him moved through the forest. He didn't know at which point they reached their destination, but they must have, because when he awoke again, he seemed to be lying on a soft surface he distantly identified as a bed.
A wave of comforting warmth settled over him, like a familiar blanket wrapped around him on a cold winter day. Myles welcomed it at first, but then the warmth started to enter his body, and that didn't feel so good anymore. It wasn't unpleasant, not really, but it scared him, because he hadn't experienced anything like it in his life. He weakly batted at the person next to him, trying to claw them away. It didn't work.
"Shh, child," a strange voice said. "Shh. You're okay. You're safe. Nobody is going to hurt you."
Myles didn't really believe that. He'd heard too many lies in his lifetime to have faith in an empty promise. Nonetheless, he was hurt, and at some level, his instincts guided him to open himself up to the power. In the end, it paid off, because the energy flowed over him, soothing his aches, healing wounds Myles had long ago stopped being consciously aware of.
Finally, Myles blinked into awareness and managed to get a more detailed feel of what was going on—or rather, where he was. His previous assessment was confirmed in that he lay in a bed in a pleasantly furnished room. The only other man present smiled at him, caressing his fur with a gentle hand. "There you go. How are you feeling, pup?"
Myles couldn't help but bristle a little at the word 'pup'. He knew he was small. This stranger didn't have to rub it in further.
Then again, in all likelihood, the man simply did not realize the sad truth about Myles, which must also be why he'd helped Myles recover from his injury. Myles couldn't help but be wary—it was obvious that his would-be rescuer had some sort of magic, and if the stranger turned against him, things wouldn't go well for him. Could he get away with staying in shifted form for a while longer?
The stranger almost seemed to guess his thoughts. "Do you think you can shift for me?" he asked. "There are some things we have to talk about, if you feel up to it."
His voice held no forcefulness, but Myles was reminded of the fact that he was most likely on Lone Wolf Pack territory, and the people here were undoubtedly wary of intruders. If he hesitated further, would his unwilling hosts hate him even more? He didn't know, but perhaps it was better to get the unpleasantness out of the way. After all, he already felt better than he had in months. Even if they did cast him out, he could find his way to another refuge. Hopefully.
As such, Myles sat up and allowed his shift to flow over him. Fur rippled and bones shifted, and in seconds, Myles was in human form—and completely naked. Of course, the first thing he did was to curl in on himself and grab a blanket to shield his nudity. Other shifters might not mind displaying their bare bodies, but he wasn't like them, as his pack had pointed out so many times in the past.
The stranger blinked in surprise, and a shadow crossed his face, making Myles wince. The anger he'd expected didn't come. In fact, the man didn't address the elephant in the room at all. Instead, he extended his hand an
d smiled once more. "I'm Mathias Girard. I'm half-Sidhe, and I healed your injuries. Now, do you think you can tell me a bit about how you reached our lands in that condition?"
Myles nodded and miraculously managed to find his voice. "Yes, of course. And... Err... Thank you. For saving me."
The words came out raspy, and in a staccato pace, clumsy because he hadn't shifted into his human form for so long. Mathias didn't seem to mind. He waited patiently while Myles gathered his thoughts. Myles decided to follow his rescuer's example and begin with introducing himself. "I'm Myles. Myles... Gilliam."
The last name came out after a long moment of hesitation, since his pack had made it clear he didn't belong with them. He half-wished he hadn't uttered it at all, but not saying it would've been suspicious. He'd already brought enough trouble without being extra weird.
"Myles," the man—Mathias—said. "So...Myles, I'll start by saying I'm a bit concerned. When you were found in the forest, we all assumed you must have been attacked by hunters, but I could detect no traces of silver poisoning." He paused and gave Myles a piercing look. "Am I correct to assume that your condition is largely due to blood loss and starvation?"
Myles nodded, feeling uncomfortable and inadequate under Mathias's scrutiny. At first, when he'd started living in the wild, he'd managed to hunt on his own, but that had changed after he'd had an unfortunate meeting with a mountain lion. While he'd recovered from the battle, it had led him to being quite weakened, which in turn, made it hard for him to use his werewolf skills to survive. From then on, everything had spiraled into an even bigger mess. A group of humans had shot him after blaming him for something the mountain lion had done, and he'd taken a tumble into a ravine to escape them. He'd then been chased by a pack of real wolves who must have decided he was easy prey. Really, he didn't even want to think about the tragicomedy that had been his life for the past few months.
Still, he had to say something, so he decided to be as vague as possible. "I don't have a pack, so when I received an injury a while ago, it became hard for me to take care of myself in the wild. I... I take it this is the Lone Wolf Pack?"
"It is," Mathias confirmed. "The Alpha will want to talk to you, but it can wait for a bit while you recover. For the moment, I'll have something sent in for you to eat. How does that sound?"
Myles didn't have to respond, because his stomach did it for him. It growled so loudly the sound echoed in the room, making his face heat with shame. Mathias chuckled, but didn't seem to resent him for it. "Okay, that works. I'll be right back. Just relax and get some rest. I promise you're safe here, Myles."
Myles was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but he decided to deal with things as they came his way. For the moment, he had food and a warm bed. Even if his heart still held the growing emptiness of a lone wolf's loss, he could focus on the comfort this pack provided and for a little while, just forget.
****
For a few days, Myles did indeed enjoy the hospitality of the Lone Wolf Pack. The only person who came to visit him was Mathias, which helped—because really, he didn't like people.
As such, when Mathias told him it was time to meet the Alpha and the rest of the pack, Myles naturally panicked. He probably would have turned tail and fled had his muscles not frozen.
Mathias couldn't have missed his panic, and squeezed his shoulder in a way that was supposed to be comforting—and to a certain extent, was. "It's okay. Saul is an amazing Alpha, and the rest of the pack understand what you've been through. You're perfectly safe."
Myles really doubted that, but he couldn't exactly complain. He found himself stumbling after Mathias as the half-Sidhe guided him into the hallway.
There were already several people waiting for him in the main room of the house. Three men who were undoubtedly born Alphas all turned toward him as he walked inside. A forth leaned against the wall, his arms crossed against his chest as he watched on with an alarmingly blank expression.
Myles's hands started to tremble. Only five people, he told himself. That wasn't so bad. The door was still there, and if it got too much for him, he could bid a hasty retreat. He could do this. He wasn't a coward. His fears didn't rule him.
One of the Alphas took a step forward and extended his hand. "Hello, Myles. Welcome to the Lone Wolf Pack. I'm Saul Simmons, and I'm the Alpha here."
Myles offered the big man a tremulous smile and accepted the Alpha's palm, acutely aware of how badly he was sweating. "T-Thank you for helping me," he stammered.
Saul shared a look with Mathias, one that alarmed Myles even further. What did they think about him? Did they deem him a spy because of his hesitation? Did they perhaps believe that he had some nefarious secret to hide? Or were they simply disgusted by his pathetic nature, just like everyone else had been?
As the Alpha let go of his hand, the man who'd been leaning against the wall approached them. "Come sit down," he said, now smiling kindly. His hand was warm and gentle on Myles's arm, and Myles went along with it, because at the very least, it drew him away from the looming, overwhelming Alphas.
The man guided him to the couch and gestured for him to sit—which Myles eagerly did. A glass of water appeared in Myles's line of sight and he took it with trembling hands. As he looked up, he saw the kind stranger waiting next to him, within his reach, but not close enough to encroach on his personal space. "It's okay," the man said. "My name is Will. I know things seem very scary right now, and you have no reason to trust us, but you're safe here. No one is going to hurt you."
Myles was aware of the three Alphas talking in the background, and the two people Myles hadn't met yet left. A knot of tension loosened in Myles's chest and he found the strength to smile at Will. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm not good with people."
"That's fine," Saul replied. "I didn't realize it at first. I apologize for overwhelming you."
An Alpha apologizing? Myles eyed the man with suspicion. Surely, there had to be a catch. Alphas weren't nice. They didn't apologize, because they were always right.
Saul crouched in front of the couch. "Listen, Myles, I realize this isn't easy for you. Mathias has told me a few things, and I figure you've been through some very tough times. I want you to understand that you are welcome to stay here and heal, that you're among friends." His expression sobered. "But I also have a duty toward my pack, so I need to know exactly what to expect from each person who joins us. I realize you're not comfortable with us just yet, and I don't want to rush you into anything, but I think that you're a clever young man, and you can understand where I'm coming from."
The words did a lot to calm Myles down, because in a way, they anchored him in something he knew, or at least had hoped for. "Yes, of course. As an Alpha, you have a responsibility to the pack. You can't accept just anyone."
"No, I can't," Saul agreed, making Myles wince. "There are people who genuinely want to hurt us, and while I trust the wards now around Willow Cove, it's always better to get to know each person individually. I don't think that's going to be a problem with you, but I'd prefer it if were upfront with one another from the beginning. After all, you'll probably be more at ease once you don't have to stress about what I might or might not do."
Myles distantly wondered if Alphas had some sort of mind-reading ability, or if he'd just been that obvious in his fears. Either way, it was quite clear that he couldn't dodge their inquiries. Saul was right to worry about his pack.
"You don't have to give us any details you aren't comfortable with," Saul added. "We have an idea of what happened from what you told Mathias, so if you could fill in the blanks a bit, it would be fine."
Myles looked at his hands and braced himself for revealing his story. He never got the chance to speak. The strangest feeling flowed over him, stronger and more overwhelming than any panic attack he'd ever had. Instinctively, he looked at the door—and his gaze drew the attention of all those present.
And not a moment too soon, because a heartbeat later, a knock sounded ou
tside. Saul went to handle it, and as the Alpha twisted the doorknob, Myles somehow knew his life would never be the same again.
Chapter Two
Braendan was irritated. This was not a new state of affairs for him. Indeed, more often than not, irritation was his permanent companion, and the time of day could often be measured by how intensely he felt it. In the morning, he was usually resigned and mildly annoyed, and his state of displeasure escalated as the hours passed.
Tending to his garden helped his temper, as did reading longtime favorites. But today, he couldn't fall back onto his comfortable routine. His queen had decided he was the best person to send to check in on the progress of her haven for unfortunate lost little shifters.
Braendan had never come closer to refusing Maeven something in his life. He loved his cousin dearly and naturally respected her as was her due as queen, but she knew very well that he didn't want to leave his home and venture back into the world he'd shunned.
Alas, Maeven had other ideas—and that brought Braendan to Willow Cove, to double check Maeven's wards and offer his own power if it was necessary.
He started feeling a little off the moment he entered the territory of the Lone Wolf Pack. At first, he paid no heed to it. It was just the regular irritation of being forced to leave his home and actually having to—gah!—socialize. With every second that passed, though, the sensation became stronger and stronger. He buried it deep at the back of his mind, telling himself he had no reason to be unsettled, and if he did, if there was a problem here, he'd handle it. That was why he'd come here, after all, and he would not fail his queen.
The discipline he'd cultivated throughout his long life helped his resolve, even if at some level, he knew this didn't feel like a broken ward, or an unidentifiable intruder. There was an energy in the air, unlike anything Braendan had experienced before. Still, he did his best to not let it get to him—and it worked magnificently. After all, he had a lot of experience denying what he felt.
