They both giggled at their fumble until their provocative position drew their attention. Olivia had forgotten about Rylan’s soggy state. But his shirt and shorts didn’t seem as damp as they did minutes earlier. They were dry, as was his skin and hair. Had she imagined—no, he’d admitted it had rained on him.
Still, his toasty skin heated hers quite nicely. His body comforted hers, the way it shielded her from the cool tiles. Olivia turned her head and rested it on his chest, comforted by the vibration of his beating heart. Rylan’s seemed to beat faster than hers.
“Keep your eyes closed,” he whispered.
She did. Then he scooped her up and she assumed he was taking her to his bedroom. When the soft percale of his sheets touched her skin, she knew she was right. Something was wedged under her head. A pillow. When she regarded him, he smiled from his seat beside her. “I’ll change the dressing.”
The supplies were already on the nightstand. The wounds remained ugly and red. Livy watched him smear on the ointment and tape the gauze. When done, he kissed her forehead. “They will take time to heal. You can stay with me however long you want. Two days or forever. I like having you around. Now tell me why you were crying.”
He situated himself next to her on the bed and held her. She liked the way he smelled. “I was afraid you’d think I was something horrible after I told you all of that. Hunting monsters sounds like something out of graphic novel or movie. But I have to put it all behind me and have a normal life.”
Rylan deposited little kisses along her jaw before stopping to peer into her eyes. Heat swirled again and the butterflies took flight inside. This was different than her being with Drake. Their closeness always had a reason—the payoff at the end. They never cuddled. Perhaps part of her had been afraid to get close to him. With a smile spread across her lips, she turned towards the wall and shut her eyes.
“Something else is worrying you.”
How could he tell? She didn’t want to see his face now. It would be filled with kindness and caring, and she’d spill everything.
“Olivia.” He practically purred her name. Skies above, her body ignited.
She heard him sniff the air.
Not wanting him to get mad, she said, “I’m scared that I’m changing inside and that I’ll never know what it feels like to make love to someone I actually love and that’s really important because when I’m with you that’s practically all I think about. I think I’d be crushed if that happened and I don’t want it to but can’t be sure.” She drew a much-needed breath after that.
Rylan shifted on the bed until they were both face to face on the pillow. “That was a mouthful, Livy. Can I just condense that? You’re scared that you might be changing but aren’t sure. Still, you want to make love to someone you love to have the experience. Do you mean me?”
Livy felt her eyes widen. “Of course, I mean you. I love you, Rylan Santiago.”
His face didn’t change. Had her declaration not registered? Then he moved. He kissed one cheek. Moved to the other. Kissed. Up to one eyelid, which she closed abruptly, followed by the other. More kisses. Back down to the tip of her nose, above her lip, the left side of her mouth, and then the right. He stopped with his mouth just above hers and blew.
Livy thought her heart would pop out of her chest. The sensation set her on fire.
“I’m not refusing you, Olivia Masterson, but there are two reasons why I can’t give in to your request at this time. One, the doctor’s orders are to help you rest and we would certainly not be resting this night. Or tomorrow morning. Or day.”
She grinned at that.
He nuzzled against her neck and licked a spot before he faced her, resting his head on his folded hands. His position seemed playful, but his voice became serious. “And two, when a werewolf makes love to the one he or she loves, it’s viewed as a ‘claiming.’ Think of it as permanent mating. In order to have that union, one must first make a written personal request. It then must be presented to the Alpha and the Elders, and they must give their approval before any conjoining can occur. Otherwise, you risk breaking a top rule which will lead to both parties being banished from the pack. Your family kicks you out. You may never return.”
The fire he’d ignited inside her fluttered out. “Pack life seems difficult.”
He shook his head. “Not any more so than living in this country or any place which is governed by rules and laws. There are many rewards to pack life as well.”
Livy yawned and Ry took as a clue to shut up and go to sleep. He placed a fast kiss upon her lips and stretched out beside her, making sure they both were covered with the sheet and light blanket. The central air sometimes made her too cool in the middle of the night, so she liked having a buffer.
“Night,” he said.
“Good night.” As she tucked an arm under her pillow, Olivia thought she’s seen something else in his eyes when he gave her his reasons. It looked like doubt. Ry might not have fully believed her confession of affection.
Realistically, she knew any relationship they attempted would fail if they couldn’t trust each other. Her score care didn’t boast a passing grade yet.
Rylan
Two days had gone by and Olivia seemed okay. The dangerous period for her to change had passed. But she’d become moody at times. She slept most of yesterday and much of today. I left her alone, giving her space to deal with the ghosts she obviously still had.
Yesterday, Jose discretely dropped off six garbage bags by my garage doors. Pinned to one was a note which read, “For the tramp Olivia Masterson, with disgust from her ex-aunt and uncle. Don’t come back.” They had so very nicely deposited those same bags in front of The Lavender House. Employees contacted my mother and she told them to put the bags in the gazebo. Someone would get them. I grew angrier every minute Jose recounted the story.
With a family as lovely as that, I vowed to see this through with Olivia. No wonder she was having a hard time. I would not abandon her.
Wolf then needed immediate release and I gave it to him. Otherwise, I’d take a drive over to The Crab Shanty to smack two adults and then set fire to their tiny little house and garage, hoping Kevin was inside.
My family didn’t need me getting arrested for battery and murder. Those kinds of charges would bring bad press to their businesses. I ran in the woods by my house instead. Four times.
That was yesterday. Today was a new day and I would need to talk to Livy about going back to work when she awoke. Mom said she was fine with it. Would Livy?
When I returned from my third run of the day, I found Eddie sitting on my front step with a manila envelope and a couple of bags that were not garbage bags.
He stood as I approached, a smile on his face. “Dude! Don’t you look happy. I can smell your love shack happenings in the next county.”
His sense of humor sometimes sucked. “Funny. I’ll immediately set up a job post for a new Omega. Know anyone who might be interested? Present company definitely excluded.” I typed in the code on the keypad beside the door and let his still snickering self in.
He displayed two plastic bags he held in one hand. “I brought dinner.”
“Really? I smelled that from the Atlantic shore. Thank you. I haven’t had Chinese in weeks.”
Ed took the containers out and put them on the table. I checked on Livy. Fast asleep. The scratches had oozed through the gauze which I had changed after cleansing them before I left earlier. What the hell was this? On my way back to the kitchen I called my dad and told him. Dot was on her way.
Every container was opened, and a place had been set for me. I sat down and absentmindedly scooped food onto my plate.
Ed had opened a beer for me. I grabbed it and almost finished it in one long gulp.
“What’s going on? You’re kinda happy but something is pressing on you.”
I cleared half my plate before answering. Knowing me, he continued to eat as well.
Noticing the envelope, I pointed to it. “What�
��s that?”
“It’s a phone for Livy. And her car keys. We couldn’t locate the type of classic Mini that she originally had, plus your dad suggested she have something modern and safe. He and Jose will bring her new vehicle by tomorrow.” He put both items on the table. “I emailed you copies of my latest findings. Read them later. It’s as we suspected. HOC is a company Kevin created. They are supposedly part of a larger, secret corporation. They parent corp shall remain nameless until we unearth who they are. The path to uncovering them is tricky. They must have an expert on their team. I called in a favor with some hacker friends, so I hope to have an answer within a few days.”
As he spoke, he held his phone up as his index finger scrawled across the screen. Webpage after webpage from HOC flashed by. Pictures of Olivia in a blond wig with a private school uniform, very tight, the white blouse practically popping off her. The short skirt barely covered her thighs. I reached for a second beer and finished that too, gripping the bottle with my fingers.
Ed stopped to pry it away before returning to his task. I folded my arms, my foot shaking again. I have never taken the life of another human before but seeing all of these things made me want to let Wolf take over for a day to clean up.
“He’s created an empire on what Olivia used to do. Now he’s got around thirty girls ranging from teens to late twenties. They’re called ‘models’ and they have conventions, books, posters, a clothing line, and what appears to be a soft-porn site. Kevin is currently traveling in Europe with the convention. Word is, he’s shacking up with a sixteen-year-old in one state, and numerous others in different places. He seems to be a popular scumbag.”
The door opened. “We’re here,” Dad called.
Ed jumped to his feet, fixing his hair, and straightening his shirt.
My father walked in and nodded at Ed. “Eduardo. How’s Olivia?”
“The wounds aren’t closing,” I said, my tone dejected.
He sat down, and Ed followed. “Dot went to her. As soon as Olivia is well, your mother and I will host a party where we will formally announce your mating. Then I’ll inform the pack of my decision to make you my predecessor when I step down. Date unknown at this time, but it might be next year. I promised your mother a wildlife excursion in Africa and some other trips.”
I could tell from the way Ed’s eyebrows rose, he wasn’t exactly following all of these changes. Neither was I. Still, I went along with it. “Okay, Dad.”
Dad grasped my nearest hand in his. “We will take care of this.” Now his voice rose, his anger apparent. “First, her family will make amends for their treatment of her. Imagine dumping bags, garbage bags filled with your ward’s belongings onto the lawn of a business, in front of strangers? The indecency. Such a lack of class. It’s a statement she is no more worthy than a mongrel.”
He huffed and sat back. My father seemed antsy. He must know what Eddie found. All the dirt. And there was more to come.
“Mijo, you and me, Dot, Eddie and his crew, the pack, we will help Olivia. No matter what.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Ed rushed out. “Did Greg bite her or something? Is that the weird smell inside here and on you, Ry? I can’t identify it.”
Dad applied a slight pressure on my fingers before releasing his hold on me and switched his attention to Ed. “That bastard Lycan deeply scratched that girl and left a broken claw inside her chest as a calling card. Dottie has been trying to fight its effects. She isn’t sure what will happen. Olivia is strong, but there is an element in her blood Dot cannot decipher. Not yet.”
“Are there any egg rolls?” Dot called out as she entered. Ed jumped up and fixed a plate for her. Dad began eating the one he’d put down in front of my father earlier.
“Thank you, Eduardo.” She sat and sighed.
I went to put on a pot of coffee. Lost in worry, I’d forgotten to be a proper host.
The three ate in silence as the fresh aroma of Arabica beans suffused the air. Dad peered at Ed’s screen; his look of curiosity quickly switched to disbelief. “Is this that uncle’s doing?” His question directed more at Eddie than at me.
“Yes, sir.”
“Despicable.” He showed it to Dottie and she almost choked on her food.
I brought the tray with mugs, sugar, milk and the carafe over. Dad again prepared Dot’s cup and his own.
“She is not doing as well as I’d hoped,” Dot began. “Olivia is resting. I gave her a sedative. Her body is doing what it can to fend off the Lycan virus. I put a call out and another pack’s medical team will fly in tomorrow morning. They’ve been setting up at my clinic.” She sipped her coffee.
There appeared to be more wrinkles by her eyes. “Thank you.”
“I thanked that young mate of yours. Her killing that monster has saved countless lives. I took samples of the blood from her weapons before your father brought them to this very room. They’re being tested, but I also called Esmeralda. She has some priceless gifts. Psychometry is one.”
Everyone knew Esmeralda. She scared many with her changing abilities. The problem was they didn’t always work. “Did she feel anything?”
“She-she actually touched the blood?” Ed asked, flustered.
Dot grinned. “Yes, she did. It was dried, but it worked. She saw a barn with a field, a town name, and an address. Your father sent his best investigators to check. They purchased the land from an elderly man who stored Greg’s sports cars there.”
Dad chimed in, “Except Greg didn’t collect cars. He didn’t use the barn. He used the land to bury the bodies of his victims. Other packs have joined ours. As of six o’clock this evening, they’d unearthed over one hundred.”
Ed slammed his beer bottle on the table. “Yes!”
A comfortable silence settled over us as we soaked up the information.
Dad leaned forward. “Esmeralda also said Greg wasn’t the only one. He had a pack killing with him. If this is true, a Council meeting will have to be scheduled. The Lycans will have to be eradicated. Too many of them can cause tremendous problems and could threaten our survival.”
Dot picked up her empty plate and went to get up. Dad rushed over and offered his assistance. Chivalry is thriving in our pack. “Thank you all. I need to get back to the clinic. Good night.”
Dad helped her outside. “Good night, son.”
“Night. And thank you for everything.”
He waved me off as his driver hurried over to help Dot down the five steps which lead to the road. I watched them until the car lights disappeared and went inside.
Ed was busy wiping down my empty table. “Whatever’s left is chilling, in case Livy wakes up hungry.”
“Thanks. The housekeeper comes tomorrow. I sent her a list of groceries.”
“See you tomorrow, bro.” He grabbed his phone and left. Soon I heard his motorcycle engine grow fainter.
Asleep, Olivia looked peaceful. What would happen if she is truly infected?
Knowing she was sedated, I decided to let Wolf exercise to allow my overburdened mind some time to rest. I removed my clothes and dropped it all into the hamper. I knew in my heart I could never love anyone else. She had become my mate. Our pack did have human mates, and most were able to produce pups. Those that couldn’t were happy to share in the rearing of the other member’s litters. Kissing her forehead, I let myself out of the house and set the alarm.
Releasing my wolf would help clear my head and look at things with the proper perspective. Anything that pertained to Livy hit me directly in the heart. Whatever our future was, I wouldn’t change anything about my past with her.
Olivia, six weeks later
“I’m going to miss Javier,” Livy said and handed the present they’d picked out for him to Rylan as she climbed down his SUV.
He watched her carefully and she knew it. “I’m not made of porcelain. I’m all right.” She tried to take the present and he refused to give it back.
From its perfectly manicured lawns filled with lush f
auna and hardy trees, down to the individual stones of the Tudor Revival, the Santiago home was gorgeous. They walked across the circular drive as she noted the number of parked cars. “How big is this event?”
Ry chuckled, pulling her closer with his free arm. “You know my parents. Mom says she invited twenty and then you discover she actually meant one hundred and twenty.”
She was glad it was an outdoor event. The mod-October day was seasonably cool which felt great on her increasingly heated skin. Her wounds had finally begun to show signs of healing. The pink skin they saw when Ry redressed them this morning made them both smile. He was happily optimistic, but Olivia wasn’t.
Despite that medical team and Dot testing and re-testing, contacting others in the field, extending the call for assistance to magic users, they still did not have the answer they sought.
Why wasn’t Olivia healing normally?
She had not become a Lycan.
Still, she felt the heat flashes every day. The bouts of anger. Sudden urges to strike at someone for no reason. She began working from home the last few weeks because the fear that she might hurt a guest at the hotel, or another employee scared her.
If she confessed these strange behaviors, would he stay with her? Or would he make her leave. Then she’d be on her own, again.
Olivia dealt with everything, keeping her lips shut and putting on her brave, smiling face.
They entered the grand home and Ry placed the gift in the dining room on a chair. The table itself was covered with colorful wrapped gifts and bags.
Ry clasped her hand in his and led her outside. So many voices and faces and bodies milled about. Some she recognized, while others were new. Everyone smiled and greeted them cordially. Ed hurried over, handing Livy a glass of iced tea.
“Thanks,” she said, quickly sipping it. The cool liquid was like an ice cube making it’s way down a heated trail, cooling the surface along its travels.
Falling for Shifters: A Limited Edition Autumn Shifters Collection Page 124