Liam: A MM Mpreg Shifter Romance (Grizzly Mountain Lodge Book 1) Read online

  Sure, Eli could head back to town and check himself in a hotel there, but he picked Grizzly Mountain Lodge for a reason.

  Privacy. It would be hard for Steve to track him down here, in the middle of nowhere. Ideally, Steve would come home drunk and incoherent tonight. Steve would pass out on the bed and only notice Eli’s disappearance the next day.

  Eli soldiered through. He thought he finally saw lights up ahead of the road. Relief filled him as the lodge came into his line of sight.

  From the outside, it looked exactly like the photos from the internet. The two-story western-style lodge looked rustic and homey. It only had ten rooms and last Eli checked, only half of the rooms were occupied. It was the perfect getaway for a runaway Omega like him.

  So far so good. Eli parked his truck next to another pick-up. He got out, not caring he was getting drenched. Eli looked around the empty parking space.

  Only three trucks there, four including his. Huh. Strange. Eli expected more. Eli shrugged and pulled out his luggage from the trunk. He walked right into the lodge and blinked.

  The outside looked charming enough but he could tell from a single glance that everything inside the lodge looked worn-down by time.

  The place could sure use a fresh coat of paint and some new new furniture. Eli remembered the old human woman’s warning earlier.

  He shivered. Eli felt like a drenched dog. The cold had seeped past his skin and went right into his bones. A fire roared in the fireplace. Eli was tempted to move closer to the fire, sink into one of those comfy chairs and maybe dry himself off for a couple of minutes.

  Eli squinted at the sofas, then the walls. Were those claw marks?

  Unease wormed its way inside Eli. He clutched the handle of his luggage tightly. Eli couldn’t go back now that he’d gone this far.

  “Calm down,” he told himself.

  There was no one behind the reception desk. Eli rang the bell. Still nothing. He fixed his attention on the yellowing calendar on the wall.

  September. Ten years ago.

  The desk looked like it could use a good dusting. There were cobwebs everywhere. Goosebumps appeared across the length of Eli’s arms. He suddenly felt like a character in a horror novel.

  Maybe the place was haunted. Vampires, witches, and shifters existed. Why couldn’t ghosts? Maybe some tragic murder occurred here and evil spirits were still running amok.

  Eli took deep breaths. What was he doing, trying to scare himself silly?

  He tried the bell again, only to hear a snarl from somewhere upstairs. Eli jumped as the sound echoed throughout the lodge. Ghosts couldn’t make a noise like that, could they?

  Eli looked behind him. He’d left wet footprints on the wooden floor. It wasn’t too late to run back to his car, to flee from this strange place.

  “I’m coming.” Those words were uttered along with a growl.

  The sound raised all the hairs on his back.Growls and snarls. Eli calmed down. A shifter probably ran this place. That made better sense than ghosts.

  Eli swallowed as the largest man he’d ever seen came down the stairs. Eli didn’t even hear his footsteps. Not a man then. A shifter. A very dominant Alpha.

  Aggressive energy poured off him in waves. Eli let out a breath and took a hesitant step backward. This behemoth must be six-foot-six and all of him was made of hard and sinewy muscle.

  Unfriendly green eyes flashed beneath a mop of dark brown hair. It didn’t help that the massive shifter was holding a hammer in one hand.

  Eli met no one like this stranger before. He was used to meeting insufferable and arrogant shifters, friends of his parents who were clad in thousand-dollar designer clothes. Those shifters only cared about how they presented themselves to society.

  This, he decided was what a proper Alpha should look like. Wild and savage. A little scarred.

  Underneath that beard and hair, the werebear was handsome. The shifter set the hammer down on a nearby table. Eli felt a little better.

  He refused to be daunted and besides, he did need a place to stay the night. Several nights. Eli had no other booking and he couldn’t imagine driving through that awful rain again.

  “Um, hi? I have a booking. It’s under Ben Brooks.”

  Eli wasn’t an idiot. He didn’t use his real name. That would make it easier to track him. The dark-haired werebear said nothing but kept staring at him. Eli shivered.

  Lightning flashed outside the wide windows. The boom of thunder made him jump. Eli really didn’t want to go back to the rain. The werebear’s green eyes held streaks of gold in them. A shifter only changed eye color when intense emotions rode them.

  Eli had grown up being looked at like potential merchandise by his parents’ family friends. He didn’t like being treated like a commodity but for some reason, Eli didn’t mind this werebear’s appraising stare.

  He felt cold initially, but Eli’s skin suddenly felt warm. Did the temperature change? His pants felt unbelievably tight. His cock woke—a genuine shocker.

  After being forced to mate Steve, Eli didn’t think he’d ever feel desire for another man again. The Alpha werebear neared him. Eli didn’t budge.

  Any Omega or submissive shifter with some sense would exit this strange and creepy lodge right away but for some reason, he stood his ground. Eli met the Alpha’s stare even when they were only a foot apart.

  The werebear finally spoke. “That’s not your real name.”

  Eli’s heart thudded.

  How could this sexy stranger know that?

  3

  Liam

  Liam Griffin knew it was rude to stare but he couldn’t take his gaze off the flustered Omega. Ben Brooks, if that was even his real name, reminded him of a tiny drowned rat.

  Liam didn’t need to be a mind reader to know this Omega was lying to him. All the signs were there. Elevated heartbeat. Harsh breaths. The Omega kept touching his stomach.

  He narrowed his eyes. It was faint, but Liam could hear it. A second heartbeat. He didn’t miss the claiming mark or the black eye the Omega sported either.

  For some reason, that pissed him off. What kind of scum used their fists on a pregnant Omega? Liam pushed past his anger. He needed to be logical about this situation. This Omega was bad news. It didn’t take a genius to figure out this stray was running from something or someone. Someone bad.

  Liam hadn’t been around plenty of Omegas. He was sure they were common in bigger cities but around these parts they were rarities. Treasures. They emitted special pheromones that made them easily identifiable to other Alphas. Fuck, but this Omega’s scent wrapped around him like prickly thorns. Vanilla and some kind of spice.

  If Liam wasn’t careful, he’d quickly become entangled in that heavenly scent. He’d be trapped.

  “You’re right,” the Omega finally said.

  That defiant look made his dick rock-hard, an inappropriate reaction given this Omega was supposed to be a paying guest.

  Guest.

  A foreign word. Liam and his brothers hadn’t had guests in years. Sure, his younger brother Lucas put up that website months ago but none of them expected anything.

  They kept this lodge running to remember their parents but that was all. They never anticipated anyone would show up at all.

  The locals in town, both the humans and paranormals, distrusted and feared Liam and his brothers. They had their reasons. Sons of murderers were seldom welcomed with open arms. Liam and his brothers had given up trying to change the opinions of the locals a long time ago.

  “My real name is Eli.” Eli’s voice was wonderfully soft, a sharp contrast to the fire in his eyes.

  The last thing Liam wanted to do was bring unnecessary trouble to him and his brothers. Liam should turn this Omega away but Liam couldn’t bring himself to do it. That would make him an uncaring bastard in Eli’s eyes.

  His inner grizzly growled in agreement. Liam was stumped. He never cared what others thought about him before. For some reason, it mattered what Eli tho
ught of him.

  Liam didn’t know why he reached out and touched Eli’s left cheek, the spot right below Eli’s swollen eye. A growl rumbled from his chest. Anger stirred inside him like a lost friend. Only an insecure coward would hurt someone who was weaker than they were. Was it another Alpha?

  “Who hit you?” Liam’s voice came out harsh and growly.

  For some twisted reason, Liam was pleased Eli didn’t back away. Most shifters and paranormals in town were scared of him. The few Omegas Liam did come across in his lifetime avoided him at all costs. Eli showed no ounce of fear.

  Eli touched his hand and it struck him how small and soft Eli’s fingers were compared to his. Soft and nice. Eli peeled Liam’s hand off his cheek gently.

  Liam’s breathing turned harsh when Eli squeezed his callused hand. No one had touched him in years, so it was kind of a shock. Liam was supposed to be offering Eli consolation, comfort.

  One simple gesture and Eli turned the tables on him. This Omega wasn’t just bad news. He was lethal, although using that adjective to describe Eli was laughable. Liam was the Alpha here.

  Eli was five-foot-seven and slender as a reed. Eli had the most expressive pair of brown eyes Liam had ever seen and dark gold hair Liam wanted to run his fingers through.

  Liam could imagine tugging Eli’s hair to expose the slender column of his throat and sinking his teeth there. He could give Eli his mate mark. It would be easy. Liam also had a feeling Eli wouldn’t fight him. Much.

  That way, this Omega wolf would be his alone. Any dirty bastard who so much as looked at Eli wrong, who so much as touched Eli with their filthy fingers, would make an enemy out of Liam. Liam didn’t possess a shred of mercy in his body. All his enemies died screaming or begging for mercy.

  “That’s none of your concern,” Eli said.

  The Omega’s harsh tone yanked Liam away from his murderous and ridiculous daydreams and placed him back to reality. What was Liam thinking?

  He had a business to run, Liam remembered.

  Eli was a guest at the lodge. Plus, Eli looked like he could use a hot shower. The Omega’s clothes were all rumpled and wet. He looked like he’d been traveling for a while.

  “Fine.” He walked behind the reception desk.

  Placing some kind of barrier, some distance between them was the best solution after all. Liam didn’t understand why he touched Eli’s cheek in the first place. Why was he attracted to this stray Omega?

  Liam didn’t know a single damn thing about Eli but suddenly, he hungered to know every single detail about him. Where did Eli come from? Who hurt him?

  Hell, Liam would break the fucker in half if he managed to wrangle a name from Eli’s lips. Liam was acting like a crazy person. He stared at the black computer screen in front of him blankly. Liam forgot what he was supposed to do next.

  He looked at the notepad on the table and found a hastily scribbled note from Lucas there. There it was. A booking for Ben Brooks and the amount he owed. Ben was going to pay by cash. Didn’t most folks used their credit card these days?

  “A single bedroom,” he said. “For six nights?”

  “That’s right.” Eli seemed relieved Liam had gotten back to the business at hand. Liam printed out Eli’s receipt and showed it to him. Eli pulled out his wallet and handed him the bills. Liam accepted them.

  “You can take any room here. You’re the only guest. I’ll give you the suite,” he said abruptly.

  “W-why would you do that?” Eli asked with wide eyes. “Wait, did you say I’m the only guest? It’s because of the storm, isn’t it? When I made a booking I saw half the rooms were booked.”

  Those bookings were fake, a way to draw in guests, according to Lucas.

  “Yeah. They cancelled at the last minute.”

  Liam lied because if Eli knew the truth, this gutsy Omega would leave. Liam’s bear didn’t like that thought one bit. Liam gave Eli the key to the only suite in the lodge. Eli plucked it from his fingers. Liam didn’t imagine the spark that leaped between his fingers to Eli’s. If he acted on impulse and kissed Eli suddenly, how would the Omega respond?

  “Okay, then. Thank you so much.”

  Eli flashed him a smile so bright, it rendered Liam completely speechless. This Omega was a creature of the light but Liam belonged to the dark. Eli was not for him. He was special. Different.

  “I’ll help you with your luggage.” Liam offered.

  Liam didn’t know why he did that either. Eli looked ready to protest but Liam had already made his way out of the reception area to grab the handle of his rollaway.

  “Thank you.”

  “This way,” he said with a grunt.

  Liam started to climb the stairs. He didn’t bother dragging the luggage. He hefted it without much effort. The Omega packed light although he wouldn’t be surprised if all of Eli’s essentials were inside his luggage.

  “What were you doing, before I came in I mean?” Eli asked behind him.

  Eli was curious about him, huh?

  “Repairs. The roof was leaking. Don’t worry. Everything should be working fine in your room.” Liam assured the Omega. He didn’t want Eli suddenly changing his mate. It wasn’t about the money either. The prospect of Eli leaving and Liam never seeing him again daunted him.

  “Oh. That’s good then,” Eli said.

  Liam sensed another presence lurking on the second floor. Recognizing Lucas’s scent, he let out a low, warning growl. Lucas didn’t bother Eli or him. Good. Liam wanted to get to know his Omega better. Find out what exactly brought Eli here.

  His Omega. When did Liam starting calling Eli that? It didn’t feel wrong calling Eli his. It felt exactly the opposite. Too bad Eli could never be truly his.

  For one, Eli wore another shifter’s claiming mark on his neck but his bear wasn’t concerned. He wasn’t sure why, but Liam knew that with time, that mark would fade.

  Whoever had a hold on Eli, it wasn’t a true bond. A gift like Eli shouldn’t be wasted on a brute like him. Liam lived on this mountain with his brothers and far away from the rest of the town by choice.

  Up here, they made their own rules. They weren’t defined by the mistakes or sins their father made—at least they could pretend they weren’t. Liam stopped in front of Eli’s room.

  “Keys,” he said.

  Eli nudged him aside. Liam took a step back and let Eli open the door. The Omega slipped inside the room. Liam turned the lights open.

  Liam gave Eli this room for two reasons. One, it was recently cleaned and two, the lights and the heater worked. Liam couldn’t say the same for the rest of the lodge.

  This place was a sinkhole. The plumbing was a nightmare. There were cracks in the walls and ceiling. The floors needed to be replaced. The roof constantly needing patching up.

  Just last week, a sink from a room on the second floor simply fell. Everything was falling apart or on the verge of breaking.

  Liam and his brothers knew that but none of them could bear to let the place go. The lodge was like a reflection of Liam and his brothers. They were broken, beyond fucked-up. Unfit to mingle with the rest of the civilsed masses below the mountain.

  “Well, have a good night,” Liam said.

  He had no other reason to linger. War raged inside of him. Liam wanted to get to know Eli better, and yet if he did that, Liam would only doom them both.

  He was already attracted to Eli. Liam hadn’t felt this kind of magnetism to anyone before. Sure, Liam had been in lust once or twice but this was beyond lust.

  Was it obsession? Something else?

  “Wait,” Eli blurted, grabbing his arm.

  Liam looked down at the same time Eli did, at the rough mess of scar tissue that covered his forearm. Eli widened his eyes. Liam almost expected Eli to ask, to pry about the old injury but Eli didn’t.

  “Thank you, for everything.” Eli let out a laugh. It was a nervous sound but it didn’t fail to stir his dick awake. “I didn’t catch your name.”

  “Li
am,” he said.

  Liam didn’t trust himself around this fragile Omega. Not one bit. Fragile. Eli certainly wasn’t that but if he lingered any longer, he’d put Eli in danger.

  Liam entertained dirty thoughts of throwing Eli on that big king-sized bed and having his way with him. He doubted Eli would fight him because he didn’t miss the hard-on Eli spotted for him earlier or Eli’s scent of arousal.

  “Liam,” Eli said his name tentatively as if he was tasting the syllables on his tongue.

  “Good night, Eli,” he said, then shut the door behind him.

  4

  Eli

  After unpacking, Eli didn’t know what to do next. He looked at the gigantic room. Like the rest of the lodge, the furniture in the suite looked old. The walls could use some paint or new wallpaper.

  Back in his car, all Eli could think about was reaching his destination and falling asleep on a warm bed. He didn’t feel sleepy. The adrenaline of meeting Liam hadn’t faded yet. Maybe a hot shower could help.

  Eli stripped out of his clothes and entered the bathroom. He stepped inside the shower. The blast of icy water made him shiver. He waited and the water finally turned warm. Eli shut his eyes and touched his stomach.

  “We’re safe,” he whispered to the empty bathroom.

  Eli did it after all. He finally managed to escape Steve’s clutches but for how long?

  Eli didn’t have a job. The cash he swiped would only last him a couple of weeks. Steve’s cash. Hell, he never worked a single day in his entire life, although he wanted to.

  His parents forbade it, believing Eli would catch the eye of some opportunist Alpha who would steal him away. Steve refused to hear of it, believing Omegas were meant to stay at home and remain servants for the rest of their lives.

  Eli could drive down to town and look for a job. His funds would run out sooner or later. Eli decided he liked that solution. If he could generate his own income, he could stay here a little longer.