Terry Spear - Destiny of the Wolf

“Did he kill her. Darien? Did he get to her, too?” She choked back a sob.

Darien shook his head and said to Tom, “I want the report soonest. Jake, I need you and Tom to talk to everyone. Find out who was serving on guard duty when she expired and who went in to see her.” He squeezed Lelandi’s shoulder. “You’ve had enough excitement to last a lifetime and it’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”

But she couldn’t brush her worry away, and when he led her upstairs, she felt drained, as if she wasn’t even there. Would the killer truly be revealed at the least? Or would he fly for her again before then?

Two days later, Lelandi read over the coroner’s report in Darien’s office while he watched her. Death due to asphyxiation . “Murdered,” Lelandi said under her breath, although she wasn’t surprised.

“Her room was at the back of the hospital. Someone had unlocked the window, an inside job. Anyone could have slipped in, murdered her, and left without anyone being aware.” Darien said,

“But it was a man who killed her, right?”

“Most likely, and she bit him.”

Lelandi glanced up from the report, “It doesn’t say that.”

“Doc Featherston told me. He found remnants of blood around her teeth, but the blood wasn’t hers. He didn’t want the word to get out.”

“Oh hell, Darien, by now the bite marks could have healed and disappeared.”

“Maybe not. Mandatory dress is short-sleeved shirts for the men for the feast today, Only my brothers, Doc Featherston, and the killer will know the real reason.”

“Couldn’t he do a DNA test on the blood?”

“Not enough for the test.”

“What if the murderer doesn’t show up today?”

“He will, and the game will be over.”

Later that afternoon, and with the tension running high, Darien welcomed Lelandi’s family in the sunroom while Lelandi baked pies with Carol and Silva in the kitchen. He gave Lelandi’s mother a hug, seeing the resemblance to Lelandi, the red hair, petite features, green eyes and riveting smile. He shook her father’s hand as he sat in his wheelchair, looking proud, but with a weariness lingering in his features. His dark amber eyes assessed Darien with a wolf’s guardedness.

Lelandi was unaware Darien had invited her family so that he had a chance to meet them first, and welcome them like a pack leader would before he switched roles to greet them as family. Darien shook Leidolf’s hand next, then her Uncle Hrothgar’s, and Ural’s last.

“I’m sure you suspect the reason I’ve invited you here.” Darien said.

“To ask permission to have my daughter after the fact,” her father growled, banging his fist on the arm of his wheelchair. Lelandi’s mother rested her hand on his shoulder.

Although it had never been his intention to ask for Lelandi since he’d already mated with her, Darien bowed his head with respect.

“You have my permission.” her father said, his voice gruff, but admiration shown in his eyes.

Everyone else waited quietly for Darien’s next words, tension filling the room. “The killer will be exposed today, the fight will follow, and the celebration feast afterward.”

Her father inclined his head. “This is acceptable.”

“We’ve heard rumors Lelandi may be with triplets,” her mother said, her voice hopeful.

“Mrs. Wildhaven, it’s too early to tell.”

“Please, call me Eleanor.”

“Certainly. But I wish to discuss another matter. We’ve lost our doctor and Lelandi has her heart set on Doc Weber of your pack joining us. Would this be agreeable?”

Hrothgar cleared his throat. “I, of course, would prefer he stay at Wildhaven with my pack.”

“But,” Eleanor said, “having triplets can be difficult for even lupus garous . Because Lelandi has a fondness for Doc Weber and he has for her…” She spread her hands, palms up.

Darien waited for Hrothgar’s approval as Wildhaven’s newest pack leader. Hrothgar gave a stiff nod.

Turning to Leidolf, Darien said. “I know you want to avenge Larissa’s death. I ask that you allow me the honor since it is my pack, she was my mate—no matter how wrongly that came about—and the villain is one of my pack.”

“As much as I’d love to tear the bastard from limb to limb, I acquiesce. Should you not succeed, I won’t wait for either of your brothers to jump into the fray.”

“Agreed.” Darien looked at Jake and Tom, both who reluctantly nodded. “Settled then.” He motioned to Tom, who opened the door and Mrs. Hastings and several other ladies hurried in with apple cider, shrimp, and cheese dips with crackers. “I’ll tell Lelandi you’re here.”

He had every intention of delaying the inevitable, feeling an insatiable urge to prove to her that she wanted to remain with him and not return to her family no matter how much he told himself the notion was too ridiculous to consider.

BUSINESS AS USUAL THAT’S THE WAY EVERYONE PLAYED their roles as Sam organized the drinks in the dining room, Tom coordinated the side dishes, Jake managed the deliveries of the turkeys, while Lelandi, Carol, and Silva finished baking the pies. The aroma of roasted turkey and gravy filled the air, making Lelandi’s stomach rumble, although she didn’t think she’d be able to eat, she was so uptight.

Carol peered out the kitchen window where the table sat in an alcove. “Snow’s still falling. This will be the best ski season Silver Town’s had in five years.”

Silva cast a questioning look in Lelandi’s direction, but though she caught it, she didn’t acknowledge her concern. Everyone was wearing polite smiles, the conversations centering around the weather, a hunt, some whispered speculation about Sam and Silva, but nothing about the reason for the feast. Lelandi was sure the conversations about that had already been held behind closed doors.

Darien walked into the kitchen, stretched his arms above his head, and smiled at Lelandi.

Silva stammered some excuse and hurried out of the kitchen. Carol took longer before it sank in that the alpha leader needed a moment alone with his mate. Her face suddenly flushed and she quickly made her excuses and hurried after Silva, shutting the door behind her.

“Why didn’t you say something to me?” she scolded outside the kitchen.

Darien rested his hands on Lelandi’s shoulders. “You smell of cinnamon, apples, and brown sugar. Good enough to eat.” He kissed her ups, not waiting for her approval, slipping his tongue into her mouth. “Hmmm, taste like brown sugar, apples, and cinnamon, too.”

She melted like the dabs of butter she’d spread on top of the lattice-work pie crusts. * Have… have you seen anyone with bite marks?”

He groaned. “Lelandi...” He shook his head. “I’m afraid either Angelina didn’t bite her attacker hard enough or the scar has already healed. No matter. We’ve got him where we want him. I’ve felt the distance between us when we’ve made love the last two days. I know you feel hurt that I wouldn’t tell you who I most suspect. But I have to do this my way, knowing you the way I do.”

She lifted her gaze from his chest to his eyes. “I love you, Darien, but I don’t want to be kept in the dark.”

He kissed her lips again, his fingers pushing a couple of buttons through the buttonholes on her silk blouse. He slipped his hands inside her blouse and fondled her breasts through the lacy bra.

“Ahh, Darien, you taste of apple cider, the good stuff.” She tangled her tongue with his for another spicy taste.

Voices drew nearer the kitchen, but suddenly stopped and footfalls moved discretely away. Lelandi suspected Silva and Carol were warding everyone away in lieu of a “Don’t Disturb” sign.