Web of Lies Read online

  A Red Ridge Pack Novel

  Web of Lies

  Sara Dailey & Staci Weber

  Copyright 2013 Sara Dailey & Staci Weber

  Smashwords Edition

  TANGLED

  Eighteen-year-old Luke Stanton is focused, strong, and intimidating as hell. He has to be. As the future enforcer of Red Ridge, it will be his job to keep the other weres in line. So avoiding close friendships, pack drama, and especially pack females is in his best interest. He witnessed firsthand what love did to his father, so casual human hookups are enough.

  Then she arrives: Scarlett Reed. She arouses something primal in him, something undeniable. But just as Luke gives himself permission to finally experience something real, the truth bursts free. The were beauty is harboring a secret so devastating it has the power to destroy him. At the same time, the pack is splintering over a battle for leadership, and Luke’s strength is needed more than ever. It is a time of upheaval, of the destructive power of lies. Everything he thought to protect is in danger: his family, his friends…and most of all, his heart.

  A Red Ridge Pack Novel

  Web of Lies

  Sara Dailey & Staci Weber

  www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

  WEB OF LIES

  Copyright © 2013 Sara Dailey & Staci Weber

  All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

  Digital edition created by Maureen Cutajar

  www.gopublished.com

  ISBN 978-1-938876-72-1

  For Shari Hassell, for being…well, for just being damn awesome!

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Like all of our books, this story never would have been told without a lot of support from our families. So, many thanks to our parents, in-laws, sisters, husbands, and friends (who feel like family) for keeping us sane.

  A special thanks to Shari Hassell for catching all of our crazy mistakes, and to Jordan Mantell, whose beautiful poetry adds so much to our novels.

  To the best publisher ever, Boroughs Publishing Group. Thank you! We feel so lucky to be working with you. Many, many thanks to Jill Limber, the best editor ever.

  Last but not least, a big thank-you to our husbands for all of their love and support.

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Chapter 57

  Chapter 58

  Chapter 59

  Chapter 60

  About the Authors

  LIES

  Mine own breath hath made this bed

  Lips stained by tall tales, dripping in venom

  Seducing your truth, layer by layer

  Exposing its roots, leaving you in a scarlet trail of deceit

  I am but a whisper my sweetness

  A gentle, seething fable

  A temple birthed from a burning myth

  A tear filled painting by these blood-spattered hands

  A masterpiece of ruin.

  —Jordan Mantel

  CHAPTER 1

  Scarlett

  As I pulled the last top out of my closet, I couldn’t help but smile. It was tiny, hot, and left little to the imagination. Most importantly, it was sure to bring Luke Stanton to his knees. This was going to be too easy. All it took was one scandalous look during my last visit, and he was practically panting. Yes, Luke may have a reputation of a love-’em-and-leave-’em kind of guy, but I didn’t need him to propose. I just needed his attention long enough to complete my mission.

  After packing up half my closet and most of my bathroom, I sat down on my bed and surveyed the damage. How long exactly did we plan on being gone? Would I have to start school there after winter break? God, I hoped not.

  Squished between my overflowing luggage and the stuff I’d yet to pack, I grabbed my phone and shot a quick text to Drew.

  How long r u packing 4?

  I think I have 2 much stuff?

  I sat and waited a few minutes for a response. I really didn’t want to have go downstairs and ask my dad. Surely Drew would know. He was our alpha’s son after all, and starting today, my pretend brother. Just as I was about to give up, my phone buzzed.

  Not sure. Make sure u have enough for a couple of weeks. And don’t forget ur mission requires ur sexiest winter wear. U know u have plenty of it

  Asshole. He could only dream of getting his hands on me in my “sexy winter wear.” Fat chance. He tried that more than once before his new girlfriend came to town and shimmied her way into his heart, but I always knew that Drew was trouble. And getting involved with the Crescent Hills Pack’s soon-to-be alpha might sound like a good idea, but when it didn’t work out—and chances were with a guy like Drew it wouldn’t—it wasn’t good for your status in the pack. Plus, my dad, the big, bad Fixer, made it clear before I was even interested in boys that Drew was strictly off limits.

  I stood in my half-empty closet and texted him back, giggling to myself as I typed.

  No worries. This snow bunny plans on catching herself a jackrabbit

  “Hey Scarlett! Come in here real quick,” Gavin, my real brother, yelled from his bedroom.

  I finished up my packing as I shouted back, “No time for lectures, Gavin. We’re leaving any minute and I don’t want to piss off Dad for not being ready.”

  I hurried to gather the last of my stuff, but Gavin was determined to do this…agai
n. Before I could zip up my suitcase, he was at my bedroom door. “You really sure you want to do this, Scarlett?”

  “Gavin, we’ve already been through this,” I told him.

  He ran his hands through his hair and said, “I still don’t know why Dad talked you into going back to Red Ridge with him and Drew. This is some serious shit. You realize that, right?”

  “Of course I realize this is serious. That’s why I agreed to go. If we don’t do this, our entire pack will suffer,” I reminded him.

  “Don’t you think I know that? But come on, you seriously don’t have a problem with our own father asking you to hook up with a guy in order to screw with his head? I don’t know how else to say this, but it kinda sounds like he’s whoring you out.”

  Whoring me out?! He crossed a line with that one. I pushed Gavin toward the door, but he hardly budged, which made me even angrier. “Did you just call me a whore? Are you fucking kidding me right now? He is not whoring me out! How dare you—”

  Gavin cut me off and pulled me into a hug. “I didn’t mean it like that, Scarlett. I promise. I know you’re not a whore. It just pisses me off that Dad wants you messing with a guy like Luke. It’s all just so screwed up. You’re my baby sister, and I can’t help but worry that you’ll get in over your head. And I don’t agree with how our alpha wants to go about this. There has got to be another way to save our land without destroying another pack in the process.”

  Jeez, I was so sick and tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. I knew Gavin disagreed with our alpha’s decision, and he didn’t want me getting involved in pack politics or whatever you want to call it, but it wasn’t like I planned on being in the trenches when our pack went to battle with Red Ridge. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that if we played our cards right.

  I pulled away from Gavin and turned my attention back to my over-stuffed luggage. As I struggled to get my suitcase zipped, I tried to reassure my brother. “Gavin, I want to do this. Dad didn’t twist my arm. In fact, I offered. I want to help. This is my chance to do something good for the pack. And for the last time, you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself. Plus, Drew and Dad will be there.”

  “Yeah well, that’s what I’m worried about. Drew pretending to be me is freaking ridiculous. He’s an asshole and a hot-head, and I wouldn’t trust him to take care of a pet rock. And Dad hasn’t been the same since he got back from ‘fixing’ whatever problem needed to be fixed in Red Ridge. They may call him The Fixer, but I’m starting to think that he’s the one in need of repair.”

  Rushing over to close my door, I shushed Gavin. “Don’t let Dad hear you say that. He’d beat the shit out of you for just thinking it.”

  Gavin puffed up like a blowfish and replied, “I’d like to see him try. Ever since I told him I wouldn’t be a part of this plan, he’s been a total tool.”

  Oh, my sweet, sweet, blind brother…he hadn’t seen tool. Dad’s spent my entire life treating me like the red-headed stepchild because I never quite measured up to his precious son. No matter what I did, it was never good enough. Gavin would never understand that I’d do just about anything to have my father pay attention to me, and there was no way I would have told him no when he asked for my help. It was the first actual conversation Dad and I had had in almost a year, and I planned on taking full advantage of the opportunity to be there for him when he needed me.

  I should probably thank Gavin for refusing to help. Otherwise Dad would have never even considered using me as part of their plan. For the first time ever, Gavin finally got the balls to stand up to him and tell him no, and now my oh-so-perfect brother had the nerve to complain to me about how Daddy’s being mean to him? Seriously? Cry me a fucking river. He didn’t have a damn clue how mean our father could be.

  But I didn’t say that. No, I would never say something like that aloud. It was definitely in my best interest to keep those kinds of thoughts to myself. I loved my brother more than anyone else in the world, but he was so damn used to being the golden child that it literally sickened me at times.

  Instead, I did what I always did. I wrapped my arms around him again, gave him one more big hug, and said, “Don’t worry, Gavin. I’m going to be fine.”

  He squeezed me tight and replied, “I hope so, sis. And I’m sorry for what I said. I just wish you would stay out of it. Promise you’ll call and let me know what’s going on?”

  I pulled away and told him for the millionth time, “Yes, I’ll call. And I’ll be careful. And watch my back and stay out of trouble. You think I don’t listen, but I’ve heard everything you’ve said since I told you I was going, so stop worrying.”

  Our brother-sister-bonding moment was cut short by the sound of Dad’s footsteps pounding up the stairs. Dad poked his head in the door, completely ignored Gavin, and said, “We are leaving in five. Get your stuff in the car. Drew is on his way over. He’s following us in his car so we have an extra vehicle while we are there.”

  Dad looked over at the luggage covering my bed and asked, “You planning on moving to Red Ridge indefinitely?”

  I replied, “No, but a girl can never be too prepared.” Then, I smiled, but he didn’t smile back. He never did.

  “Well, get your brother to help you with all that. I have my own luggage to load up. I mean it. Five minutes, and we are out of here.” He didn’t wait for a reply before he headed back down the stairs.

  I started to pull my heavy suitcase off my bed when Gavin stopped me, “He’ll come around, Scar. He knows that…you know, what happened…it wasn’t your fault. You don’t have to do this.”

  I closed my eyes and fought back the memory of her face. Without another word, I took my suitcase and walked out.

  CHAPTER 2

  Luke

  “Cami, are you breaking up with me?” I asked incredulously as I stared into the deep brown eyes of the girl I had been secretly hooking up with for the last few weeks.

  I mean it wasn’t like I expected us to last forever. Hell, I knew we wouldn’t, but I kind of liked Cami, more than most of the girls I’d messed around with over the years anyway. We had fun together, and well, to be honest, I was always the one to do the dumping. Not the other way around.

  Cami turned her attention to something off in the distance, but I knew it was because she didn’t want to look at me as she dumped me on my ass. “Technically, no. I’m not breaking up with you since we were never really officially together, but I’m done sneaking around. Look, we both know you don’t do serious, Luke, and if we keep doing what we’re doing, things will get serious…for me, at least. Let’s just call it quits now before I end up hating you,” she admitted, still refusing to look me in the eyes.

  She was right. I had never dated anyone longer than a few months. I didn’t know why really, but I did tend to split when things got too heavy. I’d never be boyfriend material, and even I had to agree that Cami was smart to end things before I ended up hurting her.

  It was stupid on my part to even get involved with her in the first place, but she was just too damn irresistible the night we bumped into each other on a run out in the woods. As wolves, we’d spent hours romping around through the brush like cubs, playing chase for a while until she finally let me catch her. When we shifted back and I wrapped her completely naked body up in a blanket I couldn’t seem to stop myself from kissing her.

  Unfortunately she’d known me her entire life and was well aware of my past. Why she even let things go on for as long as she did was beyond me. The reality is she’s a sweet girl and she could do a hell of lot better than me, so I didn’t try to convince her otherwise. Besides, I had been texting Scarlett, the Fixer’s daughter, ever since she left, and while I wasn’t technically cheating on Cami, I wasn’t being honest either. It wasn’t fair to lead Cami on even if I wasn’t quite ready to end things.

  “Well…we’re okay, right? I mean it’s not going to be awkward between us, is it?” I asked, wanting to make sure we wouldn’t have to tiptoe arou
nd each other for months.

  “Oh please, Luke,” she said, finally letting her eyes connect with mine. “Get over yourself!”

  As she smacked me across my arm, her smile lit up her entire face, and I couldn’t help but chuckle, which made her laugh too. To my surprise, Cami grabbed me by the back of my neck and reached up to kiss me one last time, and it was one hell of a goodbye kiss. The kind that made me want to strip off her clothes and beg her to be mine. Damn. I was going to miss kissing Cami.

  She pulled away all too soon and asked, “We’re all watching the game at the lodge. You coming?” And that was that. Cami dumped me, kissed me, and then asked me to go watch some football. I’ll never understand chicks.

  Looking off toward the lodge, I replied, “I hope to, but Marcus wants to see me first. I’m heading over there now.”

  “Sucks to be you! Good luck with Marcus. I hear he’s been a little intense lately,” she said and headed toward the lodge without looking back. As I watched her walk away, I shook my head, letting everything that had just happened sink in. It wasn’t like I ever envisioned a future with Cami, but I certainly didn’t see this one coming.

  Trudging through the snow, I found myself thinking about how bad it sucked to be me right now. It had been six fucking years since the last time the University of New Mexico’s Lobo football team was in a bowl game. I was twelve. Twelve! I had been waiting for this day all goddamned season. So yeah, it totally sucked that Marcus demanded to have an “emergency meeting” with me today. Not yesterday, when I didn’t give a rat’s ass about who was playing. Not even later on tonight when the UNM game was over and I was trying to put the inevitable slaughter behind me. No. He wanted to meet with me, less than an hour before kickoff. I was going to miss the biggest game of the year, and to top it off, I’d just got my ass dumped for the first time ever.

  Walking over to the Walker house, my mind wandered back to all the hearts I’d broken over the years. I knew that I’d hurt them way more than Cami had hurt me today, and for the first time ever, that kind of made me feel like shit. Some girl, a long time ago, should have dumped my ass and done the world a favor. Maybe I would have turned out to be a more sensitive guy. Nah, probably not. I just wasn’t cut out for serious relationships.