Being Alpha wasn’t something he had been raised to do and the eighteen hour days felt like a curse. Yet, ever since a rogue killed Simon, his elder brother, there was no alternative.
Liam knew he was prone to blaming people for what he believed to be his inadequacies but he couldn’t help himself. The fact that he hadn't yet found his mate was another failing on his part. If she was anything like Pamela, the pack slut, who these days filled him with revulsion then he would have no alternative but to reject her.
In some ways he envied his Beta. Jack was settled with Louisa, though there was no sign of her becoming pregnant yet.
After a long day wading through paperwork and a tedious meeting about an impending shortage of gas, the Alpha decided to go for a much-needed run. He checked his watch. Nell would be back soon. He couldn’t help imagining the look on her face when he suggested a trip to the forest another time.
One thought led to another and he found himself standing outside the nursery listening to that endearing gurgle. Jack had caught him loitering once before with a stupid grin on his face. The Moon Goddess must have been watching over him because Henry would never have allowed the matter to drop.
On impulse he seized hold of the door handle and entered the room, only to find Louisa cooing to his half-sister who was partly covered in a fawn blanket.
“About time, Alpha,” she said, not bothering to hide her surprise. That was his Beta’s mate, bolder than she ought to have been in some ways.
Though irritated, he didn’t feel like reprimanding her.
“How’s she doing?”
“Great, according to Deborah. And it’s all thanks to Nell. Who would have thought it?”
He peered into the crib.
“She looks unsettled.”
“Maybe you should lighten up, Alpha. That frown scares me. Seriously,” Louisa continued, “I could be wrong but I think she’s missing her nanny.”
“Well, she’ll be back soon,” he said. “In the meantime, I’m contemplating going for a run.”
“Oh, Jack’s just mind linked me. You two think alike.”
So that was his companion sorted. He had probably had a frustrating day, too, negotiating with representatives of the small enclave of humans who lived just within the outer perimeter of Watertight.
Unrest was unusual but they were fired up about something and, sooner rather than later, no doubt he would learn what.
His wolf, Thom, was more than eager to be unleashed and he eased into the shift allowing his paws to connect with the fresh earth. Jack was just behind, having his back as always. They roamed for a while, keeping well away from the border with the Far Hills pack. Something always called faintly to him from there but he put it down to trickery. Still, the wind ruffling his fur made Liam uneasy and he turned for home earlier than he would have liked.
An unwelcome surprise awaited in the form of Olivia Field, who was draped all over his cousin, Henry. Her skirt was short enough to rival Pamela’s and those high heels were obviously new given the way she was tottering. Or was that just an excuse to have his Gamma’s arm around her?
“Where’s Nell?” he demanded, fearing the worst.
“Oh, she refused to return, Alpha. Will I do?”
“What do you know about childcare?”
He stormed off without waiting for an answer. This was intolerable. There was only one thing for it: he would have to go himself to fetch her back.
Jack could barely keep up with him. He was saying something no doubt placatory but Liam couldn’t hear him for the roaring in his head.
He gunned the engine like a much younger man, though didn’t object when his Beta swung his slighter frame in beside him. They were taking the jeep simply because he had been assured only yesterday the tank was full. Heads would roll if that wasn’t the case.
“There’s probably a perfectly good explanation,” Jack was saying, though he had to shout to be heard above the wind.
“Do me a favour,” Liam said. “Shut up.”
“But she’s bonded with Fallon. I don’t understand it.”
“It’s quite simple,” he stated. “Nell fooled the lot of us. She’s broken a vow she made to me and I’m going to make sure she never does anything like that again.”
His Beta shook his head, muttering something about a toxic family.
Liam closed his ears to that. He couldn’t afford to become distracted from his purpose. The little human had caused him to lose face with his pack and needed to be taught a lesson.
Just for a second the Alpha thought he heard strange, lilting voices coming from the direction of the forest. It made him feel weird and almost led him to question his own behaviour and motives.
Then he reminded himself he was the second son of Edward and Martha Marchant, from a renowned line of werewolves. Nothing and no-one would ever get the better of him.
He left it to Jack to hammer on the door. If it had been up to him he would have torn down the insulting sign and snapped it in two.
When the woman came to open up, he heard the sound of bolts being drawn back.
It was obvious to him that her smile was false. “Is something the matter, Alpha?”
“Where’s your daughter, Mrs Field?”
“But I sent her back with your driver.” She clutched her chest in dramatic fashion. “Has something happened?”
Sensing his barely controlled fury, Jack stepped in, saying “The Alpha is referring to Nell. They had an agreement. I trust your husband is recovering?”
Now the woman looked frightened. What was she hiding?
“Nell!” he shouted. “Come out here at once.”
The squeaking sound did not belong to the wretched sign but was the result of someone attempting to open a window on the upper floor. A head appeared and, just for a brief moment, he allowed the relief to wash over him.
“I can’t, Alpha,” she said. “I’m locked in.”
“Is this true?” he demanded of her mother.
“She kept threatening to run away, as well as refusing to return. What could I do?”
“Give me the key,” he insisted.
“It’s still in the lock.”
“I don’t have time for this,” he snarled, pushing past her and heading up the stairs.
Behind him, he could hear Jack trying to engage the woman in conversation.
In no time at all he was flinging the door wide only to see an apprehensive Nell clutching a backpack.
“I’m sorry about your credit card,” she blurted.
“Hand it over,” he snarled. “Or do you expect me to believe you lost it?”
“Liv took it. She’s far stronger than me.”
“A likely story.” He eyed the bulging backpack. “Going somewhere?”
“I was planning to come back. Honestly.”
“That’s not what your mom says.”
“So, you’re choosing to believe her over me? Typical. Why should you be any different from anyone else?”
“You haven’t even asked after Fallon.”
There was a softening in her face which told its own story. “How is she?”
“Fretful,” he said, and saw that he had hit a nerve.
“Do you still want me to be her live-in nanny? After all this, I mean.”
“That and so much more,” he replied. “I’m going to work you so hard you’ll wish you’d never been born.”
“What do you mean, I won’t be Fallon’s main carer from now on?” “Olivia’s here now. Aunt Deborah thinks she’s more than competent.” Nell was sure her anxiety must show on her face. “Please, Alpha,” she begged. “Let me check her over at least.” “No,” he said. “Would you punish your own half-sister, too?” “You flatter yourself, human. Very well. But I’ll be there the whole time,” he warned. “Thank you, Alpha. You won’t regret it.” “Hurry up. You have seventy suppers to prepare.” At first she thought she had misheard him. Had he said “seventeen”? Yes, that must be it. Fallon was sleeping when they arrived. Nell didn’t miss the knowing smirk on her sister’s face. What on earth was she wearing? Those shorts were far too tight. She must have packed her own bag. Was she staying, too? How would her mom cope, living on her own after all this time? Well, that was the least of her worries now. Stooping to plant a kiss on Fallon’s chubby cheek, Nell turned to the Alpha. “I suppose you
Nell reflected that it was just her luck that the music had changed to a slow ballad. She knew all the excuses in the world wouldn’t save her now. This was bound to upset a lot of people. Well, it couldn’t be helped. Alpha Liam was the last person she wanted to antagonise. He looked good in his charcoal grey suit and was actually clean-shaven for the occasion in contrast to the majority of his male pack members. Was that a new aftershave or a scent wafting in from the garden? It was unseasonably warm which was why the windows were open. Accepting his outstretched hand, Nell told him, “I’m flattered, but you really ought to know I have two left feet.” The Alpha leaned down a long way to whisper in her ear, “That makes two of us. The difference is, I’m paying people not to notice.” She wanted to giggle but didn’t dare. He was so hard to read most of the time. Then she was being pulled in close for an unnerving slow dance. The top of her head barely reached to his chest and he was st
Liam stood people watching from the open doorway, reluctant to re-join the crowd at his own party. Turning twenty-five without a mate was sending him down the feral route. He sometimes believed he would end up as crazy as his mother.Aunt Deborah was trying to catch his eye. She seldom used the mind link with him, even though he had encouraged it. Now would be a good time to make her see sense and he continued to ignore her, knowing only too well what she wanted.Uncle Alan sauntered over. These days he was the pack’s accountant, but for once he didn’t want to talk shop, thankfully.“What did Nell do to upset you?” he asked, offering him a drink.“That’s my business,” Liam said.Accepting the cup of punch, he scanned the crowd, wondering who was babysitting Fallon. The Beta was absent though he could see Louisa by the French windows deep in conversation with three other she-wolves.Was Nell now alone with Jack? Well, that was one pack member who wouldn’t dream of trespassing on his te
Nell really couldn’t believe his audacity. “Will this take long, Alpha?” she countered. “I’m kinda busy right now,” he told her. When he moved aside and she saw the half-naked she-wolf lounging on his couch, the blush was inevitable. Yet she couldn’t understand why she was so angry. “I thought you were partial to redheads.” “Did you now?” “You’re impossible,” she stormed, resisting the temptation to stamp her foot. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous? You are, aren’t you?” She turned on her heel and was about to march off in the wrong direction when his voice stopped her in her tracks. “Henry was right. He said you had a little crush on me. Well, as you can see, you’re not the only one. You can go now, Selina,” he added. Sulking, the beauty slunk away without even bothering to retrieve her top. If Nell didn’t know better she would have thought it had been staged for her benefit. “Is that all, Alpha? If so, I’ll bid you goodnight.” “Not so fast.” Relieved not to be within his gras
Liam didn’t get much sleep. He’d hated the whole idea of a party and taken his resentment out on the one person who deserved it least. Over-indulging had been a way of avoiding the consequences but he didn’t have the headache which would have alleviated some of his guilt. He doubted Nell had noticed his inebriation; she probably couldn’t tell the difference. Though he seemed to recall foolishly telling her about Simon.Give these females an inch and they wanted the whole fucking mile. Like the one who’d emerged from his en suite unexpectedly wearing little more than a grin. It wasn’t the first time that had happened to him and he doubted it would be the last. Nell had been shocked, bewildered and ultimately, disbelieving when she saw Selina lounging on his couch. He could see it in her face, she suspected him of setting out to trap her into something offensive to her sensibilities. A very moral woman, Nell, unlike her slut of a sister. Even he could see that much.Sometimes, in her co
It was a difficult task now to pick up Fallon to soothe her. Nell managed it by sitting on a chair close to the window. Perhaps she should have held out for surgery, make the Alpha pay. Occasionally, her eyes strained to see the forest in the distance, and not because of her employer’s inexplicable behaviour. For her, it held its own pull, which was odd because a much scarier version figured in her nightmare, the recurring one which seemed to have banished all others.A dwelling was on fire and, because of its hidden nature, no-one came to help. She could see a girl straining to give birth and couldn’t understand the significance of the filigree chain and symbol which graced her forehead. Her clothing was ragged, a mixture of sage and purple in hue, and she was all alone in her travail.Sometimes, a man’s face convulsed in grief appeared. At others, she fancied she heard the cry of a baby. The most bizarre of all was when she saw people with light hair gathered in a semi-circle chanti
“What about Fallon?” She kept her tone reasonable and even, despite being caged by his much larger body. “Theo’s mated. Did you know that?” “And you’re just a bully. Alpha, I only know his name because I glanced at the badge on my way to your office. It doesn’t harm to be civil.” He spun away and she heaved a sigh of relief. “Ignore me. I’m just – at the end of my tether.” Admitting such a thing, and to her, wasn’t a first. Yet she marvelled at the way he continued to treat her like a confidante. “Let me make us a hot drink,” she said. “It’s about time for Fallon’s feed. Please excuse me while I change her.” She went about her necessary business in the bathroom. “You’ve done a lot with this place,” he called to her, as she cooed to her charge. “Good or bad, Alpha?” “Not to my taste, but girly enough for its occupants.” “You don’t want me to re-arrange your office, then, Liam?” She was only making small talk while she worked and winced a little to think she’d been so forward
Liam had dismissed the notion of giving in to the demanding humans until the idea for the concession came to him. He tried to convince himself it had nothing to do with Nell, but had to admit the thought of having access to her twenty-four seven was an appealing one.In truth, he was lonely and yet he wasn’t overly eager to find his mate. Having her at his beck and call, including in his bed or on the floor beside it, was too tempting a lure to resist.Not that he wanted Fallon to succumb to the weakness inherent in hybrids. Though holding her the other day had told him something was definitely amiss.Creating a new law would be a way around that.He could, of course, sack Nell if it suited him. Maybe he would tell her that if she started to misbehave.The delegation from Shutterford was due to arrive and he understood the mayor’s deputy was a doctor by trade, but there was no way he was going to have him examine the pup.Nell was coming to take notes. He hadn’t seen her for a day or