by Martha Woods
“All of a sudden your precious pack laws can be broken? Lucas harmed my woman and that means I get to challenge and kill the bastard. Pack rules. Now get out of my way.”
“Son -”
“Don’t call me your son.” Liam shook with rage, his control over his human half quickly vanishing. His eyes flickered and claws replaced fingers.
“Liam, please calm down.” His mother’s weak voice seeped into his raging mind.
He glanced up at her leaning against the door, barely able to hold herself up. He softened just a bit. “Mom, get back inside.”
“I heard what your brother did.” A single tear slid down her cheek. “There is no excuse for his behavior but he’s your brother, Liam. I don’t see why the two of you can’t talk about things.”
Letting out a mirthless laugh, Liam shook his head. “You’re damn right, Mom. You don’t see, you never see.” She didn’t see the deplorable way her husband treated her or his children. She didn’t see that if she stayed she would die faster. Seeing the tears shimmering in her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to say those things.
“Liam, you have every right to want to kick Lucas’s ass but you might want to wait until the asshole can actually stand on his own two feet before you do that.” Liam turned to his brother, Michael, with a frown. Humor sparkled in his eyes. “It won’t be much of a fight if you kill him now. He’s injured. You were right about the presence of a hunter in town. Stuck a silver blade in Lucas’s hide. I would say he deserved it for what he did you your woman.”
Liam’s interested quickly shifted from his anger. “Did you see him?”
“The hunter? No, I don’t even know if it’s a he or a she. Caught a glimpse of someone chasing Lucas. I didn’t want to leave the woman so I didn’t follow.”
Liam let out a breath. He had to put his need for vengeance aside. If the hunter followed Lucas back to the village, everyone was in danger. As much as he disliked what their wolf pack stood for, there were many innocents.
“We have to get rid of the hunter.”
Isaac took a step toward him. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses, boy. You sound like you’re ready to take over after I’m gone.”
“This had nothing to do with me accepting the role you seem to think I have to take.” He didn’t want the title of alpha but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t fight to protect his people. “I still have family here,” he made a point of looking at his mother and Michael, “That I care about.”
Isaac’s jaw clenched and he snarled, “Don’t start with me, boy. I won’t allow you to embarrass me in the eyes of shifters everywhere. You will do as I say and take charge of this damn pack.”
Liam’s wrath mounted instantly his eyes turned deadly and he growled, “Or what?” His lips curled with contempt. “You forget that I’m stronger than you, old man.”
Father and son stared each other down, tension sizzling between them. “Please, stop.”
“Stay out of this, woman,” Isaac snarled in response to his wife’s soft plea. “It’s your fault my children are all disappointments. They’re weak like you.”
Liam watched his mother’s shoulders droop but she didn’t respond. He rushed toward his father. “I should kill where you stand you -” A strong grip clasped his upper arm, pulling him away.
“And we’re leaving,” Michael stated with a chuckle.
Liam pushed him off when they reached the covering of the trees. “What in the hell do you find funny about any of this?”
Michael shrugged. “The fact that falling in love has turned you into the biggest idiot.”
“I never said I was -” He paused. Wait, was he in love?
Sending him a knowing smirk, Michael walked off leaving him to follow. “That’s what I thought. God, I hope I don’t turn into a fool like you when I find my mate,” he murmured.
“Watch it, little brother.”
He held up both palms. “I’m just saying, you’re acting unlike your usual cool, logical self, man. You show up here, ready to kill your brother, throw an insult Mom’s way and you challenge our old man at the risk of the entire pack coming down on your ass. There’s no way I could have save you if that had happened.” He shook his head. “Are you fucking possessed or something?” He slapped Liam’s shoulder. “Of course, if you had been torn to piece back there, I would still be here to comfort your woman. She’s one fine looking - oomph.” Michael snickered as Liam slammed him against a tree. “You’re so easy.”
Muttering a curse, Liam released him and raked his fingers through his hair. “Sorry. I’ve just been on edge lately.”
Smoothing his shirt, Michael said, “No shit. So, what’s the plan?”
“Plan? For what?”
“Everything. Our hunter problem, our family, your decision about becoming alpha.”
Liam huffed. “First of all, we need to discover who the hunter is. Second, the whole family thing is my problem, not yours. Third, I almost gave in to taking leadership of the pack just to see Mom smile before she dies but then things changed.” When he gave in to his feelings for Skylar, he knew he couldn’t lead a group of wolf shifters and keep her in his life. It was her or the pack.
Michael sighed. “The family is my problem too, Liam. In fact, this family is the biggest pain in my ass. Mom is delusional and dying, Dad is the biggest asshole alive, Lucas is right behind Dad in the asshole department. And you, well, I missed you, Liam.”
He swallowed. “I told you to come with me.”
Michael gave him a sad smile. “Someone had to stay with Mom and keep some semblance of sanity among those animals.”
Guilt pricked Liam and he stopped walking. Michael turned to him in askance. “Do you think I was selfish for leaving?”
“No. You had a chance to live the life you wanted and you went for it. I admire you for doing that. There’s always a choice, brother. You made your choice to liberate yourself and I made mine. Sure, I could have gone with you but I never really craved the human way of life like you did. And I’m more like our mother. So a part of me staying had to do with my vision of keeping everyone together, maybe even changing the old man and Lucas.” He shrugged. “I failed miserably just like Mom did.”
Liam shook his head when he saw the grin on his brother’s face. “How do you always manage to find humor in everything, you freak?”
Michael shrugged. “It’s a gift.”
“She’ll like you. Skylar, I mean.”
He smiled. “Well, I look forward to meeting her. Officially. I should go back and make sure all hell didn’t break loose.”
“It’s not too late, Michael. You can still leave the pack. Maybe stay with me. You can work with me as well.”
“The billionaire business man suits you, not me. But thanks.”
Liam nodded and clamped a hand over his shoulder, giving him an affectionate squeeze. “We’ll talk soon.”
Chapter 13
Her eyes opened and blue orbs landed on him. He smiled, relieved. “You’re awake.”
“Liam?” Blinking rapidly to clear her vision, Skylar slowly sat up. She glanced around, realizing she was in his bed room.
Liam studied her closely. “How do you feel?”
“Like I fell out of a tree,” she murmured, looking down at her bandaged wrist. “Damn, I just had to break something. I was never very graceful so a broken bone was bound to happen sooner or later.”
He got up from the chair where he had sat and kept vigil. “You remember what happened?”
“I remember everything. How could I not? Tonight had to have been the most bizarre night ever. There was this strange man but then he disappeared and all of a sudden some mutated, overgrown, freak of nature wolf was chasing me -”
“It was two nights ago, Sky.”
“What?”
“You’ve been sleeping on and off for two days. Whatever Farah gave you kept you sedated. We were afraid you would be in shock or in too much pain so she gave you something to help you sleep.”<
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She lifted a hand to her head. “I lost two days?”
Liam frowned seeing the panic in her eyes. “It’s alright, Sky. I don’t care if you missed work.”
“It’s not that. I had something to take care of. You know what, never mind. I can go into town tomorrow.”
“The hell you are. You need to rest and I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
He thought she would argue and was surprised when she didn’t. Instead, she let out a breath and reached for his hand. “You said you would explain something to me, you know. About the fact that you were somehow communicating with that big, friendly wolf.” She shook her head. “I’m so confused, Liam. What in the hell happened tonight - I mean, two nights ago?”
Damn. She just had to remember every detail. He stared into her eyes and an ache forming in his chest. He was going to lose her because he had to tell her the truth. This was why he avoided relationships and love. It no longer made any sense for him to deny that he had fallen hard for the vivacious woman sitting on his bed. He perched on the bed beside her and ran a finger down her cheek.
“Yes, I did promise, didn’t I? There’s something I need to tell you before I get into all of that.”
Her brows creased. “Sure. You’re scaring me, Liam.”
He swallowed hard. He was a bit frightened in that moment too. In all of his twenty-nine years, he’d never expressed his love to any woman. “Don’t be scared. Not yet anyway. You might think it’s too soon for me to be telling you this but I need to get it out because after I tell you what I really am, you’re going -”
“Liam. What is it?” She demanded, grasping his hand. “Damn it, Liam if you keep me in suspense any longer, I’m -”
“I love you, Sky.”
Her lips parted on a sigh and he waited with bated breath for further reaction. A smile appeared on her lips. “Whatever Farah gave me doesn’t cause hallucinations, right?”
Liam frowned. “I don’t think so. Why?”
She laughed. “Because I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You really love me?” Throwing herself at him, she gushed. “Liam, you have no idea how happy I am right now. I love you too. I have for a while but I figured you wouldn’t want to hear me say it. You’re such a grouch sometimes. You know that right?”
His arms wrapped around her and he let out the breath he had been holding. “In all fairness, I haven’t been a grouch for weeks since I got you into my bed.”
Skylar giggled against his neck and her breath on his skin made him shudder. A sudden flare of need surged through his system. Maybe he could bury himself inside of her warmth one more time before he scared her away.
“Sky,” he whispered.
He didn’t have to say another word. She knew what he wanted. She felt it, his desire for her radiating off of him.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
Liam closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, ingraining her scent in his memory for all time. He began to trail kisses along her jaw and then down her neck. She moaned when his teeth raked over the sensitive skin just beneath her ear. He pushed her robe off her shoulders and moved his mouth to focus his attention there.
“I need to be inside of you, Sky,” he murmured between kisses.
“Then hurry,” she panted.
With a grin, he removed her robe and gently pushed her down. “No rushing.”
Skylar let out a frustrated groan. “But Liam -”
A loud gasp escaped her when his lips touched the area between her breasts and burned a trail down her abdomen. When he neared her mound, she shivered and her thighs instinctively parted. Instead of giving his attention to where she craved it most, he continued to tease her by feathering soft kisses on her thighs. His teeth scraped her skin lightly and he had to fight his natural instinct to lengthen his fangs and sink into the soft creamy flesh.
She used her uninjured hand to tug his hair in frustration. “Liam.”
He chuckled. “So impatient and demanding.”
Finally, he ended her sweet torture and placed his mouth over her softness. With a relieved sigh, she arched her back. Liam flicked out his tongue to stroke her clitoris and had to grasp her hips to hold her in place. He smiled, loving the way her body responded to his ministrations. Within minutes, she was crying out his name and shuddering with the intensity of her release.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, peering up at her.
Standing, he peeled off his clothes, his eyes never leaving hers. She panted, her skin flushed and her eyes glazed with passion. She was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on. Liam loomed over her and captured her mouth, kissing her with heated intensity while he settled between her thighs. Lifting his head to meet her gaze, he slowly sank into her tight sheath. He had a feeling of contentment once inside of her as if it was where he belonged. It was where he belonged. And most likely, this would be the last time he got to have her like this.
Skylar reached up to trace a finger down his jaw. “Liam, what’s wrong?”
He swallowed. “I’m just overwhelmed, baby. I really do love you.”
She smiled and wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, pulling him deeper. Liam moaned and thrust into her with faster strokes. A groan rumbled deep in his chest as he neared the edge. His wolf fought for control, its excitement mounting with each of her moans that echoed in his ear. Mine, it roared, and this time Liam agreed. She would be his forever even if she ran. Deep down, he knew that his beast wouldn’t let her go easily.
“Mine,” he whispered just as Skylar let out a cry and came apart.
He didn’t miss a beat, giving a few more deep strokes before losing himself in her. They clung to each other, until their breathing steadied. “I’m too heavy,” he murmured, attempting to roll off of her.
Her arms tightened around his shoulders. “Kind of, but it feels nice.”
Lifting his head, he glanced down at her and sighed. “I should get up.”
“You really have me worried, Liam.” Her brows knitted. “Why do you look so sad?”
He rolled off her. Running his fingers through his hair, he turned to her. Skylar pulled the sheet up to cover herself and eyed him with concern. “Liam?”
Liam let out a breath. He was a predator by nature, yet in that moment he felt like the biggest coward in the world. “I’ve never gotten this involved with a woman before, Sky. I usually avoid this sort of thing because I have a secret.”
Her breath hitched. “I thought you were going to explain about the incident in the woods.”
“I’m getting to that. The man that you saw here the other day was my brother.”
Her eyes widened. “I thought he looked like you. But why would he break into your home?”
“Some members of my family can be… volatile. My brother, Lucas, and I have a strained relationship. He must have come here looking for me.”
“My God, Liam. Your brother would hurt you? I saw the malevolent look in his eyes.”
If only she knew that Lucas wouldn’t hesitate to rip his head off. “We have some issues we need to sort out.” If we don’t kill each other first. “Alright, Sky. Let me just get everything out before I lose my nerve. The reason why I have to let you know me, the real me, is because your important to me. My kind stay quiet about what we are but you deserve to know the truth.”
“Your kind? Liam what the hell are you going on about?” She dropped her head in her hands and took a breath. “I’m sorry. Keep going.” She pursed her lips to keep herself from interrupting again.
“The wolf that tried to kill you after you saw my brother was my brother.” A beat of silent passed. When Skylar gaped at him, he continued. “He changed into that wolf, Sky, just like I can change into a wolf. I came from a family of wolf shifters. The other wolf you saw was my youngest brother, Michael.”
Skylar blinked. Her mouth opened and closed several times. “Excuse me?” To his surprise she laughed. “Liam, I thought we were about to have a serious conversation about the way
you were acting earlier. Really good joke, you got me.”
Liam hung his head. Of course, she thought he was joking. Her human brain couldn’t even conceive the possibility that there were nonhuman entities running around. With a grunt Liam laughed as well, but there was no humor in it. Without another word, he got up and turned to face her. There were cracking sounds as his bones snapped and grew. His face elongated into the shape of a wolf and his hand transformed into lethal looking claws. A giant wolf stood before the bed, taking up a large amount of space in his bed room.
Skylar let out a shriek and scrambled backward, forgetting about her injured wrist. When her weight landed on it, a string of expletives spilled from her lips. Liam immediately shifted back to his human form and moved toward her, his eyes still a bright, golden yellow. “Sky, be careful with your wrist.”
She drew away from his touch and he felt like something squeezed his heart in his chest. She was afraid of him now, just like anyone would be. Liam stepped back and held up both palms. “I would never hurt you.”
A strangled sound gurgled in her throat and she simply stared at him. Her color had seeped from her face and she let out a hysterical laugh. “I am hallucinating after all. I have to be because there is no way you just turned into a-a creature-wolf thing. People don’t do that. Oh, my God, it’s finally happening. I’m losing my mind. I knew this whole thing with my dad would drive me to insanity.”
“Skylar, you’re not hallucinating. And what does your father have to do with anything?”
Her eyes flew to his guiltily. “Don’t turn this around! You just turned into a canine.”
He grimaced. “You’re not going to faint, are you? You look way too pale.”
“No! No. I’m not going to faint, you might eat me when I’m unconscious.”
He muttered a curse and looked skyward. “I said I would never hurt you. And that is part of the reason why I revealed my true self to you, so you can get as far away from me as possible. If my brother came close to killing you -” He stopped and swallowed. “Others might try to hurt you too because of me and I couldn’t live with myself. It would probably be best if you stayed away from me.”
