“Not at all,” Dad answered. “He’s in the east holding room of the training facility. We have people scheduled to be outside the door around the clock. I’ll make sure they know you’re free to come and go as you please.”
I stood up and everyone else followed. I hugged my dad and Augie, then grabbed Liam’s hand to lead us home. My mind was on east coast time and I was ready for bed.
The door was unlocked, just the way we left it. We didn’t normally lock up the house, but maybe with everything going on, we needed to start. I didn’t even think I owned a house key. I’d have to ask Augie for one tomorrow.
We entered the bedroom and I didn’t stop walking until I crumbled onto the bed face-first. Jetlag was a twatwaffle and I wanted to punch her in the boob. My wolf was antsy. I was exhausted, but my brain was going over all the shit we had to deal with. I needed to unwind in a bad way.
I rolled over and propped myself up on my elbows taking in all that was my sexy mate. I was one lucky bitch. My wolf hummed in appreciation at the sight before us. He hadn’t gotten a haircut in the time I knew him, so it fell over his face as he looked down to unbutton his pants.
I continued to watch him undress, enjoying the show. He finally realized I wasn’t doing the same and stalked toward me.
“Does my mate need help getting ready for bed?” he murmured.
I nodded, dropping back on the bed as he crawled on top of me. He nipped at my neck, causing my wolf to push to the surface.
Mate, she said possessively.
Calm down, girl. Tonight is not the time for that.
My wolf wanted a blood bond something fierce and it was getting harder and harder to control her when Liam and I were doing anything more than simply kissing. If I didn’t let it happen soon, she was going to force a shift on me and take care of it herself.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked with a grin. “Your whole body just tensed up on me, which doesn’t bode well for my confidence.”
I laughed. “I’m fine. My wolf, on the other hand, is rather impatient for us to officially seal the deal.”
Rumbles from deep within his chest rose to the surface as his eyes fought between wolf and man. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one having control problems.
“I know what you mean,” he strained.
I reached a hand up to his face. “Soon, but not tonight. I’m exhausted, and I’d love nothing more than for you to strip me naked and have your way with me while doing all the work.”
His lips lifted into the cocky smirk I used to hate so much. “I’m going to have my way with you, but you’re going to be begging for me to let you work by the end of it.”
Holy fuckery.
He lifted my hands up and swiftly took my shirt off before using it to tie my hands together. I tried to pull them back down, but he shook his head.
“I’m doing all the work, remember? No touching.”
My breath hitched, and I was unable to think of anything else but what Liam planned to do to me. He took charge and activated so many of my senses that I was nothing more than putty in his hands, begging for relief.
When he finally had mercy on me, I exploded from the inside out within seconds. I had never been more thoroughly sated in my life and I had gotten exactly what I asked for. My body, mind, and wolf were happy for the time being. We had our mate and, for the night, that was all we needed.
Tomorrow, we’d get back to the shit storm, but for a few hours, I let it all fade away.
Chapter 8
I was up at the ass-crack of dawn and not happy about it. My phone sounded from an incoming text. Whoever it was needed to have a spectacular reason for waking me up or heads would roll. I untangled myself from Liam and reached for my phone. I glanced at the screen, blinking several times to clear my vision from the bright screen.
It was a text from Jamie saying she missed me with a sad selfie included. Shit, I couldn’t be mad at her for that. It hadn’t even been a full day and I missed my friend, too. I did kindly remind her that I was three hours behind her now and, while I missed her, it was better for her life expectancy if she never texted so early again.
I silenced my phone and crawled back under the covers. Liam wrapped his arms around me, trying to lure me back into sleep, but it was too late. My mind was back to firing on all cylinders and I had too much shit to do today. Lying in bed wasn’t going to get any of it done.
I began to move, but Liam’s hold tightened on me.
“Don’t leave,” he mumbled incoherently.
“Sorry, lover boy. We’ve got adulting to do today.”
“Fuck adulting. It’s overrated.”
I leaned over and pressed my lips to his. “On an ordinary day, I would completely agree with you, but I can’t today. I need to begin my official alpha training today with my dad and Augie. We also need to speak with Rick and get an update on how things are going with the hunt for Declan. The longer he stays hidden, the more potential he has to gain resources.”
We couldn’t handle any more surprises. The sooner we moved in on him, the better for all the packs. We had no idea who he would target next.
Liam sat up. “Let’s get working, then. We’re going to have decades together. I guess I can wait a little longer to have lazy Sunday mornings in bed with my mate.”
I slid out of bed and blew him a kiss. I had a feeling that if I touched him again while we were both undressed, I wouldn’t make it out of our room for a while.
I took a quick shower and got ready in record time, but Liam still beat me. Some days, it was a pain in the ass having long hair, but I loved my red locks, so I dealt with the extra effort they required in the mornings.
“Ready, Mate?” Liam reached his hand out to me.
I nodded, taking his hand. “Let’s go.”
We headed for the training facility. The sun had fully risen, but it was still early, so we didn’t see any pack members on our way until we arrived at the holding room.
“Morning, Jared. Did my dad or Augie speak with you?” I asked.
He nodded. “Courtney already brought him breakfast, so he’s awake if you want to go in.”
“Thank you. By the way, this is Liam. My mate. He should be allowed full access to anything within the pack.”
Jared reached his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Liam. Gerald already said much the same, so it’s not a problem. The others on rotation should have been notified as well.”
“I appreciate it.” Liam nodded as he shook Jared’s hand. Then, we continued into the room.
Rick was sitting at a table in the corner of the room, just finishing his food. He pushed it aside and stood to greet us.
“Taya. Liam. I didn’t expect you to be back yet,” Rick said.
I glared. “Why? Because people were sent to attack us on our way back and you knew about it?”
His eyes widened in shock. “No, I assumed Liam would need more time with his family. Are you okay?”
His face held all the sincerity I was used to from before everything went to shit. It made me hesitate and I didn’t like it.
“What are you hiding, Rick? What could possibly make you act like this?” I snapped.
“I didn’t do this. I know you have no reason to believe me right now, but I would never turn against our pack.”
Liam pulled two chairs out for us. “Then why don’t you explain what you were doing out there?” he asked as we sat.
Rick’s face downturned. “I can’t. I know it doesn’t make sense why I wouldn’t tell you to save my life, but the reason is more important than my own life.”
“What about when we went to Hood River and you disappeared for a while? Or how you distanced yourself from all of us these past several weeks? Can you explain any of it?” I demanded.
I needed something to make sense. Him refusing to say anything, whether it was lie or truth, was not helping.
“I don’t know what happened in the storm that day. As far as I knew, I slipped and hit my head. If someone atta
cked me, I never saw it coming and they weren’t there when I came to. As for why I’ve been separating myself, well, my grief was more than anyone else understood. The only person I had to turn to was gone.”
I sighed. “Rick, you have to give us something. Sam caught you tampering with the sensors. You haven’t denied that. I don’t want to believe you’re capable of turning against our pack, but you’re making yourself look guilty.”
“I can’t tell you.”
I leaned in closer to him. “I hope whatever you’re hiding is worth dying for, because if we can’t prove you aren’t the traitor, then that’s what is going to happen. Do you understand that?”
“I do,” he said confidently.
Internally, I was screaming. He was hiding something, but I had a gut feeling it had nothing to do with Declan. I wanted to help Rick, but he wasn’t making it easy.
I nodded and stood. “Very well. I think we’re done here.” I turned for the door with Liam right behind me, glancing back at Rick once more. “Just remember, your decisions are not only hurting you, but they’re hurting the pack. Something to think about with what little time you have left.”
He flinched at the reminder to the consequences of his actions, but still said nothing. We slipped out the door and I slammed it behind us, frustrated.
I stormed past Jared without saying a word. I needed space, but not from Liam. I made sure to keep him close. Once we were outside, I slowed and ran my hands through my hair.
“Did any of that make sense?” I asked him.
Liam shrugged. “Yes and no. I think he’s protecting someone, but I can’t imagine who he would know that would need defending he didn’t think we would provide.”
Huh. He had a point, but I couldn’t think of who Rick might be protecting, either. It made sense with the way he was acting, but at the same time, it made absolutely no sense.
“Why don’t we go talk with your dad and Augie?” Liam suggested. “It might help to talk it out some more with people who are closer to the situation. Maybe they haven’t thought of this scenario and it will trigger something for them.”
I smiled at him. “This is why I keep you around.” I reached up to tap his nose. “You’re pretty to look at and smart.”
He laughed before swatting my ass. “That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble you might not be able to get out of one day.”
I winked at him. “You love my mouth.”
“That I can’t deny.” He tugged my hand. “Come on. Let’s get breakfast and find the others.”
We left for the pack house and went in through the back door, right into the kitchen. Courtney was already gone for the morning, but some of the shifters who had just gotten off shift were lounging around.
“Good morning,” Sam said as we entered. “What are you guys up to?”
Liam nodded in greeting. “Getting some breakfast before we meet with Gerald and Augie. Everything as it should have been last night?”
I raised my brow at Liam. He was fitting right in, asking all the right questions to show he cared for the pack business.
“Yup. I imagine things will be calmer now that Rick is locked up.”
I turned toward Sam. “You don’t believe him when he says that it’s a misunderstanding?”
He shrugged. “Isn’t that what all the bad guys say when they’re trying to save their own ass?”
Hmm. He had a point, so I left it alone. Liam and I took our breakfast to go and headed for the office.
Augie had just rolled out of bed and was coming around the corner, looking like shit.
“What’s wrong with you?” I asked.
He groaned. “We were short a guy last night, pulled a double shift. I haven’t slept since… I don’t know when, but it’s been a while.”
“Put me on the schedule,” Liam piped up. “I’m perfectly capable of helping out when needed.”
Augie’s eyes lit up at the words. “Really? That would take a lot of stress off me. For now, I’ll have you be a fill-in until you learn the ropes. Then, we can make a permanent schedule for you.”
I smiled, enjoying the fact that Liam would soon have a purpose at our pack other than being my mate. I knew that would make him feel a hell of a lot more comfortable.
The three of us entered the office together to find my dad reading through some papers. He was in full concentration mode and didn’t notice us until Augie closed the door.
“Augie, why are you in here?” he snapped. “Go to bed.”
“I’m fine,” Augie mumbled.
My dad leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “That wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order. Go. Sleep. You’re not good to me like this.” His hand waved up and down. “I don’t want to see you until after lunch time.”
Augie didn’t even put up a fight. He dragged his feet, heading back toward the door without saying a word.
Once he was back in the hallway, I turned back to my dad as Liam and I took a seat.
“What do you have there?” I asked, pointing to the papers.
His responding grin made me regret asking. “Your training syllabus. Research I want you to do. People I want you to meet with. Training you need to complete with certain pack members. All things that will be expected of you as alpha-in-training.”
I should have minded my own business.
“Don’t we have more important matters to discuss besides training schedules?” I asked.
Dad shook his head. “Declan will not derail our plans. He’s taken enough from us, and I won’t let him hold you back unless this isn’t what you want.”
My eyes widened. “I want to work alongside you. Nothing there has changed, but I wouldn’t mind postponing whatever it is you have on that sheet.”
He laughed. “I know, which is why your training will be spread out over a couple years, unless you decide otherwise. You won’t get to kick back by any means, but I still want you to have a life. It’s my one regret with Cord. He never got to be a kid. His whole life was about becoming alpha one day. I don’t want that for you.”
Emotion choked me from the inside out. Liam squeezed my hand and I held on as if my life depended on it.
“Anyway, you’ll work with me in here for two days a week and two days a week you’ll shadow Augie. Somewhere in between all that, you’ll mark things off this list.” He slid the paper over to me.
I glanced it over, trying to distract my mind from the dark reminders of losing my brother. Spiritual training with Edmund, scouting with Sam, farming with Patty, and the list kept going. At the bottom was a reading list with at least twenty books.
I glanced back up at my dad. “You realize this could take me forever, right?”
“I think you’ll surprise yourself. I’m not worried about it.” He grinned, then turned toward Liam. “I’ll work on your duties within the pack next. Do you have a preference of what you’d like to do?”
Liam nodded. “I told Augie before we came in here that I’d like to work with him. Anything that will get me out with the others would be great. I’d like to get to know the pack members.”
“Very well,” my dad said approvingly. “Now, I know you didn’t come in here to speak about schedules. Are you ready to meet with Rick?”
“We already did,” I said. “It only confused me further. I don’t know what to think about the tampering situation, but most importantly, we can’t ignore his secret and the way he’s been acting. Have we ever had a traitor within our ranks before?”
My dad nodded but offered nothing else.
“What is the punishment for something like this?” Liam asked, but I already knew the answer.
“Death in front of the pack.” Dad’s face hardened. “A way to show that there is zero tolerance for that level of deceit.”
I sucked in a breath. I wasn’t ready to see Rick killed, but he had to know the consequences of refusing to divulge whatever he was hiding. We couldn’t help him if he refused to open up to us.
“When do we
hold the trial?”
“We’ll call those who wish to be present together tonight. We don’t have time to sit on this.”
The pack would be gathered, and Rick would be given one last chance to prove his innocence. If he failed to do so, he would die on the spot. I had never seen a trial of this magnitude happen, so I didn’t know how he would die or who would do it, but it would be public, and it would make a statement.
Chapter 9
The morning and afternoon passed by slowly as word began to spread about Rick’s trial. The pack was full of mixed opinions, especially Rick’s family. He still had living parents, and I made sure to give them a wide berth before the gathering. I didn’t know what to say to them. For some reason, their son had a death wish.
“Would you mind if I went to see Augie?” I asked Liam after lunch.
We were back at our house, and I hated leaving him now that his brothers weren’t around to entertain him.
“Taya, I am not your child that you need to mind. Nor do you need to ask permission to leave my side. I am more than capable of taking care of myself while you spend time with your best friend.”
God, he was perfect.
I went to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You’re pretty amazing, but something tells me you already knew that.”
He smirked. “Yeah, but only because I love you. Now get out of here before you become dependent on me and I have to do damage control.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes as I headed for the door. I cracked it open, then looked back at him. “I love you, too, and I’m glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I slipped out the front with a smile on my face. Without Liam’s bright presence in my life, I wasn’t sure I’d be coping with everything as well as I had been. Augie did a great job of calming me, but Liam reached me on a level no other ever could.
When I arrived back at the pack house, I checked my dad’s office first, but neither him nor Augie was present. I continued toward the stairs and headed for Augie’s room. His door was still shut, so I tapped lightly on it, not wanting to wake him if he was still sleeping.
Shades of Deceit (Raven Point Pack Trilogy Book 3) Page 6
