Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 4: Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, #4

By Anastasia Maltezos

According to the lycan legend, there is only one true love for everyone. Matthew Walker has already met his true love, but she died two hundred years ago. He does not have any delusions he will fall in love again, nor does he want to. Matt has accepted to live the rest of his existence alone. Then he meets Madison “Maddy” O’Reilly and everything changes for him, especially his belief in the lycan legend. 

Maddy is relieved the wicked witch is finally dead, but there is one thing left to do before the spell is broken. She needs the witch’s wand to destroy it and the curse that has haunted her family for centuries will finally end. Maddy’s mission brings her to Matt and she asks him for help. She knows he has the wand. In fact, she knows more than she’s telling him. Things he won’t believe. The lycan legend is clear. There is only one true love for everyone. 

And Maddy is Matt’s true love. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anastasia Maltezos
• Release date: Jan 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524281427

Anastasia Maltezos

Although Anastasia Maltezos loves to read all genres of romance, she does have a particular interest in the paranormal field. When she's not busy writing her next book, she enjoys spending time with her family. You may send Anastasia an email at [e-mail]. She loves to hear from her readers. Other books by Anastasia Maltezos on Smashwords: Lycan Prince, Lycan King, Lycan Warrior, Lycan Mate, Her Vampire Lover, The Lycan and his Witch.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 4

Copyright © 2014 Anastasia Maltezos

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Tall Dark Handsome Lycan, Book 4

Author:  Anastasia Maltezos

Chapter One

Matt stared at the woman entering his office. Most of his clients appeared tense on their first meeting with him, especially the ones who wanted their lovers followed, but this woman looked terrified, as though she was ready to drop from sheer fright.

He rose and stretched his hand across his desk.  I’m Matthew Walker.  How do you do?  The woman’s breath caught as she stared at his hand, her eyes widening.  I don’t bite, he added gently.

She recovered quickly and took his hand.  No, of course you don’t.  I’m Madison O’Reilly, but you can call me Maddy.  I’m pleased to meet you, Mr Walker.

Matt, please.  She was soft spoken and he found her voice appealing.  He shook her hand and was about to release it, but his inner wolf opened its eyes and released a long, slow growl.  Matt clenched his jaw, cautioning his beast to behave.  This woman was hardly a threat, he thought, as he skimmed his gaze over her features.  She was rather plain looking with long, brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and a simple black skirt and white cardigan.  Slowly, he released her hand, the immediate absence of her warm touch disturbing him on a level he couldn’t define.  Please, have a seat.

She took the seat in front of his desk.  Now, tell me what I can do for you, he said, sitting down.  She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, so she couldn’t be here for a wayward husband.

Maddy took a deep breath and released it on a weary sigh.  Where do I start?

Matt smiled.  How about starting at the beginning?

Her gaze wavered under his.  All right.  She paused, clearing her throat delicately.

Would you like some water?  He asked.  Or a coffee?

She flashed him a fleeting smile and Matt was taken aback, correcting his earlier thought.  This woman wasn’t plain.  Her brief smile had softened her face, the fear behind her brown eyes disappearing, her expression warming.  An undeniable tug of awareness settled in his gut at the sensual curve of her mouth.

No.  Thank you.  She drew in a soft breath.  I’m here because you have something I need, she said, her expression returning to its former anxiety.

Matt raised his brow.  And what might that be?

A wand, or rather, a broken wand.

Matt stiffened.  Perhaps his inner beast hadn’t been so quick to awaken a few minutes ago.  I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.

She must have referred to the wand that had belonged to Catherine when Leo had killed her a few days ago.  How the devil did she know about it?

Look, I’m on your side, Maddy said, a tremor running through her voice.  Isn’t that what all this is about?  Sides?  Good versus evil?  She paused, drawing in another long breath.  Please, let’s not waste each other’s time.  I know you have the wand and I need it.

Matt clenched his jaw.  You are mistaken.  I have no wand.  Halloween isn’t for a few more months.

A brief flash of annoyance darkened her otherwise pale features and he narrowed his eyes.

Look, I’ll save us both some time, she said.  "I know who you are.  You’re a two hundred year old lycan and this private investigator’s office is a front.  You’re really a member of an elite, secret organisation of lycans who live in anonymity.  Your prime directive is to protect the innocent and to keep the New York city streets safe from Garos’s army.  A few days ago, Leonidis Stefanos and his one, Samantha Hope, killed one of the most dangerous witches.  Maddy stopped to catch her breath.  I’m Catherine’s descendant and I’m human.  Will that do?"

He tensed under her innocent gaze, making him think of the old adage, a sheep in wolf’s clothing.  "Leo’s one?"  He asked slowly.

His beast was on high alert now, thrashing and howling within him.  Matt did nothing to calm it down.  He inhaled slowly through his nose.  Even in his human form, his lycan speed could snap her neck in two seconds.  This innocent looking woman apparently had more brewing under her than met the eye.

"His one as in Leo’s soul mate, his true love, Maddy said.  I know about the lycan legend.  I...I also know your one died two hundred years ago."

Matt stiffened violently.  Very few people knew about that dark time in his life.  So few, he could count them on one hand.  Who the hell are you?  He growled.

****

Maddy cowered under his withering glare.  This man was huge, with wide shoulders, strong arms, and a lycan monster beneath his surface that could rip her to shreds in mere seconds.  She shivered in spite of the comfortable temperature in his office.  She had to proceed gently and try not to anger him.  His reputation as Leonidis Stefanos’s right arm did him justice.  Matt was a powerful lycan who had braved many undefeated battles alongside the family’s leader, Leonidis.  No wonder Garos wanted them both dead.  With Matt and Leo out of the way, he could rule New York and then conquer the rest of the main cities.

"I have no interest in interfering in your family’s ongoing battle with Garos, she said.  That is a war you and your European counterparts must fight.  I’m here because I need that wand."

You seem to know a lot about me, don’t you?  He asked in a dangerously soft voice.

Little did he know how much of that was true, she thought.  I may be human, but I was born from a long line of witches.  Catherine wasn’t the only one with a crystal ball.

His brow rose.  Are you implying you possess a crystal ball?

Maddy’s face fell.  I did.  Rather, my sister did, but it was destroyed.

I see.  Matt’s face hardened as he leaned forward in his seat, staring at her with a dark and dangerous gaze.  If I did possess this wand, as you say, why do you need it?

It had been wishful thinking on her part thinking he’d simply give her the wand and she’d be on her way.  Her heart raced and she realised she needed to cut this meeting short.  His presence was wreaking havoc to her senses and she didn’t think she could take another minute with him.  There was something predatory behind his dark gaze and she couldn’t help feeling like little red riding hood about to be devoured by the big, bad wolf.

I need to destroy it, she said.

Matt held her gaze for what seemed an eternity before he spoke.  The wand is already destroyed.  Sam snapped it in two before Leo killed Catherine.  It’s useless.

Maddy hid her relief.  At least he admitted, in a roundabout way, he had the wand.  No, it isn’t.  It’s still alive.

Alive?

Yes.  It must be burned.  As long as the wand exists, her magic is still with us.

Why should I believe you?  Matt asked.  Catherine was dangerous and if you’re one of her descendants, how do I know you’re not as evil as she was?

If I was, you would already be dead.  Maddy knew she was going to have to be patient.  Leonidis’s family hadn’t protected humankind for centuries because they’d been fools.

Matt raised a haughty brow.  Witches are able to produce spells only with their wands.  If I had seen you produce a wand, I would snap your neck.  Magic cannot defeat my speed.

Maddy’s mission started unravelling before her eyes.  She swallowed the wave of frustration building in her throat.  "Catherine’s descendants have wanted her