Liam

healing process, before he collapsed in Liam's arms, the world going black around him.

CHAPTER 10
A week after Declan met Alpha Taylor, Ben
managed to find an Alpha without a pack who'd be willing to make a move. Unfortunately, he had some business to settle and wouldn't be able to get away immediately.
Declan spoke to his brother at least once a day and so far he hadn't had any trouble with Alpha Wallis.
It took a lot of talking by his mate and Ben to convince Declan it would be safer for everyone if Tommy stayed in Cairns until everything got sorted. Wallis could be watching Tommy and if he packed up and moved to Atherton it would lead Alpha Wallis directly to Declan.
Declan couldn't return to Cairns until Wallis had been dealt with. That couldn't happen until Ben had verified all the facts. Obviously, the man couldn't appear to just take Declan's word about the murder. Ben dispatched Corey and Bradley down to Cairns for a number of days to discreetly poke around in the pack. It would be a calculated risk, both were known Betas, but Declan assumed Ben wouldn't need much time to make a move once he verified Alpha Wallis's true nature.
The Betas didn't come back with good news. Declan had no idea what they discovered and didn't press for answer. Not his place to ask questions. Liam, however, came home looking more and more stressed and Declan didn't think it had anything to do with the construction company.
Declan didn't bug Liam about it. He only told his mate if he wanted to talk he would be there, but because of Liam's position as a Beta for his pack, Declan understood there would be times when Liam couldn't talk about might be going on.
Even with Liam's sombre moods and Declan's worry about his brother, the week had been the happiest Declan could remember. He fell more and more in love with his mate as the days passed. He didn't know if he could tell Liam how he felt considering they had only known each other for just over a week, but Declan decided waking up naked, wrapped up in his mate's arms would be a great way to start each day of his life. He hoped they got the opportunity.
Liam had taken Declan to meet his parents. As nervous as he'd been at meeting his mate's family, he enjoyed the night immensely. Judy and Henry Anderson were wonderful people and if Declan's parents had survived, they would have liked them. Declan also met Liam's younger siblings, Christopher and Lila.
One of the few times Declan had seen Liam laugh during the week had been when Sam told Liam he couldn't play poker with them unless Declan brought some dessert or other confection. The game had taken place at Sam's and Declan made a choc-hazelnut swirl cheesecake along with lemon and raspberry tartlets.
The desserts were deemed worthy, and the guys questioned him about what would be on next week's menu.
Of course he refused to tell them.
Declan spent most of his days in the kitchen, while Liam worked on some building site. He had long ago realised he felt happiest when he could create some sweet or another. Liam always complimented the aromas wafting through the house when he arrived home. He never got angry when Declan ran out of ingredients and asked him to stop off at the store after he finished work. Declan also managed to win the hearts of Liam's workers by sending the various cakes, slices, biscuits, muffins, whatever took his fancy when he started cooking, with Liam when he left for work each day.
Right in the middle of sifting the self-raising flour for the chocolate slice he had decided to bake, the house phone rang. Declan hadn't seen the point in getting another mobile as he had a perfectly good one back in Cairns. He just couldn't get to it at the moment.
He stopped and picked up the phone, glancing at the display. Tommy's mobile. He clicked the green talk button and rested the phone between his shoulder and his ear so he could continue working
"Hey, Tommy, I'm in the middle of making your favourite slice." He started sifting flour again.
"Really, and what would that be?" The deep voice of his Alpha came through the line.
Liam dropped the sifter and watched in a haze when flour exploded everywhere. The image of the last time Declan had seem Alpha Wallis flashed through his head, the sickening sound of the gun going off set on replay, accompanying the images like a twisted soundtrack.
"Where's Tommy?" he asked quietly, nearly on the verge of tears.
"He's right here with me."
"Like I'm going to believe you," Declan said with more gusto than he felt.
The snarl on the other end of the line probably would have had Declan cowering if he had been in the same room with the man. "Fine, here."
A loud cry of pain echoed down the line as the phone exchanged hands. "Dec, I'm so sorry."
"Tommy," Declan yelled, but Alpha Wallis's laughter greeted his words.
"Now do you believe me?" he asked smugly.
"Yes," Declan croaked and tears started falling.
None of this would've happened if he hadn't left Tommy alone. He should have gone back and gotten his brother sooner instead of leaving him there unprotected.
"You just couldn't keep your fucking mouth shut, could you?" Alpha Wallis growled.
"I didn't tell anyone, I swear." Declan hoped it sounded like the truth.
"Don't fucking lie to me. Do you think I don't know about the wolves that have been poking their noses into my business? Huh?" The man sounded pissed and it would only be a matter of time before Alpha Wallis lost his patience. "I'll make you a deal."
Whatever the man said Declan more than likely wouldn't like it.
Alpha Wallis continued. "You get your ass back here and face the music, or your brother will. You have until six o'clock." The phone went dead in his ear.
Declan collapsed to the ground, uncaring of the