Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
We also needed to plan for any opposing strategies. They weren’t beyond using iron collars, which meant they were likely open to using even dirtier tricks to get what they wanted.
It was much like strategizing for a hockey game, except the stakes were so much fucking higher.
Emmy’s house served as the staging area. The atmosphere was tense. There were only two hours now until the moon would rise and our shifts would happen. I sat in the living room with Emmy, Yuni, Raquel, and Chris, all of us still in our same clothes as the day before. Eli came in from the kitchen with two steaming hot mugs of tea. He gave one to Yuni and one to me.
“Thank you, baby.”
He sat down next to me, leaning forward and grabbing the mug he had left for himself. He took a sip and leaned back. The look of shock he had worn to bed and woken up with slowly waned as the day went on. I hated that he’d been dragged into this pack war, but there was unfortunately no other option. All I could do now was ensure he stayed safe.
“What I want to know is why does Viktor think we have Veronica?” Yuni asked, shaking her head. “I can’t wrap my head around that.”
Emmy grunted. “All of this is fucked. How did they even get Dylan? And thinking that was a good move? This is going to end them. Their pack will be destroyed.”
“And what if this is a trap?” Eli asked. His voice shook, as did his leg. Up and down, up and down. The couch vibrated with his nervous energy.
“It very well might be,” Emmy said matter-of-factly. “But we have no time to drag this out, no time to investigate. We have to fight.”
His leg bounced even more violently. The mug of tea cupped in his hand was shaking too.
“Come,” I said, grabbing the tea from his hands and placing it on the coffee table. “Let’s get some fresh air.”
Eli stood up and walked with me out into the yard. The soft blue glow of twilight painted the woods behind Emmy’s house. We went over to the fire pit. I pulled two chairs close together, and we sat.
I broke the heavy silence first. “I’m not even going to ask if you’re okay because I don’t expect anyone to be okay under these circumstances. But I want to tell you that things will be okay.”
He took a deep breath in. “You don’t know that, though.”
Touché. He got me there.
“I’m scared, Gabe. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to keep you safe.” His expression twisted with sadness. “On the ice, it’s my literal job to watch your back. And off it, I want to do the same. But I just feel like an ant crawling into a lion’s den.”
I wish I could give him something more solid than simply my words. An actual promise that I wouldn’t get hurt tonight. But I knew that would be a lie. I couldn’t do that to him. “That’s why I want you staying here tonight. Raquel will stay back and watch over you. She’ll make sure you’re safe.”
Eli turned his head to look at me. There was a determination in the set of his jaw I’d only seen a few times before. “No, absolutely not. I’m not staying behind.”
“Elijah,” I said, bringing out the full first name. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t a matter up for discussion.” I had to be firm with him. This was to protect him. And, honestly, myself. Because if he were anywhere in the vicinity and somehow got himself into danger, then I knew I would stop at nothing to save him, even if it meant endangering my own life or the lives of my pack members to trade for his.
“I’m not discussing it,” Eli said, pushing back. “I’ve already decided. It scares me, but that’s never stopped me before.”
As cute as those damn puppy-dog eyes were, I wanted to shake him and knock some sense into him. “There will be six fully shifted weres who are there for a brutal fight. You saw me in my were form. I’m over seven feet of muscles and claws and teeth. You can’t fight them.”
“I don’t intend to. But maybe there’s something else I can do. Maybe I can set off a distraction. Or I can—”
“No.” The word came out with the force of a thunderclap. Eli sat up like a steel rod had just been rammed through his spine. I felt guilt for my delivery but couldn’t back down. Not with this. “I’m sorry, baby, I am. But you have to sit this one out. You being here, waiting for me, is what’s going to get me through tonight. I’m going to fight for Dylan, bring him back home, then hold you in my arms and never fucking let go again.” I reached for his hand. The muscles in his jaw twitched as he ground his teeth.