Howl My Name (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Grayslake Book 5) Read online

  Reid jerked his head toward the back of the house and then turned to leave. No question. A demand.

  Katherine clung to her hand, claw-tipped fingers digging into her skin and she gently extracted herself. She didn’t wince with the sting as those nails sliced into her flesh. Katherine had more to worry about—the child growing inside her—than a few scratches on the dead Itan’s daughter.

  “Wait,” the woman whimpered.

  “I’ll be right back,” Evelyn gave her a small smile, trying to comfort her with the expression.

  “No, you don’t understand. I heard people talking. You don’t know who he is,” Katherine whispered the words as if she expected to be harmed for saying them aloud. “Wait.”

  Evelyn stopped trying to get away and paused, laying her palm atop Katherine’s stiff hand. She met the female’s gaze, imbuing the look with comfort and strength. “He’s the one who saved Simone from our father. He’s the one who saved the clan from my uncles. He’s the one who will hunt Ezekiel and free us all. That’s all I need to know.”

  “He’s crazy,” Katherine hissed.

  “We’re all a little crazy. Some hide it well; others don’t bother.” With that, she eased from the woman’s hold and flicked her attention to Simone. They were a team now, two sisters against the crazy world they found themselves in. Things were different, unknown and unsteady, and they only had each other. Unless… She looked to the back of the den. Unless they had Reid as well.

  Whispers followed her, but she ignored them in favor of walking in Reid’s wake. She exchanged nods with a couple of the bears, their names forgotten, but she was sure she’d hear them once more. For now, she needed to focus on one particular wolf.

  It was easy to find him, to scent his path to the back door and beyond into the yard. She spotted him leaning against the massive oak that threw shade across half the house, one foot flat on the ground and the other planted on the trunk.

  He looked at ease in the world around him, but something teased her bear, niggled her mind and told her he was anything but relaxed. He was on edge, conscious of his surroundings and gaze flicking through the area as she approached. His wolf thrummed just beneath the surface and Evelyn’s werebear reacted to his unease. It reared onto its back legs, lumbering forward and anxious to face a new threat.

  “Reid?” What did he see? What did he feel?

  Reid met her gaze and like a candle’s flame, his emotions were locked down. The unease vanished between one breath and the next as if it’d never existed. His feelings were gone, leaving a blank mask in their place.

  He extended his arm, hand open and fingers beckoning her. “C’mere.”

  Another order, not a question.

  For some reason, Evelyn couldn’t deny him and she padded forward, placing her hand in his and allowing herself to be drawn to him. He tugged until she was at his side, snuggled beneath his arm in a firm embrace. When he lowered his head, nose in her hair, and drew in a deep breath, that hold tightened further until she could hardly breathe. A rumbling growl soon followed, the sound skating over her nerves and the hair on her arms raised to goose bumps. They were a signal, a sign that his anger wasn’t frustration but something more. Something harder and deeper and… frightening.

  She’d told Katherine they were all crazy and that was the truth. What she didn’t reveal was that she was sure Reid’s insanity ran much deeper than what he revealed to the world.

  It was deep, dark, deadly, and dirty. It reveled in blood and seemed to crave death. She’d seen a hint of it in the basement and heard the whispers of her father’s passing.

  There was more to Reid Bennett than a burning need to right the horrible wrongs.

  “Who?” he rasped. She tilted her head back to meet his eyes. They were full amber though she was slowly becoming used to seeing his wolf so close to the surface. She’d only seen his natural brown once, when he spoke to Simone. As if he knew the amber frightened her little sister. “Who did it?”

  “Did what?” And then his thumb skated over one of the small wounds, rough pad of his finger jarring the scrape. “Oh, that.”

  “That,” he snapped. “Who was it? Who do I have—”

  To kill. She knew the end of his sentence even if he cut it off.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Bleeding is not fine. You bleeding is never fine.” His touch roughened with each beat of his heart and every deep inhale. The more of her blood he scented, the more of his wolf stepped forward.

  “Reid?” she whispered his name, hoping to break him out of his fixation on her wrist. She slipped from beneath his arm and placed her free hand on his cheek, urging him to meet her gaze. “Reid.”

  It was an order. He liked to give them often enough, she could issue one of her own. A movement to their right snared her attention for a moment and she met Asher’s worried gaze. She shook her head in a short, gentle move, hoping to warn him off without Reid catching her, but she was unsuccessful.

  With a snarl he released her, nudging her back in a fluid move as he spun and placed himself between her and Asher. “Get away from her.” One flex had his wolf showing himself; claws out, fur coating his exposed skin and the snap of bone told her other parts of him adopted the animal as well. “Now.”

  Asher lifted his hands, palms out in a show of surrender. “I’m just checking on her, man. Katherine said you were looking pissed and—”

  “I don’t need you out here acting like a talking leash trying to keep me in line,” he snarled, the sound booming through the air.

  The bear didn’t even wince or counter Reid’s statement.

  “You know what I’m here for, man.”

  A rumbling growl was Reid’s only reply. The sound rolling in a gentle promise of pain and blood. But she wasn’t afraid. Not like she’d been with her uncles. Theirs were deeper, darker, twisted, and perverted and they made her quake in her fur. Reid was worse than them. She knew it, felt it, but… it didn’t scare her.

  No, she hurt for him, for the distrust that followed him. She understood the looks now, the flickering hints of worry on the bears’ faces that disappeared as quickly as they arrived.

  They worked for Reid, listened to him, but didn’t trust him.

  “Reid,” she whispered and stepped forward, pressing her front to his back. “Reid.” She laid her hands on his shirt-covered back, fingers splayed on his shoulders. “Reid.” She slid her palms to his arms, sliding them over his fur-covered muscles. “Reid.” She let them wander down his biceps and to his forearms. “Reid.” She encircled his wrists with her fingers. “Reid.” She continued her journey and placed her fingers atop his, matching her small hand to his. “Reid.” One last move, one last press of his hand as she forced his hands into fists and laid her cheek on the center of his back. “Reid.”

  The massive wolf shuddered, his chest expanding with a deep breath and then contracting in a slow exhale. With the action came a retreat of his fur, his muscles slowly decreasing and the carved lines gradually softening as the wolf’s large form softened to his human shape. He carefully pulled his fists free of hers and just as gently encouraged her to wrap her arms around his waist. His fingers were petal soft when he stroked her skin and then his husky voice drifted through the air. The rumble vibrated through her as he spoke and she absorbed every word.

  “Never, ever try to come between us. Never, ever approach me when I am holding her. Never, ever test me in such a way again because I cannot guarantee she could keep me from killing you.”

  Asher’s swallow was audible, not even the birds daring to counter Reid. “I understand.”

  The bear’s steps were quiet as he retreated, leaving them alone, and neither moved while the silence descended. Reid carefully turned, shifting until her chest was flush with his. Then he hugged her, thick arms encircling her in a gentle hug—a move that contrasted with the wolf’s air of danger and violence and she didn’t think many saw this side of him.

  “Don’t do that again,” he ru
mbled and she let his voice sink into her.

  “What?” she whispered.

  “Try to stop me.”

  “Why?” She would always save him, even from himself.

  “Because I can’t guarantee I won’t kill you.”

  Chapter Eight

  Shit, he wished he had a smoke. Just one. Hell, he wouldn’t even have to light it up. Simply hold it and think and try to figure out his fuck up.

  I can’t guarantee I won’t kill you.

  It was the truth, but he probably should have said it a little nicer. Or… not said it at all. Clary would have urged him to work through his emotions and shit and do some anger cleansing exercises. Then she would have taken away… something. Or prescribed yoga. He hated yoga.

  Gutting Asher was exercise. He’d enjoy it. Unlike yoga.

  Had he mentioned he hated yoga?

  Instead of gutting Asher, he sat on the front porch not smoking or drinking coffee because Clary was a bitch, while waiting for Terrence’s guys to make their appearance. He didn’t expect them for a while—around lunchtime and the sun was only rising above the mountains—but sat outside anyway. He wouldn’t admit he was hiding from Evie. Had been since yesterday. He didn’t want to see her disgust or fear after their confrontation with Asher.

  He wished he could apologize for what he said, claim the words were nothing more than anger fueling his actions and he wouldn’t really hurt her. He wished he could make that promise, but history told him there was no way he could make that vow. Not when he was pretty sure he’d break it if shoved too hard. He shied from those memories, from the time he was pushed and he pushed back.

  He settled on the top step, watching the day break while keeping his eyes on the tree line. Around five, he’d sent three males into the forest to hunt for Ezekiel—hoping the male came back to search for their weaknesses—and none had called in with good news. Ezekiel had vanished and not a peep was heard. Didn’t bother Reid, though. Zeke would turn up and that was when Reid would take him down. Quick and easy. Hopefully bloody.

  Then… then he didn’t know what he’d do. He knew what he wanted, but wanting and getting were two different things. In Reid’s world they never coincided. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t hope he’d get his way this time around. Mainly because he wasn’t sure he could walk away if Terrence decided Reid was needed elsewhere and gave the clan to another.

  Terrence giveth and taketh away. A bit sacrilegious, but Terrence was god to this corner of the U.S.

  The first clue a newcomer came near was the soft patter of feet on wood inside the house. Then the low squeak of the front door and the groan of the screen’s hinges. That patter picked up on the porch and didn’t stop until she stood beside him. She.

  Reid recognized each sound, cataloged it, but it was her scent that truly had him acknowledging her presence. He tilted his head back, exposing his throat to her in a move that surprised him. Anyone else and he’d roll to his feet to meet them eye to eye. With her? He made himself vulnerable, he told her without words that his life was in her hands and she could end it if she desired.

  “Hi.” Smooth, Reid, smooth.

  “Hi,” her voice was soft and questioning. Uneasy, unsure and… unacceptable.

  The wolf growled and grumbled at her tone, forcing him to take action. Part of him knew he should drive her away, hurt her, and make her run from him. The other part, the part ruled by the animal and its base desires, told him to draw her close and destroy any that threatened their… mating.

  Mate. The word flooded his blood. Mate. The word filled his heart. Mate. The word resonated in his soul and he was forced to accept it.

  Mine wasn’t an abstract concept, it was a bone deep truth and he couldn’t avoid the realization any longer.

  She belonged to him and he’d defend that ownership until death.

  And he knew she felt the same. At least somewhat. Some part of her had to see she belonged to him as well.

  Yet… she was a half-shifter. Something he knew from her scent and his talk with Terrence. If her feelings didn’t match his, he’d make sure they did eventually through whatever means necessary short of hurting her.

  He couldn’t harm his mate to save his life.

  That thought immediately calmed his unease from earlier.

  I can’t guarantee I won’t kill you. Yes, he could give her that guarantee.

  Reid reached for her, snaring her hand and drawing her down beside him. No, that wasn’t close enough. Not nearly. He continued his pull until she rested on one thigh, her head immediately nestling onto his shoulder and her face against his neck.

  His wolf rumbled with his happiness, the animal overjoyed at her closeness. It didn’t want to let her out of its sight. Not now. Not ever.

  “What are you doing out here on your own?” She didn’t raise her voice, her question soft like a gentle wind.

  “Better question is why you’re risking your life by getting close to me?”

  She smiled against his neck. “Because I don’t really think you’ll hurt me.”

  “That’s not what everyone else says.”

  Evie went quiet and he wasn’t sure she’d speak again. Didn’t really matter though. He had her close and that’s all he cared about. “Everyone else hasn’t seen what I’ve seen.”

  Wasn’t that the truth? “They’re still going to give you shit. They’re still going to cling to your arm when you leave them and come to me.”

  That was the only explanation he could come to when he’d spied the nicks in her arm. Someone objected—firmly—to her following him.

  “They can say—and do—whatever they want.” She shrugged. “It won’t change anything.” When she pulled away from him, their gazes clashed. “Are you going to harm anyone in the clan?”

  “Not unless they deserve it. I won’t let men like your uncles live and I won’t apologize for their deaths.”

  “Then we don’t have a problem.” She said it like it was that simple.

  Sometimes the easiest things are the hardest.

  “You can’t believe that.”

  “I can,” she shrugged. “I,” she shook her head. “You know what? I grew up happy. I had my grandmother’s clan—”

  “Your father’s mother?”

  She shook her head. “No, my mom’s. She was mostly human, enough that most considered her human, but my family has enough that my grandmother was welcome at the local clan’s gatherings. When I came, I spent a lot of time with those bears.” She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I was happy if picked on.” The urge to destroy every person who made Evie cry reared up in him and a soft whisper of his name had him settling. “I was still happy. It was normal kid stuff.”

  He grunted and she continued.

  “I had a good childhood. I had support when I went to medical school and even more when my grandmother became ill and I had to come home early. When she passed…” Moisture gathered in her eyes and a single tear slipped down her cheek. He didn’t really have a handle on the whole comforting thing, but he tried anyway.

  He brushed away the salty liquid and rubbed her hand in small circles. “Her will forced me to come here. She thought it was time to return to my birth clan. Grandma took me when I was younger, worried about whoever killed my mother, and then I stayed. Now, with the will, the Itan couldn’t deny her last request and my fath—Patrick wanted me to come. He was nice on the phone, smooth when he talked to my Itan.” Another tear, another gentle swipe.

  “I know what happiness is. I know what goodness is. And now I know what pure evil looks like. I saw it every day for weeks. I saw it every time I opened my eyes and heard it with every scream.” She shook her head, dislodging a few soft curls until they framed her heart-shaped face. “I see anger and pain in your eyes, but I don’t see evil, Reid.” She leaned toward him, forehead on his as she whispered. “I see what you try to show others, but I don’t believe it. Not for a second.”

  “You should.” He didn’t want her l
ooking close, didn’t want her digging into places she didn’t belong. Evie… saw too much.

  “No, I shouldn’t.”

  This close, her scent enveloped him, consuming him and sinking into every inch of his body. His wolf howled its appreciation, urging him to take her, to capture her and drag her to their den. The house at their back belonged to them now. They were strong enough to evict everyone within its walls and then they’d have Evie to themselves.

  It was tempting, a thought and desire that grew with each passing second. He wanted her alone, wrapped around him and only focused on him.

  “Evie,” he spoke her name with a growl, his beast filling him and stretching the edge of his control.

  “Evelyn,” her correction was a soft tease.

  “You should go.” But he didn’t push her away. Physically couldn’t move her from him. His muscles refused to react to his choice and the wolf retained control of his body.

  “What happened to you?”

  “Terrence called me. I came. I killed, and now I’m the Itan.”

  “I’m not talking recently. I’m talking about the past. That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

  He did. Funny thing though. No one knew the truth. Not his family, not Clary, and he sure as hell didn’t tell Terrence.

  But fuck him sideways, he wanted to tell Evie. Everything. Every word and emotion. Every strike of pain and every tear he’d shed. The first day… God, that day he’d let them go, let them wash away the blood on his hands.

  And then never again.

  “Evie…” It was a warning and plea in one. If she kept pushing and prodding, he’d cut open the old wound and let it bleed for her. He’d give it all, lay his past in her hands, and let her judge him. It’d hurt, it’d probably come close to killing him, but he’d do it. For her. For a woman he hardly knew and couldn’t breathe without. “I…”

  The rumble reached him first, the sound nearly imperceptible, but present nonetheless. He tilted his head to the side and closed his eyes, listening and he was thankful his mate—for she could be nothing else—remained silent. A vehicle. No, two. Large. SUVs? Their kind—shifters—tended to only drive bigger trucks. They hated being confined.