Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I agree,” Ronan says. “I doubt anyone knows Mitchel was holding a woman in his basement. That’s incredibly unlikely, which means no one in town knows she exists. We can spread whatever rumor we want about how you two met, but we’ll do so after Mitchel is out of the picture.”
My brothers are thinking far more clearly than I am this afternoon. It’s hard for me to see anything but rage.
“How is she?” Quinn asks in a kinder voice.
I smile. “She’s doing amazing. I even took the stitches out. The wound healed better than I remember ever seeing on a human before. It’s been a damn long time since any of us have witnessed the healing properties we bring to a mate.”
Ronan nods. “That’s good to know. Pryce said the cut was long and deep. She’d lost a lot of blood.”
“She had.” I glance past my brothers and look around the clearing. Most of our pride are still out at one of the logging sites. “How soon do you think we can gather everyone?”
Ronan looks over his shoulder. “A few hours? I’ll head to the jobsite and let everyone know to come straight to the clearing when they return for the day. I have an idea in mind. I’ll explain it better at the meeting, but in the meantime, we need something from you.”
I cock my head to the side, narrowing my gaze. What could he possibly need?
Ronan’s expression is tense. “We picked up everything you needed from town. I’ll help you carry it inside and explain. Then we’ll meet out here in a few hours.”
Ten minutes later, I’m left to go through the bags of supplies. Some items are things I already have but will need more of in the near future, like extra food, drinks she might like, clothes, and undergarments.
We don’t buy bottles, diapers, or pacifiers from town. Our lifestyle practices are private. No one in town needs to know how we live behind closed doors, so we order those kinds of supplies from wholesale locations and have them shipped directly here to the mountain. It’s not cheap to have things delivered, but it’s worth it.
The purchase of clothes is what’s going to give away the fact that we have a woman with us, so we need to act fast on Mitchel. It will be tidier if he’s eliminated without anyone knowing he ever had a connection with Brea.
I’m marginally nervous about the plan Ronan has put into motion. But he’s a sharp man with a good head for solving problems.
I’ve put all the food away and started dinner. So far, Brea has only expressed disdain for broccoli, so I think she’ll like my pasta bake. I get it all put together and in the oven before I hear her stirring in the bedroom.
When I enter, she’s sitting up in the middle of the bed, looking groggy and disoriented. And adorable.
Brea tips her head back to look at me and frowns. “I guess I was tired.”
“Yes, Little love. Next time you’ll listen to Daddy and not argue.”
“Could I take a shower?”
I tug the covers away from her leg and examine it. The wound has improved significantly even in the last few hours. “How about a bath? I don’t want you standing, and I bet you could use a good soak. The wound is completely sealed, so no water will get in it.”
She touches the scar. “I can’t believe it. Even the scar isn’t as gnarly as it should be.”
“That’s what you get for hooking up with a shapeshifter,” I tease as I grab her ankles and drag her to the edge of the bed.
She giggles. “See? I didn’t wet myself.”
I remove her diaper, noting she’s right. “That’s fine, Little love, but I don’t want you getting so worked up about peeing in your diaper that you don’t sleep well. If I find out you’re restless or forcing yourself to remain slightly alert, I’ll put sleeping pills in your bottom and force you to rest.”
She gasps. “Daddy…”
“I mean it, Little love. Rest is important. Sleeping pills will drag you into such a deep sleep that you’ll pee yourself without your knowledge.”
“That’s a bit drastic.”
“Try me, naughty girl.” I help her to sit upright and pull the tank top over her head before removing the band from her hair and unraveling the braid.
“I love it when you run your hands through my hair,” she whispers, her voice relaxed.
I’m glad she enjoys me stroking her hair because I certainly like it, too. I intend to do it often. I scoop her into my arms, cradling her, and carry her to the bathroom. After sitting her on the bench seat, I turn on the water.
“The tub is huge,” she comments. “We could both fit.”
I test the water until I’m satisfied and add the stopper. “Sometimes I’ll get in with you, Little love, but not today.”