Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Harland coughed. “Are you sure she isn’t angling for the Alpha job with her pack? Philip is getting on in years.”
“Writing is a full time job.” Irving shook his head with a dismissive snort. “I mean, come on. A woman as the Alpha? She’d be challenged to fight constantly.”
Jackson’s jaw clenched, but he bit back the retort burning on his tongue. Irving’s old-school views were well-known, but Jackson couldn’t shake the image of Emily standing her ground the other night, so fierce, determined, and brave. Yet she’d been injured. There was a fragility to her he hadn’t realized before.
She was vulnerable. Period.
The idea of her having to fight off challengers for the rest of her life set something inside him on fire.
The female needed protection.
Harland chuckled. “Last I saw her, she was healthy and tall and could probably fight, but we’ve never seen a female hold off attackers for long.”
A low growl rumbled in Jackson’s chest. He swallowed it back as the front door opened.
“I brought coffee,” said Raya Ashthorne, stepping inside. She paused, taking in the three council members. “Looks like I’m not the only one here early. Where’s your new mate?”
Jackson glanced at the woman who had served as the backbone of his entire organization for the last five years as its chief operating officer. “We hit a bit of a glitch there. But I’ll get mated, and Emily is going to come and help me find the perfect mate.”
Raya’s eyebrows lifted. In her late-twenties, with sparkling brown eyes and curly black hair pulled into a loose bun, the wolf radiated confidence and a no-nonsense attitude. Her tailored blazer and dark jeans spoke of practicality, but there was a sharp intelligence in her gaze that no one dared underestimate. “Seriously? We’re playing the dating game now? You need to stop watching old TV shows.”
Jackson forced a smile. He was finished discussing mating, damn it. “This is business, not a game. A strong Alpha pair stabilizes the pack. It’s about optics and strength. Perception matters.”
“Sure,” Raya muttered, shaking her head. “This is going to be fun. Maybe we should start a reality show. Alpha Bachelor has a nice ring to it.”
“Very funny,” Jackson replied dryly.
She ignored the jab and glanced toward the council members seated on the worn leather sofa, their faces etched with concern. “Anyway, I only brought coffee for the two of us since we need to review the mine projections. As you know, we’re down two tunnels. Production’s running at sixty percent capacity. If we don’t get them cleared and reinforced within two weeks, we’re looking at more than missed deadlines. We risk losing long-term contracts, including Caldwell’s.”
The weight of leadership settled heavily on Jackson’s shoulders. “We’ll get it handled. Failure’s not an option.”
“We know.” Oswald tugged at his bow tie with a nervous twitch of his fingers. His usually calm demeanor seemed strained, betraying the pressure they all felt. “Find out who’s trying to destroy our mines, Jackson. If you can’t, we’ll find somebody who can.”
Jackson’s gaze sharpened. “Is that a threat?” His voice dropped into a low, dangerous rumble that carried authority.
As if bound by the same unspoken command, the three council members stood as one, moving with the synchronized grace of seasoned wolves.
“It absolutely is,” Irving replied smoothly, his eyes glinting with challenge. “Warren Blount is already whispering to scared pack members whose family members nearly died in the mine attack. Says the pack needs stronger leadership and someone with a legacy they can trust. His grandsons are circling like vultures, waiting for a chance to step in. Warren is too old and still limping from that mine collapse a century ago, but that doesn’t stop him from scheming.”
Raya’s smile vanished. “Rumblings are spreading through town and the territory. You’re in danger, Jackson. They’ll force a challenge if you don’t secure your position soon.”
Jackson exhaled slowly through his nose, tension coiling in his chest. Not one ounce of him wanted to kill his own pack members during a challenge. The Blount kids were just teenagers, damn it. “Emily Nightsom will be here tomorrow morning to help.”
Raya quirked a lip. “If she doesn’t want to mate you, I don’t understand why she’d travel here and play matchmaker.”
Harland shrugged. “The female writes romances. Perhaps Jackson thinks she’ll be good at the job.”
Jackson was done talking about this. “Emily has agreed to assist me in exchange for my granting her pack a license to the Embervault Mine. They need the rare slate veins below the granite ones we’ve nearly depleted. In other words, I didn’t give her a choice.”
Raya lifted her chin. “I see.”
Irving coughed. “See what?”
“Jackson just wanted to get Emily into our territory. You may have taken no for an answer, but you’re not giving up on her.” Raya’s tone hinted at disapproval. Considering the female had been crucial in bringing the pack into current times, she no doubt had issues with contractual matings. Or extorted ones.