Strange Lake Falls Volume 1 (Strange Lake Falls Series) Read online

  “Anthony, my slave and Lila’s werewolf lover. She didn’t tell you about him? I am surprised. You look exactly like him. For a minute there, I thought you were him. But then, I gutted him and cut his head off. Maybe you are his reincarnated spirit, if you believe it that stuff. It won’t matter, though. I am her destiny. She will mate with me and become my Queen. I look forward to finally making her mine.”

  Laws was shocked. Was that true? Was that why Lila wanted him, because he reminded her of Anthony? Or was Vlad only saying these things to distract him? “I’m her new lover now, that’s all that matters, Vlad.” He taunted the vampire by using his shortened name.

  Vlad bared his fangs and suddenly had his hand around Laws’ neck. “Do you think you are a match for me? I am over 2,000 years old, pup. One twitch and I can break your neck.”

  “Prince Vladrinski, we have been spotted.” One of the other vampires pulled at Vlad’s arm. He threw Laws across the room, making him crash into tables and chairs. Then he was simply gone.

  Chapter 17

  “Laws!” Lila panicked, seeing Laws thrown across the room by Vlad. She tried to rush to him, but Adrian was suddenly there, holding her back.

  Adrian pulled her with him as he directed the other vampires working there. “Bring him to my office and do damage control with the humans.” Adrian shook her a little to get her to stop struggling. “They will bring him to you. Be still, Lila.”

  She had to fight to get her breathing under control. “Is he okay? Was he harmed in any way?”

  “I do not know. They will bring him to my office and you can find out for yourself.”

  Lila let Adrian half-carry her to his private office. She was shaking a little. The idea of Vlad being so close to Laws made her sick. She had to protect him somehow. She paced the office until Ric slammed the door open and the twins followed him in, carrying Laws. They laid him down on a nearby couch. The moment they stepped back, Lila rushed to Laws’ side.

  “Are you hurt?” she asked as her hands hovered over him.

  “Just my pride, and a few bruises.”

  “Who was it?” Adrian asked.

  “Vlad. He had a few of his vamps here with him. Did you get his trail?” He looked over at the twins.

  The twins shook their heads. “We didn’t even see him move, it was so fast. It was like they just disappeared. Can vampires do that? Just vaporize?”

  Adrian frowned. “They used mist to shroud themselves. Vampires can’t truly vaporize, no matter how the movies portray us. But he is older and faster, with enough power to pull the mist and darkness to cover his tracks. Damn! Getting rid of him is going to be harder than I thought.”

  Lila brushed Laws’ hair back from his face. She raised her wrist to his mouth. “Drink from me. My blood will help you heal.”

  Laws shook his head. “No.”

  Ric came over and moved Lila out of the way. “Drink my blood. As Alpha, it will heal you.”

  Laws accepted the wrist offered by his Alpha. Lila turned her head, not able to watch. It hurt, knowing that he would accept anyone’s blood but hers. Laws licked the punctures on Ric’s wrist. The Alpha would heal in minutes.

  “I ripped some of his clothes before he tossed me and I have his scent now. I think we can track him,” Laws told them.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Lila protested.

  “Not if we hit him during the daylight,” Rod argued.

  “Could you leave us alone for a moment?” Lila asked Adrian. He motioned for the rest of them to leave. She waited until she couldn’t hear them at all. Then she turned her attention to Laws, who was glaring at her.

  “You can’t go after Vlad.”

  “Why? Are you worried that your prince will finally meet his just rewards?”

  “No, I don’t care about Vlad. I care about you. He could kill you.”

  “I’m just the substitute anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I’m not Anthony. I may look like him, may be a wolf like him, but I am not him.”

  She felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her. “I never thought you were Anthony. Yes, you reminded me of him, but I know you are not him.”

  “You mean you hoped I was your long dead wolf lover. I am sure it was a horrible disappointment when you found out that I wasn’t him.”

  Pain ripped through her very soul. She wouldn’t cry in front of him. How dare he believe this of her. He should have known her better, he was her mate, damn it! She stepped back. “Thank you for helping with my security. If there is anything you need, I am sure Adrian will take care of it.” She stormed out of the office. She heard him yelling for her, but she refused to remain in the same room with him. He had stomped on her heart for the last time.

  She didn’t look at anyone else as she approached Adrian. “I would like to go back to my apartment now.”

  “Of course, I’ll take you there myself.” Adrian wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the club by the back way. The twins followed them at a respectable pace.

  Chapter 18

  Laws was furious with himself. He had pushed her away again. He was just starting to get used to the idea that Lila was his true mate, and then he allowed what Vlad told him to plant seeds of doubt in his head. The moment the crap he said to her left his mouth, he knew he was in the wrong. The worst thing was, he couldn’t take any of it back.

  The hurt look on Lila’s beautiful face tore at him. How could he treat her that way? Was he so insecure that he couldn’t handle the idea Lila had possibly loved another? When it came to her, he was simply not himself, he was out of control, and he hated that. But that was no excuse for hurting her like he did.

  He got up and limped out of the office. He found his Alpha and Roxanne waiting for him in the hallway. “Where is Lila?”

  “She went home. Which is where you need to go. You’ve been singled out by this vampire. You need to go,” Ric told him.

  “I need to talk to her.”

  “I think you’ve said enough,” Roxanne said angrily.

  “I need to apologize, then.”

  Ric shook his head. “Save it for tomorrow evening, if she agrees to see you. I have to tell you, Adrian is not going to let you near her right now and I can’t blame him. Go home and get your feelings under control.” Ric walked away.

  Laws knew he was right. But leaving Lila to others was going against everything his wolf wanted.

  “I heard a story from my grandfather once about a mating between a vampire and werewolf,” Roxanne said softly.

  Laws looked at the pretty blond werewolf in surprise. “Your grandfather was an enforcer, right?”

  “Yes. He was an enforcer for the werewolf council for many years. He had to enforce laws he didn’t necessarily believe in, but he did his duty honorably.”

  “I’m sure that he did.” They walked together out of the back of the club and stood in the dark alleyway. “What of the mixed couple?”

  “At the time, most of the packs were on the European continent. The wars had been so bad and a large number on both sides had died. The peace talks were very shaky. The werewolf council had gotten word that a vampire named Marcus had mated with a female werewolf named Rina. It was taboo and the council feared such a pairing would bring about a dangerous half-breed that would kill without thought or soul. So the council sent the enforcers after the couple to eliminate the threat.”

  “You mean kill … they sent the enforcers to kill them. Just because they mated.”

  “I am not saying they were right. But in the midst of fear and death, people make decisions that are not always logical.” She waited before she continued her story. “Anyway, my grandfather came across a cabin in the woods and the smells were of both vampire and werewolf. He knew he had found them. He sent word to the other enforcers to call off the search, saying that he handled the situation.”

  Laws growled. “He killed them?”

  �
�I didn’t say that!” Roxanne defended her grandfather. “My grandfather was an honorable man and served his council for years. But when he walked into that cabin, he come up across a scared woman giving birth and a loving husband ready to die to protect them.”

  “So they were able to breed?”

  “Are you going to keep interrupting my story?”

  “Sorry.”

  She looked out into the darkness, as if she was seeing something that he couldn’t. “He came back to the council and presented his bloody sword, with the combined scents of werewolf and vampire coming from the blood. Right after that, he resigned his position as enforcer and retired to be with his family.”

  “Did he kill them?”

  She smiled a secret smile. “He made sure others followed the laws, but there were times that the laws were wrong. During those times, he followed what was in his heart.”

  Laws was relieved. “He let them go?”

  “He did.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “All I know is that he told them to take a ship and leave the continent. They did. He never heard from them again, but he always hoped they survived and prospered. He never told anyone but me and my dad because he didn’t want to put us in danger if the council found out what he had done.”

  “Thanks for telling me, Roxanne. I really need to go check on Lila.”

  “Can I give you some advice?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Don’t go to her unless you know what you want from her. She clearly sees you as her mate and from her behavior tonight, you practically ripped her heart out. If you decide you want to claim her, then see her tomorrow and don’t let her push you away, no matter what hurtful things she says. If you don’t want to claim her, keep your distance.”

  “I don’t think I can stay away from her.”

  “You might not have a choice in the matter if you can’t commit to her. Adrian looked like he was ready to tear your head off.”

  “I’m not scared of Adrian Belliveau.”

  “You should be.”

  Chapter 19

  Adrian stayed with Lila for hours, but she finally sent him home to his mate. She had gone to bed early, feeling completely drained of all energy. It was too early for her to be up, the sun had just risen. She didn’t know why she was awake when her whole body felt so lethargic. The stress and lack of feeding had wiped her out. But there was something in the air, an energy that was pulling at her.

  She scented Laws first and smiled, keeping her eyes closed. His masculine woodsy smell was already so addicting to her. Then she felt large, rough hands running slowly up her legs. Those hands pushed her nightgown up higher and higher. She would know those hands anywhere. She loved those hands and how they brought her such pleasure wherever he touched her. His warm breath was heavy against her skin and her body reacted immediately. Her nipples hardened and her pussy clenched.

  “I’m mad at you,” she groaned as her panties were slowly removed.

  “I know. I deserve your anger,” Laws agreed as he made small love bites against the inside of her thighs.

  She should shove him off of her. But the thing he was doing with his tongue was absolutely sinful. “Are you injured still?” Her fingers reached down and gently gripped his hair to keep him right at her entrance. His tongue swiped at her seam, taking her juice. He growled against her and the vibrations traveled up her entire body.

  “I am mostly healed.” He was on the outside, but he had done damage to both of them on the inside with his anger and careless words. He needed to do something about that.

  “You should not be here.”

  “I know I was an ass. I said things I didn’t mean. Let me make things up to you. Please don’t send me away.” He licked deep inside her, making her hips move and thrust against him.

  “I am not a doormat, to so easily forgives someone who purposely hurts me. Sex will not fix everything.” Even as she said it she felt herself meeting him thrust for thrust as he inserted his thick fingers and pumped in and out of her.

  He raised up over her to look down into her beautiful eyes. “I would never think of you as a doormat. You are very strong, and sexy as hell. You make me feel things I have never felt before. I am trying to understand what it is between us, and I am a little afraid.”

  His admission surprised her. “You don’t seem afraid of anything.” She turned her head as he lowered his mouth to her neck.

  He used his large hand to tilt her face so she would look at him. “These strong feelings I have for you are stronger than anything I have ever felt for anyone, and that scares the shit out of me.”

  “It scares me, too,” she admitted softly.

  “We’ll take it slow. I want you to trust me.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know …”

  “Shhh…” He kissed her to stop her from finishing her sentence. “Just let me show you how it could be between us.”

  He licked the spot right behind her earlobe. Then he nibbled her ear. Lila moaned with need.

  “Easy, beautiful, I’ll take care of you.” He kissed his way down her chest, tasting every inch. He suckled her sweet nipples. “You are so responsive to my every touch.”

  She had known a few lovers in her time, but none of them made her feel this tremendous need. Every lick, nibble, and touch he gave her inflamed her entire body. She would never get enough of him. Never.

  “I need you now. I can’t wait, Laws.”

  “Me either.” He rose up over her. He wanted to see her eyes as he claimed her. He entered her slowly, inch by inch. She was so tight and warm. He felt his wolf there near the edge, but he didn’t try to push through, he was just happy to be there, feeling his mate at last. Their mate. The realization was astounding. He paused what he was doing.

  Lila frowned up at him. “Everything okay?”

  “Perfect.” He moved in and out, making his way all the way inside her. They were so connected, he didn’t know where he ended and she began. He needed a deeper connection; he needed to be mate to mate. “Bite me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “You are my mate and I am claiming you, Lila. Now bite me.” He growled with approval when she buried her teeth in the side of his neck, taking his blood into her as she accepted his cock.

  His rhythm picked up speed. He was so close to the edge. He waited until she was done feeding from him. Then he pulled out of her.

  “Don’t you fucking dare stop!” Lila yelled at him.

  “I’m not stopping! There is nothing in this world that will make me stop.” He turned her over onto her hands and knees and placed his cock at her entrance. He plunged deep at the same time that he planted his teeth deep at her shoulder. He erupted. Wave after wave of his seed shot inside of her, filling her. He didn’t know how long he came, but by the time his body was done and he had released her shoulder, they were both sweating and breathless.

  Chapter 20

  As they lay together, still connected physically, Laws caressed her gently. “Tell me about Anthony.”

  Lila took a deep breath, then she told him. “I was just a girl in the vampire world. I didn’t have my powers yet. Vlad came to our estate and demanded that I be given to him so we could breed natural born vampires. My parents refused and he killed them. I was so young and scared, I couldn’t think straight and he easily took me into his keeping. I was taken to his fortress and held there. At first I was given a nice room, but after I made several attempts to escape, he became angry and locked me in the dungeon. Anthony was one of the werewolf slaves that worked in the dungeon area. Since I was young and could stay up during the day without any problem, I found myself looking for Anthony when he came on shift.

  “Anthony’s pack was taken by surprise by Vlad’s vampire soldiers. Many died, including Anthony’s mate. But his parents managed to escape with Anthony’s baby daughter. Vlad took some of the survivors as slaves. Anthony would have fought them to the death, but Vlad threatened to h
unt down his parents and daughter and kill them, too, if he didn’t cooperate. So he allowed Vlad to chain him with a bespelled silver collar that kept him from attacking his master. It also kept him from shifting into his wolf.

  “I begged Anthony to set me free. He swore he would find a way. I reminded him of his mate. She had been young, too. One morning he came to me and opened the door. He unchained me and led me to a river and a boat. He was going to come with me, but then Vlad’s soldiers showed up. Anthony set my boat off in the river while he led the soldiers in the opposite direction. I heard him howl one last time, then no more. I knew he had died. I was told later by some travelers I met that many of those who betrayed Vlad had their heads cut off and put on a spike. I knew then that’s what had happened to Anthony.”

  “I am so sorry you had to go through that. It makes me want to kill Vlad even more now.”

  “Please don’t go after him. Anthony had become my friend, and I hurt for a long time after his death. But if something happened to you, my soul would be crushed.”

  “I feel the same way about you.”

  “Tell me how you were changed into a werewolf?” Lila prompted him.

  “I was in my mid-twenties and thought I was on top of the world. I was passing through Strange Lake Falls on my way to the East Coast for a job interview. I was attacked by lone wolves and left to die. The Alpha found me and asked if I wanted to live or die. I chose to live. I found that I loved being a werewolf. The power, the ability to shift to wolf, it was amazing. It felt like I was always supposed to be a werewolf.”

  “Why did you leave your pack?”

  “I felt the wolf in me pushing to find our mate. So I left to search for her.” Was she ready to hear him say it?

  “Why did you stay away so long?”

  He took a deep breath before continuing. “I was captured and tortured for years by werewolf hunters. They tossed me aside, assuming I was almost dead. But I was found and taken to a hospital. I was in a coma for a while. When I finally woke and was able to heal, I searched for the hunters, seeking vengeance. I found a few of my tormentors, but the main ones were long gone from the area. I didn’t want to waste any more of my time on those assholes. So I came back to Strange Lake Falls, hoping to rejoin my old pack.”