Secret Seduction: BBW Werewolf Romance (Wolf Pack Protectors Book 1) by Liv Brywood
Authors: Liv Brywood
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expression changed from skeptical to one of concern.
“You saw the bullets? You’re sure they’re silver?” he asked.
Ryker nodded. “Yes. I had Akila and Leah check the bodies to make sure the bullets were silver.”
As soon as Leah’s name flew out of his mouth, he regretted it. Stryde’s entire demeanor shifted. His previously casual stance changed. Instead of leaning against the cave wall, he’d moved forward into a subtle fighter’s stance. His fists contracted at his sides.
As if noticing the sleeping woman for the first time, Stryde asked, “Is that Leah?”
Diana’s back was to them so Stryde couldn’t see her face. But even from across the room, he should have been able to recognize the difference. Where Diana was rounded and soft, Leah was firm and muscular. Their body types were totally different.
“No. That’s Diana. I told you, I followed her scent trail to the mountain. We took shelter from the storm in here.”
Stryde crossed his arms over his chest. “Why should I help you when you’ve taken everything from me? I only tolerate the council meetings because it benefits my pack.”
Ryker wanted to grab him and shake him. “I didn’t take anything from you. The council meetings on hunting restrictions and pack politics mean nothing compared to this. We’re in a life-or-death situation. Can’t you get past your ego to see that?”
“My ego? Are you kidding me? I should have become pack alpha, but you lied, cheated, and stole your way into that position. If I had told everyone that you were engaged, you wouldn’t have even been in the running. But I tried to be a good friend and kept your secret from the others.”
Stryde’s voice rose with each word. A vein in his neck bulged as his venomous words filled the den. On the dais, Diana stirred but didn’t move to get up.
Ryker glared at the other man. “They never would have chosen you because you can’t handle your temper. An alpha should be able to control himself, but you’ve never been able to do that. Why do you think Leah left you?”
Stryde lunged forward. His fist smashed into the side of Ryker’s jaw. Pain radiated down his face. Ryker returned the blow then shoved Stryde against the wall. Blood pounded in Ryker’s ears. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. Sick of listening to Stryde blame him for the past, Ryker roared and charged him.
Quick on his feet, Stryde dashed to one side and Ryker flew past him. He skidded to a halt on the ledge. Before he could move back into the cave, Stryde rushed forward and tackled him.
They rolled to the edge of the ledge. Dirt and rocks careened to crash down the mountain. Stryde’s fist smashed into Ryker’s stomach.
“Stop it!” Diana screamed.
Momentarily dazed, Ryker turned while gasping for air. Stryde straddled him. His fist hung in the air, coiled and ready to strike.
She continued. “Why are you still fighting about the past? What difference does any of that make if hunters are coming into the forest with silver bullets to kill all of you? They won’t care about who belongs to which pack or who became alpha over someone else. They’ll shoot to kill any wolf.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at both men. “You’re acting like children. It’s a wonder either of you are allowed to be leader of anything.”
Stryde’s eyes went wide. Ryker almost wanted to laugh at his reaction, but she had a point. He shoved Stryde off of him and scrambled to his feet.
Ryker reached down to offer a hand to Stryde but he ignored it. Ryker dropped his hand. “If you won’t help us, fine. But you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Stryde stood and wiped dirt off his torso. He jabbed a finger in their direction. “I want you off of my mountain. Any alliance we had is finished.”
Chapter 11
Diana paced Ryker’s room. After returning to the main den, he’d left to find Trent to update him on the disastrous meeting with Stryde. The trip back from the mountain
“You saw the bullets? You’re sure they’re silver?” he asked.
Ryker nodded. “Yes. I had Akila and Leah check the bodies to make sure the bullets were silver.”
As soon as Leah’s name flew out of his mouth, he regretted it. Stryde’s entire demeanor shifted. His previously casual stance changed. Instead of leaning against the cave wall, he’d moved forward into a subtle fighter’s stance. His fists contracted at his sides.
As if noticing the sleeping woman for the first time, Stryde asked, “Is that Leah?”
Diana’s back was to them so Stryde couldn’t see her face. But even from across the room, he should have been able to recognize the difference. Where Diana was rounded and soft, Leah was firm and muscular. Their body types were totally different.
“No. That’s Diana. I told you, I followed her scent trail to the mountain. We took shelter from the storm in here.”
Stryde crossed his arms over his chest. “Why should I help you when you’ve taken everything from me? I only tolerate the council meetings because it benefits my pack.”
Ryker wanted to grab him and shake him. “I didn’t take anything from you. The council meetings on hunting restrictions and pack politics mean nothing compared to this. We’re in a life-or-death situation. Can’t you get past your ego to see that?”
“My ego? Are you kidding me? I should have become pack alpha, but you lied, cheated, and stole your way into that position. If I had told everyone that you were engaged, you wouldn’t have even been in the running. But I tried to be a good friend and kept your secret from the others.”
Stryde’s voice rose with each word. A vein in his neck bulged as his venomous words filled the den. On the dais, Diana stirred but didn’t move to get up.
Ryker glared at the other man. “They never would have chosen you because you can’t handle your temper. An alpha should be able to control himself, but you’ve never been able to do that. Why do you think Leah left you?”
Stryde lunged forward. His fist smashed into the side of Ryker’s jaw. Pain radiated down his face. Ryker returned the blow then shoved Stryde against the wall. Blood pounded in Ryker’s ears. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. Sick of listening to Stryde blame him for the past, Ryker roared and charged him.
Quick on his feet, Stryde dashed to one side and Ryker flew past him. He skidded to a halt on the ledge. Before he could move back into the cave, Stryde rushed forward and tackled him.
They rolled to the edge of the ledge. Dirt and rocks careened to crash down the mountain. Stryde’s fist smashed into Ryker’s stomach.
“Stop it!” Diana screamed.
Momentarily dazed, Ryker turned while gasping for air. Stryde straddled him. His fist hung in the air, coiled and ready to strike.
She continued. “Why are you still fighting about the past? What difference does any of that make if hunters are coming into the forest with silver bullets to kill all of you? They won’t care about who belongs to which pack or who became alpha over someone else. They’ll shoot to kill any wolf.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at both men. “You’re acting like children. It’s a wonder either of you are allowed to be leader of anything.”
Stryde’s eyes went wide. Ryker almost wanted to laugh at his reaction, but she had a point. He shoved Stryde off of him and scrambled to his feet.
Ryker reached down to offer a hand to Stryde but he ignored it. Ryker dropped his hand. “If you won’t help us, fine. But you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Stryde stood and wiped dirt off his torso. He jabbed a finger in their direction. “I want you off of my mountain. Any alliance we had is finished.”
Chapter 11
Diana paced Ryker’s room. After returning to the main den, he’d left to find Trent to update him on the disastrous meeting with Stryde. The trip back from the mountain
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