by Anya Byrne
Blind Hearts and Silenced Passion
Alpha Gathering 2
Copyright 2015 Anya Byrne
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
All Romance Edition August 2015
All Romance Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please forward them a link to buy their own copy, or use the gift function available on your All Romance account. Thank you for respecting the hard work and livelihood of this author.
This book is a work of fiction, not to be confused with fact, advice or suggestion. The characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is purely coincidental. Cover art is for illustration purposes only.
Blurb:
Baqir is a silencer. He has sacrificed more than he'd have liked for the safety of his brother, the one person he has left in the world. Now, he has to face a conspiracy that has shaken his entire way of life. People are inexplicably dying all around him, and he is helpless to stop it.
And then, his path crosses that of Remy Fitzroy. Remy is beautiful, stubborn and determined to help solve the mystery. He is also fragile, vulnerable, and at the same time, stronger than any person Baqir has ever met.
Baqir doesn't deserve him—doesn't deserve his own mate.
The best course of action seems simple—leave and give Remy the chance to find a different love, one who can offer him the life Baqir never can. But Baqir isn't just an assassin anymore. He cannot silence his emotions.
Can the unlikely couple find their way out of the labyrinth of secrets and uncertainties? What answers will they find at the end of their shared path?
Warning: Gay erotic romance. The material in this document contains explicit sexual content that is intended for mature audiences only. All characters involved are adults capable of consent, are over the age of twenty-one, and are willing participants.
38,183 words
Table of Contents
Blind Hearts and Silenced Passion
About the Author
Other titles by Anya Byrne
Blind Hearts and Silenced Passion
Alpha Gathering 2
Anya Byrne
Copyright 2015
Prologue
Baqir slid through the greenery, a shadow taking refuge in the well-known forest, carefully staying downwind to avoid detection. He was supposed to be hunting, to get food for both himself and his injured little brother, but something had called him back. He didn't know why and what told him his family was in danger, but the sense of it was there, pulsing through his blood, stronger than even his survival instincts.
He and his small family had been taking refuge in a cave that had once belonged to a bear. While quite large, it wasn't noticeable unless you knew how to look for it, and the scent of its previous inhabitants masked their werewolf one. But their refuge could not protect them when they were out hunting.
Baqir never reached the cave. Halfway there, he came to a halt, frozen at the sight of what was going on in the nearby clearing.
The smell of blood filled the air, coppery and sickening, making Baqir's stomach roil. It should have been impossible—he was a predator and quite familiar with it, with death, gore, with fighting for survival. He'd been raised in the knowledge that every day was a danger, and every second could be his last one.
That didn't mean he'd been ready for this, not in the slightest. He was not ready for the realization that he was too late, that his worst fears had come to pass and the one person who'd been with him his entire life was dead.
His mother lay in a pool of her own blood, her body still and motionless as the rigor of death settled in. She was still in wolf form, and there were several other corpses around her. She had tried to make a stand, to at least take out as many of her opponents as possible. In the end, it had been useless, and now, her fight—like her life—was drained out of her.
For all her efforts, there were many other people filling the clearing. A tall dark-skinned man crouched by her side and caressed her fur with an expression that was almost melancholic.
"What a pity that it came to this, Aminah. We could have been great together."
Something angry and ugly stirred inside Baqir's chest. He didn't have to be a genius to realize the identity of the killer.
His mother had always been honest with them and had told them their father had been a silencer. She had never outright said the word 'rape', but both Baqir and Erdi had heard it, and they'd known they hadn't been wanted children. They had known that many times in the past, their mother had considered ending them—just like she had considered ending herself.
But she hadn't, and she'd protected them and kept them safe, in her own way. She'd also warned Baqir that there would likely come a time when her efforts would not be enough. That day, she had said, she would not allow herself to be taken again. She would rather die first, even if in some respects, it was selfish.
When this happened, it would be up to Baqir to protect his little brother. By werewolf standards, Erdi was still young. He'd been hardened by their lifestyle, yes, but he was nowhere near as aware of their situation as Baqir.
He was also still injured, having been almost gutted by a huge elk just the day before. It hadn't been his fault—he'd actually been trying to protect Baqir at the time—but they simply hadn't been prepared for their new environment when they'd come here in a final desperate attempt to escape their pursuers.
But Baqir couldn't dwell on his regrets. He had his brother to think about. Maybe, just maybe, he could still salvage something out of this disaster.
His thoughts came to a grinding halt when the killer got up and looked around at his men. "Spread out. She has the children stashed around here somewhere. I want them brought to me, as soon as possible."
In that moment, several possibilities extended in front of Baqir. He could run. He could somehow find his way back to the cave and try to make his escape with his brother. No, even with the labyrinthine nature of their refuge, that would never work. Erdi was in no condition to travel. He needed at least one more day to heal and rest, plus a good meal, which they hadn't eaten in a long time. They would be caught.
Baqir could also run by himself. He was confident that he could elude them, and that perhaps, he'd be more successful on his own than with his mother. As much as he had cared about her, he'd long ago admitted to himself that she was too recognizable for them to ever be safe. Their father's obsession had mostly been fixed on her, so there was a good chance that he might not pursue Baqir with the same determination.
He did neither of these things. Instead, he shifted into his human form and stepped into the clearing, straightening his back and not flinching in the slightest as the men turned silver weapons on him. "You don't have to look for me," he said. "I'm right here."
His father had the gall to look surprised. "Well, this is interesting. I expected you to try to escape me."
Baqir arched a brow and gave the man a cool look, pushing his fury to the back of his mind. "And why would I? My legacy is with you, isn't it?"
"And yet, you've stayed with your mother all this time."
Baqir shrugged. "She served her purpose. I was a child, and I couldn't exactly become what I was meant to be without her."
"I suppose you might be right," his father mused. "I don't have time to babysit pups." His lips twisted into a smirk. "But you aren't a pup, are you? In fact, you remind me of myself when I was your age."
Baqir tasted bile, since the last thing he wanted wa
s to be anything like this man. But he knew that he had no other choice, not if he wanted to survive and to keep Erdi safe. "I can't say that's exactly surprising, now is it?"
"Indeed not," the silencer said. "What's your name, pup?"
"Baqir," he replied without missing a beat.
"Baqir." His father said the word as if tasting it on his tongue. "I like it. It's a strong name. Tell me, Baqir, where's your brother?"
"Dead," Baqir answered. "He was badly injured in a fight with a herd of elks. He didn't make it."
Baqir didn't know if the man believed him, but he seemed happy enough to accept the answer. "That's a pity, but ah well. I think we've accomplished quite enough today." He wrapped an arm around Baqir's shoulders and grinned. "Let's go now, pup. The others will clean things up here while we get to know one another."
Baqir let his father lead him away, mentally praying that the silencer would not find his injured brother. He reminded himself that he needed to accept the proximity of his mother's killer, at least for now, and pretend that he wanted to be here, even if his wolf roared at him to tear the man's throat out.
All in good time. He would watch and wait, and strike at the best moment, when his enemy didn't expect it. For the moment, he'd have to be careful between making sure Erdi survived, and so did his cover—but in the long run, it would be worth it.
After all, revenge was a dish best served cold, and when this man, when his mother's killer was dying at his feet, he wouldn't even know what hit him. Even if Baqir had to give up his sense of self, he would avenge his mother, and he'd keep his brother safe.
Chapter One
"So there's still no news?" Alpha Sasha Maximoff released an angry huff, and Argent rubbed his arm in an obvious show of affection. Some of the tension drained out of the Alpha's shoulders, although his gaze was just as dark and stormy. "How is that possible?"
Baqir studiously did not look at the Alpha's so very pregnant mate and instead focused on the man he'd come here to talk to. "They've received some pretty hard blows recently, but that doesn't mean anything."
Sasha let out a hard breath as if trying to brace himself for something hard and painful. "The people we came into contact with were just tools. They didn't mean anything for the bigger picture."
"Quite." Which was alarming, given the fact that the attacks had so far taken place in very different areas, and yet, seemed quite organized. The human conspirators always came out of nowhere and struck without warning—much like silencers really. Baqir had to admit that to a certain extent he was getting frustrated—or would have been, if not for his increasing concern. "All evidence points to a larger organization that coordinates this, and I believe I don't have to point out how bad that is."
"An organization that decided it was a good idea to kidnap the grandchild of the Sidhe queen." Alpha Maximoff smiled bitterly. "Yes, I'd say that's bad news."
"I have some leads, but... I won't be able to come in for some time now, while I investigate them," Baqir replied. He looked at Argent, then back at Sasha. "Be careful, Alpha. This place isn't safe, not for you, and definitely not for a pregnant mate or a new pup."
"We know, Baqir," Argent answered quietly but sternly. "Thank you for your concern."
The Alpha twitched, and Argent's hold on him tightened. Baqir suspected he'd accidentally hit a sore spot. He wouldn't be surprised if the Alpha had been trying to get his mate to take refuge with the Lone Wolf Pack. If he'd been the one blessed with a mate, it was what he'd have done.
Thankfully, the only person he had left—his brother—was safe, which allowed Baqir to track down the people who were after Erdi, and who had in a way, forced them apart. "As you will," he said. "If there's nothing else, perhaps we should end this meeting."
Argent laughed lightly. "I doubt we were followed. Sasha and I made it clear we were not to be disturbed."
That almost drew a smile out of Baqir. He was fond of Argent, since the man reminded him a little of a young Erdi. He supposed a small part of him was resentful that Argent had actually managed to live in a pack, unlike Baqir and Erdi—but that was not Argent's fault. Seeing the child of two silencers find happiness was both heartening and a bitter pill to swallow. Baqir wished the idea of putting Erdi up for adoption had occurred to him, instead the actual choice he'd made, to eventually include Erdi into the silencer guild he had controlled.
Either way, Baqir appreciated the fact that Alpha Maximoff had agreed to meet here, in the middle of nowhere. The cold Siberian wind might be biting sharply at their cheeks, but it would also bring the scent of any intruders.
"To be honest," he admitted, "this is largely why I came, to warn you. Don't trust anyone but your mate, Alpha. There's too much at stake here."
Sasha looked conflicted, but nodded. "And you? What will you do? Who can you trust?"
Baqir almost laughed. "I'm a silencer, Alpha. I don't need to trust people. I know exactly where I stand with them."
That was probably a little too optimistic—or rather, too bitter—but the Alpha didn't call him out on it. "You take care as well, Baqir. Should you need anything..."
"I know. Thank you."
With that brief goodbye, Baqir left the Alpha and his mate and headed back into the forest. He doubted he would call on them, for the exact reason why he'd come here to warn them. At first he'd planned to ask for some support from the Gathering, but after learning that the former Maximoff Alpha had been mysteriously killed under his own roof, he'd been uncomfortable with the idea of revealing too much of his findings. There were spies everywhere.
There was one thing Baqir had sworn would never happen. He'd sworn to never again be prey, to hunt down and take out those who'd threatened him and his brother. It might not be as easy as before now that his guild had disbanded, but he was also free to be Baqir again, without carrying the mantle of a Malik.
Not for the first time, he wondered how many of the people he'd been leading for years he'd have to kill by the time this was over. Some of them had still offered their support, but many others had disappeared, and Baqir hadn't been able or had the time to track them all down. Shaking his head, he made his way through the forest and almost wished he cared more.
For one lone instant, he wished for a time when two young wolves had run together in the shade of different trees, mindless of the peril haunting their steps. The thought vanished, buried at the back of his mind, and he hardened his heart again, once more in mission mode.
He had a job to do, and moon help him, he would do it—no matter what he had to sacrifice.
****
"You can't protect me forever, Laurent." Remy gestured wildly with the hand not holding a cellphone, drawing the suspicious eye of the old lady in the aisle across from him. He lowered his voice and took a deep breath, struggling to calm down. "I'm not a baby."
"I know that," Laurent said at the other side of the connection. "But can you blame me for trying to keep you safe?"
"You said you wanted me to look into this and you're blocking me every step of the way." Remy squeezed the phone so tightly its casing creaked. "Look, I can't do this right now. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Don't you dare hang—"
Remy pressed the "end call" icon with more satisfaction than such a simple gesture warranted. In truth, he missed the times when he could snap cellphones closed or slam receivers down. Sure, a lot of devices had been the victim of the arguments between him and Laurent, but it was far more satisfying than these flimsy touch screen things. Nonetheless, this would have to do. His brother could never get over the fact that Remy ranted and raved at him, completely disrespecting his authority as an Alpha, and as such managing to be among the few people not intimidated by one of the most powerful werewolves in France. Remy scoffed under his breath. He was trying so hard to track down the scattered remnants of Florent's silencer guild, and his brother was keeping him from his task. Furthermore, the only help and real lead he had, Blanchefleur, had decided to scamper off to do her own
investigating. This was not why he'd agreed to leave Russia and come back here.
With a huff, Remy skimmed the shelves and selected one of his favorite brands of tea. He liked this place because it catered to the more unusual crowd as well, and manufactured some blends that actually worked on werewolves too. That was no coincidence of course—the owner of the shop was a werewolf just like Remy and he knew exactly just what kind of products his people needed. Sometimes, in darker moments, Remy asked himself just how Reynard had come to know so much about how certain herbs affected werewolves, but he preferred to put it out of his mind. Reynard had been a good friend to him for years. No sense prodding into something that was none of his business.
He waited until they were alone in the shop, and then approached the counter with his purchase. Reynard arched a brow at him. "Sorry. Couldn't help but hear. Are you sure you don't want anything stronger?"
Remy laughed. "Maybe, but I shouldn't. I'm supposed to be doing something important."
Reynard hummed under his breath. "Fair enough, but I'll pack it in just in case." He wrapped up Remy's purchase together with an unmarked bag that made Remy snort.
"You know, one day you'll get into trouble for that."
It was Reynard's turn to laugh. "Oh, Remy, the day I'm afraid of a human drug bust is when I'll pack up my things, turn into a wolf and permanently move into the darkest forest I can find. But you and I both know that's not going to happen anytime soon."
"Yes, I know." Remy flicked Reynard's forehead. "No self-preservation at all."
He was only teasing—he actually knew Reynard was very careful and well known among the werewolves of Paris for the aid he gave the community. If anything ever did happen, Remy would make Laurent step in. But Remy very much doubted that would ever be necessary. The products that were illegal for human consumption were actually popular among werewolves, as Reynard was among the few people who could get one of them drunk without putting them at risk. He was safe, if only because of his popularity.