Tiffy swallowed hard, tears streaming down her face. “You’re lying. My dad would kick your ass!”
Kell held her terrified gaze. “He tried. Took him out with a bullet, sweetheart. After that there wasn’t much fight left in him.”
Tiffy cried out and threw herself into Lucia’s arms. Lucia held her, surreptitiously looking around for a weapon she could use to defend both herself and Tiffy. “Maybe Gothrim didn’t have a chance, but once Zalin gets here you’ll pay for this! What did Tiffy ever do to you? What did I do?”
“Like I said, you’re collateral. And I wouldn’t get my hopes up. The pack will put Zalin down like a rabid dog.”
“He is your friend!” God, how could Kell betray Zalin like this? Why?
“He wasn’t so hard to fool. No one wanted him there. It was easy to pull him in, when no one else would talk to him.” Kell shrugged. “Didn’t want him to take over before I had time to get rid of Gothrim. But he’s expendable now.”
“You idiot! He was going to leave. He never wanted to be Alpha. You might have fooled him once, but he’s not stupid. He’ll figure out what you did, and then he’s going to put you down, not the other way round!” But if he didn’t arrive soon, it would be too late for her and Tiffy. Lucia continued looking for anything she could use against Kell. She guessed he was armed, since he’d admitted to shooting Gothrim. Her heart went out to Tiffy, for having to find out like this. And she wished she’d been friendlier to the Alpha. Apparently none of it had been his fault.
“Honey, once the pack finds Gothrim dead, Thomas will make sure Zalin pays for it. He already hates him. It won’t take much to push him into killing your lover.”
Tiffy rolled into a ball and cried even harder, and all Lucia could do was hold her. “You are a monster.”
Kell stepped closer, leaning in. “No. I’m the new Alpha.”
“You’re planning to kill us.” Lucia could see it in his eyes.
“No, I’m planning to kill you and your father.” He reached out and yanked Tiffy away from her, then pulled out a gun and pointed it at her. “This time I won’t miss. And with Tiffy as my mate, the pack has no choice but to accept me as the new Alpha.”
Chapter 15
Zalin raced to the hospital while Angela made call after call in the seat beside him. “Try to get hold of Thomas.”
“I did. There was no answer.”
“Try again.” He swung the car into the hospital grounds and bounced it up the sidewalk. “I need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Run in there, to her room. Get inside and leave the door open.” Zalin pulled his clothes off and tossed them at her. “Take those and leave them outside the door.”
Angela swallowed visibly, staring at him.”You’re going in as a wolf.”
Zalin nodded. “Kell won’t be in wolf form and he won’t expect me like this either. I’ll have the advantage.”
Angela shook her head. “You won’t. He has a gun. No matter how fast you are, a bullet is faster.”
“Let me worry about that.” Zalin jumped out and dropped his pants, tossing them at her. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.”
Angela clutched his clothes to her chest and ran.
Zalin changed and for once he welcomed the pain. He wanted to howl a challenge, draw Kell outside, but he knew it wouldn’t give him the advantage. Instead he kept to the shadows, trotted to the main doors and waited. His nose in the air, he scented Lucia, smelled her fear and he growled. A second later he jumped toward the automatic door, just as someone left the hospital.
Alarmed cries rose everywhere as he sped through slippery corridors and bounded up the steps, following Angela’s scent trail. Only when she was close did he slow down. Seeing his clothes on the floor next to a slightly open door made him pause.
* * * *
Lucia flinched when the door flew open and her mother burst into the room. Angela came at Kell like a banshee, clawing at him and taking him off guard. Kell’s distraction didn’t last long. He slammed his fist into Angela’s face and bounced her off the wall, before aiming the gun back at Lucia.
“Aww, how sweet. Mommy tried to rescue her babies.” Kell kicked the unconscious woman. “Too bad I’ll have to kill her too.”
Lucia didn’t dare call for a nurse, knowing she’d only give Kell another victim. Instead she grabbed her food tray and threw it at him. “Go to hell!”
Kell ducked the tray and laughed.
It cost him. The door crashed against the wall and all she could see was a dark blur, launching itself at Kell. A vicious snarl sounded when the wolf went for Kell’s throat. The gun went off, but the shot went wide, making her ears ring.
Zalin bit and snapped at Kell, ripping clothes and skin, but Kell fought back. He kicked and punched, using the gun to try and bash the wolf’s head. His skin rippled and Lucia guessed he was about to change. She threw her pillow at him, hoping the distraction would break his concentration. Kell barely reacted, but howled in pain when Zalin bit his ankle, tearing at it to bring him down. Clearly desperate, he aimed the gun at Zalin’s head, but Zalin snapped for his wrist and sank his teeth into Kell’s forearm.
Lucia grabbed the bedpan from beneath the bed, startled to see Tiffy change in front of her. Clothes tore and moments later a sleek gray wolf launched herself at Kell and bit his upper arm.
Kell tried to shake off the new attacker. Lucia seized her chance and slammed the bedpan into his head, fear for Zalin’s life overriding pain and exhaustion. Kell slumped and both wolves simultaneously went for his throat.
Lucia heard a gargle, saw Kell flail his arms one last time, then lie still. Zalin pushed Tiffy out of the way and bit down to finish him off. Tiffy stared at Kell, still trembling, so Lucia wrapped her arms around her sister, meeting Zalin’s remorseless gaze. He’d done what he had to do to keep them safe. Lucia couldn’t blame him for killing Kell. “Thank you.”
Tiffy changed and Lucia couldn’t bring herself to let go, but reached out for Zalin, needing him close. He didn’t move and glanced at the door. She guessed someone was coming. No surprise, someone had to have heard the gunshot, and seeing a wolf run through a hospital couldn’t go unnoticed either. Lucia grabbed Tiffy’s torn clothes, wincing when pain shot through her shoulder. “Put them on. Quickly. I know they are ripped, but better than naked.”
Tiffy obeyed without a word.
“Zalin, you need to get out of here.” She saw him move to the window, lifting onto his hind legs, front paws up on the ledge. There he remained and she realized they were too high up for him to jump. “Oh God.”
Zalin changed, groaning in pain. Once human, he opened the window, then pointed to the door. “My clothes. Outside.”
Lucia got them, hoping no one had seen her hand sneak out and grab the bundle of clothes. She watched Zalin dress, noted he avoided getting Kell’s blood on him. “What are you doing?”
“Everyone saw a wolf run into the hospital. They’ll be looking for it.” He nodded at the bloody footprints leading to the open window. “Hopefully this won’t take long.”
“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Lucia reached for him. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“A few bruises, nothing major.” Zalin came to her and drew her into his arms. “You? Did he touch you?”
“No.” Her gaze went to her unconscious parents. “He hurt them. Can you make sure they are okay?”
“I’ll do it,” Tiffy whispered.
Lucia clutched Zalin’s back, the pain in her shoulder making her flinch. Zalin kissed her gently and extricated himself. He glanced at Kell and she followed his gaze, surprised to see a dead wolf where he’d been. “What the...?”
“We turn on death.” He looked over to where Tiffy tried to wake up Angela and Graham. “Use some water, Tiffy. Hurry. We don’t have much time.”
She did and had both of them up moments later. Angela stared at the dead wolf and lifted her eyes to Zalin’s. “
Thank you for this. For saving my daughters.”
“Angela?” Graham croaked, struggling to sit up.
“There is time for this later. Right now I need you up on your feet.” Zalin met Lucia’s gaze. “And then you have to scream as loud as you can.”
“Scream?” She looked around the torn up room. “It’ll bring everyone running.”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m counting on.” He nodded at Kell. “They’ll find a dead wolf and a bunch of distraught people.”
Lucia nodded and screamed.
Chapter 16
Lucia looked at the dark brown wolf beside her. She had no idea what to expect, but she’d walk through fire for Zalin. Behind him sat Tiffy, a silver-gray wolf, and a lovely golden wolf next to her. Lucia still couldn’t believe this wolf was her mother, but seeing her father’s soft smile was even more unbelievable.
“So what happens now?” Graham wanted to know.
“I really don’t know, Dad.” All Zalin had told her was that the pack would either accept or reject him. In the two weeks since Gothrim’s death, Zalin had finally decided to take over as Alpha, but it had taken several long talks with Angela to get him to agree. Since he hadn’t been the one who’d killed Gothrim, succession wasn’t guaranteed. Her mother had smoothed over a lot of aggression toward Zalin, but none of them knew if it would be enough.
Still, whatever happened, she was proud of Zalin. For a guy who’d wanted to leave, wanted nothing to do with her family, he’d done a pretty good job of uniting them. Her mother, although mourning her mate, had decided to move in with her father. Tiffy had gone with them.
Lucia knew the decision to take over hadn’t been easy for him. He hadn’t wanted to lead a pack, but he’d accepted it was better someone they knew took over, than allow a stranger to disrupt the close-knit community.
Her thoughts turned to what was ahead, when Zalin stepped forward and strode into the middle of the waiting pack. He stood and looked from wolf to wolf, then lifted his head and howled.
Angela joined him without hesitation, followed by Tiffy.
One by one the wolves surrounding him fell in, their voices swelling until they were one.
Graham grinned at her. “I guess this means they’ll keep him.”
Lucia laughed. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Zalin came striding toward her, nuzzled her hand and sat, surveying his new domain.
He changed without warning, standing naked and proud beside her. “If Lucia will have me, and with the pack’s approval, I would declare her my mate.” He turned his head and smiled at her. “What do you say? Can you live with a bunch of wolves?”
“Only if you don’t strut around naked in front of my mother and sister again.” Lucia blushed.
“I can’t promise you that.” Zalin tugged her against him and kissed her, framing her face in his hands. “I can promise I’ll never stop loving you.”
Lucia wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “I can promise the same to you. Forever.”
Zalin kissed her, then threw his head back and let out a howl eerily similar to his previous one, even though he was in human form. Lucia laughed and howled right along with him, stunned when the rest of the pack fell in.
She chuckled. “See? I’m a wolf after all. I just don’t look like one.”
“Yeah.” Zalin grinned, leaned down and lowered his voice. “Now, about those puppies...”
Lucia wagged a finger at him. “I am not having puppies.”
“Okay. How about babies?” A wicked glint sparkled in his eyes.
“Plural?”
“Yeah. Definitely.” He released her briefly and pulled his pants on.
“I can do that.” Lucia nodded. She squeaked when Zalin swung her up into his arms. “Hey!”
“Let’s get started on them.”
Lucia laughed and leaned toward his ear. “At least we won’t have to worry about expiry dates anymore.”
“No, we don’t, we can–”
“Hey, Zalin, we need you to designate your Betas.” Thomas walked up to them.
Zalin groaned. “Not now.”
Thomas stopped, a sheepish expression on his face. “Oh.”
Lucia giggled and bit Zalin’s ear. “He’s just trying to look out for you.”
He glared at Thomas. “Go away, before I decide to skin you.”
Thomas backed off.
Zalin carried her toward his house, only to be waylaid by another wolf. Lucia could barely contain her mirth. Each step seemed dogged with requests, questions and demands. She heard Zalin give a heartfelt groan at the sight of yet another pack member, this time a youngster, sitting on the doorstep.
“I, uh, could I, uh, like, uh, I mean, would you mind if I, uh,” the young man’s eyes darted to Lucia, before he dropped his gaze again and blushed wildly, “I wanted to ask, uh, if–”
“Spit it out already!”
Lucia cuffed him. “Stop it, he’s scared.”
“I, uh, like Tiffy, and–never mind.” He shot to his feet and took off, his face red.
Zalin groaned. “The only thing expiring around here will be me. From frustration.”
She laughed when he set her down inside, grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. “What’s this?”
“An ancient protection spell.” Zalin opened the door and stuck the note on it. “There. Maybe that’ll keep them away.”
Lucia read the words on it and burst out laughing. “Not easy being you, is it?”
“Nope.” Zalin winked at her. “It takes practice. Care to join me?”
* * * *
“Gone fishin’?” Angela frowned at Graham. “He took my daughter fishing?”
Graham laughed. “You ever want grandbabies?”
“Yes?”
He grinned and took her hand. “Then let’s leave them to their fishing.”
Silke Juppenlatz
Silke doesn’t own a wolf. She’d like to have one, but they are in short supply in England, so she opted for a horse. A dapple gray one, who doesn’t always watch where he’s going and steps on her feet. That’s when she wishes she’d persuaded her partner Paul to get a wolf instead.
Wolves are independent, yet highly social animals who mate for life. It stands to reason that a Lycan would be similar in nature. Tiffy would tell you there’s nothing worse than a lack of freedom, and nothing better than finding that one man who’ll love you above all else.
When she’s not working, Silke can be found in the Surrey countryside, come rain or shine, hail, sleet and snow. Once she’s good and drenched, or burned to a crisp, and Oscuro is taken care of, she’ll hide away in her study–the second bedroom–to create the wolves she can’t have and the elves, fae, aliens and vampires everyone claims don’t exist.
They do, but don’t tell anyone.
Silke’s Website:
http://www.evilauthor.com
Also by Silke Juppenlatz
Pack Justice Series
Howl
Watch Me
Lyrical Press books are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2011 Silke Juppenlatz
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.
First Electronic Edition: June 2011
ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-286-7
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