“This is all because you ran into the spider’s nest nearly two years ago.”
Truro punched him on the shoulder. “Well, it was freakin’ huge. It could have eaten me whole.”
Gil snorted. “It ran away.”
“That’s not the point. Scary things lurk in the bush and my feet prefer concrete.” She thought back to the new man in town. “I suspect the old guy in number eleven is not a bush dweller either.”
“How old is he?”
Truro blew out a sigh. “I don’t know. Mid-seventies and he walks with a limp.”
This caught Gil’s attention. “A limp?”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
“Seems a lot of people are getting pretty vague around town when I ask questions.”
“Like who?”
“You and Bess and Murphy.” Truro noticed Gil didn’t blink when she mentioned Murphy’s name. So Gil knows him as well. What is going on? Had a secret club formed and she had missed out on membership? “So you know Murphy?”
“We’ve crossed paths.”
“Uh-huh.” Truro knew she would get no further information from Gil as he was sphinx-like unless it suited him. “Got all the research done you wanted?”
“Yes, thanks.” Gil reached over and tweaked her nose affectionately. “Anyone ever tell you you’re cute?”
“Bugger off, Gillard.”
———
“Have you seen him?”
“No but it may not be him.” Gil pointed out to William. “Truro gave a description of a stranger that could be just about anyone.”
“A seventy-year-old man with a limp? Ha! I think not, Gil. That’s Absolon.” William knew in his heart it was so. It was just like Absolon to hide in plain sight like this. He’s taunting me. “The clan is uneasy. They feel it too.”
Gil nodded. “Yes. Initially, I thought it was to do with the coming of the next fifty year change.”
“I agree with William. That man is Absolon and I’m not happy he has chosen to stay at the caravan park.” Murphy’s hand clenched into fists. “He has come back when we are weakest.”
“Yes, he wants me.” That was only too obvious to William.
“But why not just come at you and get this battle over and done with?” Gil questioned. “Why be at the van park just waiting?”
Murphy’s shoulders stiffened. “Because he wants us to know he knows who Truro is and her importance to the clan.”
William was not surprised Murphy had worked that out. While it was not openly acknowledged, everyone knew Murphy would be the next leader and the leader’s mate was always his weakness.
“Then he would know about Joan.” Gil did not look the slightest bit happy.
“Yes.” There was no point trying to pretty the words up. Both men’s women were targets, as Bess had been all those years ago. William thought for a while. “The woman—Joan—she is unusual. There is something about her I cannot put a finger on.” It was disquieting to feel that way. Knowing yet not knowing.
“Apparently, Joan Scott hunts paranormal beings. I tried to ask her more; however, she just fobbed me off like it was a joke. She doesn’t seem to like me much.”
“Oh but she does, Gil.” William remembered when Bess had been like that. Bess had surrendered to the inevitable as all true loves did. “She’s fighting it. All the best women do. It’s all about independence.”
Gil shook his head. “I would never take that from her.”
“I know but some people fear losing themselves when they fall in love.” How well I remember the fight Bess put up. William cleared his throat. He needed to focus and not reminisce. “About Joan and the mention of her hunting the supernatural.” Was she to be more of a foe than a friend? Those who hunted the paranormal were often a force to be reckoned with. That she was a woman made it even worse. Unlike most men, William had a wary understanding of the true strength of women.
“I thought it was cute,” Gil responded with a smile.
“What do you know about her?” And will she turn on us? “Truro, we know.” But this Scott woman’s appearance was almost too sudden. Add to that the fact that Absolon was in town and it made William all the more careful.
“You think they are connected?” Murphy’s voice indicated he understood straight away. “You need to speak to her, Gil.”
He sighed. “She doesn’t seem too keen on chatting to me.”
Murphy chuckled. “I’m sure you have your ways.”
“I sense no evil in her, William.”
“No, but sometimes people are thrust into evil without their knowledge.”
Gil made a move. “I cannot allow her to be hurt. I will talk to her now.”
“And I will go speak to Absolon.” William did not doubt for a minute he was the man at the caravan park. I will destroy you this time. The clan depended on it.
———
“Hey,” Joan Scott called out to Truro as she came out of the small supermarket that all the locals frequented.
“Hey yourself, Lara Croft.” Truro had to smile when she saw the woman dressed in black. While Truro was a great fan of black looking slimming, she wasn’t into the whole black hair, nails, boots, pants and shirt. It was gothic and sort of funny on such a small, chubby woman. She spied the leather scabbard at her side. That was unusual even for a Goth. “Pretty fancy knife holder you’ve got there.” Who the hell walked around with a knife? Who needed one? Who was this chick?
Joan came to stand, hands on hips, before Truro. “It’s a make-up holder.”
“Uh-huh.” Bullshit. ”I bet you carry you a deadly shade of lipstick in there.”
“Kiss to kill? What a quaint mind you have. It must be from living in Hooterville. Anyway, let’s cut the girly chat. I want to talk to you about something specific.”
Truro had to admit she admired the whole attitude thing. Not many women could carry that off as well. “Oh yeah? What about?” Town gossip was this woman was some weird psychic babe. Of course that’s what the barbeque boys had told Truro but then they had told everyone that aliens often came every second Tuesday to eat burnt sausages with them, so their words were not exactly gospel.
“You’ve been here a while.”
Truro dropped her two shopping bags on the ground. She had an idea this woman was not someone who could be easily fobbed off. “Not that long. About two years.” Good grief, even her eyes are black. And black eyeliner? So nineties.
Joan flicked her shoulder-length raven-black hair from her shoulders as if it annoyed her. “That’s long enough. About the wolves—”
“What about them?” And is this chick going to venture down the werewolf track as well?
“Would you say they are unusually more active?”
Truro raised her eyebrows. “What is it with everyone being interested in wolves?”
“Who’s everyone?”
Truro wasn’t about to tell her. Let her work it out herself. She couldn’t put her finger on it but the woman irritated Truro. “Why do you want to know?” Are you a hunter?” If so we have enough of our own local shoot-’em-up people here.
“Why do you ask?”
“You’re dressed weird.” Why not call a spade a shovel?
“How so?”
Answering a question with a question. Truro admired that. “You look like Lara Croft.”
“Maybe she looks like me.”
Oh yeah, there was attitude there. It was exactly the same answer Truro would have given. Oh, that’s why she irritates me. She’s like me.
“I heard you talking above wolves.”
Both women turned to see Gil. Joan stiffened visibly. Truro was amused. So, Lara Croft is scared of someone. The look she gave Gil was one of bravado mixed with fear. It’s probably how I look at Murphy. I want to be tough but my resolve just disappears under his hot, sexy gaze. Mmmm, Murphy. Where was he? Truro pulled her thoughts back to the present. “I know nothing about wolves other that they have four legs, fur and they
do that howling at the moon thing.”
“Are you sure?” Joan avoided looking at Gil and focused Truro.
“I’m positive about that, Lara.”
“My name is Joan.”
Oh yeah. Gil had his work cut out with this woman. “My apologies. I have stuff to do.” She didn’t but Truro didn’t want to be hanging around like a fifth wheel. She picked up her bags and moved off.
“I still want to talk to you,” Joan called out.
“I know nothing,” Truro yelled back.
“I doubt that.”
———
“I knew it would not take you long to find me, William.”
“Absolon.” William was neither shocked nor surprised. He had been waiting for this moment for fifty years. Old enemies held a grudge and did not die easily.
“You have aged.” Absolon stood on unsteady feet.
William was aware like most men that what they lacked in one area, like strength, they made up for in another. Absolon had always been a tall man. William had never been intimidated by that but he understood his old foe needed to look like he was coming from a position of strength. “As have you, Absolon.” If he was a different person, William may have felt sorry for him but all he felt was contempt. Absolon had come perilously close to destroying everyone William loved and believed in five decades ago. As Absolon held a grudge, so did William. Fifty years seemed only like yesterday. Hatred and revenge always remained fresh.
“You made old age worse for me.” Absolon’s fist clenched, his pale blue eyes filled with anger.
“You shouldn’t have tried to take what was not yours.” If he had let them live in peace then neither man would have had a burning need to kill the other back then or now.
“How is Bess?”
That this creature ever thought he had a chance with someone as sweet as Bess still amazed William. While opposites did attract, evil had no constant lovers. “Safe.”
Absolon smiled. “No one is ever safe, William.”
William smiled back. There was no humor in it. He was mirroring his enemy until Absolon made his move. “Even think of harming Bess and I will kill you.” I will kill you anyway but touching Bess would guarantee it would not be an easy death.
“I know you will try.” Absolon shrugged his shoulders in dismissal.
“I will succeed.”
“William, you are weaker than you were. I see the passing of time has changed you. While your words are strong we both know only one of us will win this battle. And now with the clan reshaping as it does every fifty years, I know you are weaker than you have ever been.”
That was true. To allow others in, barriers had to be dropped and need given preference to strength. “We are strong.” William knew that even with the changes that were happening if the clan held firm and together, they could defeat anything or anyone.
“You’ll need to be.”
“Why?” William knew he would get no answer to his question but he had to ask. The longer he kept Absolon talking, the more chance he could determine his next move. Like everyone, Absolon gave out nonverbal clues. His body trembled and his breath was labored. He was not carrying out his plans by himself. William could see he was too weak for that.
“I can’t divulge everything straight away, William. How boring would that be?”
“I know you killed that man and wounded the other one.”
Absolon smiled. “Are they hunting you like the animals you are?”
Not yet. So far the clan was safe and hidden near the mines. Only he, Murphy and Gil were in any risk being so close to town. But they remained careful when the time came to shift into their other form. “The woman in town—”
“Miss Scott? Yes I brought her here.” Absolon allowed him that information. “And no, she doesn’t know the full reason or even who she really is.”
William felt the icy shaft of fear that shot through him. Who she really is? There were a handful of demons and hunters who hated werewolves. Some held a grudge. Others just liked the thrill of the chase. Who was she? “Why her?”
Absolon tapped his nose. “Because of her ancestry. Blood will out, William.”
He had spent enough time with Absolon. William knew what he needed to know. Nothing had changed. He had to kill Absolon or risk everything he loved. “Touch anyone I love and the pain I once inflicted on you will be nothing compared to the hell I will put you through.”
Absolon just smiled. “Go run with your pack while you still can.”
———
Truro ran into full bore into Murphy as he came out of the camping goods store. The hot contact of his body against hers made Truro close her eyes and think about the last time they were up close and personal.
Murphy’s arms steadied her. “Are you okay, petal?”
Truro opened her eyes to see the amusement in his. Oh for God’s sake snap out of it woman. He’s just a man you have the most amazing, unforgettable sex with. Be cool. Be calm.
“Er—um, I, ah,” Truro mumbled as she pushed away from him. Oh yeah, smooth, Truro. “Going camping?” When in doubt state the bleeding obvious. “Are you moving out of the caravan park?” The thought that he might smacked at her hard. What did I do wrong?
“I think its best.”
Truro shrugged her shoulders as if she didn’t care what Murphy did. “Sure, Whatever. Go for it.” It’s not like I’m going to sit and cry over you.
“I came here for a specific reason.” Murphy reached down to take her bags.
Truro had the perverse need to hold on to them. Why? Maybe it had to do with being seen as capable and not needy. “Oh right, the whole nature thing.” I cannot compete with Mother Nature. She has the whole Earth under her control. Like I can keep one man from her.
“That’s right.”
Truro got the feeling she was in the way of a man who had plans. “Well, let me know when you’re moving out.”
“Why?” Murphy reached out to touch her arm.
Truro side stepped him. Touch me now and I will beg you to stay. “I need to rent the van out.”
“No other reason?”
“What could there be?” Truro looked at him as calmly as she was able to. She wondered if he remembered that she blurted out she loved him. Or, was he like a lot of men? Did they just expect a woman to feel so grateful for an orgasm that a declaration of love was like a condom? Something that was expected but not always used or believed in?
“If I asked you to come camping with me, would you?”
Yes. No. Camping? Oh puke. “I would rather stick a needle in my eye.” Sweet man. Great body. Shame about the camping thing. “I hate the great outdoors.”
“I seem to remember a moment when—”
“I’m a city girl.” And while making love against a tree had been fantastic it did not compare to a mattress within four walls.
“Ludlum is not the city.” Murphy grinned at her.
Lord, he was always smiling. There has to be something wrong with that. Or am I comical to him? “Yeah well I’m in transit.”
“For two years?”
Why did everyone keep pointing that out to her? “I ran out of money.” It was not really an excuse that applied any more. Truro had enough money to move on. So why don’t I?
“Uh-huh.”
Truro’s eye narrowed. “You doubt me? Why would I stay?”
“Maybe there’s a reason for you to be here,” Murphy suggested, his eyes never leaving hers.
Sometimes Truro swore he could see right into her soul. “Or maybe I just have nowhere better to go.” She’d had this same discussion with Bess.
“You know in your heart where you belong.”
Truro shook her head. “Do I?”
“He wasn’t worth losing your heart to him, petal.”
He wasn’t. But you are. Oh who gives a fuck? I can deal with anything. I don’t need love. “I have stuff to do.”
“You have to let someone inside sometime.”
“Y
ou’ve been inside.”
Murphy leaned in and touched her chest. “I mean in here. In your heart.”
Truro gulped louder than she wanted to. “Yeah well, I have to go.”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll be home later.” Wallowing in chocolate ice cream and taking a vow of celibacy.
“I’ll look forward to it.” Murphy stiffened and turned suddenly. His eyes focused on an older man who was limping across the street. “Who’s that?”
Murphy’s reaction puzzled Truro. It was like all his senses were on alert. “He’s a townie roughing it. He checked into the caravan park. Why?”
“No reason.” Yet Murphy kept watching his progress.
No reason. Was anyone ever going to stop and actually explain anything to her? Why all the Secret Squirrel stuff? “I gotta go.”
———
Six hours later.
“I thought we were supposed to talk?” Truro placed her hands on his bare chest.
“I wanted to relax you first.” Murphy moved his hips against hers. “Ah, that’s better.” He leaned in and licked a lazy, wet path around one of her pink nipples.
Truro moaned softly and raked her hands through his hair. His cock was hard and full and unmoving inside her. Every inch of her body was covered by his. It was the most erotic experience she’d ever had. It was sex but it was more. It was about being joined and allowing your lover to be one with you as you were with them. While friction was excellent, quiet stillness had more meaning. For the first time in her life, Truro wanted nothing more than to just be with this man. No pretense. No act. No display of skills. Just two lovers enjoying each other.
“Wolf man,” Truro raised his head from her breast.
“Yes, petal?”
“What the hell is going on in Ludlum?”
Chapter Six
Murphy knew it was time to tell Truro the truth. In his heart, he knew she loved him. With love came trust. He needed her to believe in him and who he was. “Do you believe there are some things that are beyond the realm of the normal world, petal?”
“Like politicians?” Truro’s hands ran down his back to rest on his ass.
May we be like this forever. Joined. At peace. In love. As one. “No, paranormal beings.” Murphy felt her body stiffen against his. His hand left her breast and cupped her face. How I love this woman. I will do everything in my power to protect her. Murphy kissed Truro’s lips in a light tender kiss of promise. “Tell me what you believe in, petal.”
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