Fox, Morgan - Craving Silence [Cowboys and Werewolves] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (15 page)

“What exactly did you do?”

“I found a gorgeous little blonde.” His gaze drifted over her body, lingering on her breasts. His glare crawled up her throat, her lips, and settled back on her eyes. “She was a hot little thing like you, but she was married. That didn’t seem to be an issue, and convincing her to be with me was quite easy. You see, her husband was a total asshole, a cheating, incompetent, weak lycan, and alcoholic to boot. Evelyn Reed gave me the access I needed into her powerful lycan-witch family, and I soon obtained a seat on the council. I had plans for this town.”

The bastard used Walker’s mother.

She bit the inside of her mouth, keeping her wolf locked away, and asked, “What kind of plans?”

A fire lit inside his gaze as he said, “Can’t you guess? I wanted only lycans to be among us. I wanted all the humans exterminated or forced out. This was our home and had been for generations. You of all lycans should know that. You were even named after this little town, as was your twin. Silent Falls and Shadow Meadows were the best lycan safe grounds known in Texas. Think of the power one could have governing a group of only lycans.”

“So if that’s what you wanted, why didn’t it work?”

“Are you really so thick?” He rolled his eyes at her and she merely ground her teeth together. His overflowing power was beginning to make her sick to her stomach. “Your parents and Dutch Reed found out before I could convince any members of the council that my plan was the best for our kind.”

“So you had them killed,” she said bitterly.

“No,” he said, his voice deepening. “I killed them.”

A sudden wash of newly energized power warmed her skin. Silence knew her rescuer had finally arrived. “It might be a good idea for you to get off my mate, Verrick.” Her chest pounded at the sound of Walker’s voice.

She was unsure if his appearance was a good thing or one that would only get them into more trouble. As it was, they were in deep shit, and it was only getting deeper.

Verrick slithered off her and stood facing Walker, who was hovering in the doorway to her bedroom, blocking his exit. Immediately, she sat up and moved to the far side of the bed.

“Well, well, well. Look at how you’ve grown,” Verrick teased.

“From what I hear, you haven’t changed much. You’re still a cold-blooded killer with only one thing on his mind.” Walker quickly glanced over at her, and the moment his eyes locked on hers, she felt a wildfire blaze inside her. Something was different about her mate, something exhilaratingly sexy and powerful. Flicking his gaze back to Verrick, he said, “You really should find a hobby.”

Walker stood to his full height. His shoulders were just as broad as Verrick’s, but there was something so powerful in his stance. “I’m going to give you a chance that you didn’t give my grandfather or Silence’s parents. I’m going to let you leave this town and never come back.”

Verrick growled. The deep thunder rocked against the four walls of her room. “I don’t take to threats, boy.”

“Boy?” he gasped, taking a lethal step toward Verrick. “If that were the case, then why do you smell like fear?”

Verrick glared at him with a devious smile. “So, you’ve finally grown a pair, and now that you’ve been unbound and your powers have been restored, you think you can just challenge me?” He stepped closer to Walker, their massive chests nearly touching. “Do you expect me to believe that you can harness those powers enough to defeat me? You have no idea how to wield those skills.”

Walker smiled, a smile she knew meant trouble. “Would you like to find out?”

A surge of power slammed into her, and she clung to the bed for support. She was shocked by the strength pouring out of Walker. He was a lycan now, but there was so much more to him. He was stronger, supercharged, and more powerful. She was practically getting drunk on it, but it was overloading her senses.

Groaning from the pressure building up in her head, she finally reached down and picked up her gun, one she always kept loaded with silver bullets. Checking her clip, she popped it back in and stared at the men in her room having a pissing contest.

Caught in the middle, she whispered, “This seems to be the story of my life.”

“Verrick, just go,” she ordered, pointing her 9mm directly at him. “I’d really hate to dirty my carpets with silver-bulleted lycan brains. I just had them cleaned.”

Cocking his head in her direction, he glared menacingly at her. “This is far from over.”

She nodded. “I’m sure, but for now it is.” Walker stepped to the side, giving him enough space to step clear of her room. “I’m sure you can find your way out, but I’d feel better showing you the way.”

Verrick shot her one final glance before leaving the room. She hurried for the bedroom door, listening to the final exchange of words between Walker and Verrick.

“Your grandmother may have given you your powers back, but it won’t stop me from using you to get what I want.”

Walker grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at him as he said, “You’d have to kill me, Verrick, to have my powers, and I plan on living a very long and happy life with my mate, so go fuck yourself.” Walker gave him a giant shove and opened the door. With another encouraging push, he helped to escort Verrick from her apartment, slamming the door.

Turning to face her, he looked better than she’d ever seen him. His body was swollen with muscles, and his presence so full of confidence. Sure, he had confidence before. How can he be a billionaire and not exude confidence? Even so, it was nothing compared to the way he was now. He was sexy and seductively primal in his dark and dashing cowboy way.

Never without his hat, Walker popped his hands up, palms facing her. “Before you say anything, I need to say something.” She arched a brow. “Silence, as you can most likely tell, I’ve been reunited with my wolf.” He stepped closer to her, taking only a few long strides to cover the distance between them. Licking his lips, he said, “I think it’s also important that you know I’m a witch and I’ve been given those powers as well.”

Silence gazed up at him. All at once, everything inside her rejoiced at his words. Finally, he had accepted who he was. Too bad it had taken thirty years for him to figure it out.

She leapt up into his arms, wrapping her arms and legs around him, securing herself against him in a fond embrace. Kissing his cheeks repeatedly, she was deeply excited by his news.

She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and said, “Walker, I already knew the Reed family was full of witches. You were the only one who didn’t.”

Chapter Eleven

The way Silence said she knew about his family had Walker scratching his head in wonder. How in the heck did she know he had mystical powers, and why hadn’t she ever mentioned that little supernatural fact to him? What other things did she know that she wasn’t sharing?

“Wait a minute. What are you saying? You knew I was a witch all this time?”

She unlocked her legs and slid down his body, every sweet inch of her caressing him as he allowed her to step back. “Well, I didn’t exactly know you were a witch, but I had my suspicions.” She sighed. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s because I spied on your family as a child.” Her face grew flush. “I was enamored with you, Walker, even when we were kids. I always knew there was something special about you. I assumed it was because you were like me, a wolf, but when I saw your parents fighting one night, using magic, I knew better.”

Narrowing his brows, he asked, “You saw my parents fighting?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Lots of people saw your parents fight. I just caught them using their powers,” she said, stalking into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, and pulling out two beers. He followed her, and she handed him one. “Your parents did their best to pretend affection in public, but everyone knew they had issues because of your father’s drinking.”

He flipped the top off the bottle and took a big gulp, frowning at the irony of chugging back a beer as they discussed his drunken and deceased father. “Yes, well, I can’t say I’m sad that he drank himself to death. I just wish you didn’t have to know that my mother cheated on him.”

Silence gasped. The sound was a heavy rasp as she grabbed hold of his beer, stopping him from drinking so she could ask, “What’s that got to do with anything?”

Feeling ashamed that his mother was an unfaithful woman, he couldn’t look Silence in the eyes. He didn’t want her to believe that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. “I don’t know. I guess I always looked at my mother as a saint, and I wanted everyone else to see her the same way I did.”

She kept her hand wrapped securely around his and the bottle. Staring into her eyes, he felt the intensity of her words before she even spoke them. “Your mother was a saint, Walker. She put up with a man that abused her, beat her, but never once did she let your father hurt you. She found the strength to leave his ass. She always placed herself in between the two of you. You were her life, her everything. She will forever be a woman who has earned my respect.”

His heart swelled in his chest after hearing Silence’s words. He hadn’t realized until now how important it was to earn her respect, and knowing that his mate was a selfless, understanding woman only made him want her more. “Thank you, Silence.”

She smiled and then took her beer into the living room, where she found a spot on the sofa to sit. Gesturing with her hand, she told him, “Make yourself at home. Sorry for the mess, but the maid’s on vacation.”

He grinned and chose to sit right beside her, even though the sofa they occupied had plenty of space for separation. No matter how hard he tried to seem hurt by what she did with Lance, he couldn’t. Feeling the power and demands of the wolf roaring inside him gave him a keener understanding of what the two of them had experienced. She’d been right when she told him that maybe he’d understand the powerful desire and connection if he was the wolf and not just a man. He’d been a fool not to believe her.

“Silence, I want to talk with you about Lan—”

She tossed him a cold glance. “Please, Walker, don’t. I really would rather we didn’t fight. I’m so thrilled that you’ve come to visit me.”

“Would you stop worrying?” he said, reaching out to stroke her hand. “I’m not going anywhere, even if I don’t like what’s said. I promise you that I’m done running from the things I don’t understand. I won’t do that to you ever again.”

Her eyes sprang wide, and he noticed her hands suddenly began to shake. She looked away and placed her beer bottle between her thighs. He could feel her surge of nervousness as she pressed her lips tightly together.

A warm jolt of energy swelled inside him. He’d always seen her strong and in charge, but gazing upon the face of the woman with softer emotions had him momentarily speechless. She never looked more beautiful.
Damn, how I want to kiss her, hold her, and make love to her for hours on end.

“I think it’s important that we talk about Lance and what happened before, but I also think you should know that I’m not angry about it anymore.”

With an arched blonde brow, her gaze darted to meet his. “You’re not?”

He smiled. “No, I’m not, but I do think we should make sure he never comes between us again.”

Her eyes immediately rounded, widening to display her surprise. He wasn’t caught off-guard by her reaction. “Do you expect that I’ll never want to be with Lance again?”

“Do you want to be with him again?”

She swallowed hard as she held his gaze. “I’ll never lie to you, Walker. It’s not in my nature to lie.” He sensed her anguish and tucked his arm around her. She trembled.

“Silence, I told you before that I might not like what you have to say, but I’m not going anywhere,” he reassured her, pulling her a little closer to his side. The moment he held her this way, he felt as if a shield of protection surrounded them, a magical essence encasing them together.

She nodded and said, “You must know now that I won’t have a choice with Lance.” Her eyes glistened with tears as she stared up at him. “If those feeling arise between us, I’ll give in no matter what my heart says. He’s claimed me, and you know what that means now.”