THE WOLF'S DESTINY

CHAPTER 2

DAMN IT, NO. THE BITCHES HAD ASKED FOR TROUBLE AND AS MUCH TOLD Lelandi that Larissa had been slain for being a red.

She let the women’s obscenities in by opening the bathroom door and closing it after her. The males sat next to the women and turned their heads from Lelandi to the ladies room. Sorry, boys, but the gals need to do a little cleaning.

Sam signaled for Silva to investigate after Lelandi sat down again and the ladies still hadn’t left the restroom.

Lelandi should look for her missing brothers and uncle at this time, perhaps. Ignore the fact that Larissa fled and was slain, leaving Lelandi to face with Bruin’s pack on her own. She could also choose to remain and endure the wrath of a group of irate grays.

She stayed out of pride and a good lot of stubbornness. Lelandi sipped her second margarita coolly, all eyes on the bathroom. Nothing was said. Without a surety, tonight they would all kill Lelandi while she slept. She hoped that she hadn’t come here for nothing. She wasn’t giving up, though.

Silva emerged from the restroom with her head wobbling, her lips pursed, and her eyes glimmering with mirth. She walked by the males who were with the women and arched her eyebrows at them. She looked over at Darien.

Awaiting an update. She grinned more before speaking to Sam.

For the young woman, the next margarita is on me, Silva. Tom grinned and winked at Lelandi.

Shaking her head, Lelandi Water is going to be OK.

Ritka scowled as the three women filed out of the restroom, her swollen right eye already turning black and blue. Lelandi was reasonably confident that her jab to the gray’s throat would prevent her from talking much for a time. Yet, Angelina was still clenching her gut, and Hostene’s face was dark with rage.

Lelandi was the next to be examined after the women. She wasn’t competing to replace the pack leader’s b***h, though.

She assumed it was time to devise a fresh strategy.

This one was most definitely failing.

Darien Silver observed the young woman, who had to be the identical twin of his mate. Needed to be. The voice sealed the deal. He initially assumed she was some obnoxious person using his chair and table, and he was perplexed as to why Sam hadn’t ejected her from the premises. At least he had assumed she was a person. The visual acuity of Lupus Garous was remarkable. Only people could wear glasses. The pierced earrings, too. In their wolf form, no lupus garou would be seen dead with pierced earlobes. Or, for that matter, wear a watch. The straight black hair didn’t resemble that of his deceased partner, and the blue eyes froze him in place. He believed the perfume she had soaked herself in was a ruse to make all the men in the tavern hot and uncomfortable, but for Lupus Garous, the scent had been a revelation.

Their eyes burned, the fragrance was overpowering, and it had the opposite effect.

Her voice was all it took to cause goosebumps to break out all over his body.

He insisted that he saw his late wife drinking margaritas, something that she would never have done. She was a wine lady, in essence. Moreover, how did this woman treat the females in his pack? His mate never would have succeeded.

He calmed himself by taking a deep breath and telling himself the woman wasn’t his mate. Her petite face was dominated by the big Stetson and the bug-eyed, rose-colored glasses; otherwise, she only resembled her when he looked at her carefully. But, she couldn’t be more unlike his beloved Lelandi in terms of personality. Yet his people appeared to have already made up their minds. Lelandi was going to attack her once more now that he was back.

In a million years, no. Because she was mentally ill and unable to handle the pressure of dating the pack leader and not being one of them in the first place, she had killed herself. No, it wouldn’t take place again. A gray would come next, but not one from his pack. Lelandi couldn’t forgive the eligible ladies who had disliked him, with the exception of Silva.

He drank his third beer whole and then laid his glass aside. He made an effort to watch his fellow citizens in an effort to forget about his deceased companion, but the woman seated at his table fiercely diverted his attention. What in the world was she doing even here? Coming to claim the body of her sister? Shout at him for driving her sister to the brink of a cliff? He didn’t require assistance from anyone else because he had been feeling guilty enough about her death for the previous three weeks. Too few beers present

He could easily forget the expression of final tranquility on Lelandi’s face.

He gave a headshake. He typically waited until the store closed, but tonight he wanted to leave. How would it appear if the pack leader was unable to handle seeing his late wife seated at the adjacent table?

He poured himself another beer while harboring an inner growl. Darien: “Twin sister, don’t you think?” His youngest triplet lifted his brows and inquired, “Tom?”

“Yeah. Lelandi claimed she had lost all of her relatives. It appears that she lied. Darien was not pleased by this, but it was too late to express his resentment.

Why do you suppose she is in this location? Tom touched the perspiring glass with his hand.

“It must have something to do with her sister,”

Do you believe the woman believes Lelandi was killed? Jacob queried.

Darien gave him a stern look. “What the hell is going through your head?”

Jake gave a shrug. Why wouldn’t she come meet with you and explain why she’s here? Why would she strive to hide who she was? I can only conclude that she does not believe Lelandi’s death to have been an accident. She is also conducting her own research.

“Hell.” Darien scowled at the red, imagining how her hair would look if it weren’t that ugly black tone, which was far too harsh for her pale, creamy skin.

It appears that she treated the women badly who were trying to trick her. Tom beaming.

It implies that there will be more problems. As gloomy as Darien felt, so was Jake’s voice.

Darien looked across at Tom. I ask that you—

She is departing, Jake cut in.

The tavern’s discourse abruptly came to an end.

Don’t mess with me, her entire body language said as she moved toward the door with her hands clenched in fists and her boots clicking on the wooden floor. He yearned to pursue her and lay claim to her, just like he had done with her sister, despite his desire to deny it. His want to kiss her pursed lips, feel her tender, bare skin beneath him, and make love to her as he had made love to her sister overcame him.

Without a doubt, he was losing it.

He watched her open the door while remaining seated with the utmost control. Tom, follow her. Track her movements and, by all means, spend the night with her.

You’re sure? Do you truly mean it? Tom asked, sounding overly optimistic.

Please keep them from reaching her, okay?

Jake intervened, “He means, don’t allow anyone screw with her, and that includes you.”

Tom looked at Darien to get approval. Who was he to object if his brother desired her and she was willing? If she wanted a mate and Tom was interested, that was great because their race wasn’t into casual s*x. Darien had no intention of continuing along that path. Be certain that none of our staff bother her by doing whatever is necessary.

Tom seemed like he had Jake under control. “Darien, thank you. I’ll look after her. The door slammed behind her, and he ran after Lelandi’s sister.

Darien wanted the woman to be left alone because sending Tom after her would have alerted the rest of his people in the tavern, and word would have rapidly traveled to the others. He would hold everyone who crossed the line responsible.

Jake scraped his glass back and forth across the wooden table.

Darien gave him a scowl. Whoa, Jake!

You ought to speak with the woman, don’t you think?

Discover her purpose for being here.

What led you to believe Lelandi was killed? “Brother, you’ve got your head in the sand on this one. Many of them think she was murdered, but when they see me, they stop talking. Nobody will divulge their suspicions to Tom or me.

“Is there a plot?”

“No. At least not in my opinion. Unless they’re trying to protect someone or they’re worried you’d get too angry if you found out the truth.

The majority of the pack thinks I’d be happier assuming she killed herself, right?

Jake turned his head in an odd direction. “Yeah. It might shock the entire pack if we have a murderer among us. Everything would be much cleaner if she committed suicide.

She wrote her own suicide note, which was left behind. She committed suicide. Story over.” Darien sipped on his beer once more, but this time it tasted sour.

Why don’t you speak the truth to her sister instead? Why send Tom, who is sure to mess up everything? Jake gave Darien his first truly nasty grin in a while as his mouth twisted up. “If he becomes fresh, he might start to resemble Ritka with a bright new eye.”

Darien disregarded his remark. “Lelandi must not have had any brothers if a twin sister is investigating what happened.”

“We had no idea she had a family at all.”

In an effort to release the tension building there, Darien stroked his forehead. Even while the agony of her passing would never go away, seeing her sister-in-law brought everything rushing back tenfold. He was upset with his partner for killing herself, though. Darien loathed himself for not having stronger self-control, but Doc insisted that it was a necessary part of the grieving process. The only emotion he should permit himself to have is regret. I’m starting to suspect that I didn’t know much about my partner.

Jake turned to look at their regular table. “If I were in her position, I would tell the woman what I thought and have her leave. She could cause things to spiral out of control if she stays. The other women seem to believe she wants to replace her sister as your partner.

Darien hissed, “That would be the damned day,” but a stab of need messed with his emotions, and his brother didn’t seem to believe him at all.

Lelandi heard the door creak open and shut not far from the tavern. Tom was approaching her with long strides and a smile on his face as she peered over his shoulder.

Great. Just wonderful If one of his brothers followed her, how in the world was she going to implement Plan B and break into Darien’s home to look for clues about Larissa’s death while he was drinking in the tavern?

She gave him a frustrated glance. His eyes glittered with much too much interest, and his lips curled even more. She went in the direction of the Hastings B&B.

Assuming that if Tom moved into the lobby, she would sneak out via her room’s window.

Tom joined her before she reached the brick structure, standing so close that she could feel the warmth of his body. Are you Lelandi’s sister, or what?

Larissa’s, she said in response.

He slightly bent his head. “Up until I heard you speak, I wasn’t sure. You certainly upset Darien. Yet, he needed to be rescued from the horror in which he had been toiling.

She swung her head around when she heard the familiar sound of danger—the clicking sound generated when a gun’s safety is turned off. She instantly wished she had had her gun in her purse. Yet until she needed it, it was tucked under the mattress. She feared that she needed it right away.

Tom took hold of her arm. He murmured, “Wait.

A new worry pricked at her flesh. He too had heard of it. She had prayed that she was mistaken.

His voice was quiet as he announced, “Nine-millimeter.”

A shot was fired before they could react, and Tom shrieked and pushed Lelandi behind him before falling to his knees. “Run! Return to the tavern now!

Tom had been shot by the i***t, oh no! She grabbed his arm and attempted to move him, but he was like dead weight as he fell to the ground and went out. He had blood splatters on his face. He had been hit in the temple by the bullet.

She couldn’t get to the tavern because the shooter had emerged from the shadows. If only the murderous guy didn’t have such a frown on his face. He appeared to have been living on the run for a while based on his scruffy black beard, messy hair, and rumpled clothing.

Days. Despite the fact that she was upwind of him, she was unable to determine if his eyes resembled those of a wolf or a human.

His rifle was pointed towards her. Silver linings or everyday?

What do you desire? She attempted to buy herself some time as her heart raced.

Did anyone heard the shooting in the busy tavern? She was too far away to physically confront the shooter. Lelandi wanted to retrieve her gun, but if she ran for the inn, he may murder Mrs. Hastings or the twin girls who were loitering in the lobby.

Now when she needed Ural’s assistance, where the hell was he? His evil canines might eliminate the threat if he were, as she feared, in wolf form. There was no time to get dressed up and transform into the wolf by herself.

Out of options, she did the only thing she could think of to mobilize assistance for Tom and perhaps scare the reluctant shooter away. She yelled.

Once, twice, and three times were fired as the shooter’s eyes enlarged, his lips curled downward, and he pulled the trigger. She was thrown against the brick structure by the impact of the bullets that tore through her chest, and she almost passed out. No pain was initially felt as she fought to keep upright. He stared at her as if she were the devil incarnate when she didn’t instantly pass away there and then.

Her brain processes briefly threatened to shut down as the pain then hit her hard. Her mind snapped into focus when he raised his gun.

With the intention of turning around as quickly as possible and getting help for Tom, she sprinted into the woodland that surrounded the village. She would give the shooter a serious challenge.

“blood money,” I’m glad they didn’t burn as silver bullets would have. If she could find safety and give her body time to recover, she would survive.

“Holy blood!” Her attacker ran after her.

Her entire body was now wracked by stabbing pain, and she could feel hot blood oozing from the wounds. She felt her legs thinning as her heart continued to pump more blood out each second.

Run, Lelandi, damn you. If there was ever a time to push herself, now was it.

She scrambled over fallen, rotten trunks, dodged around trees, and clawed her way through dense bush while branches snapped several yards behind her. She again assumed that the shooter was a human due to the amount of noise he was making. Good. He was unable to detect her scent or the trail of blood she was leaving behind. But, given how much the breeze was varying, it might be possible to hide her whereabouts. Oh no, she was wearing so much perfume that perhaps even a person could follow her. She made an effort to stay to his south.

The operative word here is ”tried,” as each of her senses was beginning to fail.

She could no longer hear the breeze rustling through the firs or the birds singing in the trees; all she could hear was her labored breathing and the roar of her blood in her ears. She erred in her assessment of the terrain due to her blurry sight. The ground appeared to quake. She then lost her balance.

She slashed and skinned her hands while grabbing onto bushes and brambles in an attempt to stop herself from falling down the steep incline. She first misplaced her hat, then her spectacles. One earring was scratched off by a branch, then the other. Her hair was wrapped around every limb in

As she rolled, the branches and twigs in her path released their grip on her, pulling at her scalp. She gritted her teeth as she descended, smashing against rocks and tree stumps as her entire body was pummeled and scarred.

She briefly fretted about the hideous disguise and the trail she had left for the would-be assassin. Then, something big, harsh, and rock-hard smacked her back. Her brain was short-circuited when the pain traveled straight up her spine.

She was surrounded in complete darkness as all of her senses went blank.