Her inner wolf raised its hackles, preparing to defend the pack against this new threat and by the time she reached the bottom of the stairs she was in full Alpha mode. Damien tried to pull the door shut just as she reached it, but he was too late. She yanked it out of his hand and then stood in the doorway shooting questioning glances between her mate and the strange Lycan. “Who’s this?”
“An old… acquaintance.” Damien replied, clearly not pleased she’d made an appearance. He tried to step in front of her but she firmly took her place at his side.
“My name is Elijah Stone.” The male eyed her up and down then lifted his chin.
“Sam Harper.” She snorted at his posturing and put her hands on her hips. This Elijah dude was impressive and, if she didn’t already have her own mate, she might have found him interesting. About Damien’s height, solid muscle, dominant. But where Damien’s eyes sparkled, this man’s were deadly serious, almost flat as if he’d forgotten the joy of living; his last name—Stone—suited him. And there was no quirk to the corner of his mouth, no playful sexual aura about him. An order from this man would have most Lycans turning belly up. Good thing she wasn’t most Lycans. “What are you doing in my territory? Passing through or reporting in for a prolonged visit?”
Stone didn’t answer her, instead casting a look at Damien. “You chose well. She’s a good mate for a warrior.”
A warrior? She’d never considered Damien a warrior, but it appeared to be Elijah’s mindset. It would be easy to picture the man in fatigues and dog tags, a gun slung over his shoulder or a knife in his hand.
“We’re good for each other.” Sam stepped closer to Damien, bristling at being ignored. “And you didn’t answer my questions.”
Stone looked at her and inclined his head. “Passing through.” His voice was deep, guttural, and she barely held back a shiver at the sound of it.
“And my severance package?” Damien put his arm around her shoulders, holding her protectively close.
Sam frowned, wondering what was going on. While she wanted to ask, she didn’t want to let on to Stone that she and Damien had any secrets from each other. Damien’s past was something they’d only started to explore. He had a rogue’s natural reluctance to share, and she knew it would take time to uncover all the demons that lived inside him.
Elijah shook his head. “No need to worry. What I’ve observed matches the records I retrieved from Deirdre. You won’t be seeing me again.”
Damien didn’t let his relief show but, because she was pressed against his side, Sam felt the fractional relaxing of his muscles. Whatever this ‘severance package’ had entailed, she didn’t have any doubts that it wasn’t good. And knowing Damien, he would have taken off rather than stay and allow danger anywhere near their pack. Thank heaven she wouldn’t have to go tracking him down again! Another trip to Stump River wasn’t part of her plan. The place was probably still frozen rock solid despite spring being just around the corner.
“And what about the others?” Damien asked. “The rest of the organization?”
“Everyone gets what they deserve in life. I just make sure it happens.” Stone’s voice was as expressionless as his face, but Sam was sure she saw a hint of emotion behind his flat, black eyes. Was it sorrow? Perhaps the man wasn’t quite made of granite. “There’s only one I’m still looking for. A man named Dante.”
“Dante?” Sam looked at Damien. He hadn’t even flicked an eyelash in response to hearing the man’s name. Too bad she hadn’t controlled her own reaction better for Elijah immediately focused all his attention on her.
“You know him.” It was a statement, not a question. Stone narrowed his eyes. “Where is he?”
Damien pulled her protectively closer, a warning rumbling in his chest. “Sam only knows him in passing. Dante came looking for me. And before you ask, we weren’t friends and I’ve no idea where he’s hiding his sorry ass.”
Stone flicked a look between the two of them, seeming to weigh the veracity of their statement and finally nodding. “There’s no scent of deceit about you. I will look for him elsewhere.”
Without another word, he turned and left.
Sam remained silent until Stone was out of earshot and then let free the shiver she’d been holding back. “What was that about?”
“My past. For a minute I thought it was going to bite me in the butt.”
“I’m glad it didn’t.” She reached behind him and pinched his rear. “I’m the only one allowed to bite this.”
“Really?” Her playful attitude helped defuse the tension she sensed in him and a wicked grin curled his lips. “Perhaps we should go back upstairs so you can check the area out.”
Silently, she wished him luck. Everyone deserved to be happy in life, even those who seemed to be made out of stone.
~FIN~
Hello readers!
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review at your favourite retailer.
This story was the sixth story in my Lycan series. I have ideas for several more installments provided my muse cooperates. Daniel and Tessa still need to be sorted out. Armand is pining away and now the mysterious Elijah Stone has appeared! As well, there are several new characters dancing about in my head, all clamouring to be brought to light. If all goes as planned, I will be busy writing for the next several years.
In the meantime, you might want to check out Forever In Time. It was the first original story I’d ever written and has just been revised and republished.
-Nicky
The Law of the Lycans Series
The Mating
The Keeping
The Finding
Bonded
Betrayed: Days of the Rogue
Betrayed – Book Two: The Road to Redemption
Connect with Me:
Email: nicky@nickycharles.com
Or nicky.charles@live.ca
At my website: http://www.nickycharles.com
On my blog: http://lycanlaws.blogspot.ca
Follow me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Charles/217412024968769?sk=info#!/pages/Nicky-Charles/217412024968769?sk=wall
Favourite me on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/charliej
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Epilogue
Message from Nicky
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