Forbidden Bond (23 page)

Eion rubbed a palm over his mouth and chin, then with a sigh, lowered his hand. He nodded. “You’re right. A father should have his son’s back. No matter what kind of life he chooses. But my father happens to be our pack leader—our alpha.” Eion yanked one side of his shirt back, revealing his brand, and Liv’s eyes widened. “This tattoo signifies that I’m his first born son, our pack’s rising alpha. I’ve been groomed to succeed as leader when I turn thirty. That event takes place this year on New Year’s Eve.”

“Oh, God, Eion.” Liv turned away. “I had no idea this went so much deeper than a father who’s bitter about his son’s choice in a girlfriend. If we continue to be together, it’ll cost you so much.” She shook her head and tore her gaze away. “I can’t be responsible for hurting you like that.”

The thought of losing her had adrenaline flooding his veins, his body surging into fight-or-flight mode. In two large strides, he closed the distance between them and clasped her arms, forcing her to look at him. “One day at a time. Okay? This isn’t over with my father or my pack.” He pulled her into his arms once more. “You let me worry about what will or won’t hurt me,” he whispered next to her ear. “But I can tell you right now, you not being in my life will hurt a hell of a lot more than anything he can do to me.”

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of the Wilson ranch, Liv in her Ford Explorer and he in his truck.

Well, fuck
.

Eion’s gaze landed on Taylor’s red Tahoe where it sat in the driveway. He mimicked the sound of a bomb dropping, and with his fingers splayed, mimed the action.
And there went the final plummet of shit dropping out of my cloud of doom.

Liv left her vehicle first. Eion cut the engine to his truck and followed her. As they neared, Kris and Taylor strode onto the porch. Like a close encounter of the fourth kind, both men eyed them as they climbed the steps.

“That’s some unusual timing between you two,” Taylor said, his gaze swinging between him and Liv. “Damn, what were the odds that you and Eion would get here at exactly the same moment?”

“I called Taylor’s house this morning trying to get in touch with you,” her brother interjected. Liv glanced over at him. “He showed up a few minutes ago, worried, since you told him you weren’t feeling well and were coming home last night.”

Liv glanced back at Taylor. “I’m sorry…I-I—”

“You’re still in your dress,” Taylor muttered, cutting her off. His gaze drifted up and landed on Eion. “Well, I don’t think it takes too much of an imagination to get a real good picture of what actually happened instead.”

“Taylor…” Liv crept forward, reaching out with her palm toward his chest. “Please…we need to—”

Taylor surged forward, moving Liv to the side, and headed straight for Eion.

Taylor swung.

Liv cried out.

Eion ducked, and the breeze of Taylor’s punch skirted Eion’s face as he swiveled and leaped from the top step to the ground. He landed in a crouch, one hand on the packed earth. Eion jerked his gaze up, waiting for the human’s next move. Taylor stood on the porch, Liv holding one arm and Kris locked down on the other. Eion straightened and dusted his hands.

“Let me go,” Taylor spat and yanked against the hold both Wilsons had on him.

“Not until you calm down,” Liv stated, her voice shaky. “Stop fighting us. And don’t you dare hurt my brother because you’re pissed off at me.”

That seemed to flip the switch off on his rage. Taylor glanced down at the precarious hold the injured male had on his arm while he balanced on his crutches.

“Oh, shit. Kris…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.” Taylor looked back at Liv and then to Eion, his gaze still hot, but his temper in check. “I need to get out of here,” he stated, his words flat. “You can let me go.” He rocked his arms and gave a short nod. “I’m fine now.”

Liv slowly opened her fingers. “Let me take care of a few things here first, and then I’ll come over. We can talk,” she added.

As if she’d never spoken, Taylor shot down the steps, brushed past Eion without a word, and headed toward his SUV. “Call first,” he finally said and jerked his car door open. He glanced up, his focus on Liv. “I may not be there.” Taylor slid in behind the wheel of his Tahoe, and in a matter of seconds, had the vehicle whipped around and speeding down the drive.

Eion eased back up the stairs, his gaze fixed on Liv.

“Taylor didn’t deserve to find out like this,” she said, her words choked, her complexion pale. “I’d tried to tell him the other night that we needed to take a step back, but he didn’t want to hear what I was saying.” Eion drew Liv into his arms, the urge to hold her too strong to be ignored. She placed her head against his chest, and he held her close, the action more natural than breathing.

“What the hell just happened here?” Kris broke in. He shook his head, his expression perplexed. Kris pointed at the two of them. “How long?”

Liv slipped from his hold. “It wasn’t like that.” She massaged her temple. “I haven’t been having an affair. I wouldn’t do that to Taylor.” Liv glanced back over her shoulder at Eion. “What happened between Eion and I was unexpected. Yet, in a lot of ways, our connection has been growing for a very long time. I just never realized it.”

“You’ve lost me there, Sis.” Kris studied his sister, his dark gaze warming. He turned his attention to Eion, the look in his eyes switching to fierce protective warrior mode. “I don’t know what your intentions are with my sister, but within weeks after your ass hit this town, you’ve busted up her relationship and perhaps lost her one of her best friends.” Kris aimed an index finger at him. “You hurt her, and I swear you’ll wish you never touched her.”

“Kris!” Liv grabbed his hand and lowered it. “I can fight my own battles.”

“That’s all right.” Eion nodded. “I respect a man who defends his family. You take care of your own, Kris. I understand that.”

“Let’s all go inside,” Liv said. “I need to change, and we need to talk about the damage to the ranch. That’s our priority right now. We need to figure out our next step and how to salvage what’s left.” Kris turned and Liv pushed open the front door for her brother. “After we’re finished, I’ll go find Taylor. See if I can get him to talk to me. Maybe we can try to find a way to at least salvage our friendship.”

“Speaking of salvaging a few things…” Eion halted at the threshold, and Liv turned on her heel. “I really need to go handle something that can’t wait.” Eion lifted his fist and thumbed over his shoulder.

“Whoa,” Kris piped up. “We need to deal with a couple of things here before you run off. Like the small crisis with our herd and the fact that we’re about to lose our asses if we don’t stop the bleeding—literally. I think it’s time to call in Game and Fish.”

Shit. This
cannot
happen.
Eion strode further into the living room.

Liv’s head pinged between him and her brother.

“That’s actually a part of what I was heading out to take care of.”

Kris leaned his hips back against the large chair in the den. “Really?” But the word came out more skeptical than hopeful.

“Yeah. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew whether or not this guy I’m going to see has any suggestions that can help us.”

“This guy?” Kris lifted a dark slash of a brow.

“Family friend.” Eion nodded. “He’s dealt with a lot of wolves before on his land. I want to run out there today and see what I can find out. I’ll call you when I get back to let you know what I’ve found out before we call in the Game department.”

“Well,” Kris scoffed and hauled himself back up on his crutches, “I can’t possibly see what more you’re going to learn that a bullet or a tranquilizer dart can’t fix.” Kris headed toward the kitchen. “Suit yourself.” He grunted. “I need more coffee to chase the fifth of Crown I’m about ready to down.”

Liv skirted over toward Eion and lowered her voice. “You’re going home to see your father, aren’t you?” She laced her fingers through his.

Eion did his best to pull off a reassuring smile, but it felt strained.

“I have to go home and settle things.” With his free hand, he cupped Liv’s nape. “Because, to be honest, I’m not sure how far my father is going to take this before someone crosses a line that neither of us can come back from.”

“Please be careful,” she whispered.

“I plan on it.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

“Come back to me, Eion.”

Chapter Eighteen

Taylor’s SUV sat parked in his driveway when Olivia pulled in and parked behind him.
Good
.
He is home.

Eion had left for Screaming Eagle a couple of hours ago, and she’d spent the last one hundred and twenty minutes reassuring her brother about her decision in regards to her and Taylor. She and Eion hadn’t had time to talk about the details of what their future held, but she knew after last night, her earlier decision about her relationship with Taylor had been the right one.

Now she just needed to figure out what she was going to say to Taylor.

He’d been her best friend for five years.

“Damn!” She should have listened to her gut months ago when it warned her not to cross the line from friend to boyfriend. But Taylor had been so romantic and sweet, wanting more. He had been a hard man to say no to.

That change in their path, though, might have cost her not only a boyfriend but a friend and business partner as well.

Olivia stepped from her Explorer, strode up onto his porch, and before she could chicken out, quickly rang the doorbell. She stared down at the strap to her purse and tugged at the stitching along the edge.
Deep breaths
. The door swung open, bringing her gaze up.

“I thought I asked you to call first.” Taylor braced one hand against the doorjamb, a beer in the other, wearing a thin pair of white cotton running pants and nothing else but a grimace.

“I didn’t think you’d answer. So I figured if I wanted to talk to you, I’d better not.”

“Smart girl,” he muttered and took a long pull on his Corona.

She pushed the door a little wider and brushed past him over the threshold.

“Please,” he slurred. “Do come in.” Taylor shoved the door closed with a bang, strolled over to the sofa, and collapsed onto the cushion at the end. He propped his bare feet up on the coffee table and glanced over at Olivia. “Say what you came to say.”

Sighing, Olivia took the seat beside him on the well-worn sofa. “For the last few hours, all I’ve thought about is what that would be.” She picked at the chip in her fingernail polish on her index finger. “Now that I’m here, every word feels stuck in my throat, not good enough.” Olivia reached up, patted the base of her neck, and risked a glance at Taylor. “Not nearly a sufficient enough reason or excuse for how I’ve hurt you.” Her voice cracked. “I tried to tell you the other night that I thought it was best we stepped back.”

He studied the label of his beer bottle and slowly peeled away the paper.

“But I swear to you, there was never an affair. We didn’t plan what happened.”

Taylor flicked his gaze up at her. “That’s supposed to make it hurt less?”

“No,” she whispered, and shook her head, her chest tight. “I just wanted you to know that I wasn’t playing you. When I said that I loved you, I did mean it.”

“You have a strange way of showing it,” he scoffed.

She deserved that. Olivia smoothed her damp palms over her jeans. “Like I said, what happened last night with me and Eion wasn’t planned. We talked, and a lot of stuff that we’d both kept from each other about the past came out.” She cleared her throat. “We both share some unresolved feelings for each other that came forward…and…one thing lead to another—”

“Please!” Taylor lunged forward, slammed his Bud on the table, and stood. “I-I don’t want a play-by-play.” He speared both hands through his hair. “It was bad enough watching the two of you climb the stairs of shame this morning.” Olivia rose to her feet and tossed her purse in the chair.

“God, Taylor.” She reached out to touch his back, but withdrew her fingers before she could touch him. Olivia doubted he’d ever want her to touch him again. Her heart sank. “I’m so sorry. I know it doesn’t help, and this is so overdone, but truly, I
never
wanted to hurt you.” She sucked in a deep breath. “You’re my best friend,” she whispered.

His shoulders slumped. “I loved you so much.” He groaned. “Crazy thing is, I still do. I probably always will. I just couldn’t accept what you were trying to tell me.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a wry grin. “You know when we met in vet school, I thought you were the best thing that had ever happened to me.”

Olivia blinked back a flood of tears.

“Christ, you were so smart.” He stared up at the ceiling. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t know if I’d have made it through. You saved my ass so many times. And when graduation came, I didn’t want to say goodbye.” Taylor lowered his chin, surveying the room around him. “So here I am, in Little Crow Pass.” He barked out a laugh, the sound raw to her ears and heartbreaking. “Still clinging to a dream that I never noticed you had let go.” He jerked his head, his gaze slamming into hers. “Fuck. How pathetic am I?” He spun and marched off toward the small kitchen.

Olivia wiped away the hot trail of her tears and followed him, her stomach in her throat. She came around the corner just as he twisted the cap off another bottle. “You’re not pathetic,” she stated, her tone insistent. “You’re going to make the best damn husband to a very lucky woman one day.”

“Oh, God.” He moaned and rolled his eyes. “Not the
one day
spiel.”

She eased forward, ignoring his remark and closing the distance between them. “I’m so sorry it wasn’t me.” Taylor stilled, and he swallowed hard. She lifted her arms and gently placed her palms against his chest.

“We’re really over?” He deflected his gaze to the small window over the sink, then after a moment inched his chin down until he brought them face-to-face. “I know you’d tried to tell me. And it’s like my brain witnessed what happened, knowing you wouldn’t have been with Eion if your feelings for me neared the love I have for you.” His Adam’s apple bobbed again. “But,” his voice croaked, “I’m just trying to get my heart to catch up.”