by M. Jayne
Graham
Book 1 in the Novus Pack World Series
M. Jayne
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. Except for use in review, the reproduction or use of this work in any part is forbidden without the express written permission of the author.
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Graham by M. Jayne for Big Dog Publishing April 2021
Publisher’s Note
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Any mistakes are the author’s own and may be intentional and fictional.
* * *
Portions of this Novella were previously published as Drive in the First Responders - Boys Behaving Badly Anthology
I appreciate the services of the following vendors, who helped me with this book.
Professional Services Used
Cover Art: Fiona Jayde Media
Editor: Delilah Devlin
Proofreaders: Susan Cambra, Wanda Adams, Susan Panak
Author’s Assistant: David Panak a/k/a The Manny
Contents
1. Graham Vincent
2. Olivia Stern
3. Graham Vincent
4. Olivia Stern
5. Graham Vincent
6. Olivia Stern
7. Graham Vincent
8. Olivia Stern
9. Graham Vincent
10. Olivia Stern
11. Graham Vincent
12. Olivia Stern
13. Graham Vincent
14. Olivia Stern
15. Graham Vincent
16. Olivia Stern
17. Graham Vincent
About the Author
Also by M. Jayne
1
Graham Vincent
The call had come in with less than two hours left on my shift. Murderers tend to be selfish like that. I’d parked down the block from a two-story house that was in a decent subdivision filled with starter homes. The officer on the perimeter greeted me with a nod and lifted the yellow crime scene tape.
Inside the front door, I paused to put on white booties to cover my shoes so that I wouldn’t track in anything and corrupt the crime scene. I’d pocketed a pair of gloves before I’d gotten out of my car. I snapped the tight-fitting black Nitrile against my wrist.
“Detective.” A light-skinned officer approached. “I was first on scene.”
“Run it.” I listened intently while I guessed the layout of the house from the entryway. I could see my people in the room beyond the living area, which I assumed was the kitchen.
He finished giving me the details and led me to the vic. “She was lying in front of the door that led to the garage. Her exposed forearm showed deep cuts, and there was a knife sticking out of her belly.”
“Defensive wounds,” I mumbled.
The detective who was leaning against the far counter straightened. “She put up quite a fight until she took one to the stomach.”
I could see that. There were blood smears on the appliances and the walls, including the door. I nodded for the officer to continue.
“There’s been five calls to this address for domestics in the last eighteen months. Her mother called it in, said their conversation got cut off, and it left her with a bad feeling.”
“Boyfriend, husband, or son?” I caught a whiff of masculine adrenaline and fear. It burned my nose. The scent reminded me of a wet wood after a campfire.
Boyer, the detective, took over, we’d worked together for three years and had our own language. “Boyfriend. They picked him up four blocks away at the quickie mart, trying to beg to use a cell phone. He was covered in blood, so…,” he grinned, “no takers.”
“The knife?”
“Magnus took a look. Prints are good.”
“Let’s get a confession so I can hand the D.A. this with a nice bow tied around it.”
Boyer lifted his cell to his ear and started talking, relaying my directives. He knew the drill; I didn’t need to itemize what I wanted.
My attention returned to the woman’s face. Her eyes were open, as was her mouth. I wondered what her last thought had been. Had she begged or damned her man? I sent a silent prayer to The Lady, hoping that Ms. Karen Horn would find peace.
I exited the victim’s house via the front door and took in a few breaths of fresh air before removing my booties and gloves.
“Lotta blood in there,” Serena mumbled as she walked through the door, joining me on the porch. She flashed a shy smile.
“Vic put up a fight. It was the gut wound that did the most damage, but he got her good several times.”
“Helluva way to start your day.” She took a step closer to me.
“You mean…end my night?”
“Interrupting big plans?” I had to give the woman credit; she knew how to ask a question. Her face remained impassive, but her eyes widened.
I wrestled with the urge to sigh. We’d discussed this. She’d made promises, but I should’ve known better. It’s never a good idea to fuck where you work. “A good book before I crash.”
Her hazel eyes studied me intently as if she was trying to decide whether that was the truth.
“Detective Vincent,” a uniformed officer called as he approached, “we’ve spoken to all but the neighbor over there.” He pointed at the white two-story across the street and to the left. “I hear she works nights at Simon, a nurse,” he read from his notebook.
“I’ll get her before I leave.” I glanced at my watch. It was seven-nineteen. I could wrap things up here, talk to her, head to the station to complete my report, and still be in bed by noon.
The uniform nodded his goodbye, and I let out a loud whistle to capture my team’s attention. “Wrap it up.”
Serena was still hanging close. “I’ll grab breakfast on the way back to the station.”
I didn’t want to do this here. Hell, I never wanted to do this. “Thanks for the offer,” I paused so that she had time to comprehend what I meant, “but the answer is no.”
“Oh.” She blinked twice, quickly. “Any particular reason?”
There were many that I couldn’t share. “Not the time or place.” I glanced over her shoulder to the nurse’s house. There were no signs that she was home, but something drew my attention.
Serena let out a long sigh. “Probably won’t ever be a right time, will there?”
“No.”
“Your loss.” She turned so quickly that her ponytail swung.
I kept my mouth shut as I watched her walk away. Making a mental note to never sleep with a co-worker again, I tried to shrug off the feeling of relief and made sure that I wasn’t smiling.
Returning my attention to the house across the street, I wondered what drew me to it. There were no festive decorations on the porch, not even a wreath on the front door. Most had added their individual stamps on their homes so that they didn’t resemble one another so closely. However, this one lacked personality.
“Detective Vincent?” a crime scene tech called to me while standing in the living room.
I motioned for him to join me on the small, covered porch. I wasn’t putting the booties back on. “You done?”
“Will be in about thirty.” He tilted his head toward the interior of the house. “No surprises. One weapon. Blood spatter consistent with the stabbing.”
The suspect, already in custody and being interviewed, had made my work easier. Perhaps, with the evidence, there would be a confession by the time I got to my desk. My te
am was good, but we still had to work through the steps and cover all our bases. Leaving one interview undone could come back and bite us in the ass later.
The sound of a car’s engine drew my attention to the street. Soon, a small silver compact appeared, traveling slowly. The driver was probably gawking at the various police vehicles and vans. It nearly slowed to a complete stop before flipping on its signal and then turning into the white house’s driveway.
The neighbor had returned from work.
“Vincent,” another voice called, pulling my attention away from the house across the street. At least, for now.
2
Olivia Stern
I sat my butt down on the top step, looping my arms around my thighs, and dropped my forehead against my knees—decision time. I’d packed my duffle bag the moment I got home. Something had happened to bring so many police cars to my street. The bag now rested against the back door, mocking me and my indecision.
I had few possessions. I’d left Texas with the clothes on my back, in a “borrowed” car, and with a small portion of my reward money in my pocket. In the time since, I hadn’t amassed much. There hadn’t been time or the need.
During my shower, I’d almost talked myself out of leaving. So what if something bad had happened at my neighbor’s? That had nothing to do with me. This identity had been good enough to get a driver’s license and work credentials. My stomach started to ache. I had a job that I liked and was settled into my rental. I didn’t want to go on the run again. I glanced toward the kitchen, dreading what I knew was the safest decision—to go.
My enhanced hearing told me there was a car in my driveway, and within a minute, my doorbell chimed, followed by an aggressive knock. I stood and leaped to the bottom of the stairs. I could see a man flashing a badge through the peephole. Terrific.
“Who is it?” My voice sounded a little higher than usual as I spoke through the door. I was trying to buy time to calm my nerves.
“Detective Graham Vincent, Perryville Police Department.”
You can do this. I slid back the deadbolt and tried to paste a calm yet curious look on my face. As I pulled the door toward me, his scent filled my nose. I used all my strength to try to slam the door closed. A wooden door wouldn’t stop a Lycan male, even in human form, but I had to try.
“No, No, No,” I screamed as his hands gripped my upper arms and slammed me against the wall. My head connected with the plaster with so much impact I saw streaks of light.
His large body trapped me. “Who are you?” He gripped my wrists tightly.
I struggled against his hold while trying to figure out what was happening. If he was here to kill me, why wasn’t I dead? Was he going to make me suffer first? Was his plan to capture me to send me back to the Burkes? A terrified whimper escaped my throat.
The male leaned his face close to my neck and inhaled deeply. “Tell me your name.” His voice was low and rough. Insistent.
Suddenly, I wanted to hear him say more, and I was no longer fighting, exactly. It was more like I was rubbing against him, and it felt…good.
“Your name, wolf,” he demanded in a growl.
“O…Olivia.” My name came out like a sigh as his tongue ran along the sensitive skin under my jaw.
“Mmmmm,” he hummed, and I realized his body was hard…everywhere.
I tried to pull my head away from him. “Tickles.” My giggle was throaty.
“Olivia, where did you come from?” His full lips parted to show strong white teeth as he smiled.
I couldn’t say.
“Olivia…?”
“Wha…who?” My hands should’ve been pushing him away, but instead, they were stroking the firm chest concealed beneath his suit jacket. My brain was misfiring. I was surrounded by his scent. It was rich, like caramel when it was warmed. I wanted to strip and roll in that sweetness. It would be even better if he joined me.
“Graham,” he said, leaning in again and as his lips brushed mine, “your mate.”
I needed to think. I drew oxygen through my mouth and let it out slowly, trying to clear my head. Turning my face to avoid his lips, I asked, “How…how did you find me?” I hadn’t seen another Lycan in this area. Not that I went out much. I stayed home behind my locked doors.
“My wolf was curious about this house and its owner.” His whiskey-colored eyes warmed. His lips brushed over mine gently but then became more demanding.
I kissed him back, opening my mouth to him. I had to taste him. My hands moved upward to loop around his neck to pull him closer. All my concerns vanished. I only wanted this. Him. Graham.
3
Graham Vincent
Finally, after all these years. We’ve found her. My wolf wanted to howl in happiness. I held back the sound so that it was only a rumbling deep in my chest. I needed more of this female. My hands moved under her T-shirt, palms teasing her smooth back and soft belly. “Arms up.”
Olivia reacted without hesitation, and the shirt was gone.
My hands cupped her breasts through the plain, cotton bra.
She’d pulled my shirt from my slacks, and her hands were running across my back. Her short nails lightly scored the sensitive skin below my ribs.
I ripped the bra from her body and sucked her stiff nipple into my mouth.
She rose onto her toes, arching her back. “Oh… Oh, yes.”
I plumped her other breast and then switched to that nipple, pulling hard.
Her hands froze as her body went stiff. “Stop,” she mumbled, and then more strongly said, “please. We must stop.”
I pulled away, and our gazes met. I tilted my head to the left, silently asking why. We both wanted this, needed this.
Her hands were shaking as she covered her bare breasts. Her gaze was haunted as her teeth worried her lower lip.
Ours, my wolf announced with a contented sigh.
She might have fears, but I held none. I grinned cockily. “Hello, Mate.”
4
Olivia Stern
“We can’t. I mean, you can’t… This can’t be happening.” I ducked under his arm. I located my shirt, pulled it on, and started to pace. I needed to put space between us because every part of me wanted to fall into his arms. “It’s not safe for you.” I wrung my hands like a heroine in a gothic novel.
The male leaned against the cracked wall casually as though he owned the house. “Olivia, I think I can take care of myself…and you.”
I shook my head, feeling a little out of control. “You don’t understand. They will kill you…to get to me.” My voice screeched, a sign of my mounting hysteria.
“What?” His dark eyes sharpened, and it was as if his frame grew larger.
“It’s true.” I ran out of air to explain further and nodded my head a few times.
He took three steps toward me and held out his hand. “Tell me what’s going on.” It was an order softened by his actions.
I took his hand and immediately felt more centered. Leading him to my sofa, we sat side by side. “I’m the one who told the Novus Pack…about the Seer.” I stumbled over the words.
His golden eyebrows drew together. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not affiliated with a Pack, so I have little to do with the Lycan world.”
That caught me off guard. I turned my body toward him, letting go of his hand and placing mine on my knees. “Really?” Sure, Lycans could live on their own, but most chose to live on Pack land or nearby. I’d never met another unaffiliated wolf.
“My parents left their Packs to mate several centuries ago, so I’ve never seen the need.”
I licked my dry lips as I pondered this information and his phrasing. Lycans, especially older ones, were tricky about word choice. “I was born into the Burke Pack in Texas. Our Leader…he acquired a Marked.” I paused to see if he knew what I was talking about.
“One who is touched by The Lady? I thought that was a myth.” His voice was softer this time.
“She, Theodora, is
a Seer, and the Packleader’s son he…he almost killed her.” My eyes filled with tears as I looked down at my hands as they clasped my knees.
“He injured a gift from our Goddess?” His eyebrows drew together as he considered the ramifications. “That’s a crime against our people.”
“I was…I’m a nurse, and she was alone.” Her bruised and battered body had rested on the hospital bed. She’d been so cold that I’d covered her in two blankets, and yet, she’d still shivered. “What he did was wrong. The ultimate act of viciousness against another…I had to help. She asked me to call her friend, who was a part of The Novus Pack. They took her away.” I’d been so nervous, but Theodora’s gaze had been terrified, and she’d begged. I hadn’t been used to being in a position of power, and I couldn’t refuse.
“Does she live?”
“I don’t know.” I swallowed roughly. I had nightmares about what she had endured. “Novus gave me a reward, and I took off.” I closed my eyes for a moment. “Their Second, he told me I could come to Novus land for safety.”
“But you chose to run.” It wasn’t a condemnation, more of a statement.
“I was in panic mode,” I defended my decision. “What did I know of them?” Again, my voice turned shrill. I took a calming breath and continued, “I drove to Little Rock and found a place to stay, but soon realized I had no idea what I was doing.” I was meant to have a home and a family, to care for others, not to constantly be looking over my shoulder in fear.
