Slade, Book 1 in Team Greywolf Series

by Eva Gordon

  Nik followed her out, his dance partner still in tow. “Cricket, wait.”

  “Leave me alone.”

  Cricket removed her pumps and sloughed off the silky dress. In wolf form, she ran. Mia’s cottage. I’ll borrow some clothes and then her car. No. Too close. Maybe head to Mt. Rainier.

  Chapter 22

  Slade pried her hands away. “Princess Willa, what are you doing?”

  “Kissing the future sire of my children.”

  “I’m not. I mean, I’m not in love with you.”

  “I know that, it’s a political union. But you will in time.” Her mouth slackened. “You plan to take another mate, Vera, or, is it Samantha?”

  Slade took her hands in his and kissed them. “No, not them. You’ll learn her name soon. She’s my soul mate.” He signaled the DJ to stop the music. To hell with rules. Banish us. Be my guest. He scanned for Cricket. Abella. No matter, his voice would reverberate throughout the tent and to the outside. She’d hear him.

  Dominic reached him, Mia holding his hand, looking like she’d just lost her best friend. “Prince Slade, I see it’s midnight. Have you come to a decision?”

  “Yes, I have.” Where was she?

  “You have the floor.”

  Slade sniffed, hoping to catch Abella’s honeyed scent. “Dear pack members, I have chosen my mate, and she’s chosen me.”

  Everyone stilled into cold stone silence, waiting.

  He looked everywhere. “She must have stepped out.”

  “Who?” implored Vera.

  Slade swallowed. “Cricket, whose real name is Abella.”

  Dacia stood. “You can’t take a runt!”

  He growled at her.

  Other guests voiced their agreement, snarling and extending their fangs.

  One shouted, “Banishment!”

  Dominic took control. “Everyone, calm down.” He gestured for Slade to leave.

  No problem. He needed to find Cricket, before she bore the brunt of their fierce disapproval.

  Nik entered the tent. “Prince Slade, she left.”

  “What?”

  Nik pulled him outside. “We need to talk.”

  The crowd still in shock turned into a din of murmurs of disapprovals and growls.

  Slade’s heart drummed. “Where is she?”

  “Look about the cake and the eating?

  “What the fuck? Just tell me where she is.”

  “Cricket saw you kissing the princess and then she took off. In wolf form. Up that trail.”

  “Willa kissed me, and I told her to stop.”

  “I don’t think Cricket saw the stopping part.” Nik smirked.

  Mia interrupted them. “We need to find her. Shall I round up a team?”

  Lunara approached. “No. Slade goes alone.” She smiled at Slade. “What are you waiting for? Go find your mate.”

  Their shaman was on their side. A good omen. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Slade stripped and immediately caught her scent. She headed up to Mt. Rainier, then suddenly turned and headed back toward the road. To Mia’s cottage. Good. Safe of cliffs, bears and logs to get stuck in.

  Cricket paused on the trail toward Mt. Rainier. Her wolf wanted to reach a high mountain peak and howl in sorrow, but she looked back at the distant town lights. Her human side longed for the warmth and comfort of Mia’s cottage. No point in having a pity party while freezing her ass off. Besides, Mia always kept ice cream in the refrigerator. Her wolf licked her chops and wagged her tail.

  As she trotted toward fire road that led to Mia’s cottage, a sudden chill coursed through her. She lifted her nose. Deer, raccoons and other normal critters. Nothing unusual traveled the dense woods near her.

  Cricket twisted around. She was alone. Even the two beta guards who patrolled the area were at the banquet. No one had followed her from Dominic’s estate. She would have smelled them. Only Nik saw her leave. Had he told Mia? Knowing her best bud, she’d be looking to comfort her, unless, her bossy alpha husband kept her by his side on a tight leash.

  Her heart quickened, and her hackles rose. Someone watched her. She stalked closer to the cottage.

  At least Mia’s neighbor had moved. Nervous about having another human around, Dominic offered a cool million dollars to buy her place. She took the offer and moved closer to her relatives.

  Leaves crunched behind her, and she whirled around.

  A big gray wolf with a missing ear snarled.

  Shit. “Henrik.”

  “My, my, what a lovely surprise. And two miles from the pack and not a pack member within howling range.”

  She glanced at his hind leg. “Good as new I see.”

  Henrik towered over her. “It took my hamstringed thigh four days to heal. So painful, all I thought about was how someday I would do the same to you. Before I kill you.”

  Cricket cowered away until she backed into a large tree. “How did you escape The Keep, or, are you with them?”

  Henrik tilted his head to the side. “I barely escaped The Keep.”

  She scanned for an escape route. “Did any others escape?”

  “Not one werewolf survived their assault on Wolf’s Lair.”

  “No thanks to Wolfstrom and you for screwing it up for the rest of us.”

  “I tracked you to Dominic’s estate, but when I caught your scent at the cottage, I knew if I waited you might eventually return.”

  “Tracked?”

  “While you recovered from the virus, I placed a microchip in the back of your neck. An updated improvement over pet chips. Odorless, of course.”

  “And Slade.”

  “Yes, Slade too. Like you, he won’t know what hit him.” He growled. “You, on the other hand, will die slowly.”

  Cricket bolted into a cavern opening, only big enough for her. She shifted to human form to search for something she could use as a weapon.

  Henrik snapped his jaws into the opening inches from her.

  She grabbed a stone and slammed it against his nose.

  He yelped, backed away and then shifted into his large hybrid form. He raked his claws across the opening. “Get out, bitch!” He picked up a big boulder.

  Shit. Entomb her or cause the space to collapse. Her heart quickened. She shifted back to wolf form and whimpered.

  Cricket huddled against the far wall. One minute…two…what was taking so long? She braved a peek out. Henrik, his back to her, perked his ear and sniffed the air before he dashed away.

  Odd.

  She growled. Coward.

  Slade’s scent suddenly filtered into her crawl space.

  His big white wolf nose poked in. “Abella, are you hurt?”

  She crawled out, her tail wagging with a mind of its own. “Can’t keep your paws off me, huh? Mated or not.”

  Slade licked her cheeks and then gazed at her. “Mated.”

  “Which one?”

  “You, my runaway naughty little wolf.”

  “Me?” Holy shit. I better not wake up and find out this is a cruel dream.

  “I…” He gazed toward the road and sniffed. “The fucker hid his scent.”

  “Yes, go get him, cowboy!”

  “Don’t move. I mean it!”

  He chased after Henrik.

  Cricket’s nostrils flared. Wait? My ass! She ran after them. Had Henrik hidden a car for a quick escape? A car door opening followed by the gunning of a powerful engine answered that question.

  Shit, he’s getting away.

  The sound of wheels skidding and a car slamming against something solid galvanized her fears. Had he slammed into Slade? Her mate.

  She skidded onto the scene. A headless man's body hung through a smashed windshield. Henrik. Slade in hybrid wolf form picked up the head and smashed it against a tree. Lost in his personal vengeance.

  Gross. Cricket shifted to human form. “Slade, calm down.”

  He snarled, dropped the pulverized head, shifted to human form and turned. “Abella?”

  “Yes.”
She ran and flung herself on him. Mine. He picked her up and lifted her above him. She smiled down.

  Slade set her down and gently kissed her lips. “My mate.”

  Cricket batted back tears. “The king can banish you…take your territory away. You stand to lose everything to be mine.”

  He swept a teardrop from her cheek. “You are everything.”

  Her heart stilled. “Seriously?” This better not be the part where I wake up from the best dream ever.

  He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Abella, seriously. Since the moment, you walked into my cage while I suffered from grief. My wolf knew all along.”

  “Oh, Slade.” She reached up and grasped his face, then ravished him with a deep passionate soul-enriching kiss. He groaned and kissed her with equal fervor.

  Epilogue

  Cricket gazed out Dominic’s cabin on his secluded personal island. Slade had won the getaway on Hemlock Island by donating the most money, but instead of a week getaway it had turned into a month. Free. No worries. Far from Slade’s Yukon home, which in the end he may lose because of her. A bittersweet consequence of him mating a runt. Rylee had given them an extended leave of absence. Temporary banishment until the royal council decided their fate.

  Slade hugged her from behind and tickled her neck with his warm breath. “You’re not suffering from cabin fever?”

  Cricket shuddered against his muscular chest, then took his massive hands and held them. “Certainly not. Do you miss adventures?” Miss being respected and not the brunt of jokes?

  “Are you kidding me? No way. Keeping you safe is adventurous enough.”

  “Excuse me, who sent the coordinates and found out The Keep brought back werewolf hunting?”

  Slade laughed and gently bit her earlobe, inspiring her clit, again. “Yes, my Abella, you saved humans and our kind, but I’m the one who protected your ass so you could.”

  She turned and grinned. “True.”

  “By the way, Rylee just texted me. She’s on her way.”

  Cricket’s smile vanished, and she rocked slightly. The decision. Banishment. Never being around other pack members. They’d still have to abide by lycan law, but their only werewolf contact would be the warden. Even Mia would be out of bounds. Really sucks. “The hearing?”

  “Yes, the royal council reached a verdict.”

  “Oh, it must be bad if she needs to tell us in person.”

  “Not necessarily, she said she wanted to see you.”

  “For the last time.”

  Slade lifted her chin. “Don’t worry, love. I doubt Rylee will agree to that.”

  The wop, wop of an approaching helicopter made her stomach flutter in anticipation of the verdict.

  “Slade, it’s Rylee.” Cricket dashed for the door.

  Slade grabbed her before she opened it. “Wait.”

  “What?”

  “I have to make sure it is her and not The Keep.”

  The helicopter with the Team Greywolf logo landed in the field. Dominic's hideaway was unknown. Nonetheless, Slade was still paranoid. Their capture or death would be a major coup for The Keep. Fortunately, it was Rylee.

  Her beta leapt out and opened her door. Rylee wore a hooded faux furred jacket and white pants and sauntered toward their cottage. As always, she looked tall and regal.

  Slade let her in, sniffed twice and bowed. “Welcome.”

  Rylee pushed back her hood, sniffed in both their directions and smiled. “The pleasure is mine. I came directly from the hearing.”

  “Well, what’s the outcome?” Cricket remembered her manners and gave her a wolfish grin. “Ma’am.”

  “Good news, mostly.”

  “Meaning?” asked Slade, his tone guarded.

  “The royal council made their decision. Banishment until the next full moon, then reinstatement into pack society. And then you may return to Team Greywolf.”

  Cricket sighed. “The next full moon is in four days.” She glanced at Rylee’s drawn face. Save the champagne. “But there’s bad news.”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Slade reached for Cricket’s hand and held it by his heart. No matter the outcome, only their love mattered. “My territory?”

  “No worries. Your territory and all assets return to you once banishment is lifted. Jesper kept all your finances straight for you as well.” She smirked. “He says you made some gains, he will share the data when you return.”

  Cricket furrowed her brow. “Okay, so what’s the bad news?”

  “This crap doesn’t matter to me. You know how I feel about royal titles. Even Lunara championed your case, explaining you are spirit soul mates, but they refused to listen.” She drew in a breath and slowly released it. “You are no longer a lycan prince, unless, you take a primary alpha mate.”

  “What about Cricket?”

  “They decided you can keep her as a secondary mate or mistress, as long as you find an alpha mate within a year. The alpha she-wolf’s pups would be your legitimate heirs and given the royal title passed on by your parents.”

  Cricket’s heart sunk. “Just like my mother, my pups would be considered bastards, with no claim to territory or title.” Worse, the alpha female would make her and their pups’ life miserable knowing Slade favored her.

  “Sorry.” Rylee met Slade’s eyes. “Your decision.”

  Her father had chosen an alpha mate over losing his status, but kept her omega mother. As much as her soul hurt, she had to let Slade go. “If you love me, don’t ask me to stay and watch your other pups rule over mine. My family has been there done that.”

  Rylee growled. “If you choose another, she is welcome to join my pack.”

  Slade snapped, all alpha bossy toned. “No, you’re mine.” By alpha right, he could force her to stay, like her father had her mother. He lifted her chin, and his tone softened.

  “Not when it comes to my pups being low on the totem pole.”

  Slade lifted her chin and stared at her with his verdant green penetrating eyes. “Abella, don’t you trust me? I won’t let you lose your family’s, our family’s, royal status.”

  “Yes, but I know, eventually, she would manipulate you to favor her children.”

  “Trust in our love. There will be no other primary mate. Only you.”

  “But you must remain a prince of the realm.”

  “Nonsense, I don’t care about titles and outdated customs. The only prince I wish to be is yours and only yours. The only litter I will love as a father will be ours.”

  “But what if someday you have regrets?”

  “Never and that is a promise.”

  “Oh? But what if you…”

  “If Lunara, our wolf shaman says we’re soul mates, how can you doubt me?”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I doubted you.”

  Rylee cleared her throat. “Good. Can we move on? First off, when you return, we’re meeting about changes in our protocol while working with humans.”

  Cricket wiped her tears. “Sounds good.”

  “Secondly, Lev is well enough to join our next meeting. He promises to convince Nik to join Team Greywolf.”

  Cricket snickered. “I’m sure Lev, aka Chernobyl werewolf, will feel more at home having a Russian comrade to work with.”

  Rylee laughed. “He certainly will.”

  Slade lifted a brow. “No more news from The Keep?”

  “No. Maybe they considered us allies since we destroyed Wolfstrom’s lab facility, at least for the short term.”

  Slade put a protective arm around Cricket’s shoulders. “I doubt The Keep leader Alistair Kraig will ever forget werewolves killed his son.”

  “Alistair has two other sons and a college age daughter. I doubt he’ll risk any more of his children by pissing us off.”

  Rylee’s mobile buzzed again, and she smiled. “Dinner date with Carson.” She winked. “Duty calls.”

  In less than five minutes, Rylee’s helicopter left.

  Slade lit a log in the f
ireplace, sat and then patted the sofa. “Come.”

  Cricket flung off her top, slithered out of her blue jeans and pushed him back. “Yes, alpha master, but first, lie back.”

  Slade gaped at her breasts.

  “Have I mentioned how much I miss riding my mare?” She unzipped his jeans and climbed on top of him.

  Sneak Peek

  (Next in the series look)

  Chernobyl Werewolf, Book 2

  Team Greywolf Series

  By Eva Gordon

  Chapter 1

  Lev parked his rented SUV in front Dr. Howard Becker’s log cabin in Portland situated on forest land with a view of Mt. Hood. A property the doctor normally leased out and never lived in. Why had he suddenly taken a leave of absence? It had been months since anyone had seen Becker, who, as Head of Luponomics, and Lycan Surgery, rarely left werewolf territory. Lev’s new boss, head of the LIA and Team Greywolf, Rylee, knew why, but she hadn’t shared. She’d only said his leave was personal and confidential. Selene, his assistant and lover had to know, but she too remained tight-lipped.

  Becker’s reason for leaving must have been grave. Whatever the reason, he was here to help. Lev owed him. The brilliant doctor had not only saved his life, but also made it possible for him to walk again. Dr. Becker’s brilliant surgery and use of stem cells repaired his shattered spine. Not only could he run as fast as an alpha werewolf, but he’d returned Lev to his original state of being faster, stronger, better. Lev had been born a mutant werewolf as a result of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, and his mutations made him physically superior. Werewolves considered him a freak, and referred to him as Chernobyl werewolf. All feared him. As they should, a weapon of mass destruction. Despite his reputation as the most dangerous werewolf to ever exist, Becker had become Lev’s savior and friend.

  In gratitude, Lev brought Becker a gift he’d picked up in Moscow. He also needed reassurance he’d not taken ill. Though if he was sick, why had his beta lover Selene not accompanied him? Divorced from his human wife, Becker was estranged from his only child, a daughter who was also a doctor. A daughter he’d hadn’t seen in years and who vowed she would never ever see him again. Foolish of the father and foolish of his daughter. Like Lev, the doctor’s parents had died long ago, and he had no siblings. No family to speak of.