Wen Read online

  G.L. had always known him too well. “I returned home to discover a naked VampLycan waiting for me in my bed. My father wanted me to take a mate, and he began sending them to my house to test matings. He tried to order me to fuck and bite them, even if I didn’t have the urge.”

  Her mouth parted and he saw jealousy glint in her eyes. He more than understood. “I was furious. He informed me that with Gerbin gone, he and my mother expected a grandchild immediately. They feared something would happen to me too. I had to put locks on my cabin to keep him out, so he couldn’t let more women in. Trayis eventually gave me land farther from theirs after a few years of that bullshit happening every few months, so I built another cabin. One tougher to break into, so my father couldn’t allow women inside to wait for my return.”

  She lowered her gaze to his chest. “Did you test matings with those women?”

  “No. I threw them out.”

  “I’m glad Trayis helped you.”

  He snorted. “It wasn’t just for my sanity; it was pissing off other clans my father had reached out to, looking for unmated women to come meet me. They were insulted when I threw their clothes at them, ordered them to get dressed, and shoved them out of my home. Trayis ordered my father to stop.”

  “Did he?”

  He shrugged. “In a way. He stopped breaking into my home before the women arrived to give them the impression they’d be welcomed when I returned. He’ll probably have one staying with family when I return from this mission to push at me. I’ll get invited to dinner and a woman will be there. My parents do that shit every time I go on a mission.”

  “That must be rough.”

  He studied her and smiled. “I’ve never fucked them, G.L. Not once. I knew it would be pointless because I’m not even attracted to them.” His humor fled. “I also don’t trust anyone who my father sets me up with. They want that grandchild too damn much and I’m sure those women are smart enough to know they’re being used, and they’re allowing it. Hell, they’re willing to birth a child with me knowing I don’t want it.”

  “But it’s not like you could get a VampLycan pregnant unless you mate to one.”

  “That’s not true.”

  She looked surprised.

  “We’re part Lycan. I deal with a lot of them since I go on missions often for the clan. In some cases, they can bypass the mating requirement if their numbers are so low they’re facing extinction as a pack.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Mind-over-matter kind of thing. A Lycan can force her ovaries to work, force herself to ovulate to get pregnant if she’s motivated enough, even if she’s not mated. We’re all aware of what happened to poor Bran.”

  “Who?”

  “Bran. He used to be a member of our clan until one of Decker’s women set her mind to fool him into getting pregnant. She masked the scent of her ovulation and had sex with him. He didn’t even know he had a son until after Veso was born. He left our clan to care for his son, since she didn’t want to raise him, but she refused to allow Bran to bring Veso to our clan.”

  “I never heard anything about that.”

  “We don’t like to discuss it, but since it happened to Bran, every male is given that talk now once they hit adolescence, to avoid a repeat.”

  “Was there a talk about humans?”

  He grinned. “You bet there was. My father lectured me often about how you couldn’t control your body, so I wasn’t allowed to touch you. He didn’t like the way I spent so much time with you. As soon as I started getting boners, he pulled me aside.”

  “I bet he did. Why did that woman do that to this Bran?”

  “Because she was with Decker’s clan. Some of them have no honor. Decker wanted stronger bloodlines and sent her after Bran. Veso is strong. He refused to become an enforcer for Decker but he’s agreed to be one of Lorn’s, now that he’s taken over.”

  “I’ve missed a lot while I’ve been gone. I can’t believe Decker no longer leads his clan.”

  “It’s been great all around. Now if only Lord Aveoth could find the bastard so he can’t give us more trouble. He’s hiding with the Vampire Council.”

  “Why do you think the council is even bothering to offer him sanctuary?”

  “Are you kidding? To have a VampLycan and a group of his enforcers in their debt?”

  “Got it. Power. Greed.” She paused. “But they already rule all the nests.”

  “Word is that not all Vampire nests like the council.”

  “You mean rogues.”

  “No. Some nests are decent ones, but they don’t want to be under the thumb of the council anymore. The council keeps the peace, from what we know about it, but it’s also are run by a bunch of outdated thinkers. They forbid Vamps from being too friendly with humans or other races.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?”

  He hesitated. “One of the clans has become friendly with a master. I’m not allowed to share too much information but Trayis requested permission to talk to this guy, since we’re dealing with the fallout of Decker going to the Vampire Council. He wanted as much intel about them as possible. This master said the council are a bunch of elitists who think they’re too good for all other races. Mich—” He cleared his throat. “This master is more of a modern thinker. He wants peace between everyone. The council wouldn’t be thrilled if they knew he allowed Lycan packs to roam in his territory, or that he doesn’t treat humans as if they’re cows. He has a rule that none of his are allowed to feed off them. They only use bagged blood in his nest and pay humans to donate it. The council would frown on that.”

  “Because humans are cattle to Vamps.”

  “The council seems to believe that. There are nests who want them disbanded so they don’t have to fear censure if their modern practices ever comes to light.”

  “Would this master be punished if the council found out he lets Werewolves into his territory and pays for human blood so no one is bitten?”

  Wen nodded. “They’d think he was unfit to lead his nest. They’d sanction his death.”

  “Yeah. I can see why the council might need to be disbanded.”

  “That’s for another day. One nest at a time.” He straightened up. “I need to see how many are guarding us during the day. I won’t go far. Lock the door when I leave and scream if anyone comes at you. I’ll stay within hearing distance.”

  She clung to him when he tried to rise.

  He hesitated, peering into her eyes. “What is it?”

  “You changed the subject, I noticed. Why were you so upset when I woke up?”

  He couldn’t help but smile. G.L. did know him too well. “I’m fine. I told you. It was just dreams.”

  “But?”

  “I don’t want to let you go…and I realized what’s going to happen when it’s time for us to part.”

  “Some VampLycan is going to try to bed you.”

  “That won’t happen. It’s just that when I’m with you, I try hard to forget about reality. That dream made me realize nothing will be able to change.”

  “As in, your parents will never let me stay with you.”

  “Yes.” He sighed. “I must recon, G.L.”

  She let him go that time, releasing his hand. “I know. Mission first. Go. I’ll stay on alert.”

  He stood and walked to the door. Gerri was on his heels. He unlocked the door and sniffed, picking up the strong scent of Lycan. He eased out into the hallway without looking back. The door gently closed and he heard the locks slip back into place.

  Chapter Nine

  Gerri glanced around the chain restaurant. “I’m shocked they let us leave.”

  “We have eyes on us,” he muttered, glancing around. “Two Lycans just entered. They followed us all the way here.”

  “I figured.”

  The waiter dropped off their food and Gerri dug in, starving. She swallowed her mouthful and then caught Wen’s eye. “Can they hear us?” She mouthed the words.

  He smil