This time the plan was different. Josh was intending to confront Alpha Liam in person so as to obtain his money. He didn’t really want Nell. She suspected he never had. Thankfully, there were no physical demands and he didn’t say anything overly crude in front of her. There was a lot of cussing, but she supposed that was only natural in a frustrated male.“I keep telling you, Liam is Simon’s prisoner.”“Then I’ll negotiate with him, like before.”Well, that was news to her, and of the unwelcome kind at that.“Would you really kill my pups? They’re innocent,” she said.There was no point telling him one was destined to live among the elves; he would never have believed her. And she didn’t want to drag them into this, as well. Though perhaps such an ancient race of people would take it in their stride.“Maybe not, but the Alphas won’t know that.”Maybe? The inconclusive remark had her fretting all night. At least the motel room was clean and had twin beds. She turned towards the window,
Rae was outraged by Alpha Simon’s request – more of a demand, really – yet heartened by the news Louisa’s childhood friend was here. Then the nerves set in.“Have you seen him? What’s he like?”“You’ll be fine,” Alpha Liam said.“Trust me, they’re not all like you. Other Alphas, I mean.”Had she gone too far? The sound of raised hackles was all too familiar. Her father had been fond of that particular prelude to punishment. Rae hoped he was okay, though didn’t like to ask. This pack had its own troubles.Deborah came to her rescue. “You can say that again. Alpha Liam’s the best of the lot.”“No offence, Alpha,” she managed.“None taken, Rae.”Deliberately, she took an age to get ready, wanting to antagonise someone she now regarded as her ex. Then she panicked, hoping Alpha Brock wouldn’t think badly of her. The nerves were inexplicable. After today, she was unlikely to set eyes on him again.She chose her favourite blue dress and used make-up sparingly, in contrast to the past. As sh
He’d had time to think both before and after Rae’s arrival. They’d had a decent heart-to-heart as well. She deserved better than Si, that was for sure. Hearing that his twin was planning to oust him wasn’t a surprise – once, he would have welcomed the notion – but, for Nell’s sake, that couldn’t be allowed to happen.Liam knew she didn’t care for status given her appalling background circumstances. At least it hadn’t been all bad, though Martin Field was never going to be the same again. He was all she had now, him, the pups, the pack and not to forget the elves, though it wouldn’t be practical to live with them.Could he permit his hybrid pup to live elsewhere? Only if certain conditions were fulfilled. He’d want to see her regularly, that was for sure, and not because he didn’t trust Melas and Robin. After all, he was basing this on a prophecy delivered by Nell’s dying elf mother, something he had never thought to question.When Simon came by, in something of a hurry, he didn’t know
The pups arrived early, a girl and a boy just as her elvish mother had foretold. Nell was stuck for a name for her daughter and then she remembered the no-nonsense she-wolf Liam had met at that ball. Ida seemed to suit the baby, who relaxed whenever she lengthened the two syllables which identified her. Their son was to be known as Cal. She felt close to him, too, just not in the same way. It had been intriguing to discover elves had physically interacted with the pack before and that their blood was in the Alpha’s veins, the ethereal nature of their culture part of his DNA. Simon’s, too. Nothing had been heard from him for months but he lurked at the edge of her consciousness like the threat of the boogeyman which had disturbed her childhood dreams. Olivia was due to stand trial for murder soon. The remains of Rosemary Worthington Field were currently resting on a coroner’s slab while all the relevant forensic investigations were being undertaken. She supposed it would fall to her
They didn’t spot the gatecrashers at first. Most people were being announced; not this pair. Liam’s hackles rose immediately on seeing Jessica, the black-haired stunner he’d denied, and sure enough, Simon wasn’t far behind. They’d chosen the same colour suit, charcoal, he and his twin, which was less of a surprise than the couple’s audacity. How dare they intrude on what was supposed to be Nell’s belated special day? Though he supposed he should cut the she-wolf some slack. Even though there was no longer any mate bond connection, still he felt a tug of sympathy and something else less easy to define. His mate was simply ravishing in a golden ballgown and matching accessories. Holly had been delighted to help her select the right clutch and shoes, though Nell had chosen the dress herself. Off one shoulder, it complemented her new height, though his cousin had reported back she was apt to look through the petite rack. That made him smile. Alpha Brock had warned Nell he would claim
The Alpha King was deeply offended. He kept saying so to his security detail in front of a woozy Liam. At least the bleeding had stopped, thanks to his wolf’s superb healing abilities. Thom was both angry and whiny, distressed because he could no longer talk to Rose.What was that about? Was Nell so far away? Invisible, maybe. No, she wouldn’t do that to Ida.Unless she was in contact with her elvish kin. Rose would take a back seat if that were the case.Rae had insisted on tending to his injuries personally.“This is all my fault,” she said. “I should have overseen the issuing of the invitations. A plus one card went by courier to the Red Moon pack. When I found out I assumed they would decline or that Alpha Leo would attend just to show his face.”“Does Alpha Brock know?”She nodded.“He’s very angry with me for the slip up, though doesn’t blame me for – well, what happened afterwards. Do you?”Liam could hardly say so when she was dabbing at his head wound so carefully.“Maybe thi
We lost Nell.Liam’s blood ran cold when the unusual transmission came through.Robin?Melas. My nephew is tracking them.Where are you?But there was no further message and he hit the wall in frustration, belatedly realising it wasn’t his own office he was damaging.“Sorry, Alpha King.”“Understandable.”The older man came across and began to inspect a crack in the plaster. Liam was convinced this was a wind-up. He was sure it had been there before.“Stop messing with his head, Alpha,” Rae dared.She was flicking through a fashion magazine yet it was clear to Liam it was only a prop to keep her hands busy. Biting her nails had come and gone, as had fidgeting.Brock growled, though it sounded playful to him. He was glad she’d found her special someone. Whether they were fated mates or not was nothing to do with him.Taking a risk, he shared what he knew. It still seemed incredible to him that he may have elvish blood.“I don’t think she’s dead.”Liam winced at the word he’d used. One
Keeping a cool head was usually second nature to him, but this one was personal. He felt closer to Nell than anyone and was hoping to meet her pups soon. Alpha Liam was part of the clan, even if tenuously, though it was hard to accept Simon as one of them. He preferred to think all the elf genes had gone into the younger twin.Water. The thought whizzed into his head and he realised Nell was in a panic. Going into a trance state he travelled over the geographical features in the vicinity and came to the conclusion she meant him to join her at a fall of water. Could he contact the sprite? There was no harm in trying.Afterwards, he set off at a run, his pointed boots gliding slightly above the grass and soil.The scene which met his eyes was a perilous one. Still safely cloaked in a shield of invisibility, he decided not to communicate with his half-sister. It seemed she was shocked enough already.A she-wolf lay prone, unmoving, yet he sensed a rapid heartbeat.“Isn’t it done yet? Why
It was her midwifery skills they wanted rather than her life’s blood. Despite herself, Nell was curious.“Will you break the news to Alpha Liam?”The Beta seemed to understand, even though he was still on all fours and lolloped away in the direction of the packhouse.Poor Jack. She didn’t envy him delivering that piece of information. But if this helped to forge a new alliance, who knew were it might lead? That was all to the good. She’d seen for herself the mingling of different species in the colony.Was she being naïve? Only time would tell.It turned out that she was about to bring yet another hybrid into the world. The human female was yet to be turned and that decision was on hold depending on whether or not her offspring lived and thrived.She was part of history. Fancy that.Alpha Liam was mad, of course, telling her she could have been killed.“Not when I’m performing a service,” she countered.“And when your usefulness was at an end?”“Vampires aren’t vindictive, just needy,
He didn’t have long, but you never knew with his kind. Perhaps loving Electra – had he ever known her real name? – had endowed him with more years. In any case Nell couldn’t forget the bond they’d shared.It was only right Sheriff Bostock released him. As a full-blooded werewolf he needed to face pack justice. Technically, that should be Far Hills, where he had been working and since he had wounded Alpha Warren’s daughter. Still, he’d been aiming for Simon and his instincts hadn’t been as far off the mark as his aim on that occasion.When he’d attempted to kill Liam at the mall, in his crazed state he’d assumed he was Simon. If Rae, her father and her mate, the Alpha King, didn’t want to press charges for the first incident, it was down to the Alpha of the Wide River pack to consider if he wanted to wreak a personal revenge on his mate’s father.Liam didn’t. He wasn’t that vindictive an Alpha. He even indicated Martin Field was welcome to see out his days with them, though not in so m
It took two whole days for Nell to heal, no thanks to her she-wolf side. Rose was a shadow of what she should be and Thom was both anxious and restless. He wanted to mount her but Liam managed to calm him down after a frustrating inner dialogue.Why not?She’s too fragile.That’s the point. My mate needs stimulation.Eventually, maybe.No. Now!In the end he went for a cold shower. He was beginning to wish Pamela hadn’t left the pack for pastures new at the same time as the departure of Simon and his cronies. Whether it was just coincidence or not he supposed he would never know, unless she slunk back and resumed her sluttish ways.Not even Nell had felt sorry for her once he explained it was in her nature and she hadn’t been forced to fuck at least half the unmated warriors.Ida came to see him a short while later. Liam was in his office, drowning in paperwork which he was having to read twice.“Any good at mates’ rights?” he asked, pulling a face.“What? Oh no, hardly.”He hadn’t me
Keeping a cool head was usually second nature to him, but this one was personal. He felt closer to Nell than anyone and was hoping to meet her pups soon. Alpha Liam was part of the clan, even if tenuously, though it was hard to accept Simon as one of them. He preferred to think all the elf genes had gone into the younger twin.Water. The thought whizzed into his head and he realised Nell was in a panic. Going into a trance state he travelled over the geographical features in the vicinity and came to the conclusion she meant him to join her at a fall of water. Could he contact the sprite? There was no harm in trying.Afterwards, he set off at a run, his pointed boots gliding slightly above the grass and soil.The scene which met his eyes was a perilous one. Still safely cloaked in a shield of invisibility, he decided not to communicate with his half-sister. It seemed she was shocked enough already.A she-wolf lay prone, unmoving, yet he sensed a rapid heartbeat.“Isn’t it done yet? Why
We lost Nell.Liam’s blood ran cold when the unusual transmission came through.Robin?Melas. My nephew is tracking them.Where are you?But there was no further message and he hit the wall in frustration, belatedly realising it wasn’t his own office he was damaging.“Sorry, Alpha King.”“Understandable.”The older man came across and began to inspect a crack in the plaster. Liam was convinced this was a wind-up. He was sure it had been there before.“Stop messing with his head, Alpha,” Rae dared.She was flicking through a fashion magazine yet it was clear to Liam it was only a prop to keep her hands busy. Biting her nails had come and gone, as had fidgeting.Brock growled, though it sounded playful to him. He was glad she’d found her special someone. Whether they were fated mates or not was nothing to do with him.Taking a risk, he shared what he knew. It still seemed incredible to him that he may have elvish blood.“I don’t think she’s dead.”Liam winced at the word he’d used. One
The Alpha King was deeply offended. He kept saying so to his security detail in front of a woozy Liam. At least the bleeding had stopped, thanks to his wolf’s superb healing abilities. Thom was both angry and whiny, distressed because he could no longer talk to Rose.What was that about? Was Nell so far away? Invisible, maybe. No, she wouldn’t do that to Ida.Unless she was in contact with her elvish kin. Rose would take a back seat if that were the case.Rae had insisted on tending to his injuries personally.“This is all my fault,” she said. “I should have overseen the issuing of the invitations. A plus one card went by courier to the Red Moon pack. When I found out I assumed they would decline or that Alpha Leo would attend just to show his face.”“Does Alpha Brock know?”She nodded.“He’s very angry with me for the slip up, though doesn’t blame me for – well, what happened afterwards. Do you?”Liam could hardly say so when she was dabbing at his head wound so carefully.“Maybe thi
They didn’t spot the gatecrashers at first. Most people were being announced; not this pair. Liam’s hackles rose immediately on seeing Jessica, the black-haired stunner he’d denied, and sure enough, Simon wasn’t far behind. They’d chosen the same colour suit, charcoal, he and his twin, which was less of a surprise than the couple’s audacity. How dare they intrude on what was supposed to be Nell’s belated special day? Though he supposed he should cut the she-wolf some slack. Even though there was no longer any mate bond connection, still he felt a tug of sympathy and something else less easy to define. His mate was simply ravishing in a golden ballgown and matching accessories. Holly had been delighted to help her select the right clutch and shoes, though Nell had chosen the dress herself. Off one shoulder, it complemented her new height, though his cousin had reported back she was apt to look through the petite rack. That made him smile. Alpha Brock had warned Nell he would claim
The pups arrived early, a girl and a boy just as her elvish mother had foretold. Nell was stuck for a name for her daughter and then she remembered the no-nonsense she-wolf Liam had met at that ball. Ida seemed to suit the baby, who relaxed whenever she lengthened the two syllables which identified her. Their son was to be known as Cal. She felt close to him, too, just not in the same way. It had been intriguing to discover elves had physically interacted with the pack before and that their blood was in the Alpha’s veins, the ethereal nature of their culture part of his DNA. Simon’s, too. Nothing had been heard from him for months but he lurked at the edge of her consciousness like the threat of the boogeyman which had disturbed her childhood dreams. Olivia was due to stand trial for murder soon. The remains of Rosemary Worthington Field were currently resting on a coroner’s slab while all the relevant forensic investigations were being undertaken. She supposed it would fall to her
He’d had time to think both before and after Rae’s arrival. They’d had a decent heart-to-heart as well. She deserved better than Si, that was for sure. Hearing that his twin was planning to oust him wasn’t a surprise – once, he would have welcomed the notion – but, for Nell’s sake, that couldn’t be allowed to happen.Liam knew she didn’t care for status given her appalling background circumstances. At least it hadn’t been all bad, though Martin Field was never going to be the same again. He was all she had now, him, the pups, the pack and not to forget the elves, though it wouldn’t be practical to live with them.Could he permit his hybrid pup to live elsewhere? Only if certain conditions were fulfilled. He’d want to see her regularly, that was for sure, and not because he didn’t trust Melas and Robin. After all, he was basing this on a prophecy delivered by Nell’s dying elf mother, something he had never thought to question.When Simon came by, in something of a hurry, he didn’t know