Authors: Summer Cooper
L
iam’s eyes
flew open searching the room. Glancing to his left, he saw Meagan still sleeping as strands of her dark hair hid her face. He moved the hair gently caressing her cheek at the same time. Meagan sighed softly as she cuddled more against him. Liam smiled.
She was beautiful, not just on the surface. He saw the beauty she protected so carefully. His first impression was frailty, but that was squashed quickly. Liam could see the strength Meagan had, even if she didn’t act like it. He listened to her breathing, feeling her wrap around his heart. Jules was his mate, but he needed to let her go and move forward. Devon was right; it had been too long.
Gerard came to mind dampening the pleasant moment Liam knew he would never stop coming after him and that meant Meagan was at risk. Liam refused to put her in danger; even if it broke his heart to leave her. Liam kissed the top of her head. “I won’t be far, but I can’t risk his hurting you.”
He slowly extricated himself from her sleeping form and quietly slipped out of bed. Liam found a piece of paper and pen, wrote a note to Meagan and left it, along with the silver chain and pendant he wore for her on the pillow. Turning to leave, he caught sight of his leather jacket lying on the chair. He glanced back at Meagan, then headed to the door, leaving his jacket with her.
Without making a sound, Liam headed downstairs, and disappeared into the full darkness of night. Liam knew Gerard came after her once, but decided to count on his wanting Liam enough to come after him first. He mounted his bike and headed off.
M
eagan woke
, still feeling the warmth of Liam’s body on the sheets. She smiled thinking of him. “Liam?” Meagan called out, confused when no answer came. She sat up, noticing the note and silver chain. Her hear stopped, afraid to read the note, but more afraid not to. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she read words scrawled on the paper.
“Forgive my leaving you to wake alone. If I could, I would change the world to be there when you wake. The pendant belonged to my mother, it’s yours now. Trust me. Liam.”
Meagan pressed the note to her chest; tears stung behind her eyes. She didn’t understand what he was talking about, but something told her it had to do with Gerard. Pushing the sheet off, Meagan climbed out of bed and dressed. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and fastened the pendant around her neck. Meagan grabbed the leather jacket and tried it on. Looking at herself in the mirror, she shook her head, “If Mother saw me like this…” Meagan rejected the thought as she smoothed her hands over the new form fitting jeans; something else her mother wouldn’t approve of.
Time to let the old Meagan go.
Meagan headed down the stairs, collecting her car keys along the way. She wasn’t going to let Liam stand in this alone. Meagan’s parents would have thought she’d lost her mind; she met him on the side of the road, slept with him after he saved her from an attack, and now she was rushing out to find him.
Yup, crazy didn’t come close.
Climbing into her car, Meagan started the engine, as she started a new life.
Meagan stopped at the tavern; motorcycles still littered the parking lot. She took a deep breath before heading to the double wooden doors. Then took another breath as she opened the door and walked inside. The multiple conversations stopped as Meagan stood in the doorway covering the panic threatening to send her running. Meagan swallowed, let the door close behind her, and headed to the bar.
Ginger smiled, “You lost honey?” Meagan leaned on the bar, “No. I’m looking for someone.” Ginger’s eyebrow shot up, “He’s not here.” Meagan was surprised at the response. “I didn’t tell you his name.” Ginger snorted, “Didn’t need to. I recognize that necklace. You must be something special to have that and his jacket.” Her expression softened, “What can I get you to drink?”
Meagan glanced at the woman sitting a few stools down. “Just a beer.” Meagan didn’t know anything about beer, but didn’t want to sound like she didn’t. Ginger drew a beer on tap for her. The smile she gave Meagan suggested she understood. Meagan took a sip of the dark liquid; it tasted bitter. She tried not to make a face to give herself away.
The silent conversations started again and surprisingly Meagan relaxed more. “Hey,” she called to the bartender. “Have you seen him tonight?” Ginger stepped back over, “Not since earlier this evening. He had a few then took off. Seemed to be running from ghosts.” Ginger stopped as she glanced at the women who sat next to Meagan.
“You looking for Liam?” The voice was hard, sounding older than she should have. Meagan glanced to her right. “Have you seen him?” The blonde smiled, “Not since we fucked in the bathroom.” She leaned closer; Meagan could smell the heavy alcohol on her breath. “Honey, he was so hard for it. I was happy to oblige.”
Meagan glared at her. She thought about Liam, their night, and the note. She didn’t believe the woman, but inside, she wanted to run. She wanted to turn her car back to the city and her old, safe life. Something kept her planted on the barstool.
“Wendy.” A lean man with crystal-blue eyes leaned on the bar next to her. “I’ve had enough of your shit. Donny!” At the call, a young, red-haired guy moved toward them. “You brought her here, you get rid of her. I don’t want to see her skinny, lying ass around my pack again. Understood?” The kid he called Donny nodded, not hiding the fear in his eyes.
The woman, Wendy, started yelling at them both. “I am not yours to command, Devon McSween.” She stood, the alcohol sending her stumbling back onto the stool. Meagan watched as Devon lowered his mouth to Wendy’s ear. Meagan couldn’t hear what he said, but the look in Wendy’s eyes told her it wasn’t good.
Donny took her by the arm and escorted her out. Devon didn’t move, forcing her go around him. Donny pulled Wendy through the doors, he could be heard yelling at her until the doors closed them out.
Meagan took another sip, not sure of what to do. She swallowed hard when Devon took the stool next to her. “Nice jacket.” Meagan pulled it around her more. She watched as he motioned to Ginger who poured a drink and slid it to him. “What’s your name?”
“Why do you want to know?” Meagan tried to sound brave and unconcerned by him. Inside her heart fluttered wildly, her stomach threatened to expel the small amount she drank. Devon shifted closer, but not threateningly. He lowered his voice. “He’s a brother to me. If you have his jacket then you’re something to him.” Tipping the shot glass back, Devon emptied it in one swallow. “Don’t listen to Wendy. She’s a liar and a whore.”
Meagan tried to cover her shock at his language. She never heard anyone call any woman that. There was rawness to both Devon and Liam that Meagan found appealing. Taking another sip, Meagan started to understand how they embraced life and she only existed on the surface. She wanted to dive into life’s ocean without fear. Turning to Devon, “Yes, he means something to me. I can’t explain why, especially since we only just met. I only know that I need to find him.”
Devon must have understood the emotion in Meagan’s voice and expression. “Liam can take care of himself.” Feeling the frustration as well, Meagan took a longer drink and put the glass down harder than she intended. “Look, I know what happened to Sasha and to Jules. Gerard is going to try to kill him. Please help me find him.”
Devon’s mustache twitched at the mention of Sasha and Jules. “He told you?” Meagan nodded. She glanced around the bar, noticing the other men and women were engrossed in their own business. “Gerard attacked me earlier tonight. Liam saved my life. Liam said he needed to end things with Gerard once and for all.” She couldn’t mask her fear for Liam.
Devon nodded. “I know where he is. I’ll take you there.”
W
endy pushed
on Donny’s back, pointing to the tavern. “Let me off here.” Donny looked back at her, “Are you insane?” Wendy rolled her eyes, “Don’t pretend like you care now.” She climbed off the bike when Donny stopped; the sound of gravel crushing beneath her knee high boots. Wendy glanced back, blowing a kiss to Donny before she stopped outside the screen door. Wendy smoothed down her leather pants and adjusted her shirt to reveal more cleavage.
Hearing the roar of Donny’s engine made Wendy glance back again before opening the door. “Time for you to learn a lesson, Handsome.” The screen door banged closed behind her. Wendy scanned the sea of bikers looking the new piece of meat over. Wendy smiled when she spotted her prey. Striding over, making sure all eyes were on her, she stopped at the table with one man sitting and drinking.
He looked up, “What do you want?” He watched in surprise when she sat down. “I know where he is, better yet, I know where you can find the woman.” Gerard watched her, “Why would one of Devon’s old ladies walk into my tavern to snitch?” Wendy smiled, leaning closer to him, “I don’t belong to Devon or any of his boys. I could belong to you.” Her tone was suggestive.
Gerard smiled, “Come on.” He grabbed her hand and led Wendy through the back door. Pressing her against the concrete wall, Gerard ran his hand up her stomach. He captured her breast, fingers and thumb teasing a nipple roughly. Wendy smiled, groaning with the touch. “I like a man who knows how to handle a woman.”
Gerard snorted, shoved his booted foot between her legs, he kicked them apart. “Don’t worry sugar; I know how to handle a woman like you.” Gerard’s other hand slid down, cupping her between the thighs. His fingers dug into the leather as Wendy ground her hips against them. “Where?” Gerard growled in her ear. Wendy’s breath came in short bursts, not expecting him to take her like this but enjoying the feeling.
She gasped when the hand groping her breast suddenly moved up to envelope her throat. “Where?” Wendy looked at him and smiled, “You like to play rough.” Gerard put more pressure around her neck. Wendy’s eyes widened, she told him what he wanted to know. Realization of her mistake came too late, as her lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Gerard took off on his bike, allowing his rage to wrap around him. Maneuvering his bike along the desolate road, he stopped, and abandoned his bike. He disappeared into the woods, hunting Liam.
D
evon stopped
his bike along the road. Meagan pulled up behind him. Climbing out of the car, she followed Devon into the woods. Meagan’s eyes widened hearing a loud howl. It was like nothing she’d ever heard. It sounded full of grief. “What was that?” Devon didn’t answer, only continued moving through the trees. The howl came again, but this one was different; it was full of rage. Meagan put her hand on Devon’s arm, “Do you know what that was?”
Devon looked in her eyes. Meagan was sure the crystal-blue eyes shifted to something more amber. “You have to be prepared to take him as he is.” Meagan’s brow furrowed. “I told you…” Devon cut her off, “No! Liam is not an ordinary man. Are you sure, you want to know? This is the time to turn back, disappear, and forget about all of this.”
Movement behind Devon caught her attention. It was so fast, Meagan wasn’t sure what she saw, but would have sworn it was a wolf. Not like a normal wolf, this was twice the size of any she’d ever seen. “What was that?” Devon grabbed her arms, turning Meagan toward him. “Answer me; do you
want
to know Liam?”
Meagan yanked her eyes away from the continued movement. She locked eyes with Devon, “Yes.” Devon nodded. What he told her was unbelievable. At first, she thought he was telling her a wild story that mythological werewolves rode motorcycles in northern California. It was impossible, but what she saw just beyond the trees told her differently.
Meagan moved forward, captivated by all of it. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight in the small clearing. Two huge wolves circled each other, fangs bared. One had darker fur with grey streaks, it reminded Meagan of Gerard’s long salt and pepper hair. She looked at the other one, “Liam?” The larger wolf growled menacingly before launching himself at the other. The two rolled, vicious growls filled the air. Both stood back up, Liam attacked Gerard again, this time his jaw closed around Gerard’s throat.
The next howl was a cry of pain forcing the trees to tremble. The larger wolf moved back, the other didn’t move again. Meagan took another step, entering the clearing. The larger wolf turned and looked at her. His fierce expression fell away as he padded over to her. Stopping in front of Meagan, he waited. Meagan reached her hand out slowly. Liam closed the distance, pressing his head into her hand.
T
hree months later
….
M
eagan stretched her arms out
, leaning her head back she let the cool autumn air rush over her exposed skin. She left the leather jack open to feel as much as she could. Feeling the bike accelerate, she fell forward, wrapping her arms around Liam’s waist, her cheek resting against his strong back. The smell of leather mixed with is own natural scent filled her nostrils; it was a heady scent.
Liam eased the bike into the first turn of the Cul de Turini route. The thick gold band on his left hand glinted in the sunshine. Meagan’s hand slipped into his jacket, playfully teasing him. She laughed as he pushed the bike to go faster. Meagan let the wind take her old life as she embraced a new life of freedom.
The End
P
aranormal investigator Charlie Jones
is intrigued when she receives an email about a very strange case. Charlie’s interest is quickly piqued as she receives a second email with further sightings of the bear. Transpiring to not just be any bear, but a mythical creature, Charlie’s interest is captured ever further. Determined to discover the truth, Charlie and her trusted employee Samantha travel to Ursathorpe, expecting to expose a fraud. What they find is mysterious recluse Constable Nicholas Bernard, easy on the eyes but plagued by tragic secrets.
Charlie and Samantha frantically dig for the truth. The mystery deepens as they discover an antique diary that exposes the town’s ancient secrets. Is this book exposing the truth, or a collection of fairytales? Charlie soon learns Nicholas’s secret. A beautiful night together is dramatically followed by Charlie’s kidnapping. Can Nicholas save her without exposing his own secrets to the world? Will a betrayal end in tragedy? Charlie and Nicholas must fight for that chance, each in their own way, to win.