Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Whenever Jase stood up for me, it made her even nastier, going out of her way to drive the point home that Jase sees me as nothing more than a pest. And although I felt like I was floating in the best dream ever while he danced with me at the dance, five minutes later he was dancing with another girl. An eighteen-year-old girl he drove home. So, the bubble got popped. And it got popped in a devastating way because gossip was that she gave Jase her virginity that night.
And that was a cautionary tale to me that made me sure I wanted to save mine for when it counted.
There was also that time when I was eighteen, walking home from that bush party and Sherry and two of her friends were shifted to wolves. They cornered me and snapped their jaws at me, making me fall, looming over me like they were going to eat me.
Jase happened to show up just in time with Linc and Mase. They shifted and roared at those girls, scaring them off with their much larger wolf forms. I was crying, and my knees and palms were skinned and bloody after having fallen on the gravel.
Jase reminded me of the last time he carried me with skinned knees and this time he gave me a piggyback all the way home, telling silly jokes to cheer me up.
Jase didn’t just treat me well. He treats everyone that way. He does nice things for people. He looks after everyone. He cares.
The Jason Creed I’ve been around lately has been very different, going out of his way to make the message clear – he doesn’t want my attention.
I saw Jase’s mom yesterday at Cicely’s store and asked her how Sherry was doing.
“Despondent,” Valerie Creed croaked, looking broken.
“At least she won’t have to deal with him anymore,” Cicely put in.
Val shook her fair head of hair and whispered brokenly, “But that’s part of the problem. As much as he was a monster, and believe me, he was… that was supposed to be her soulmate. She hated him, but the mate connection dictates her soul will mourn him for the rest of her life. What does she have to look forward to now? She feels like her life is ruined. She’s mourning him despite loathing him.”
Cicely’s eyes met mine as I winced. And after Val was gone, my bestie gave me a pointed look, one requiring no explanation. Sherry Creed got served up some karma cake with bitter frosting. And no, neither of us like her. She’s a mean-spirited, shitty person who thrives on others’ misery. She doesn’t ever go head-to-head with Cicely because Sis would eviscerate her. Sherry targets the more docile females where she can do the maximum damage with minimum repercussions. But despite Sherry’s ugly track record, this fate for her sounds horrible.
Yes, she’s my one and only enemy in the world, but I wouldn’t wish what happened to her on even her.
Anyway, my feelings for Jase are in the past. I’m done wasting time on him.
Malachi Carswell from Silver Hills asked me out and I told him I’d think about it. He’s cute. He’s nice. He loves books. Stacy said he’s a good guy. Anything with him can’t be more than casual. Brody needs him as beta for the new pack and it’s not like I’d ever consider moving away from Arcana Falls. I’d rather be the stereotypical librarian spinster than leave this place and everyone I love.
But I figure it’ll be good practice to go on a date or two. Put myself out there a little. Move forward with my life. Maybe get myself my first kiss, finally, so if I meet a guy where there’s an actual possibility with him, I won’t be a crappy kisser. And maybe it’s time I begin thinking of a life that doesn’t include being mated to a council alpha.
After lunch with the girls yesterday, Stacy threw me with, “What if it’s not Jase, but… maybe it’s Lincoln or Joel?”
I can’t see that happening. It’d shock the heck out of me if it did. And it’d be awful if it did happen because after Jase’s outburst at Erica’s birthday party it’s obvious that Jase has had enough of me trying to manifest being his mate.
And that could mean he’s complained about me to his closest friends other than my brother. Because Grey wouldn’t let anyone complain about me. I can fathom Jase bitching about me to the others when Grey isn’t around. But what else can he do? The irritating Bailey just won’t take a hint.
Yep, he spelled things out for me with startling clarity at Erica’s party, then further cemented where he stands when I answered the phone at Grey’s and he irately accused me of being selfish, reaming me out for making him look like an asshole. He made himself look that way all by himself.