Graham Read online

  Instinctively, I knew she wanted answers and a foolproof plan, and I had nothing…yet. Flashing a confident smile, I got to my feet. “I do my best thinking while I run.”

  Olivia appeared to fight a smile. Her lips tipped upward, and her eyes sparkled with hope.

  “The fresh air will do you good.” I held out my hand.

  She glanced longingly at the backdoor. “It would be nice to let go for a while.”

  “Come.” I turned and walked to the door.

  She trailed behind me. “How far can we go?”

  “Far enough to forget your problems for a while,” I promised.

  On my patio, we changed and took off running, side by side, to the tree line.

  * * *

  We’d been out for several hours, covering miles, playing, and enjoying the night. Her wolf form was small but quick. The last year had been difficult for her. She didn’t have the endurance that came from running daily and covering miles.

  With a playful nip on her flank from time to time, I gently steered her back toward my house. My wolf wanted to take her on a soft bed of leaves. However, I held back. Part of me wanted to be sure that she accepted me as her mate, her partner in life. Our time in my bedroom had proven that we were sexually compatible, but I wanted more. I wanted what my parents had had. They’d shared love and had respected one another. They’d had a strong bond that had enabled them to face the world alone, apart from any Pack, and to defend each other.

  Olivia wasn’t big or strong, and it was clear that she had a nurturing temperament. My mother had been much the same until she’d found her mate, and then they’d had to fight for their love and survival.

  As we neared the property line, I again nipped her flank, and she twisted to snarl at me, communicating that she knew where we were. My wolf liked seeing a hint of her fire. We made plans to see how far we could push our mate before she bit.

  The moment we cleared the tree line, I sensed movement to our left. Two large males came at me.

  I barked at Olivia, “House.” I prayed to The Lady that she could understand my order. When I tried to speak in my wolf form, it felt like my tongue was too long to form words. She needed to get to safety. However, I couldn’t worry about her because I was in for a tough fight.

  The first wolf came at me head-on, and I went for his neck, ripping into flesh, crushing his windpipe, and yanking chunks of meat that connected his head to his body. I then tossed his headless body away from me. I would need room to take care of the other.

  Lycan alphas enjoyed a fight to prove physical dominance. Many preened and played with their opponents, seeking a greater thrill while showing who was stronger. Throughout my life, I had not encountered that type of fight. If I was attacked, then it meant they wanted me dead.

  I went straight for the kill. I was dominant, an alpha. I had nothing to prove. I only needed to protect Olivia.

  The other wolf wasted no time in leaping on my back and attempting to bite deeply into my shoulder, trying to weaken my left foreleg. Without the use of my front leg, I would be slowed, and therefore, vulnerable. He wanted to incapacitate me before going after Olivia. That wasn’t going to happen.

  Knowing I had only a split-second, I somersaulted and loosened his jaw’s hold. I followed him and used my claws and my teeth to decimate the attacker. We moved quickly, and our battle was violent, but I would be the victor. I clawed at his chest using my razor-like nails and ripped into his chest cavity, trying to get to his beating heart.

  I tore the muscle from his body and hurled it toward Olivia, who had not followed my order.

  She changed to her human form and began stomping on the organ, smashing it into the ground. When finished, she looked toward the house and then back to me, silently asking where she should go.

  I scanned the area, using my eyes, ears, and my nose. Where there were two, there could be more. I searched for another assassin.

  There… Something moved in the moonlight high in an oak tree.

  “Are you okay?” She was still in human form, approaching me cautiously and showing me her hands.

  “Run,” I growled. She needed to get to the house, to take cover. We were too exposed in the open yard.

  She turned and took two strides when I heard the first shot. Olivia took two more steps, and then another shot was fired, and she went down. Her arms began to pull her forward, her survival instinct ruling her body.

  I changed to my human form and ran to her. “Shift,” I shouted as I dropped to my knees beside her trying to cover her with my body.

  She turned her face toward my voice. “Wha…?” She was breathing in shallow pants.

  “Olivia, baby, please, please shift,” I urged. If she did not, I was going to lose my mate.

  I watched as her eyes focused, finding me, and she cried, “Graham?” Then her eyes closed again.

  I slid my arms under her, got to my knees, and then my feet, and ran to my backdoor. I raced into the kitchen and placed her on the table, knocking our plates and glasses to the floor. My hands ran over her body, mapping her wounds.

  “Goddammit, shift now.” I gave an extra push to my command. She would bleed out if she did not become wolf.

  I sensed her magic before her body began to change. It felt like electricity was in the air; goosebumps rose on the skin of my arms.

  Once she was in wolf form, her breathing became deep and rhythmic.

  “Thank you.” I then dropped onto the closest chair because my own legs had turned to noodles.

  I took in several deep breaths. I needed to calm down. There was another out there. I slowly walked to the small window over the sink that looked out upon the backyard. I saw no movement. I closed the blinds.

  I did the same thing again, moving room to room. I’d armed myself with a knife strapped to my thigh and a Glock at my back. The motion-activated lights in the yard might offer some warning if he attacked.

  An hour passed, and Olivia was asleep in the middle of my bed. She appeared to be comfortable. I could sense no pain.

  I rested my back against the doorway to the bedroom and slid to the floor. Waiting to see if anyone would come for us again.

  8

  Olivia Stern

  I woke slowly, which was odd for me. Typically, the second I became aware, I was up and ready to face the next crisis. However, this time, my body felt heavy, and my mouth was parched. It took three tries before I could open my heavy eyelids.

  “Olivia?” Graham was using a quiet voice. “Baby, are you all right?”

  “Water,” I croaked the word. Everything felt weird.

  “Be right back.”

  I rolled over, which seemed to take a great deal of effort, and reached for the side of the bed. I slowly sat up, and the room spun. I started to pitch toward the floor.

  “Whoa, hang on.” He grasped my upper arm to help balance me.

  “What’s wrong with me?” I blinked several times quickly as I tried to recall what had happened.

  “You almost died.” He sat beside me.

  “I did?” I searched my memory and came up with nothing. “What happened?”

  He opened the bottle of water for me before answering. “Sip,” he said, handing it to me.

  I didn’t have the energy to snap that; yes, I know the protocol. I was a nurse. I sipped.

  “We got back from our run, and at least three assassins were waiting for us. You were shot twice and almost bled out in the backyard.”

  I took a larger drink and thought about what he’d said. It felt like the truth as I searched my memory. “You…you fought them.” I turned to him as the memories returned. “Are you all right? There were two…” The scenes flashed before my eyes.

  “Except for having the shit scared out of me, I’m fine. I’ve been in worse fights.”

  He had? I stored that information away for a later time. I knew little about my mate and his life. “Where are we?” I didn’t recognize this room. It was smaller than the bedroom in his
home. This room was shabbier and much darker; the walls were covered with dark wood paneling.

  “One of my safe houses. When your wounds healed and I sensed nobody near, I packed our things and took off.”

  I finished the water. My brain felt slow. He kept safe houses?

  “You need to eat. That will help you regain strength.”

  I was feeling many things—confusion, fear, relief, and yes, the gnawing burn of hunger. “Thank you. I am in need of food.” I also needed a shower and a moment to think. “May I bathe before eating?”

  He pointed to the wall. “Next door. I’ll get you a towel.”

  Under the hot water, I tried to make sense of the last few days. Graham had invaded my life, just like he’d barged into my house. He was a force; smart, strong, and to me, caring. He’d been attacked twice and had managed to survive. He kept safe houses, plural, and now, I’d put him in more danger.

  I rested my forehead against the tile. Was this too much? Surely, he hadn’t expected to find that his mate had so many problems. A sob escaped my throat, and I quickly covered my mouth to help muffle the sound.

  My mate. As a girl, I’d imagined romantic meetings and had held silly notions about what would happen when we found each other. In a different world, I’d be working in a hospital, taking care of the injured and ill. I’d be living with my family, having few friends, and minding my own business. I would not be standing in a rust-stained shower stall in a rundown house, fearing another attack.

  I wiped the tears from my face and turned toward the shower spray. If I was still on Burke land in Texas, I wouldn’t have met Graham. An unaffiliated male wouldn’t be able to travel freely across the Pack’s land. He’d be considered a threat, and therefore, imprisoned, run off, or worse.

  I couldn’t picture Graham being easily waylaid by a bunch of bullies in a poor Texas town. I wanted to laugh. Out of all this trouble and the horrible nights I’d spent huddled in a corner out of fear, I’d found my mate.

  Now, I needed to figure out how to let him go. He had a life here. A career. I had only problems to bring into his world.

  I returned to the bedroom in my towel. My duffle bag sat on the freshly made bed. I dug out a clean T-shirt, yoga pants, and undies. When I shifted from wolf to human form, I would envision “clothes,” and the magic would make sure that I was covered, but those clothes were very basic. I liked my own things, and specifically, I liked my panties.

  After running my brush through my hair and pulling it back in a stubby ponytail, I put on thick socks and followed my nose down a narrow hall to a kitchen that looked as if it hadn’t been redecorated since the seventies.

  Graham was punching the buttons on a rounded pot. “Seven minutes.”

  On the counter sat a platter filled with what looked like meatballs and cheese sticks. “How do you have so much food?” I blurted. “I mean, do you keep a mountain of meatballs in all of your safe houses?” It had been a long time since I’d seen so much food.

  “Freezer and an air fryer.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Feel better?”

  “The shower helped.” The sluggishness had disappeared. I wished that I’d packed some make-up that would cover the purple shadows under my eyes. I would’ve tried to look more attractive.

  “Good. The food will make things better.” He turned back to the air fryer.

  I moved closer to him. I yearned for his touch. “What else do you have in there, babe?” The endearment felt natural as I leaned into his side.

  He smiled down at me. “A little of this and a little of that.”

  I gave him room to move, leaning my hip against the counter as I reached for a cheese stick, and then another, and a third. “Anything sounds good.” I was starving.

  We started with the meatball platter, which I ate the majority of while he cooked more meat. Next came a turkey breast that was so moist that if I wasn’t so busy shoveling it into my mouth, I would’ve complimented the chef.

  At last, I leaned back in my chair. Finally, my stomach was full. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a pig.” I placed the paper towel that I’d used as a napkin on top of my plate. “I thank you for preparing the meal.”

  “Olivia, I’m happy to cook for you and to see you eat. In fact, I’m just glad you’re still breathing.” He reached across the table and rested his hand on top of mine.

  “I was no help,” I said, dropping my gaze. “I’m not much of a fighter.”

  “I handled the two who attacked. The sniper…well, if I’d had the time, I would’ve found him.” Graham didn’t sound angry or disappointed.

  I lifted my head. “You saved my life.”

  “I could do nothing less.”

  “How did you learn to fight like that?”

  “My parents worked with me when I was younger, and then, being on my own…there have been a few scuffles over the years.”

  “I don’t think I can ever learn to do that.” This was what I feared, that I wouldn’t be able to provide back-up.

  “I’m sure you have other skills that will be of assistance.” He looked resigned as if he had accepted that I would be a burden.

  My stomach dropped, and suddenly I felt nauseous. He was working up the courage to ask to be released. My eyes filled with tears. “Just say what is on your mind.” I pulled my hand free. In my old Pack, a female had been released from her mating contract, and after, she’d been treated like a pariah. I clenched my hands into fists as I prepared to hear his decision.

  He drew a breath. “Tell me more about your life and how you came to be in this predicament. Give me details so that I can understand.”

  I needed to move. “Let me clear the table, and then…then I will tell you everything.”

  9

  Graham Vincent

  I didn’t need to use my nose to understand that Olivia was upset. Her mouth was pinched, and her eyes were wide with fear. Because of her strong emotions, I calmed my wolf. This was her past. We could do nothing to change it.

  She turned away from the sink and wiped her hands on a towel. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “After.” I didn’t want to put this off any longer.

  “Okay.” She trudged back to the table and took her seat. “My parents, and theirs before, were a part of the Burke Pack in west-Texas.”

  “I am not familiar with the name.”

  She let out a little sigh. “I’m not surprised. There’s not much to brag about.” She settled into her chair. “The Leader kept a tight hold on his people. Men held the best jobs, and women…well, they basically existed to serve the men.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. “Not very progressive,” he drawled.

  “I’m the second oldest of five. My mother never worked outside of the home, and my father…he was a baker. He sold his wares to the humans in the next town and the Pack. He wasn’t a fighter or a soldier.” She paused.

  “Lycans need to be fed, and we like our comforts and good food.”

  “Within the Pack, the ones willing to die to protect the Burkes made the most money and got the most respect.” Her tone was bitter.

  “Are you referring to the Burke family or the Pack?”

  “Their family. They used the Pack to support themselves.” She pulled a knee to her chest. “As a member of the Burke Pack, we turned over half of our income to the Pack.”

  I did the math. A family of seven, supported by one baker’s salary, would make things very rough.

  “I didn’t know there was any other way to exist until I left. I met a few of our kind along the way, others running away or running to. They shared what they knew about other established Packs. Areas to avoid, others that were unorganized and didn’t care if you were there.” She finished with a shrug.

  “And that’s how you ended up here.” I’d met no other Lycans in the area.

  “As you know, I’m not much of a fighter,” she said softly, “and I didn’t want to join with another to…to breed.” Her pretty face turned har
d, and her eyes flashed with anger. “Why would a Leader want to add more members to his Pack when the area can’t support those already there?”

  “Selfishness. Greed. Short-sightedness.” It had happened throughout history.

  She continued as if she hadn’t heard me, “I did well in school. There was a hospital in the city that was an hour’s drive, technically it was inside the Burkes’ territory. The hospital had a program where you could get your nursing degree while working. I had to ask the Packleader’s permission to apply for the program. I waited a year for it to be given.”

  “But you did it.” Olivia’s strength of will was different than mine but no less important.

  “Of course, with the ‘Burke tax’, I couldn’t afford to live near my work, so I commuted between work and home.”

  “That wasn’t much of a life.” She was young and pretty but had no time for friends or dates. Not that I minded the last part.

  “I had so much more than most in my Pack. During my shifts, I was able to meet people, humans and to learn new things. It was a different world than what I was used to.”

  “And then, at the end of the day, you had to go home to your father’s house and follow his rules.”

  “And the Burkes’ rules.” She dropped her foot onto the floor. “A few times, I lied and said that I had to work late. I went out to eat with co-workers, and once, I went to a party. It was nice to…to be on my own.”

  “But then you felt guilty for enjoying the forbidden.”

  She shrugged. “Sometimes, when I look back, I wonder if I could’ve continued living like that.” She met my gaze. “I was a dutiful daughter, but I felt suffocated. I would look at my mother and think, I can’t live her life. She’d never left Burkes’ land and didn’t want to. I think she was afraid to. She was satisfied to stay home to clean and cook.”

  “You needed more.”

  She frowned. “I had no idea how much I didn’t know about life and the world outside our Pack.”