Lone Wolf Pack 06 - A Future for His Werewolf Warrior by Anya Byrne Read Free Book Online Page A

Dean, and then Shannon's power, but there was more to it. My mate is here. After all this time, I finally found him."
    "Are you sure, Matt?" Will frowned, green eyes darkening in concern. "I don't want you to... make any rash decisions."
    Mathias was well aware of how this might look, and it would probably not get any better once he explained the identity of his other half. This was why it was important for Will to understand everything from the get-go.
    "First of all, I owe you an apology," he said. "I know I apologized yesterday, but given recent developments, I think you deserve it even more."
    "Matt, you're scaring me. What is it? Who is your mate?"
    "His name is Ward and I think... I think he's one of your brother's grandchildren. He recently moved nearby—quite possibly in your old family home." 
    This was still mostly supposition on Mathias's part—he didn't have enough information to fully confirm it—but he was rarely wrong about such things. Will knew this too, because he went pale. "Are you...Is this... We have to tell Saul. He might know of me."
    "Wait." Mathias caught Will's arm before the man could slide away. "Let me finish. I'm not sure I ever explained how mating works for Sidhe, but we identify our other halves using the energy each individual naturally emits. Yours is very similar to Ward's, which was what confused me into deeming you my mate. I made a mistake, and I hurt you and Dean because of it. It's only now that I realize just how much I've wronged you by hating him, and I can't even imagine how you can stand to be in my presence."
    "You're a good man, Matt," Will replied quietly. "You were by my side when I most needed support. I might still have some trouble getting over the Gathering episode, but I also know you could have easily left Dean to die. Besides, those years we shared don't just go away."
    "No, they don't," Mathias agreed. "And I want you to know that even if Ward is in my life now, you and Jessie are still very important to me, and I'll do my utmost to help him."
    Will must have realized he was serious, because he lunged at Mathias and hugged him tightly. It was the first time in decades that an embrace between them didn't hold any tension, and the relief that flooded Mathias was immense.
    When they broke apart, Will wiped his eyes surreptitiously. "Okay. Now we really need to have that talk with Dean. If Ward is my great-nephew, he's at least indirectly connected to the pack, and I assume that you'll want to tell Ward about your nature."
    Mathias hesitated. "About that..."

Chapter Five
     
    Ward didn't resume cleaning the house that day. He was haunted by the memory of a werewolf's golden eyes. When he picked himself up from the floor, the first thing he did was to make a beeline for the closet where he'd stashed his paints and canvases.
    After his breakup with Peter, he'd been completely unable to paint. Nothing that came out seemed right, and painting, like most art, couldn't be forced. He had hoped that coming here would give his muse a nudge, but of course, he had not expected it to happen so soon.
    In a near-haze, Ward found everything he needed and set to work. He mixed paints with the ease of practice, all the while envisioning the sight of the big black wolf. His hand almost seemed to work on its own, the flow of inspiration so natural it almost hurt.
    Painting again was like taking a deep breath after drowning in a bog of fetid water—or better yet, like soaring through the clouds and landing on a mountain top. That was probably more accurate, since Ward couldn't pull himself away from his work for God only knew how long. It wasn't always easy. He was impossibly frustrated that he just couldn't seem to find the right shade for Mathias's eyes. He ended up painting three different wolves, in different positions, with different gold eyes. And when he finally had the shade he thought was most accurate, he had to paint Mathias the man.
    It was strange, but Ward couldn't quite