Page 95 of Ruthless Moon

Together.

In this quiet afterglow, a truth as clear as the morning sun over the mountains settles in my soul—I’ve never known happiness like this, a sense of completion that feels as necessary as air. This woman. She is my everything. Every beat of my heart is for her.

Forever.

Chapter Thirty-Four

You Know Nothing, Imogen Gallagher

IMOGEN GALLAGHER

Despite the serene exterior I’ve managed to plaster on, my heart beats a nervous rhythm, and my thoughts swirl like the night shadows around us.

Liam helps me out of his truck and hugs me to his chest. His warmth and the comfort of his touch ease some of the tension that’s been coiling in my chest since we climbed out of bed only a few hours earlier.

The moon hangs like a watchful sentinel overhead, casting a silvery glow on the scattered cars in the parking lot. The Signal Pass Inn stands ahead, its rustic charm illuminated by the soft, flickering lanterns that line the walkway.

The last time I was here, it was to meet those two wolves from Oklahoma. And now I’m here again, this time to meet my brother.

Liam tightens his arms around me, his fingers tracing soothing patterns on my back. “We’re right here with you,” he murmurs, his voice an anchor for my chaotic mind. “We have men all over the parking lot and surrounding the inn. And I won’t leave your side for a second.”

His words offer reassurance, but they don’t completely remove the unease gnawing at me. What could my brother possibly want to tell me?

“Gen. We have your back.”

I draw strength from the unwavering support in his words, his voice. I take his hand and we walk together toward the inn. Liam’s hand, his presence, is a lifeline as we go up the steps and enter the small lobby.

The quiet ambience envelopes us as we move through the room, past the murmured conversations and the tinkling of glasses. My heart still races with anticipation, but the knowledge that my mate is at my side, that my pack is watching over us, steadies my resolve.

We walk through the lobby, past the bar, and toward a small, secluded corner with a lit and crackling fireplace. My brother isn’t alone. He and Uncle Dave stand when they see us, their expressions grim in dancing shadows of the firelight.

I suck in a surprised breath.Why is my uncle here?

Liam squeezes my hand. “We can leave.”

I shake my head, my determination warring with my anxiety over what my brother wants. Why he’s with our uncle. What’s the ulterior motive? And how much I really do want to tell Liam to turn around and take me away.

Liam nuzzles at my ear. His warm breath sends sparks along my skin. “You’re mine,” he whispers. “Not theirs. Mine. Show them your fangs, be that tough-as-nails woman I know lives inside you.”

The smallest of smiles tugs at my mouth. I lean against him, seeking solace, and breathe in his woodsy leather scent. His solid presence, like a reassuring pillar, bolsters my resolve, and I find a newfound strength in his embrace. I’m not alone. Not anymore. “Thank you.”

“Always.”

With predatory assertiveness, Liam moves ahead of me, taking a seat on the couch, positioning himself to protect and comfort me. He tucks me securely against his side, his large hand finding its place on my trembling legs.

My brother meets my gaze and speaks. “Imogen, our uncle has brought something to my attention that you need to know.” He’s so cold. I can hear the sincerity in his voice, but there’s still no connection. No caring.

My uncle, resembling our father in so many ways, sits there, a little shorter, with slightly less salt and pepper in his hair, but every bit as formidable as Oliver Gallagher. And with the same cutthroat gaze I’m used to seeing from my father.

Shivers run down my spine, but I straighten and face him like nothing’s wrong.

From a briefcase at his feet, he retrieves a file folder and places it on the coffee table between us, pushing it toward me. “You’re mine, Imogen. My daughter, not Oliver’s.”

All the air vanishes.

My heart stops beating and I scramble off the couch, away from him, away from the revelation that hangs heavy in the air.My father?

“The fuck.”Liam jumps up and moves between us, blocking my view of our uncle. “You fucking asshole.” He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me back against his body, grounding me and creating a protective wall between me and Uncle Dave. “I don’t know what you’re after, but—”

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