Wen Read online

  “You must know why they hate us. Tell me the truth.”

  “I don’t know.” Wen sighed, getting irritated. “Ever met a GarLycan?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Lucky you. They’re cold bastards. You think you Vamps corner the market on being heartless?” Wen snorted. “They make your kind seem downright cuddly and chatty. They keep to themselves and don’t share information with us. At least not with Decker. I don’t know how they interact with the other clans.”

  “So the clans aren’t close at all?” Glee showed in Horton’s eyes. “That’s good news.”

  Wen forced a smile. That used to be true, but not anymore, not since Lorn had taken over Decker’s clan. Now they worked together. “I don’t see how that’s helpful to you. You said they took out your nest. Which clan attacked you?”

  “Decker’s. That bastard lied to us.”

  Wen flew from his chair fast, pretending to be outraged. “You know him? This was a trap. I knew it!”

  “Sit. He sent us to Alaska with false information. He said he still controlled his clan but they came after my nest anyway.”

  Wen growled, his fangs and claws growing. “Talk, Vamp. What in the hell are you saying? You have an alliance with Decker?”

  “We believed we did. He went to our council, promising to help them take out their enemies. He even promised my master a VampLycan to use however he wanted. He swore no one would retaliate when he sent us to Alaska. That was a lie.” Horton motioned for Wen to sit.

  Wen hesitated, then righted the chair, planting his ass on it hard. “Decker always lies.”

  “I contacted the council about the loss of my master.” Anger had Horton hissing. “They didn’t care. Decker is in their good graces right now, and they are protecting him in Chicago. He wiped out a few nests that refused to take their orders. It’s blasphemy for those conceited assholes to choose the VampLycan over their own kind. My master was loyal to the council.”

  That was one piece of the puzzle. Now he knew why the council would work with Decker. “So Decker is with your council?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t you know?” Horton stared at him with narrowed eyes.

  “I fled with my mate a few months ago. I haven’t been in contact with anyone from my clan. I knew I couldn’t trust them.”

  “I wasn’t given all the details. I’d hoped you could tell me.” Horton calmed, seeming to think as he tapped his fingers on the top of the desk. “I was just on the phone with another master who hates the council. He’s heard a rumor that Decker’s clan had sent him packing, and that’s why he’s turned to the council.”

  “The clan turned against Decker?” Wen tried to appear stunned. “Wow. I had no idea.”

  “They are still hunting for you, VampLycan. My source confirmed it. You still need me. Word has spread to be on the lookout for you and the human spy. The bounty is huge, and your clan has contacted every pack and nest with your photos.”

  The Vamp could lie well enough to impress Wen. He couldn’t detect any change of scent or heart rate coming from him. There was no bounty out on them. “I’m sure they want us dead. I killed other VampLycans to save my mate.”

  Horton leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together over his chest. “I need to think. Perhaps I’ve gone about this all wrong.”

  “You’re considering collecting the bounty?”

  “No. Not that. I blamed all the VampLycans for the death of my master. Perhaps it’s just Decker I need to focus on.” He suddenly leaned forward, staring intently at Wen. “You know him well, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I grew up in his clan. That’s why I’m telling you to never trust him. He’ll fuck you over every time.”

  Anger flashed in the Vamp’s eyes. “And the council is protecting him.”

  Wen watched the Vamp close, taking in every twitch of his facial expressions. He could guess what Horton was thinking. He’d claimed he wanted to start a war with VampLycans, but he really just wanted revenge on Decker. He was more than happy to help him come to that conclusion.

  “Decker will use your council and kill them when he’s gotten whatever he wants. That’s how he works. Then he’ll find someone else to use to gain what he wants next.”

  “Good,” Horton hissed, his rage building as his eyes glowed, his fangs elongating. “Those bastards deserve it. King Charles was better than all of them combined. A swift death is too damn good for the council members, and Decker isn’t allowed to get away with what he’s done. He set my master up to be slaughtered.”

  “Sounds like Decker. He probably laughed his ass off. The jerk is fucking insane.”

  Horton rose, and in a blink, attacked the wall nearest his desk, punching holes into it. Gerri’s heart rate spiked but Wen gave her thigh a gentle squeeze, not taking his attention from the Vamp. If he turned his rage on them, he wanted to be ready to protect her.

  Horton finally stopped. He smiled when he faced them, as if his bloody hands and the damage to the wall amused him. “You’re going to tell me everything about Decker.”

  “Fine. I still want to know where I can take my mate that will be safe, and I need money.”

  “You don’t care that I plan to kill your clan leader?”

  “He stopped being my leader the moment he ordered the death of my mate. I have no loyalty to that bastard. I never liked him.”

  “I must plot.” Horton paced. “Go upstairs. We’ll speak tomorrow night. I want you to tell me how best to get his enforcers to turn on him. Think hard and long, VampLycan.” His gaze drifted to Gerri, then back to Wen. “You want to keep your mate safe. I want revenge.”

  “Understood.” Wen rose to his feet, holding out his hand. Gerri took it and he led her out of the room.

  Chapter Eight

  Wen shoved a piece of furniture in front of the door, lifted their backpacks, and carried them into the bedroom once they’d locked themselves inside the apartment. Gerri followed him around. He ditched the backpacks, then did another search of the apartment. He shook his head, implying nothing had changed since they’d left. She relaxed but he still lifted a finger to his lips, hinting for her to keep her voice low if she spoke.

  “We’re safe here, sweetheart.” He said that loud, in case the pack was listening from another apartment or the hallway.

  “I know. I trust you. Should we get some sleep? I’m tired.”

  “Sure.” He took her back into the bedroom.

  She began to strip but Wen shook his head, just removing his shoes. Gerri hated sleeping in her clothes, but she knew Wen didn’t want them naked in case of an attack. She just removed her shoes as well, then climbed on the bed.

  He pushed her to the side nearest the wall, and took the outside of the bed as they settled down. Then he pulled her close, pressing his mouth against her ear as they cuddled up together. “That Vamp is fucking nuts,” he whispered.

  “I agree. So can we leave yet?” He’d know she was really asking if he could just kill Horton already. He wasn’t playing with a full deck of cards, so it was best if he was taken out quickly. Anyone who’d spent any time with him would have seen that too. Whatever he’d said or done in his bid to start a war probably wasn’t taken too seriously by anyone with a brain.

  Wen hesitated. “Not yet. He’s just looking for a target for his rage. Now he’s focused on Decker.”

  “I get what you’re saying.” It would be nice if Horton killed Decker. “He can’t touch him though. His own council is keeping that jerk safe.” She couldn’t see a reason to let Horton live since there was no way he’d be able to get to the ex-clan leader.

  “Let’s give it time,” Wen whispered. “At least he might change his tune if we allow him to contact his friends.”

  In other words, Wen hoped the false rumors Horton had circulated about VampLycans would be put to rest if he ranted about Decker and the council instead. “Then I hope he has a big mouth,” she whispered.

&
nbsp; Wen chuckled. “It will make him seem more unstable. We’ll give it some time, let him do his thing, then mission over.”

  “Got a plan about how to do that?”

  “It’s going to be tougher than I thought but we’ll see what happens during the day.”

  She guessed he was hoping the Lycans would grow bored hanging around the building and thin out some while the Vampires slept. It would be easy for Wen to kill them while they slept. “Still a lot of company around us, huh?”

  He pulled her closer. “Yes.”

  “They aren’t going to let us out of here without a fight, are they?”

  He shook his head.

  “Is it safe to sleep?”

  “We’ll take turns. Are you tired?”

  “No. That nap I took helped. You sleep first. I’ll wake you if I hear anything.” She might not have his keener senses, but someone would have to come through the door or a wall to get at them. That would be plenty noisy enough for her human hearing to pick up.

  Wen’s hold on her eased after a while and she knew he had fallen asleep. She shifted her head a little, listening for any sounds. The floor overhead creaked, as if someone walked above them, but the rest of the building was silent. It left her with time to think.

  Once Wen felt it was time to kill Horton, they would have to fight their way out. It would also mean her time with Wen would almost be over. She curled into his big warm body a little closer, inhaling his scent. Tears filled her eyes but she fought them back. It would be hell giving him up a second time. She’d loved him when she’d been a young girl and those feelings hadn’t changed. They might not be as close as they once had been but her heart didn’t care. It wanted to keep Wen forever.

  Her mind found another option. Maybe Wen could use her on future missions; they would get to spend more time together. He was young for a VampLycan, though. She’d age but he wouldn’t. One day, she’d either become too old to be sexually appealing to him, or he’d find a mate he could take home to his family.

  It would come with another steep price if she made that her future. She’d have to give up the thought of ever getting married or having her own family. The loneliness would also be unbearable each time he was back in Alaska, until he could return to her.

  The unfairness of it broke her heart. Anger surfaced too, all directed at Wen’s parents. They’d never liked her but they should want their son to be happy. Instead, they’d forced him to step into Gerbin’s shadow, and to shoulder all the responsibilities of first son that went with it. Wen had honor. He’d do anything to please the couple that had given him life.

  She wondered if they realized how miserable they made their son, or if they even cared.

  A noise outside near the street drew her attention, and she carefully rolled away from Wen, climbed out of bed, and peeked out the curtain. Dawn approached, the sky a glow in the distance, the night not so dark. Street lights were still on, so she had no problem spotting Horton and Joel below in the backyard of the building.

  They seemed to be arguing. Horton pushed the bigger alpha, making him stumble. Joel responded by flashing fangs and rising up, puffing out his chest. It was a defiant act, even a threat. Horton backed out of sight but he remained outside, judging by the way Joel glared where Gerri assumed a door must be.

  Joel finally nodded, spun, and motioned with his hand. Two men stepped out of the shadows along the back wall. She hadn’t spotted them with her human eyes before that. They met him in the middle of the small yard. A short discussion ensued, then the Lycans broke apart. Joel returned to the building but his two men returned to their positions in the shadows.

  She let the curtain go and returned to the bed to curl up with Wen.

  “What is it?”

  She should have known he’d wake the moment she moved. “Tension between our new friends,” she whispered. “Alphas don’t like to take orders.”

  “No, they don’t. I might not have to take out the Vampires after all.”

  She smiled, snuggling into him tighter. “No shit, but that leaves us with an unhappy pack.”

  “It wouldn’t be a problem if they weren’t rogues.”

  “Because they wouldn’t be working with a crazy Vamp?”

  “No, because I’d challenge for alpha and kill theirs.”

  “You don’t want a pack.”

  “No, but I wouldn’t have to fight all of them at once. I’d disband them.”

  “You could do that?”

  He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, since they don’t follow the rules.”

  “Go back to sleep.”

  She stayed awake long after Wen dozed. It was more important that he got plenty of rest instead of her. He was the one who’d be doing the fighting if shit hit the fan. She did smile when Wen muttered unintelligible words in his sleep, obviously dreaming.

  * * * * *

  Wen jerked awake. G.L. peacefully slept next to him. He carefully got out of bed so he didn’t disturb her and checked his cell phone. It was afternoon but there were no texts. He stalked out of the bedroom and into the living room, rubbing the back of his neck. It hadn’t been a nightmare that woke him, but more of his past replaying in his head. The day the clan had learned of Gerbin’s death always haunted his dreams, but the fact that he was effectively in enemy territory had probably been the cause this time.

  He wanted to punch something, the anger still gripping him. It had been devastating to learn of his older brother’s death, but worse, he’d gotten into a physical fight with his father. It would be the first of many over the years since that day.

  “What’s wrong?”

  G.L.’s soft voice made him turn. He hadn’t heard her at all, too distracted by his memories. She was adorable with her mussed hair and sleepy gaze. He crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, just needing to hold her. It didn’t matter if they had a day or a week. Their time would be too short.

  She wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him. “What happened? I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Everything here is fine. It’s all quiet.” He listened to the building around him, double checking. “I probably should do recon.”

  He tried to release her but Gerri tightened her grip and lifted her chin. He looked down, staring into her beautiful eyes.

  “What’s wrong? Are we in deep shit? Just tell me. I’m in this with you a hundred percent.”

  He stroked her hair away from her face. The curly ringlets wanted to wrap around his thumb and he smiled. “We’re fine. This is a ‘me’ issue. I had a dream and woke agitated.”

  “What kind of dream?”

  “It more like a bunch of memories merging together and replaying as I slept.”

  “Talk to me,” she whispered. “Your eyes are really dark. Do you need to shift?”

  He got control of his Lycan side and forced his body to relax. “Better?”

  “Yes. They’re a pretty blue again.”

  “Are you trying to tell me they aren’t attractive when I’m shifted?” He liked to tease her.

  She smiled. “You’re always attractive when you’re in skin. I don’t care what color your eyes are.” Her good mood faded and she grew serious. “Talk to me, Wen. When I walked out here, you looked ready to attack someone.”

  “I relived the day word came to us of Gerbin’s death.”

  She pulled him over to the couch and tugged on him until he sat next to her. “Tell me about it.”

  “I should see how many Lycans are guarding the building.”

  “It won’t matter if you do that now or in a few minutes. Talk to me. Please?”

  He could deny her almost nothing when she stared at him with that vulnerable look on her face, making him guess his refusal might hurt her feelings. “Hang on a minute.”

  He left her on the couch and turned on water in the kitchen sink, then turned on the shower in the bathroom. He flipped on the television in the living room, then sat next to her again. All those
noises would help hide their voices if anyone was listening from other apartments. He leaned in, speaking softly.

  “I heard my mother’s shrieks and rushed to their home.”

  “You didn’t live with them still?”

  He shook his head. “I’d built a cabin nearly a mile from them. I’d hit maturity age a few months before. I’d been outside, chopping wood when I heard her. I dropped the ax and ran. A group of the clan, including Trayis, was gathered in front of their cabin. My mother was on her knees, my father beside her with his arms around her. Trayis turned, and I just knew Gerbin must be dead.” He paused, emotion almost choking him. “My father lifted my mother and carried her inside. Trayis told me he’d been contacted by the pack Gerbin played guardian to. A nest of Vampires had killed my brother. Everyone in that area was aware of who he protected, and they taunted the pack by sending his bloodied clothing to the alpha.”

  “I’m sorry, Wen.” She took one of his hands in hers, holding it tight.

  “The healer came and sedated my mother. She wouldn’t stop wailing and carrying on. Gerbin was her heart.”

  “You are too,” Gerri whispered.

  He forced a smile. “There is a bond with a mother and her firstborn that I’ve always been aware of. I know they love me, but Gerbin…” He shook his head. It hurt knowing it would have been easier on his parents if he’d been the one to die instead. “My father came outside and ordered me to go after the nest responsible. He couldn’t leave my mother alone in her grief to seek vengeance. It was up to me.”

  Gerri frowned but said nothing.

  “Trayis said I wouldn’t be going alone. Gerbin was his friend and one of his enforcers. He put together a team to assist me.”

  “Good. I take it you were able to kill them all?”

  He nodded. “Yes. We’d hoped to retrieve Gerbin’s body to bring home for burial on clan lands, but the ones we tortured before death said their master had burned his body.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She pressed against his side.

  He debated on telling her the rest.

  “What else?” She peered up at him with narrowed eyes.