Mal isn’t the only human in the Gillham Pack, but he is the only unmated one. He knows most members view him as an outsider for that, but he has his friends, and it’s enough for him. That’s what he tries to convince himself of anyway.
Will still isn’t over Heath, even though his ex-boyfriend mated with Jayden nine months ago. It’s not only the fact that Heath mated that hurts him. Heath lost his memory, and he doesn’t remember Will and the years they had together. Will knows it’s not Heath’s fault, but he still keeps his distance, even if that means staying away from the only family he has.
Will and Mal crash into each other and Will immediately realizes what Mal is to him. The distance between their homes put a strain on their budding relationship, as does the reappearance of Mal’s abusive ex-boyfriend, and the ever-present danger of the new council trying to get rid of the pack. Will they be able to find solutions to their problems or will one of them finally tear them apart?
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Mal
Copyright © 2016 Catherine Lievens
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0746-9
Cover art by Latrisha Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
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Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc
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Mal
Gillham Pack Book Twelve
By
Catherine Lievens
Dedication
To the members of my Facebook groups, for always wanting more and for supporting me, and to my family.
Chapter One
Mal opened the kitchen door and entered, hurrying to close it behind himself. It was raining, and he wondered once again why he’d thought coming to live in Wyoming was a good idea. It was only September, and it’d been raining for three days. Elliott had told him it was exceptional, but Mal wasn’t sure he believed him. Not that Colorado had been better, of course, but he could have moved to California, except for the fact that his best friend, Arlen, now lived in Gillham.
“Anyone home?” he yelled after taking his jacket and shoes off and leaving them to dry on the porch just outside the kitchen door.
There was a crash, then someone stumbled in the hallway. Elliott appeared at the door, his hair mussed, his lips reddened, and Mal rolled his eyes. “Sorry I interrupted.”
Elliott blushed. “You didn’t.”
Mal arched a brow and pointedly looked at Elliott’s T-shirt. He was wearing it backward—and inside out. Elliott looked down at himself and pressed his lips together. “Sorry.”
Mal shrugged. “‘S fine. I’d say I could leave, but it’s raining.”
“I know.”
“I’ll go to my room. Try not to make too much noise, and if any bodily fluids end up on the couch, I’ll kill you both in your sleep.”
Elliott became an even deeper shade of red. “We’re not—it’s not—”
Mal laughed and shook his head. “Whatever. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
He skipped out of the room and ignored the living room as he passed by it. He bounced up the stairs and into his room—only then did he allow his real mood to seep out. The smile on his face faded and his head drooped. He shook it and pushed his damp jeans down his legs, abandoning them on the floor and collapsing on the bed.
He stayed like that only a few minutes. Laughter came from downstairs, then a low, husky moan, and Mal scrambled for his cell phone. He extracted it from his jeans and plugged his headphones in, cranking the music up until he couldn’t hear whatever Elliott and Mihaja were doing.
Mal pushed his legs under his blankets and buried himself deeper in his bed. He was happy for Elliott. Really. Elliott deserved to have a mate, and to heal from what had been done to him finally. It didn’t mean Mal wasn’t jealous, though, and being jealous made him feel even worse about the entire situation.
It was fucked up. He hadn’t really thought when he’d decided to move to Gillham, not further than the fact that the move would take him away from Paul. He was still happy he’d moved, because he wasn’t scared anymore. He wasn’t always waiting for the next blow to come, for the yells and threats.
By any means, Mal knew he should have been happy. And he was. Just, not completely. He hadn’t thought about it in the beginning, but as the time passed, it had become more obvious.
He was one of the few humans in the pack. He knew that was only because of the alpha who’d ruled the pack before Kameron, and that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that all the other humans there were mated. They really were pack members, but Mal wasn’t, no matter what Kameron said.
He knew his friends didn’t care that he wasn’t mated, but he also saw the way everyone else looked at him, wondering what he was doing there. Some days, he himself wasn’t sure. Sometimes he wondered if he shouldn’t leave Gillham and find himself a place out there, in the human world. He’d been on his own since Arlen had disappeared, at least until Paul happened, so he knew he could make it. His decisions hadn’t been the best back then, of course, but he’d learned from his mistakes.
But he couldn’t leave. His entire life was in Gillham now—his job, his home, his friends. He didn’t want to start again.
Mal rolled on his back and looked at the plastic stars he’d stuck on his ceiling. Did he have a mate out there? He snorted to himself. Even if he did have one, there was no way he could find the guy. He wasn’t a shifter, and even if Xavier had told him that he’d felt something for Andy when he’d met him, Mal wasn’t convinced. That wasn’t for him. What could he give a mate anyway? His crazy ex was still hounding him, he had a job in a coffee shop and nothing to his name. Who’d want to deal with all that?
His phone beeped and the music stopped. It was an incoming call, and Mal didn’t know the number, so he didn’t answer. He never did. If whoever it was really wanted to talk to him, they’d call back, and Mal would ask Mihaja to check who the number belonged to before answering.
The call lasted long minutes, then ended. Mal settled deeper in his bed, but the phone rang again. Same number.
Mal scowled at it and threw the phone on the bed. He took off his headphones and got up, shivering a bit, his bare legs covered in goose bumps. He went to the bathroom. Once he was done, he looked at himself in the mirror. He’d been thinking of coloring his hair, something Paul hadn’t allowed. He liked the idea of blue, but not for the entire hair. He liked the blond, so maybe a few strands? He’d have to check in town to see if he could find the dye.
He hurried back to his bed and dove under the covers. He took his phone again, smiling when he saw the call had ended and the caller wasn’t calling back, but the smile shifted when he noticed he had a text message.
Mal didn’t want to open it, but he did, because he needed to know. He locked his jaw and thumbed the text
open, biting on his lower lip so hard he tasted blood when he saw who it was from.
Hey, baby. I’ve been looking for you for months. I miss you. Come back.
Paul. Of course it was Paul. Mal had known this would happen sooner or later, and he knew that if he didn’t answer, Paul would become angry. He’d start insulting Mal, he’d try to manipulate him into giving him his new address. It wouldn’t’ be the first time, but Mal wasn’t falling for it. Not now. Not anymore.
Before, he’d been alone, and Paul had taken advantage of that. Mal wasn’t alone anymore, and he knew his friends would do whatever they could to help him and keep him safe.
He hovered his thumb over the delete button, but before he could make a decision, the phone beeped again. It was another text, and of course, it was from Paul.
Mal? Baby, please. I need you. Tell me where you are. I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m done with that.
Mal snorted. Right. Paul was done with hitting him, but it wasn’t because he’d changed. It was only because Mal had had the courage to dump his ass. It wasn’t the first time Paul tried to convince Mal he’d changed, but Mal wasn’t falling for it again.
He knew Paul was going to continue texting and calling him, though, and he didn’t want to have to change his number again. He extracted himself from his blanket nest and pulled on soft pajama pants. Taking his phone, he walked down the stairs, making enough noise to wake the dead.
Elliott’s head appeared at the living room door, and this time, his T-shirt was the right way around. “Hey, you want a snack?” Elliott asked.
“Actually, I need to talk to Mihaja.”
Elliott frowned. “Did we make too much noise?”
“Nothing to do with that.”
Elliott stepped sideways and let Mal pass by him. Mihaja was on the couch, his feet on the coffee table, looking satisfied. Mal didn’t want to know why that was, and he slumped next to Mihaja, trying to ignore what he and Elliott had been up to until a few minutes before.
“Can I block a number from ever calling or texting me again?”
Mihaja cocked his head. “Yes, you can. Why?”
“Because my asshole of an ex found my new number and he’s been calling and texting.” Mal’s phone beeped again, and he scowled at it.
Mihaja wiggled his fingers. “Can I?”
Mal surrendered his phone just as Elliott sat next to him and asked, “It’s Paul?”
Mal sighed and leaned his head on Elliott’s shoulder. “Yeah. It’s Paul.”
* * * *
Will parked in front of the mansion and looked at it. He didn’t want to be in Whitedell. He didn’t want to have found a box of Heath’s things under his bed, and he didn’t want to have to give it back to Heath. He wasn’t about to keep it, though, so he got out of his car and opened the trunk. He hauled the box—mostly books—out, and balanced it on his hip to close the trunk.
Someone was at the front door, waiting for him. He didn’t recognize the guy, but he was sure he was about to be taken to the alpha. “I brought this for Heath.”
Will tried to hand the man at the door the box, but he shook his head and pointed behind himself. “You can talk to Dom.”
“I don’t need to. I just need to give you this. You can give it to Heath when he comes by.”
The last thing Will wanted was to see Heath and Jayden. He really didn’t need to have their happiness smeared on his face, even though he couldn’t berate them for being happy. They were mates. Why wouldn’t they? It didn’t mean Will wanted to see it, though, especially not after everything that had happened.
“Look, I’m not the one giving orders in this house, so if Dom says he wants to see you, that’s what I do.”
Will rolled his eyes. “Fine. Can I leave this in the entrance? It’s kind of heavy.”
“Sure. Push it under one of the chairs.”
Will obeyed and followed the guy toward the alpha’s office. The guy looked at Will. “I’m Yanis.”
Will nodded. “Will.”
Yanis didn’t ask more questions, and Will wondered if it was because he already knew who Will was. He didn’t remember Yanis, but he hadn’t exactly spent a lot of time in the mansion. Maybe he just hadn’t had the opportunity to meet him.
Yanis knocked on a door and peeked in when he was told to enter. “Will, uh...” He looked at Will.
“Thayer.”
“Right.” He looked back inside. “Will Thayer is here.”
“Let him in,” the voice said, and Yanis moved away. He let Will pass, nodded at him, and closed the door, leaving Will alone with Dominic Nash, the Whitedell Pride alpha.
Will sat in front of the desk, wondering why he was there and why Dominic wanted to talk to him. Would he tell Will to stay away? Because if that was his intention, Will would be more than happy to obey that order.
Dominic stared at Will until he squirmed on his chair. “So, Will. How are you?”
Will cocked his head. This wasn’t what he’d expected. “I’m fine.”
“Are you here to see Heath?”
“No.”
“Oh?”
Will sighed. “No, I’m here to leave a box of his books I found in my apartment.”
“Why didn’t you leave them at the ranch? Heath and Jayden live there now.”
Will chuckled darkly. “That’s exactly why I didn’t.”
Dominic nodded. “You haven’t seen them recently.”
It wasn’t a question, but Will answered anyway. “No, I haven’t.”
“Are you planning to?”
“No.”
“Can I ask why not?”
God, the last thing Will wanted was to answer, but Dominic was the head of the council. Will didn’t want to anger him. “Because I lived there too. I spent time with Heath there, and he doesn’t remember it. I’d have to remember moments of our life together if I go, while the only thing he remembers are the moments he’s living with Jayden.” Will closed his eyes. “I’m not angry at them. They’re mates, and I know Heath would have left me for Jayden, memories or no memories. It doesn’t mean it hurts less.”
“I understand. Just know that you’re always welcome here.”
Will laughed and looked at Dominic. “I’m not one of your lost boys, Alpha Nash. I have a family of my own.”
Will didn’t, not really. His family had been Heath’s, and ever since Heath had mated with Jayden, Will had put some distance between them. He loved them like he hadn’t loved his own family, and he didn’t want them to have to choose between him and Jayden. Not that Jayden had asked them to, but it made things less awkward for everyone.
Dominic looked at Will, a knowing glint in his eyes. “One can never have too much family or too many friends.”
Will wouldn’t know. He had a few friends, but they weren’t particularly close, and they didn’t know about him being a bear shifter. His only real friend had been Heath, and when Will had lost him, he’d lost his boyfriend, his best friend, and his family, all at once. Sometimes he wondered how he managed to get up in the morning.
“I don’t fit here,” he said, because he had to find a reason why he couldn’t be there.
“How can you know that?”
“This house, this pride, they’re not my family.”
“They could be. I’m not telling you to move in with us, because I know it’s not possible, or even that you might not want to, but I want you to know that you’re welcome here. In a way, you’re Heath’s family, so you’re part of the pride.”
Will was stunned. He’d known Alpha Nash was a good man, and a welcoming one, but he hadn’t expected this. Why would he invite Will to come to Whitedell? Will was just the ex-boyfriend of one of his pride members. Heath didn’t even care for Will, not anymore, not as much as he had before, so why should Dominic?
“Why?” It was the only thing Will could ask.
Dominic reclined back in his chair and looked at Will as i
f he could see everything Will was thinking. “Why not? There’s one thing I’ve always disliked in the shifter world, and it’s the way we keep so much to ourselves. Everyone should be able to have someone to lean on, and right now, it’s not happening.”
“I’m not sure what it has to do with me. I mean, I know there are many people in your pride. Why would you want someone else, someone you don’t know?”
“Because we’re a family, and I want to help. I’d help every single shifter if I could.” He seemed to think about his next words carefully. “The shifter world is going through some difficult times lately.”
Will nodded. He knew about the various attacks on shifter groups. Heath’s family was scared, because they were a small sleuth, and Will knew he’d be an easy target. He spent most of his time alone, and when he wasn’t, the people with him were human. They wouldn’t be able to do anything to protect him.
“The council is doing its best to counteract what the hunters are doing,” Dominic continued, “but it’s not an easy task. I know you’re alone, and I want you to know that we’re here to help if you ever need us. I’m going to give you a list of phone numbers, if it’s fine with you. You can call whatever number if you need help. The numbers all belong to Nix, so they’ll get you out of whatever trouble you’re in fast.”
Will was overwhelmed. He hadn’t expected this, and he was grateful. When Dominic handed him a bright pink piece of paper, he took it. There were six numbers on it, each one with a name next to them. “Thank you.”
“Whoever you call will tell us what’s happening, so we’ll help as best and as fast as we can. I gave you the numbers of the Nix closest to the pride, because while you might not think of us as family, I think you are.”
Will didn’t know how to deal with this. He nodded and looked at the list again. He swallowed, hating the way his feelings were out of his control. Damn Heath, who was still wrecking Will’s life even though they hadn’t seen each other for more than nine months.
Mal Page 1
