Liz’s POV I couldn’t believe my eyes for the second time in a week. Our pup had arrived, prematurely but otherwise healthy, and he was the spit double of my brother. From what I could remember of him at that age. Up again and nursing Rufus Alexander – I’d insisted on the middle name – I peered out of the misted-up window and had to use my sleeve as a makeshift leather in order to observe the scene which was unfolding. Was Byron really going to shoot Michael? Something glittered in the sunlight. Was that a silver bullet? He had to be kidding, didn’t he? I struggled with the catch until I realised there was a better way to attract his attention and one far less dangerous to my old friend’s health. What if shock caused Byron to fire without warning? ‘Have you gone mad?’ There was no response to the mind link initially, other than that our son began to wail. Did he have the bond this early? How should I know? So I made my way carefully down the stairs, crooning softly to my pup, o
Byron’s POV I ordered Philip to follow Liz, not because I didn’t believe her when she said she was going to sit in on the interview with the Lycan, rather for her own safety and my peace of mind. I knew I could trust him to be discreet, so I cast all worries to the back of my mind and began to write my speech. Being Alpha King elect was such an honour, though the position had yet to be ratified. Was I tempting Fate? I preferred to think of it as being prepared and hoped my late parents would continue to be proud of me, especially as I’d fathered an heir and started to tame the sadistic tendencies. At least I was attempting to change and my sister had told me more than once how proud she was. Even Alphas like praise, especially from a hard-to-impress sibling. I kept protesting that it wasn’t necessary, but she saw right through me. “I hope we can put this business with the Lycan and his sidekick behind us now,” she said, preening herself in the mirror. “Trevor wants to take me to Eu
Byron’s POVThe Lycan was heading in the same direction as my Delta and me. It was a free country yet I found it all too convenient. Was he keeping an assignation with my Lizzy? Had she been coerced?Max offered up no explanation though I saw immediately he was spruced up. Released, obviously, and not just on some sort of bail. I knew that anyway, courtesy of a call from the ever helpful Ms Dodds.I couldn’t resist.“Been shopping?”“Not personally, no.”That brief who’d apparently swanned in like he owned the place must have excellent contacts for the Lycan to be kitted out like this and smelling of cologne in such a short space of time. Though I knew they had showers in the Council building and, rumour had it, not just for meetings which concluded late.It was Philip who spotted the pair of them and headed Caitlin off as she was making for the toilets.Liz put her hand to her mouth. “I forgot Mo’s present,” she gasped.Those didn’t sound like the words of a would-be adulteress but S
Liz’s POVThat night I couldn’t get to sleep for worrying. As acting Luna of the Moon Tides pack I’d been doing a lot of that lately.Someone began to hammer at the door.“Open up, in the name of Alpha Byron,” a loud voice urged.If this was Ricky playing a prank, I would give him a piece of my mind. He was always forgetting his key.I descended the staircase which led to the foyer only to see one of the Omegas had beaten me to it.“What should I do, Luna?” Jeannie asked.“Let him in, of course,” I snapped. Though I wasn’t mad at her.Those bolts were heavy and stiff and she was so small. It seemed to take an age given that she had to fetch a stool.The words of reproach died on my lips when I saw the men outside. There were three of them dressed in the colours of our Alpha neighbour, leaf green and earth brown.What a time for our Beta to be away visiting his grandpups.My legs began to tremble as I saw Eric lying prone close to the fountain.“Can I help you?” I managed, wondering ho
Byron’s POVDon’t ask me why I decided to play craps that night. Maybe it was because I wanted to teach Bell a lesson. I knew his pack was in crisis and here he was, newly declared Alpha, gambling away their assets. They had been traders of renown once, only moving away from the coast because of Alpha Laurence’s whim.Maybe I should do them a favour and integrate them into mine. I’d thought about it more often than not yet I always hesitated. Would I have appreciated a friendly takeover were I the one in charge?Mo was disgusted with me. My elder sister had nothing but contempt for our struggling neighbours.“Byron, he’s not you.”I wish I had a dollar for the number of times she had said that recently.And now I had an additional problem in the form of his sister.As I waited impatiently in the library for the acting Luna to be brought to me, I speculated on what she may be like. It wasn’t so much her physical attributes I was thinking about, though I assumed she would have red hair
Liz’s POVFrom the moment I opened my eyes and saw him I was lost. I did my best to hide it, even from myself. Maybe that was why I didn’t fear him at first. Then things became a little heated – Dad always said I’d trip over my own feist – and I was so embarrassed to know he’d seen my panties. Crimson was an unusual choice but they were one of the few clean pairs I had. Other than that I packed thongs.Answering back only brought me more humiliation and left me without them in front of him and another man.Shame didn’t show because of my anger and I wasn’t aroused, which didn’t surprise me. Tanya obviously didn’t like his wolf; she was notoriously picky. This was going to be really frustrating in more ways than I had anticipated.At least he allowed me to contact Beta Ian. It would have been nice to hear a friendly voice but it wasn’t to be. Part of me wondered why.On hearing that I would be sharing Alpha Byron’s quarters I feared the worst. Whether or not he took me as his slave my
Byron’s POVWhen Mo sent me that mind link in a panic I knew I couldn’t just leave her to it. Yet I didn’t trust my ‘collateral’ not to run. Sending my guards after her would only lead to unpleasantness – for her. She wasn’t ready for the kind of punishment I usually dished out, healthy or not.On the point of stuffing her panties into an empty drawer I reconsidered and dumped them in my laundry basket instead. I’m not that much of a pervert, though degradation is one of my sweeter pastimes when I’m not actually hands on.The beauty in the next bedroom intrigued me. Maybe having Ricky owe me wasn’t such a bad thing.Currently Alpha Bell was not in my good books, failing to answer my texts. Seizing Liz with his blessing was my way of ensuring he returned to take care of his pack rather than do a runner. The alternative reason for him being incommunicado was something I didn’t want to dwell on.My sister rolled her eyes at my interference, liking none of this. She was often moody and sh
Liz’s POVI couldn’t think straight at that point.“You wouldn’t – he didn’t – ?”“Join me for breakfast. I usually eat up here. What would you like?”I couldn’t help myself, I yawned.“Can I let you know later, Alpha? All I want to do right now is sleep for a week.”“I’m afraid that’s out of the question,” he said.“Maybe an hour?” I wheedled.Was I flirting with him? This had to stop, right now.“You’re not listening, Lizzy, and it’s making my wolf angry.”“Is that how it works? I wouldn’t know.” I saw his face and launched into a hasty explanation about how I didn’t hit it off with mine.“Ridiculous. Impossible. Untrue.”“I only wish it were.”“Look, Lizzy, my order is a standing one with the Omegas. I like toast and a boiled egg. Shall I tell them to double up?”I froze, only now realising how it was bound to look, me sitting there in his bedroom with him. Was there a table or did he usually eat in bed? My wolf either didn’t know or wouldn’t say.“Yes, please. What time?”“Fifteen