So, his secret was out now. Liam felt for Nell. She must be more confused than ever. In contrast, he felt even closer to her, which didn’t explain why he’d started to act like the Alpha she knew of old again.When she woke up in his bed, disorientated and satisfyingly – to him – naked, he took full advantage, telling himself he was only attempting to take her mind off things. Her resistance soon melted, as he had suspected, and he hauled her on top of him wanting to try something new. At least, with her.The hybrid he was now convinced was better than a mate didn’t object. She was a quick learner and soon he had to cover her mouth. Simon wasn’t too far away and, for once, he was likely to be waking up alone. There was no way he would share Nell, even though he hadn’t scrupled to join in threesomes in the past.Thankfully, the Far Hills pack had decided not to press charges, given the way Doc Troy – what was his surname? He could never recall it – had treated Rae. They would be heading

Alan Marchant was probably too prompt for his own good. To be fair, his mood was calm, even though it was unusual for Liam to send for him about anything other than a financial matter. He’d said only via the mind link that there was a situation and he needed his uncle’s help.They didn’t even get to shifting before there was a knock at the door: his distinctive double tap followed by a single.“Go away,” Simon growled, at the same time as Liam said, “Enter.”It was heartening to be obeyed. Chalk one up to him.“What’s going on, Alphas?”That wasn’t as satisfying.“My brother’s out of control.”“Hardly,” their uncle said. “You’re both handling your wolves admirably, though I can sense a third presence. Where is Nell?”“She’s in the bathroom.”“Was that in case you came to blows? Alphas … ”“There can only be one,” Liam stated. “How do we resolve this?”“If you don’t know that, little brother, you’re not fit to remain in charge.”“And you are?” he shot back. “Simon, these days I don’t r

Nobody had bothered to explain to Nell what being the Alpha’s slave entailed in its entirety. She kept tugging at the short leather skirt he’d insisted she wear, relieved at least that he hadn’t objected to the notion of panties. When he’d informed her she’d be doing a lot of bending, she hadn’t anticipated being treated like a glorified waitress.The sight of Pamela sitting on Liam’s knee and giggling was something she could have done without. He was teaching her a lesson about jealousy and no mistake. How could he do this to her, and with the pack slut of all people? Still, at least he wasn’t allowing Olivia to drape herself all over him. That would probably have been worse.The twins were seated at opposite ends of the long dining table. It didn’t save her from having to serve Simon and he made sure to ask. The smell of the roast fowl was awful and she didn’t care for the pheromones in the air.Maybe she was getting off lightly, but it sure didn’t feel like it. At least Deborah was

She was making a point because no-one believed her. The pup was slowly being poisoned, Nell was convinced of it. It suited her purpose to just go. Well, she could hardly have asked Deborah to start her shift early by explaining she intended to run away again.Alan Marchant had been to see her, expressing his disquiet at what had happened in the dining hall. He said he was going to have words with Liam about it, but Simon hadn’t exactly been a saint, either.And now she was guilty of kidnapping. Nell knew how swiftly the pack could turn on one who was really a stranger, given what had happened to her the other night. The she-wolves would likely be no different.It had been a bitter pill to swallow knowing she was one of them and that her beloved father had lied to her.Sheriff Bostock had been back and forth, still questioning Olivia about their mother.Welcome.The love which surrounded her, contrarily, almost brought her to her knees. Weakness had no place here in the forest, but the

Liam sat down beside Nell and wondered what to say. An embrace might seem too selfish right then.“I have news,” he began, only to stop again when Aunt Deborah returned with the tea tray. Asking her for black coffee bought him some time. “Nell … ”Still he couldn’t find the words.She shut her eyes tightly. “Is it about Dad?”“No. That reminds me, I must place a call to the sheriff. Alpha Warren is eager to know what’s happening.”“And you mustn’t keep your father-in-law on tenterhooks, must you?”At first he thought she was joking. The sarcasm wasn’t like her.“Search me as to what’s taking so long,” he said. “I would have thought it was an open and shut case.”“Maybe he’s being grilled about Mom.”“He wasn’t even on the scene at the time,” Liam pointed out.“That doesn’t mean anything.”“Have you been crying?”“No, but I came this close,” she said, holding up her finger and thumb in a gesture which told him she hadn’t been attention-seeking. He’d never thought so in the first place.