Big Bad Billionaire (The Woolven Secret Book 1) (3 page)

She couldn’t help but wonder why he’d let the subject drop when it was so obvious he wanted to talk about it. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that she was actually a worthy opponent—yet.

But she would be.

Randi let the thought comfort her. She wrapped it around herself like armor.

When Aphelion came into view, it almost pierced her hard won exterior. It looked exactly like the picture, but bigger. Why did everything Woolven have to be so much larger than life?

She supposed one didn’t get to be where the Woolvens were on the food chain without devouring a lot of little fish. They had to be big. They had to be impressive.

The gates alone were enough to make her want to turn tail and run. Huge, black things which belonged in hell—an impression she supposed was fitting.

When the limo came to a stop, the doors were opened on both sides, and the face that met hers was nothing short of a train wreck.

Obviously related to Blake in some way, he could only be described as huge, with hands like paws, shoulders like Atlas. His face and neck… he looked like he’d tangled with a sabre-toothed tiger and lost. Five deep scars, like slashes from unholy claws, started high in his hairline and dragged down past the collar of his shirt. She couldn’t see how far down.

But that wasn’t what scared her about him. No, it was his eyes—they were a shade of amber, like a timber wolf. Beautiful, cold and hungry.

When he offered her his hand, she didn’t think twice about taking it.

He leaned in close to her when she stepped out, almost as if he were…smelling her, those cold eyes never leaving hers.

“Warner—” Blake began.

“This one,” the scarred man said.

“Yes, I know.” Blake nodded.

Randi didn’t care for what passed between them, as if they spoke a secret language, shared some hidden knowledge. Something about her.

“Hey, I’m right here. I can hear you.”

Warner’s attention flashed back to her. “Yes, you are.”

His low voice, lower than she’d ever heard a human voice, rumbled through her, striking terror in its wake.

She realized the scars had cut into his throat, and she forced herself to be calm. He wasn’t a horror because of how he looked, he was a horror because he was a damn Woolven.

Randi met his gaze evenly, and he laughed. “Oh, I think I like you. You’ll be good for my nephew.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it,” she swore.

Instead of leaping to Blake’s aid, he laughed and paused to study her again before laughing some more.

“Glad my vows of vengeance amuse you.”

He led her around the car, still laughing, then wandered toward the trees on the other side of the estate.

“Where is he going?” she asked Blake.

“War is his own creature. He spends a lot of his time out on the grounds, more comfortable there than with all the people who come and go from Aphelion.” Blake watched her for a moment. “He liked you.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“Come, let me show you inside.” He offered his hand.

She looked at it like it was covered in dog shit. “Keep your pretty manners with your pretty hair. Don’t want it, thanks.”

He shrugged. “As you wish.”

Randi narrowed her eyes. “Don’t be cute.”

“I can’t help that, little lamb.” He smirked.

“Stop calling me that. I see where you’re going with that. I’m neither small nor helpless. If you want to call a woman lamb, maybe you should give the blond a ring-a-ding?”

“What blond?” He seemed genuinely confused. “Oh, Marchessa? No, I’m done with that liaison.”

“It must be nice to go through people like Kleenex.”

“She’s not a person; she’s a viper. She’s got fangs longer than her legs.”

“Yet you were going to fuck her. Or did.”

“Did. Past tense, as in not anymore and didn’t today.”

“You keep telling me that, like it matters to me. I don’t care where you stick your di—” The words died on her tongue when she suddenly found herself face to face with two more damn Woolvens.

Chapter Three

After he’d turned Randi over to Mrs. Westwood, their housekeeper/nanny/resident witch to get her settled, he prepared to face his brothers, Drew and Parker.

As if on schedule, as soon as he was alone, they cornered him in the large drawing room they’d converted to a general meeting room.

“Are you insane?” Drew hissed. “That was Randi Rutger.”

“I know very well who she is.”

“Have you forgotten,” Parker drawled slowly, “That she’s sworn to ruin our company?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Blake said.

“So you brought her to Aphelion to, what?” Drew growled. “Give her the ammunition? How long do you think we can hide what we are from her?”

Blake pushed a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. As long as we can. I know what I’m doing.”

“I beg to differ,” Drew retorted.

“Beg all you like. Want a Milkbone for your trouble?” Blake replied.

“Fuck you, Blake. If she finds out, you’ll have to Turn her,” Drew said.

“I have to Turn her anyway.” He sagged down in the chair.

“Are you kidding me?” Parker exclaimed, more animated now that he found something in the topic engaging. “Why?”

“She’s it. The one. My mate,” Blake confessed.

“Holy shit,” Parker chortled.

“It’s not funny,” Drew growled. “She could expose our secret, and we wouldn’t be able to stop her. The de la Lunas could attack, and we would be at
war
.”

“We’re already at war. Fuck ‘em. Let them come. Maybe it’s time we stopped hiding from the world anyway,” Parker answered.

“If you’d seen war, as Blake and I have, you wouldn’t be so quick to invite it in,” Drew said.

“Or maybe my nuts have dropped while you left yours in Westwood’s cauldron.” Parker stood. “Eye of newt, balls of dog?”

“One of these days, Parker, your snout is going to write a check that your ass can’t cash,” Drew warned him.

“Listen, all this garbage aside? We need her,” Blake interjected.

“Why?” Drew asked.

“Because she’s the only one who can break David’s code. You know what his work means for the project and for the war against the de la Lunas.”

“Shit.” Drew shook his head.

“Like you care about the war with the de la Lunas.” Parker rolled his eyes. “Word is that you’ve been fucking Marchessa.”

Drew’s head whipped around. “Excuse me, what?”

Blake smirked. “Well, you know, I do have a reputation to live up to.”

“In the Woolven offices,” Parker added, gleeful.

“What the fuck, Blake? You know she was trying to get over on you. What if she bugged your office? What if she stole files? What if she—”

“I assure you, the day Marchessa de la Luna gets the drop on me is the day I neuter myself, okay? She wants to marry me, not win the war. Her pack is going to try to force her to marry the old gray tail still running the Rommulus for an influx of power and cash. She’d do better with me, and she knows it.”

“They’ve beggared themselves trying to win this fight.” Drew nodded. “But don’t put anything past her.”

“I know that. I’m the Alpha for a reason.”

“And I’m your Beta for a reason. I’m here to support and protect you, so listen to me.”

“I could give a shit about any of it,” Parker was still gleeful.

“You’ll do your part, cub,” Blake reminded him.

“Yes, yes. I have to marry Belle Vaughn for king and country. Have puppies. Whatever.” Parker rolled his eyes.

“
Mari
bella
De
Vaughn. At least learn her name.” Drew sighed.

“We need this alliance with the DeVaughns. They have those mineral rights in Nevada.” Blake added.

“So, what are you going to do about Randi?” Drew asked.

“Keep her here. Keep her working on the project. Maybe help her figure out why David killed himself. She’s convinced I did something and, at first, I thought she was right. But now, I’m not so sure. He didn’t leave a note, but he did leave a piece of paper with my name written on it. If it was your last thought on earth, wouldn’t you want it to be meaningful?”

Drew raised a brow, looking much like his brother with the expression. “I’d never kill myself, so I couldn’t say.”

“That’s the thing. I didn’t think David would either. He was a man of reason and science.”

“Whose foundations got shot all to fuck when he found out werewolves, witches and vampires were real,” Parker said.

“No, no.” Blake shook his head. “I really don’t think so. The man possessed more curiosity than a cat. Curious always beats out fear. I can’t help but think I’m missing something from the equation.”

“Maybe you are, but how are you going to get Randi to listen to you? You have every reason to try to change her mind and none to tell the truth,” Drew said, the constant voice of logic.

“You’re right. So, she needs to decide for herself that I’m telling the truth. I just have to help get her there.”

“Yeah, that sounds easy.
Not
.” Parker laughed. “After a look at her? Goddess, but she looks like she’d flay the hide off you. All that red hair and the fire in her eyes? She’s like some kind of Amazon. I’m glad I’ve got the delicate, docile heiress who will do as she’s told.”

Blake snorted. “You ever actually been with a she-wolf, son? Because they’ll tear your face off, too. And you’ll like it.”

“I leave the bucking bronco riding to you two. I like my girls soft, sweet, and with no bite.” Parker said.

“More’s the pity to you,” Blake said as he and Drew exchanged a look of sympathy for their errant brother.

“When he grows up and starts liking women instead of girls, he’ll understand.” Drew gave an over-exaggerated nod. “Maybe it’s time to have the talk with him, Blake. You know, about boy wolves and girl wolves and how the little—” he spared a glance at Parker and cleared his throat “—tiny car drives into the garage.”

“That’s
not
what she said. I think I better go smooth over my introduction with Ms. Randi Rutger.” Parker smirked and walked out of the room, whistling.

Blake loved his brother—lived for him, breathed for him, would die for him—but in that moment, he considered punching him until he couldn’t lift his arm.

“You know he’s just yanking your chain, right?” Drew said. “He’d never try to trespass with your mate.”

“She’s technically not mine. Not until I bite her.”

“Parker would never do it,” Drew reassured him.

“I know. And I know he’s just fucking with me, but this is not the right time. My wolf was ready to tear his head off. What sucks is it will only get worse. It would be different if I’d chosen my mate. If we’d bonded slowly over time, like so many do. But, no, I had to be stubborn and wait for The One.” He flicked his fingers in the air to emphasize his disdain.

“You made the right choice, Blake. This way, your offspring will be stronger. More powerful. More connected to the land and to the Goddess. This is what is best for the pack.”

“You know what’s not best for the pack? If I tear apart any cub wolf for looking at my mate.”

“That’s why you trained. That’s why you’re the Alpha, remember?” Drew cocked his head to the side. “She’ll be your heart, and you’ll be her strength.”

“
If
we can figure out what really happened to David. If we can’t, the bond might not take for her. She’ll expose us all.”

“Yet you brought her here,” Drew said, as if he needed reminding.

“What else was I supposed to do with her?” There was no acceptable answer, at least not for him.

“I know. I get it. We’re just in a bad position.” Drew was silent for a moment. “Don’t tell her that you can’t hurt her. She needs to fear you, at least for a while.”

“I don’t know if I can help it. It’s already started. It sickens me to think she’d fear me.” The very idea twisted up his gut like spoiled meat.

“What about seeing your pack decimated and your family murdered? Does that sicken you?”

“Of course it does. And fuck you for asking me that.”

“I just don’t want you to forget what’s at stake.”

“How can I forget? You’re always there to remind me. I made one mistake when I was young, now I have to play the bad boy forever. I understand my duties and my responsibilities to the pack, the family, and
to her
.” He dropped his fist on the table. “Sometimes I think you should’ve been the Alpha. You’d be better at it.”

Drew grabbed his brother’s shoulder in a show of solidarity and respect. “I’m not the one. You are.”

“I know. Thank you.”

Drew knew he was being dismissed. “Anytime, brother.”

Being the Alpha wasn’t something Blake would ever forget.

He wouldn’t deny he sometimes liked playing up the bad boy image, loved playing into the idea that the supe and natural public had of him. When he gave them what they wanted, they put him in a little box and left him alone. Oh, they’d point and gasp, even add their commentary, but they mostly left him to his own devices. No one dug too deeply beneath the surface to see what was there.

Blake was fine with that.

Only when he turned Randi, the illusion would be at an end. She already thought he was a piece of shit, so she’d see every dark stain on his soul. Everything he’d faked. She’d see his cool, calm, unbreakable mask was just that, a façade.

He’d admit there was something attractive in that, about not hiding. But he feared it too. He wasn’t ashamed to confess that. But being the Alpha did have its perks, he wasn’t spilling tears in his beer over the responsibility on his shoulders. He wouldn’t trade it, wouldn’t wish it on anyone else.

Even if he did think Drew would carry the burden better.

It wasn’t the way things worked out, and he didn’t have time to dwell on it further because he sensed Eleanor Westwood’s approach before she knocked.

“Enter.”

She wore her grandmotherly face today—short, round, her gray hair piled in a fat bun atop her head. Not that he’d ever admit it to her face, but this was always how he rather imagined the witch in Hansel and Gretel would look. A sweet, sweet face to lull the children into gorging themselves.

Underneath that kindly veneer was a witch who could unleash the fury of hell and have it ask her which way was up.

“Your lady is settled, but I doubt she’ll stay in her room long. She’s got a yen to explore.” She exhaled heavily. “I suspect you know this, but I’m going to tell you anyway. There’s a war in that girl. It’s deep and dark. One side will mean your salvation and on the other, your damnation. Are you ready for that?”

“As if I have a choice.” Although, he’d admit the allure in that because he wanted her. He could take her, have her, and claim no choice in the matter.

“You do.”

“She’s my mate.”

“You could deny her.”

Everything in him rebelled at the notion.

“I can give you a potion,” she offered.

“No.” He shook his head. “That would be easier for me, but who knows what it would mean for her?”

“Isn’t it worth the risk to guarantee your pack’s safety?” Eleanor asked.

“Nothing will guarantee our safety.”

“Hmm. Interesting, that.” She fussed at some imaginary bit of dust on the bookshelves.

“It’s never good when you say something’s interesting, Mrs. Westwood.” He raised a brow. “It was all in your tone.”

“So now you’re an expert on witches and tones, are you?” she needled him.

“After growing up with you? Yes.”

“Insolent pup.” She swatted at him lovingly. “I will tell you this; I like her. She has a good heart. Even as bent on revenge as she is, she shines.”

“Great. War sniffed her. You see her shining. She’s going to think we’re all insane.”

“She already worries that she might be. You should go to her. I can feel trouble brewing in my bones.”

“The moon is almost full. I don’t know if I can…”

“She’s your mate. All will be well.” She pushed at him. “Trust this wicked old witch. I know what I’m doing.”

He didn’t want to go to Randi, but he began the trek to the residential wing.

Well, no. He
did
want to go to her. That was the problem. Blake had to force himself to stay away from her. She needed time to adjust. Time to breathe.

Hell, right now, she couldn’t stand him.

He’d enjoyed their little game with their knees. Blake loved how she smelled when she was hot for him.

Maybe that was his way in—her physical need. She liked to act like she didn’t want him, but there was no hiding her scent.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the limo ride. He wasn’t quite sure why he’d done that to himself, locking her in such close quarters with him for so long. She’d finally had enough and pushed him away. Called him out for invading her space.