MATHER (The Tangled Web Book 2)

  Contents

  Reviews

  Book List

  Title

  Copyright ebook

  Thank You

  Intro

  Prologue

  - Chapter One

  - Chapter Two

  - Chapter Three

  - Chapter Four

  - Chapter Five

  - Chapter Six

  - Chapter Seven

  - Chapter Eight

  - Chapter Nine

  - Chapter Ten

  - Chapter Eleven

  - Chapter Twelve

  - Chapter Thirteen

  - Chapter Fourteen

  - Chapter Fifteen

  - Chapter Sixteen

  - Chapter Seventeen

  - Chapter Eighteen

  - Chapter Nineteen

  - Chapter Twenty

  - Chapter Twenty-One

  - Chapter Twenty-Two

  - Chapter Twenty-Three

  - Chapter Twenty-Four

  - Chapter Twenty-Five

  - Chapter Twenty-Six

  - Chapter Twenty-Seven

  - Chapter Twenty-Eight

  - Chapter Twenty-Nine

  - Chapter Thirty

  - Chapter Thirty-One

  - Chapter Thirty-Two

  - Chapter Thirty-Three

  - Chapter Thirty-Four

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Stay Tuned

  Also By

  What Readers are saying about Rylen…

  “This was an exciting and fun book to read… Stories with an ensemble cast are my favorite because there is opportunity to take it in a million different ways. I truly think the Tangled Web series is one that can be enjoyed by everyone 18 and up!” Shelley Custer with Stalking Shelves

  “This book kept me captivated from the first page through the last. I can’t wait to read more… The imagery is amazing, I could picture every scene unfolding around me… Rylen is everything you could dream about for a lead alpha male… There are several twists and turns that will keep you begging for more… The end with Black Widow will probably give me nightmares,” Sherri Frye

  “I loved this book and all the characters in it, especially the inner circle. I can’t wait for the next one…” Crystal Hool

  “Awesome read and the Black Widow is creepy and mysterious. Characters are very relatable and I couldn’t wait to dive back into the book,” Tina Harrison

  “An excellent start to the Tangled Web series, the story has intrigue, appealing characters, subtle twists, romance and loss. You are pulled into the book right from the beginning by likable characters and an interesting story that manages to retain some elements of mystery.” Anne Loshuk with Rabid Reader

  Also by Morgan Wylie

  YA FANTASY:

  Silent Orchids (Book 1)

  Veiled Shadows (Book 2)

  Daegan (Novella 2.5)

  Fractured Darkness (Book 3)

  Alandria Book 4 (2017)

  The Rise of the Paladin (An Alandria Short Story Prequel~Free with Newsletter subscription)

  NA PARANORMAL/SUPERNATURAL:

  Supernatural Chronicles: The Necromancers

  (A New Orleans Collection Novella)

  NA/ADULT PARANORMAL ROMANCE:

  RYLEN (The Tangled Web Book 1)

  MATHER (The Tangled Web Book 2)

  MATHER: The Tangled Web Book 2

  Published by Red Cabin Publishing

  Spokane, WA

  Copyright © 2016 Morgan Wylie

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events; to real people, living or dead; or to real locales are intended only to give the fiction a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and their resemblance, if any, to real-life counterparts is entirely coincidental.

  E-book edition 2016

  RYLEN edited by Maria Pease, The Paisley Editor

  Cover Art by Alexia Purdy at Melancholy Muses

  Thank You…

  Thank You, to YOU, the reader!!

  My husband, Steven. You inspire me, challenge me, and encourage me to be the best version of me I can be even when I struggle to remember who that is. You are my hero and my partner. You are your own badass and you are mine. Thank you. And to my daughter, you wanting to pursue your dreams at such a young age, continues to inspire me to keep pursuing mine. My family, you have been an incredible support and encouragement. I love you all.

  My mom, for believing in me and actually reading and enjoying my books, lol. It means more to me than you know. I also appreciate the text comments as you read and the typo updates ;)

  To my critique partners and friends, Gaby and Kallie, your critiques, insights, challenges, and encouragements have been invaluable and I am a better writer and person because of it. #LoveWriteCreate all the way baby!

  To the #Dynamis crew, thank you for all the writing sprints and encouragement!

  To my beta readers: Tina, Barb, Jackie, Jessica, Julia R., Anne, and Amanda C. thank you for your thoughts, opinions, excitement, and all the spreading the love that you do! You are my rock stars!

  The creative genius behind the face of this book: Thank you, Alexia Purdy with Melancholy Muses!!

  Thank you to my editor, Maria Pease with The Paisley Reader. This series wouldn’t be what it is without you! Your insights and knowledge of words are invaluable.

  Writing can be a solitary and lonely endeavor at times, but it doesn’t have to be. I am extremely grateful to have a team and community of people that can inspire me to be the best version of me as I continue on my journey, and that can help me make my book and my story the best it can be. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

  “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”

  Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17.

  Prologue

  5 Years Earlier…

  “Sitting alone in the dark is hardly becoming of you, princess.”

  Mather growled at Enock’s statement. He just wanted to be left alone, but here they were, standing in the doorway, their silhouettes filling it, letting in light that was now piercing his sensitive retinas. They had found him, not that he thought it would be difficult when he chose a random unused room in the Lair. It was hard to get away from anyone with extra senses for too long. The Lair was still too new to them, and he hadn’t found that place to call his own—his thinking place.

  “Why are you in the dark?” his brother Lucius asked, getting straight to the point.

  “Sometimes, I just want to be alone and find solace away from you yahoos in the dark. Is that too much to ask for?” Mather’s voice grew louder and more agitated the more he spoke.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa”—Enock raised his hands in mock surrender, moving into the room, unconcerned with the low growls emitting from Mather’s chest—“we just came to give you shit. What’s up?”

  “Is it Therese?” Luc asked, still standing in the doorway, not intruding into Mather’s den of comfort.

  Mather’s glare shot toward Luc’s knowing eyes. Silence weighed heavy for several beats.

  “She asked me to turn her, said she wanted to be like me… to be with me.” A sound of defeat slipped through Mather’s defenses.

  “You said no,” Luc assumed.

  �
��I said no,” Mather confirmed. He sighed heavily and lowered his head to rest on the back of the club chair that was really too small for him. “She stormed off.”

  “She’ll cool down, man. She seemed to really love you.” Enock’s attempt at comforting him backfired by the glare that Mather was now shooting his direction.

  “What? Are you a love doctor now, E?”

  “Just calling it like I saw it,” Enock rebutted.

  Lucius uncharacteristically shifted his position and looked behind him out the door as if someone else had come, but no one had.

  “What, Luc? Tell me,” Mather prodded.

  Lucius’ head swiveled back toward Mather, his face now marred with a deep frown. “You don’t want me to.”

  Mather paused, considering. “Yeah, I do. I was considering spending my life and mating with her, so yeah give it to me.”

  Lucius nodded curtly. “A bad feeling is all it is, but it’s happened more than once around her recently. Something’s changed.”

  “And you didn’t think to tell me sooner? You’d let your brother carry on with someone who gives you a bad feeling?” Mather half taunted, half seriously frustrated asked.

  “Did your wolf and you agree? Did he want her for his own?” Luc shot back straight, unaffected by Mather’s tone.

  Mather opened his mouth for a quick rebuttal but closed it, unable to respond the way he wanted to. He frowned thoughtfully. “No, we argued at first, but then he’s been somewhat silent… resigned lately.” Mather cursed. “He told me she wasn’t our mate, but I didn’t listen.”

  “Listening to your dick will get you in trouble, man,” Enock blurted. “You gotta listen with this.” He placed his hand over his heart.

  “Seriously, dude. Lay off the Doctor Bill show or whatever his name is,” Mather complained and threw what was left of the water from his glass into Enock’s face. Silence descended in the little room for a brief moment, eyes on Enock as he casually wiped the water out of his eyes. Then Mather and Enock burst into laughter.

  After they settled, Enock said, “I deserved that. But really, give her some time, but maybe it’s for the best.” Mather nodded slowly but turned to Lucius. His opinion was what Mather valued the most of all, plus, he trusted Luc’s intuition even when Luc didn’t give it much credence himself.

  Lucius scowled at being placed under such a weight, but all he gave Mather was the slightest shake of his head, then he turned and walked away. He didn’t think she’d come back or that she should. Mather hadn’t let her into the Lair yet as she was human, but she had known what he was. He had been so happy to find a woman that seemed to accept him for who and what he was—that their love for each other was enough—and had thought things were headed down the right path. Finally, he thought he might be able to think about settling down with a mate and starting a family.

  ~~~~~

  Several days later, Mather paced in the Den at the Lair. He was concerned and agitated that he hadn’t heard from Therese yet. He had called and stopped by her apartment at random times, trying to catch her at home, but her scent was old. She hadn’t been home in days. Maybe she had gone to visit her sister in Portland, but his level of concern ratcheted up too high. Should he bring in the police? After all, she was human, but he was sure he would then come under scrutiny, and some things just couldn’t be explained. Time to bring in the guys and send out a search team.

  Mather pulled up to her apartment in the PAC’s big black Yukon Denali with Lucius and Rylen in tow. Right as they parked, a large full-sized red F150 pulled up facing them on the same side of the street. A big burly guy who looked vaguely familiar drove, and a blonde sat in the passenger seat.

  “Is that the bouncer from Triumph?” Rylen asked, staring out from the passenger seat.

  “Shit. What’s she doing with the likes of them?” Mather huffed as he threw off his seat belt and reached for the handle.

  “Mat,” Luc’s tone of warning shot ice down Mather’s spine. Mather didn’t turn to look his brother in the eyes; he knew the expression of concern he’d see barely visible in his golden gyrfalcon eyes. Mather gave a curt nod and looked to Rylen for any last words.

  “Be careful, no trouble in the street. It’s approaching night, but there’s still quite a few people out tonight.”

  “Got it,” Mather said quietly as he exited the vehicle, leaving Rylen and his brother inside with the windows rolled down. Despite his warning, Rylen began performing a cloaking spell to shield onlookers from seeing anything that could take place.

  A tall, leggy blonde stepped down from the truck, the driver in his seat prepared to exit at a moment’s notice. Mather eyed the guy cautiously through the window before turning to look at the woman he had fallen in love with, the woman he had wanted to spend his life with.

  “Therese? Are you okay? I’ve been trying to find you for days!” Mather moved closer to her about to embrace her but stopped abruptly.

  “Mather, I…” she began.

  “Why do I smell him on you?” Mather growled, pointing to the guy sitting in the truck.

  “Mather, I tried to explain, but you didn’t listen,” she whined uncharacteristically. Mather’s head jerked back in shock at the sound of her voice.

  “What are you talking about, Therese?” he pressed with a lingering feeling of dread.

  “I’m talking about how you didn’t want me with you enough to turn me!” she finally shouted for anyone in listening shot to hear. “You didn’t love me enough! I wanted to be more… I wanted to be like you and everyone else you devote your life to!” She was ranting now, shouting and waving her arms. It was then, Mather noticed the bite marks on her neck and inner arm. He reached forward and gripped her arm, turning it roughly so he could see. The driver—the vampire—from the red truck got out and slowly made his way around the front of the truck.

  “Therese, what have you done?” Mather’s voice was as broken as his heart.

  “I went to someone who I knew would give me what I wanted, who would love me enough to bring me into their life,” she spat out, almost sounding drunk with a slight slur to her words. He knew then she must have just fed… as a vampire.

  “That’s why I couldn’t find you? You were being turned? In that place? By them?!” Mather’s voice raised, and he pointed once more in the driver’s direction. “I loved you enough to allow you to be who you were, not expecting anything in return except that you love me too. Turns out, I wasn’t enough for you,” Mather mumbled more to himself. He had heard Rylen and Luc get out of the SUV moments ago, but they kept their distance not far behind him in case they were needed.

  “What?! Now, I’m not good enough for you?” Therese started ranting again. The intoxication of the first blood ingestion could drive a person mad if they weren’t properly cared for and looked after until all the way through transition.

  “I’m sorry, Therese, I always wanted more for you… for us.” Mather turned and started to walk back to their SUV.

  “How dare you, Mather! How dare you turn away from me and act like this was my fault!” she was screaming now. The driver made his way over to her, hopefully intending to restrain her and take her back to Triumph or wherever they lived.

  But Mather didn’t turn back around. The last thing he saw was Luc’s eyes widen and then a black blur speed by him. When he turned around, he saw his brother with his hand on top of Therese’s, clutching a silver dagger now embedded in her stomach, her eyes wide with shock—a sight he never in a million years would have believed he would see. Mather turned away, headed to the passenger door, his heart in shambles, and never looked back. However, the sound of her gasp right before Luc slit her throat would forever remain with him and haunt his nightmares for many years to come.

  The red truck screeched away, his tires peeling away from the curb, but not before both Rylen and Lucius tossed Therese’s body into the bed. She was their problem now; they would need to dispose of her body. She hadn’t been turned long enough for her to c
ome back from a mortal injury like that.

  Mather understood that the woman he had loved was about to try and kill him and that his brother had done what he had to in order to save his life, but his heart was betrayed and broken by his love. He would never be the same in that department, at least, he didn’t think he would be for a good long time.

  ~~~~~

  Poppy Brennan was the top of her class in every subject. In fact, she was so good, she got bored and sought other outlets for her creativity and knowledge, which led to her learning all kind of skills—especially computer skills of the unlawful kind. She had more than a knack for technological advances, which she had apparently inherited from her father. He hadn’t stuck around when she was growing up, so she didn’t know much about him other than the tidbits her mother would let slip. Her mother had been in love with the man despite knowing the kind of work he found himself and his computer skills in from time to time. Last Poppy had heard, he was in prison somewhere in Arkansas. Unfortunately, she had been traveling down a similar road, getting mixed with the wrong clubs at college that only wanted to use her for her skills and hacking abilities. The geek clubs had even kicked her out for outsmarting most of them; they accused her of cheating. It wasn’t her fault they didn’t have her same magic with computers.

  She had been searching for her thing, her place to belong, when she noticed a guy following her. Well, she had had enough. On her way home, one day, she doubled back and lost the guy long enough to duck into a storefront opening to watch him pass her by. Poppy studied his average frame, his short hair, and his cocky walk as he passed the front without yet noticing she had given him the slip. She waited inside the store for a few minutes to ensure he had gone far enough away and that she could return the way she was heading without further incidence.

  “Try to follow me now, sucker,” she taunted under her breath just as she was about to step out the door into the cool afternoon air.