Read Doctor Wolf (The Collegium Book 4) Online
Authors: Jenny Schwartz
Family dinner went ahead, but it was later than normal and discussion kept circling back to Brandon, his criminal network, and how the marshals were dismantling it.
Liz sat beside Carson and ate fish in lemon-thyme sauce while her dad vowed to commit himself to combating the scourge of human trafficking.
“We have a name, now. Herman Lee,” David said, expertly and automatically de-boning his plaice. “Interpol thought he was a minor player. He’s hidden himself in plain sight.”
“Do they know where he is, now, Dad?” Steve asked.
“The guess is Libya. His cover story is that he’s a weapons merchant and mercenary contractor. He has contacts across Africa.”
“So do we,” Fay and Steve said in unison. Their grimness lifted momentarily as they smiled at each other.
“Hiding in a warzone and fixated on acquiring an elixir of immortality. The ironies just keep rolling.” Natalie shook her head. “A man afraid of losing his life, trades in lives.”
John’s voice held the gravitas of an Old Testament prophet. “If you were that evil, you too would fear to die and be judged.”
“Or to leave behind all the treasures I’d collected at the price of other people’s lives. Greedy, sick bastard.” Natalie shuddered.
Liz took advantage of the pause in conversation. “What did you do with Brandon’s body?” she asked Steve. It wasn’t dinner table conversation, but she had to know.
“Mom remembered he had two daughters,” Steve said. “For their sake, he couldn’t just disappear. Albert got involved. We staged a car accident.”
To explain the burns
, Liz finished silently. She nodded. “Thank you. I wouldn’t want his girls left wondering, hoping he might return.”
“Fearing it, more like,” her grandfather growled.
But Liz thought Brandon’s love for his daughters had involved some element of truth. At least, she hoped so. She’d hate to think their pack had harbored pure evil.
Carson put a hand on her knee.
Their mate-bond wasn’t sending words any more, but she didn’t need it to know he was there, to feel his reminder of love and support. She smiled at him.
Her mom sighed, happily.
As clear as if written in neon lights, Liz knew Michelle was contemplating organizing a second wedding.
It would be fun. And Liz wanted to think to the future and of good things.
The fish course was cleared and they ate roast duck with a spicy orange glaze and tender greens, and talked about the gentians. John and Carson were going to go public; not completely, but they’d contact a pharmaceutical firm associated with the Collegium. Its healers and botanical mages would help with proving the Elixir Gentians. One less secret, one less threat.
Liz wanted Carson to be safe. He was determined to ensure she was.
She scraped up the last of her dessert—tiramisu, yum!—and sighed. “It’s good to be back to normal.”
“Whatever normal is.” Steve smiled at her.
She grimaced comically at him. Older brother teasing was the essence of normality.
But as comforting as it was to spend time with her family, she was glad to walk out with Carson to his car. Glad that they’d be alone together. His car was secondhand, a very ordinary sedan painted white, practical and cheap. She didn’t care about their differences in wealth and, fortunately, nor did he.
Her family waved goodbye from the steps of the mansion.
Since they were all weres, they’d all sensed the mate-bond between her and Carson—and approved. Well, Fay hadn’t sensed it, but she’d definitely approved. Then again, since Carson had saved Liz’s life for a second time, how could they not welcome him to the family?
“Do you know you’re my hero?” She turned her head against the car seat’s headrest and smiled at him as he drove down the long driveway. Through the trees, the lights of the Dower House were briefly visible. Daria would be truly safe, now. Brandon was gone, and Liz’s dad and brother wouldn’t rest until his network of human traffickers was destroyed.
But instead of returning her smile, Carson frowned. “About that.”
She straightened sharply enough that her seatbelt locked. Impatiently, she tugged at it. “What do you mean?”
“John had a word with me.” For once, Carson’s big hands moved restlessly on the steering wheel. He raised a couple of fingers to flick an acknowledgement to the guard at the gate, then turned onto the public road.
“Grandfather spoke to you about our mate-bond?” she ventured cautiously.
“Only in passing.” He kept the car’s speed steady, just at the limit. The lights of the car in front of them vanished into the night. “Your whole family seems to approve of our mate-bond.”
“That’s what I thought.” She waited, tensely. “Are you worried about what your family will say?”
“Heck, no. They’ll love you.”
“Aw.” She squeezed his arm.
He glanced at her briefly as more traffic caught up with them and headlights dazzled in their rear view mirror, then dimmed as the cars passed them. “John wanted to talk about who will take over as alpha from him.”
“Oh?” Liz locked her hands together in her lap.
“Brandon was the front-runner. Now, that he’s gone, John indicated that there’s space for another candidate to step up. I told him I intend to stay in London with you and join the Beo Pack.”
Liz squealed. “You will? You are?”
Carson pulled over and parked at the side of the road. He rubbed his ear. “Yeah.”
She undid her seatbelt and flung herself at him.
He grinned at her as their kiss ended. “I know your pack is important to you, and I don’t mind where I’m based. As long as you can handle my occasional expeditions?”
“Absolutely. I’ll go with you!”
Love pulsed along their mate-bond. Carson liked her answer.
“And we’ll visit your family lots.” She caressed his jaw. “Why would you worry about my response to you joining the pack? I’m thrilled to stay in London.”
“I knew that bit. You’re embedded in your pack and family. They complete you.”
She nodded, glad and a bit humbled at how well he understood her. She could be zany and happy because she had such a strong support network. Over the last few days, she’d relied on it, and mostly on the man beside her, but generally she gave to that network: helping others, feeling grounded by knowing that she belonged.
“John asked if I’d be the Beo Pack’s alpha after him,” Carson said.
Liz froze. She loved her pack, but not this.
“I said no.” Carson looked apprehensive, but determined. The wariness of his wolf showed in his smoky-ice eyes, glinting in the light from the dashboard.
She slumped into him. “Thank heaven.” She tipped her head up and kissed him.
He pulled back to stare at her. “I thought you’d want me to be alpha.”
“Oh no, love. No way. Being alpha means a life invaded by the pack and its problems. I love them, but not in my home. We’d have to move to somewhere huge. That’s how Grandfather handles it. His London home and the estate allow room for wolves to hang out. And can you imagine the uproar at the concentration of power in my family’s hands? Steve’s the Suzerain. Having my mate as head of the Beo Pack would be too much. We’d never have any peace.”
Carson kissed her. “Have I told you I love you?”
“Not in words.”
“Then let’s go home and I’ll show you while I tell you.” He put the car in gear and pulled back into traffic.
Liz smiled. “I can’t wait.”
First, an apology. I haven’t let the geographical realities of London constrain the story in
Doctor Wolf
. So, if you go looking for the Beo Pack in Primrose Hill, you’ll be disappointed. The earl’s mansion isn’t there. On the other hand, Kew Gardens is gloriously real—although I don’t recommend swimming to it as Liz and Carson do!
The Collegium
series is great fun to write, and I hope you enjoy the journey with me. Each novel is a stand-alone story.
Demon Hunter
and
Djinn Justice
both star Fay and Steve, but after that, the books feature new couples.
Reading order (not that it matters):
Plague Cult
(June 2016)
On Film
(August 2016)
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