Haven 4: Back Roads Read online

  Haven 4

  Back Roads

  It’s not that he isn’t insanely attracted to Bannon Murphy, but when the man starts talking about mates, Galen balks. He’s been burned by a lying, manipulating shifter before, and he isn’t convinced that he can trust the sexy Irishman.

  After months of trying to convince Galen they’re fated to be together, Bannon is at the end of his rope. Not only does Galen refuse to accept that they’re mates, but he stubbornly clings to the idea that he’s nothing more than human. No matter how hard Galen tries to push him away, Bannon isn’t going anywhere without a fight.

  When The Council convinces him to take Galen on his next assignment, Bannon decides to use the time to woo his obstinate mate. Unfortunately, it soon becomes apparent that keeping them safe from their enemies will be easier than convincing his mate to stop running from the truth.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal, Vampires/Werewolves

  Length: 40,700 words

  BACK ROADS

  Haven 4

  Gabrielle Evans

  EVERLASTING CLASSIC

  MANLOVE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove

  BACK ROADS

  Copyright © 2011 by Gabrielle Evans

  E-book ISBN: 1-61926-095-6

  First E-book Publication: November 2011

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

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  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  BACK ROADS

  Haven 4

  GABRIELLE EVANS

  Copyright © 2011

  Prologue

  “They’re moving away.” It was like a little spark that continued to grow fainter, until Galen knew it would disappear completely.

  “Well, bloody hell and damnation.”

  Cian Murphy didn’t sound happy about the news, and Galen found himself opening his mouth to apologize. There wasn’t anything he could do about it, though, unless they wanted him to sprint out into the trees and drag the shifter back by the scruff of his neck.

  A bony elbow caught him in the ribs, causing him to grunt and rub at his side as he cast Kendall a disgruntled look. What the hell was that all about? He hadn’t said a word.

  “This isn’t your fault,” Kendall stated firmly with a glare of his own.

  “Well, of course it’s not.”

  Galen barely resisted the urge to close his eyes and groan when Bannon Murphy crossed his arms over his chiseled chest and arched one dark eyebrow at him. The man could make his cock stand erect with just a look. When he spoke in that deep, deliciously sexy voice of his, it was enough to send anyone into heat.

  “What would give ya a fool idea like that?” Bannon was giving him that look that meant they’d be talking about this later. It seemed like all they’d done for months on end was talk until Galen barely recognized his own voice.

  “Which way are they movin’?” Bannon asked when Galen refused to answer the first question.

  This part he could do. Closing his eyes, Galen turned one way, then the other, pulling in the energy from the kidnapper and the pups.

  Keeping his eyes closed, he felt the morning sun warming his face as he lifted his arm and pointed toward the east. “They’re moving fast, too. I can barely feel them anymore.” It was merely a flicker at this point, and soon it would be gone completely if they didn’t do something quickly.

  A large, warm body pressed up against his back, and Bannon’s unique scent permeated the air around him. Those long fingers curled around his shoulders and began massaging gently. “What else are ya feelin’?”

  “Shifter.” That wasn’t completely true. “No, he’s only part shifter.” It bothered him that he couldn’t figure out what this guy was other than shifter. It was as if he could feel something just on the fringes, but he couldn’t lock onto it.

  “That’s good, darlin’,” Bannon whispered in his ear, pulling a full-body shiver from Galen. His hands roamed, caressing up and down Galen’s arms and completely driving him out of his mind. God, the man had good hands.

  “They’re so sweet together I think I’m going into a diabetic coma.”

  Galen frowned at Jory’s words, but kept his eyes closed. No one knew how he felt about Bannon, though. He’d gone out of his way to make sure of it.

  “We’ll drag the details out of him later,” Kendall whispered loud enough for Galen to hear. They did know he was standing right there, didn’t they?

  “What’s going on?”

  Oh, poor Aslan. Galen loved the guy to death, but he honestly just seemed to exist inside his own world. Galen had a feeling that Aslan understood a lot more than he let on, but it was just easier to let everyone think that he was a clueless twit. Galen could definitely see the appeal. If people thought he didn’t comprehend what was going on, no one would ever ask anything from him.

  While he was thinking through this, a large burst of energy hit him square between the eyes. “There’s someone else,” he announced.

  “Coming from that way.” He swung his arm around to point toward the northeast.

  “What is it, Galen? What’s out there?” Bannon spoke quietly, still soothing G
alen with his touch and his voice.

  His heart pounded inside his chest, and his palms began to sweat.

  Whatever was out there was massive and moving faster than anything he’d ever seen, and it was going right for the pups.

  As he concentrated harder, the massive ball of energy began to shift, and he suddenly realized it wasn’t just one, but several different pulses. Pushing past the initial shock of such a huge blast, he began sorting out the different readings he was getting.

  When he finally tapped in and figured out that it was a group of werewolves, he started laughing so hard that he could barely breathe.

  Everyone was probably staring at him like he was insane, but knowing that Raina and her brothers were about to tear apart the man who’d kidnapped hers and Teegan’s babies was about the best example of cosmic justice he could imagine.

  * * * *

  “Hey.”

  Bannon thought his heart would pound out of his chest at the shy smile Galen offered him as he stepped aside to allow Bannon entrance to his bedroom.

  Slipping inside, he returned the man’s smile, but with a bit more confidence. They’d been dancing around each other for far too long, and it was time to get some things out in the open. Bannon could admit that he was little nervous about what Galen’s reaction might be to the biggest piece of news, but he couldn’t hold it inside any longer.

  “Teegan and the pups are safe now, right?” Galen twisted his hands together as he eased down on the side of the mattress and looked up at Bannon with big, rounded eyes.

  He was so adorable Bannon felt overjoyed that he could give the guy some good news for a change. “Everyone is safe and accounted for, darlin’.”

  Galen’s head tilted to the side, and his soft brown curls fell over one eye. “Why do you call me that?”

  “Do ya not like it?”

  “Oh, I like it,” Galen admitted, his cheeks and ears tinting the cutest shade of pink. “It just confuses me. You know how I feel about you. Yet, you haven’t made a single move on me. Why, Bannon?” Choking back his sigh, Bannon moved farther into the room and knelt on the floor in front of Galen, resting his hands on the smaller man’s knees. This part of the conversation had come much sooner than he’d anticipated. While he’d been trying to find a way to bring it up for weeks, he wasn’t sure what to say that wouldn’t send Galen running for the hills.

  There was a hurt and sadness in Galen’s eyes that tugged at his heartstrings. Something there that told him his little man had been hurt badly by someone in the past. He knew all about Galen’s imprisonment and the life he’d led as a slave. There was more to the story, though—something that went back even before then. Until he knew the details, he’d have to tread lightly.

  “There’s somethin’ I’m needin’ to tell ya, Galen. I think maybe ya can feel it, too, but ya haven’t said a word. So, now I’m not sure what to be thinkin’.”

  Galen’s small, trembling hands covered his own, and he offered a wobbly smile. “You’re making me nervous. Just tell me whatever it is you want to say.”

  “You’re my mate,” Bannon blurted. Okay, so there wasn’t an easy way to tell someone that, especially if he didn’t understand the customs and lifestyle of shifters.

  Immediately, Galen began shaking his head, and his eyes narrowed into slits. “No, I’m not. You know I can’t be. Why would you say something like that to me?”

  “Ah, but ya are, darlin’.” Bannon had known it instantly. Galen’s past was a mystery to him, but there was no doubt that the man was his mate and therefore had some diluted shifter blood in his family tree.

  Galen came up off the bed so quickly, Bannon fell back on his ass with a grunt. His mate looked hopping mad and ready to spit fire.

  “I’m not stupid, Bannon. I know the rules. Shifters can only mate other shifters. I won’t even pretend to understand it, but I heard it from your own mouth, and it’s been verified by other shifters here in the coven. I would have given you anything you wanted. I would have happily shared my life with you. Why would you lie to me about something like this?”

  Oh, yes, there was definitely a story there. Judging by the mottled red of Galen’s face, and the way his eyes sparked with anger, Bannon doubted he’d be hearing it any time soon, though.

  “Now, calm yourself. Why would I be lyin’ to ya about somethin’ so important? Just talk to me, Galen. Ask me anything you’re wantin’ to know. I have no secrets from ya.”

  “I don’t have any questions,” Galen answered flatly. “I just can’t believe you’d try to trick me like that. I thought I meant more to you.” He dropped his head, and his shoulders sagged. “Please, just leave.” Never had Bannon expected such a reaction. It left him grappling for something to hang on to while his entire world spun out from under him. Where was all the vehemence coming from? Galen was normally so shy and submissive. This wasn’t like the man Bannon had come to know and care for.

  “Talk to me, Galen. Tell me what has ya so upset then.” That had apparently been the wrong thing to say because Galen snorted and marched to the door where he flung it open and pointed out into the hall. “Please, Bannon. I’m asking you to leave. I need five freakin’ minutes. So…” He trailed off, his eyes pleading for Bannon to give him the space he needed.

  Not knowing what else to do, Bannon nodded numbly, rose to his feet, and padded out of the room with his head hung like a whipped dog.

  He’d be back, though. Galen was his mate, and he couldn’t run from the truth forever.

  * * * *

  “Galen. Can ya hear me, darlin’?”

  Groaning in his sleep, Galen rolled to his side and pulled his pillow over his head. The voice sounded like Bannon, but the man was gone, several states away, and certainly couldn’t be inside his bedroom.

  “Galen. I’m needin’ your help. Can ya talk to me then?” Help. It was the only word that penetrated the fog of sleep. Galen would do anything in his power to help Bannon. In the six months or so since they’d met, the big, Irish shifter had become his entire world.

  He’d freaked and completely lost his mind when Bannon uttered the M word, but that didn’t diminish his feelings for the man.

  Blinking open his eyes, Galen frowned when he found himself standing in the middle of a cemetery, the moon shining overhead and thick, white fog rolling around his ankles. Scanning his surroundings, his scowl deepened when he found Bannon tied to one of the tombstones. His head lolled on his shoulder, and his eyes were glassy, but there was a tiny smile on his face as he looked up at Galen.

  “I knew ya would hear me,” he croaked.

  Hurry across the distance between them, Galen fell to his knees and began tugging at the braided ropes securing Bannon to the big, decaying piece of rock. “What happened to you? Where are we?” Panic welled up in his chest when he couldn’t so much as budge the restraints. “I can’t get them off,” he all but sobbed.

  “Hush now, a ghrá. Don’t go gettin’ yourself all worked up. I’m goin’ to be just fine, but I need you to do somethin’ for me.”

  “Anything,” Galen promised, wiping at his eyes. “Tell me what to do, Bannon.”

  “The others are comin’ for us, but they’re not knowin’ where to look. Ya tell Stavion what ya see here. Remember it all, Galen, and tell them. Bad things are goin’ to happen if they don’t find us. Do ya understand, sweetheart?”

  Galen understood “bad things” more than almost anyone, and he wanted nothing like that to happen to Bannon. “I’ll tell them. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Don’t worry yourself about me. Ya need to be wakin’ up now, Galen. I’m countin’ on ya.”

  Bending forward, Galen brushed his lips over Bannon’s cheek and nodded firmly. “I won’t let you down. Just hang in there. Help’s coming for you.”

  Willing himself awake, Galen didn’t bother to stop and consider how strange it was for him to share a dream with Bannon. All he knew was that the man he cared about needed his help. Struggling out of t
he blankets, an ear-piercing scream had him hurrying to pull on a pair of pajama bottoms before he bolted out of the room. The minute he was through the door, he almost fell back on his ass when he ran smack into Aslan just on the other side.

  “I saw a ghost,” Aslan blurted breathlessly.

  “Well, I saw Bannon.”

  “They’re in trouble,” they both said simultaneously.

  Then they eyed each other for a few seconds, nodded once, and took off down the hall in search of the coven leader. Galen assumed it was Torren that Aslan had seen. The last he’d heard, Bannon was on his way to meet the witch, along with Raven, and some cursed vampire and his mate.

  He didn’t know what it meant that he’d shared a dream with Bannon, or that Torren had appeared to Aslan as a specter. He doubted it was anything good, though. They needed to hurry.

  Grabbing Aslan by the hand, Galen picked up his pace, practically dragging his friend along behind him. They needed help and fast.

  “Stavion!”

  Chapter One

  “Galen, we’re needin’ a talk, little one.” Bannon Murphy knocked on Galen’s door softly, using his voice to coax his mate out. It didn’t matter that Galen refused to acknowledge that they belonged together. Bannon knew the truth.

  The door eased open, and Galen stood there in the crack, his eyes red and his brown curls bouncing around his face. “Bannon, I can’t do this anymore. You know how I feel about you, but I can’t.”

  “Let me in.”

  “You’re not going away, are you?”

  “No. Not until ya let me in that room.” Bannon rested his palm on the doorframe and leaned closer to the smaller man. “Are ya wantin’ to have this talk here?” He didn’t want to air their issues where anyone could hear them, but he intended to have a talk with Galen one way or another.