by Martha Woods
Skylar’s lower lip quivered. Yeah, her father was an asshole and she was always the fool who tried to help him no matter the cost to herself. She leaned back and fell silent.
“What the hell is that?”
Her head swung to the driver who was peering through the windshield.
“What?” The man in the passenger seat asked. He leaned forward. “Maybe it’s a deer or something.”
“That’s one big deer,” the driver nodded and kept driving. Second later, he swore and the van swerved to the right. “It’s a wolf!”
Skylar sat up. A wolf? Liam! The van tilted sideways as something hit into it. There were shouts of expletives from her kidnappers as the front of the vehicle was pushed downward, sending the back into the air. The van slammed down, leaving her winded. There was a brief period of silence and then the terrified screams filled the air as the doors were ripped open.
Skylar gasped when the two men up front were pulled from the vehicle. She squeezed her eyes shut when she heard the sound of rumbling growls, followed by the sound of bones crunching. Her eyes were still closed when she felt cold air hit her. An eye popped open to see that the back door had been flung open and a gigantic wolf looked around hungrily.
The wolf’s eyes landed on her and she murmured, “We meet again.”
It was the same brown and white wolf that had watched over her in the woods. It grunted and aimed for the man sitting closest to the door. Its teeth clamped around his leg and pulled him outside while the other man reached for his gun. Skylar forced herself to her feet when he stood at the entrance and aimed the weapon at the wolf.
“No!” She slammed into him, sending them both tumbling out of the van. He growled and jumped to his feet.
“You stupid bitch, that thing is going to kill us!” He pointed the gun at her and her eyes widened.
Before he could pull the trigger, the second wolf pounced on him. Skylar watched on in horror as the man was ripped apart like a rag doll and discarded. “Oh, my God,” she breathed.
The gray wolf turned to her and she experienced a moment of fear until its eyes changed from the feral yellow to a familiar emerald green. “Liam?”
He hung his head as she looked from the mangled body of one of her captors to him. Struggling to her feet with her hands still tied behind her back, she tentatively approached him and pressed her face into the fur of his neck and he sighed. She turned when she felt the rope on her hands being tugged.
Skylar gasped and turned her face away. “Oh my God, you’re naked, and you must be Michael.”
He laughed. “Well, we can’t shift back fully dressed and it’s nice to see you again, Skylar. Don’t be shy. We’ve already been to second base,” he drawled.
“Yes, I remember you licking my face,” Skylar responded with a grin. She already liked Liam’s younger brother.
A growl rumbled in Liam’s chest and Michael held up both hands in the air as Skylar rubbed her freed hands, eyeing her bandaged wrist with concern. “Relax, bro, I was joking.” He shifted back, all the while wearing a mischievous grin.
Liam lowered himself and nodded to Skylar. “What? No way. I don’t even know how to ride a horse.” And he wanted her to jump on his back? Not going to happen. Liam huffed and nudged her with his nozzle. “Alright, alright,” she grumbled hoisting herself on to his back. Her arms barely made it all the way around his neck. Her shriek echoed as he took off.
It didn’t take long to reach Liam’s cabin, which amazed her because driving at the normal speed limit it would have taken about two hours. They had whipped through the forest at supernatural speed. When she was back on her feet outside his house, she swayed. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Let’s get you inside then.”
She turned and immediately blushed, seeing Liam’s muscular naked form. “W-where’s your brother?”
“He broke off and headed back home.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t stop her gaze from running over him appreciatively. Bringing her eyes back upward, she frowned. His face was a storm of emotions and his eyes blazed with fury and… hurt? Shit. “Look, Liam-”
He took her by surprise when he pulled her roughly against him and planted a hard, heated kiss on her mouth. His eyes ran over her face, and through clenched teeth he said, “Let’s just go inside,” and then walked off.
Skylar hung her head and sighed.
Not long after receiving an angry lecture in a mixture of English and French - most of which she didn’t understand - from Farah, she was showered and sitting on her bed. Wiping tears from her eyes, she reflected on how foolish she had been not going to the police or telling Liam about her situation. Instead, she had done the one thing she told Liam she wouldn’t do‒ she left him. Imagining the pain she must have caused him, she cried harder. He hadn’t even looked at her since they got back with the exception of the angry kiss outside.
“Sky.”
She whipped around at the sound of Liam’s voice. “Liam. How long have you been standing there?” she asked, dashing away her tears.
He was leaned against the door, watching her. “Long enough.”
“Has Farah calmed down yet?”
“I think so. She was angry that you left without a word. I think she was also hurt.”
Her gaze met his. “Like you?”
Liam wiped a hand over his face. “I’m beyond hurt, Sky.”
Standing up, she walked to the window to stare outside. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “You have no idea how sorry I am, Liam. But I was terrified when I realized I had put you and Farah in danger. I was trying to protect you.”
Strong hands landed on her shoulders. “It’s time you tell me what’s going on.”
She turned to him. “Yes, it’s full time. Well, here goes. Remember I told you it was only my mom and I for a while? That was because my dad has always been a gambler, a cheat, and an alcoholic. His less than perfect behavior would land him in hot water and we would get dragged into things, so my mom left him. Months ago, I realized that I was being followed by these strange men and I knew I was in danger. I just didn’t know what kind. I managed to evade them for weeks and that was a part of the reason I applied for your offered job all the way up here.” She frowned. “It was like the ad appeared out of nowhere and I was compelled to apply.” She shook her head and Liam looked away.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing. Continue.”
“I found out from my father that he owed someone money and he dragged me into the mess.” Her lips quivered. “I didn’t even have a job and I had my mom’s medical bills to take care of.”
Liam muttered a curse. “You’re father sounds like a piece of work.”
She sniffed. “Oh, he is. I thought he cared about me, but apparently he only cares about himself. Anyway, I thought I was safe here, but then I was contacted by the man my dad owes money to. Turns out he’s a mob boss. He had my father and threatened to kill him so of course I jumped in and agreed to pay what I could. My father was released and went into hiding but the mob boss kept demanding more and more. I got a call from my father two days ago and he said they knew where I was. I didn’t even think about covering my tracks each time I sent money. I’m such an idiot.”
Liam tilted her chin up. “No you’re not. You shouldn’t even have to worry about that kind of thing, Sky. Why didn’t you tell me this months ago?”
“I was ashamed. I didn’t want to tell you about my criminal minded father. What if you thought I was like him or something? I mean, I already lied on my job application.”
“For God’s sake Sky, that wouldn’t even have crossed my mind.”
“And I didn’t want you think I was giving you my sob story because I wanted money from you.”
He sighed. “There would have been nothing wrong with me giving you money.”
“My father owes twenty thousand dollars, probably more. There is no way I would accept that from you.”
“Even now?”
“Even now, Liam. I still have my pride you know.”
“Twenty thousand dollars is nothing to me. I would pay anything to get you out of trouble.”
She let out a sob. “That’s sweet, but my father’s mess isn’t your concern.”
“But you are.”
She gazed up at him sadly. “I don’t want to involve you in this, Liam. Besides, the men that tried to take me are dead. What’s going to happen with that anyway? Won’t the police be involved? My car is still out there.”
“All of that is being taken care of.”
She frowned. “How?”
“Michael went home to get help. Your car will be back here by morning. As for the dead men, it will be set up to look like they ran off the road and were attacked by wild animals.”
Skylar gaped. “Oh, God. Do you do things like that often?”
With a shrug, he turned away from her and walked to her bed. “We have to cover our tracks from time to time. I’m sorry you had to see me kill a man.” He sounded guilty, ashamed.
“You saved my life, Liam.” She went to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You did what you had to do.”
He tensed. “I didn’t have to kill anyone. I could have easily gotten you back without spilling any blood but I was in a rage. I suppose it’s my nature to be a killer. What can I say? I’m a monster.”
“Have you ever hurt anyone for sport?” she asked.
“No. I don’t even hunt humans like many of my kind. I stick to animals.”
“Then you’re no monster.”
He rested his chin on her head and chuckled. “You’re a bit biased.”
She laughed into his chest. “Are you still angry? I only left to protect you, Liam.”
Liam swallowed. “I don’t believe anyone had ever protected me before. Tell you what, no secrets from now on. You have to trust me enough to know you can tell me anything.”
“I do trust you and I promise.”
His arms wrapped around her and she sighed, immensely relieved. “Can we just lay down? Almost being kidnapped really wore me out.”
He squeezed her tighter and nodded. Lifting her into his arms, he marched to the door. “My bed is bigger.”
Chapter 16
Liam trailed a finger down Skylar’s cheek and she snuggled closer to him. He had been watching her sleep for quite a while. He leaned down to kiss her. “Sky, wake up.”
She moaned. “Five more minutes.”
“Aren’t you afraid you’re going to be late to start working?”
“I quit, remember?” she mumbled.
“I don’t remember accepting that resignation, but since you’re sleeping with your boss, you can have the day off.”
She swatted his arm and opened her eyes. “Good morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning.” He looked into her eyes, captivated by the electric blue orbs. “Sorry to wake you but there’s something I have to speak with you about. We agreed that there would be no more secrets between us so I want to get this out.”
His serious expression brought her fully awake and she sat up, eyeing him with concern. “Okay, go ahead.”
“I never told you much about my family, except that my mother is dying and one of my brothers hates me. The reason I came back to Boulder Junction was because of my mother. She wanted to see her family together before she dies.”
She reached out a hand to place over his. “Liam, I’m so sorry.”
“No, its fine. I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll be losing her soon. The problem is the family doesn’t do so well together. My father is a dick who treats my mother abominably. She was half human with the shifter gene so she was able to be turned fully. It’s because she wasn’t born a full shifter why her body is so affected by a human illness. Anyway, my father sees humans as weak, inferior organisms. I still don’t know why he chose her if he detested her human half. He doesn’t treat his children any better either. I made my escape from pack life when I was eighteen. I wanted to be my own man instead of being trapped under my father’s iron fist. Some of the rules of the pack are completely ridiculous. There’s also the fact that I was next in line to be alpha of the pack. As my father’s oldest, I still am.”
Skylar shook her head. “Is that a great honor?”
He laughed. “Not to me. I never wanted the title. I mean, if I don’t agree with certain things about pack life, why would I want to be in charge?”
She shrugged. “So you can bring change.”
Liam’s brows knitted as he looked at her. He’d never thought of that before. What if he became alpha and changed things as Skylar said? Running his fingers through his hair, he smiled slightly. “That’s a hell of a point Sky, but if I become alpha, I won’t be able to be with you and I will not give you up.”
Her eyes widened. “O-oh. Well, that complicates matters doesn’t it?” Glancing at him from beneath her lashes, she said, “If you become alpha it would make your mom happy.” He nodded. “And that was why you came home in the first place, to consider it.” He nodded again. “You were conflicted before but now you’re even more conflicted since I came into the picture.”
He nodded and laughed. “I love how you just get everything and I don’t have to do much talking.”
“Take your mother and me out of the picture, Liam. Do what will make you happy.”
“Being with you and free of the pack makes me happy.”
“Then tell her.”
Skylar brought herself to her knees to lace her fingers through his hair. She kissed him and hopped off the bed. “Maybe you can talk to her today.”
“Come with me.”
She smiled. “Okay.”
Liam’s hand squeezed Skylar’s as they walked toward his childhood home. “You can wait in the car, Sky.” Maybe it wasn’t the best idea for him to bring a human among a pack of wolves but he knew her presence would give him the courage he needed to confront his mother and possibly his father and the entire pack. He was about to refuse becoming alpha.
“I want to come with you. I would really love to meet your mother.”
“Alright, just stay by my side.”
“For moral support?” She asked smiling up at him.
“No, so you don’t get eaten.” She blanched and he grinned. “I’m kidding. No one would dare touch you.” There was feral gleam in his eyes as he added, “You’re mine.”
They stepped into the clearing and immediately, men and women stepped out to study them. “Everyone relax, it’s Liam!” Someone shouted.
“And a human,” another added.
“You were right. I should have stayed in the car,” Skylar whispered nervously.
“You’ll be fine.” Liam nodded to them and continued to his parent’s cabin.
Skylar inspected her surroundings. “Wow, I had no idea there was an entire community out here in the woods. Does everyone in town know?”
“Of course. We go into town from time to time to keep up appearances. Everyone thinks we’re an overly religious cult that choose to live in the woods.” He grinned. “If they only knew.”
He indicated for her to step inside. “This is where I grew up.”
She looked around. “Where are all the pictures? I want to see how adorable you were as a boy.”
“No pictures, baby. I didn’t have a normal upbringing.” Instead of taking pictures and playing football or whatever normal children did, he had been learning how to hunt. And his mother didn’t dare bring a camera into the house for fear of her husband’s wrath. He wanted nothing to do with the human way of life.
Her shoulders fell. “Oh.”
“Don’t worry. Things won’t be that way when we have children.”
Her eyes turned to small saucers and he smirked. “Wait, what?”
“Mom?” he called, deliberately leaving her to wonder.
“Liam? I’m in here,” came a thin voice from another room.
Liam stuck his head into his parent’s bedroom. As always,
the sight of his mother sent grief spiral through him. She was sitting up in bed, smiling; her brown eyes bright with happiness. “Honey, I’m so glad you stopped by.” Her eyes jumped to Skylar standing behind him. “And you brought company.” She smoothed her hair. “Oh, now I can imagine how terrible I look.”
Skylar peeked around his shoulders and smiled. “You look beautiful. I’m Skylar.” She looked up at Liam and he nodded. Skylar approached his mother with her hand outstretched. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Conway.”
“Call me Leah, dear.” She looked up at Skylar and then at Liam. “She’s lovely, Liam. Such a beautiful spirit… I can tell.”
Skylar blushed. “Thank you, Leah. Um, I should leave you two to talk. Maybe we can chat later?”
“I would love that,” Leah answered. Skylar went back to Liam. “I’ll wait in the living room.”
He planted a quick kiss on her lips. “Don’t go any further.” She nodded and left.
Liam turned to his mother and mustered up a smile, while he pulled a chair closer to her. “Hi, Mom.”
She placed a hand on his cheek. “My boy,” she said lovingly. “She knows about us?”
“She does.”
“Your father won’t be happy.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I don’t care about his happiness, isn’t it?”
Leah sighed, her eyes turning sad. “I like her. I can tell you’re in love.”
Liam rarely blushed but color seeped into his cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”
Leah chuckled and nodded. “Your father isn’t here. Maybe you should take Skylar and leave before he gets back.” She frowned. “I don’t know where he is. He’s hasn’t been home since last night.”
Liam’s jaw clenched. Of course Isaac would leave his dying wife for an entire night without a care. “I’m not going anywhere. Where’s Lucas?” Leah frowned and he reassured her. “I’m not here to fight anyone, Mom.”
“I’m not sure where he is either. After his run in with the hunter, he’s been staying to himself.”
“And Michael?”