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)
Nadia’s eyebrows rose. “Seriously?”
“Yes. My—I mean, our, father is a great Alpha when it comes to protection and strategy, but he’s not so great with business.”
Nadia munched on a piece of bacon. “What about you?”
Emily offered Nadia a small shrug. “I do some work for the mines, but to be honest, it’s not my passion.”
“Oh, yeah? What is your interest?”
“Writing,” Emily said. “Romantic suspense, mainly.”
Nadia’s eyes lit. “That’s cool.”
“Yeah,” Emily replied, swirling the coffee in her cup. “Aside from that, I help optimize mining operations with mainly logistics and safety. I review tunnel layouts and airflow systems, making sure everything runs smoothly. It keeps things efficient and helps prevent accidents.” She liked the contrast of work with her creative side writing and her mechanical side keeping people safe.
Nadia watched her. “Sounds like you’re a problem solver.”
Emily smiled. “Something like that.”
Nadia leaned forward, curiosity lighting her eyes. “Even though you told Philip you’d become the Alpha, I could tell you have no interest in the job.”
Pausing, Emily took another sip of coffee, the warmth giving her a moment to gather her thoughts. “You read me correctly. Part of it is that you’re constantly challenged by people who can take you down. While I can fight, it’s not the life I want.” Her fingers traced the rim of her mug. Trusting her new sister with the whole truth felt like a gamble. They didn’t have enough history yet, but something about Nadia’s open expression made her think that maybe, just maybe, she could tell the truth about her health.
Nadia nodded. “Fighting all of the time would suck.”
That was true if Emily could even win a fight. That possibility seemed further away every single day, and she had no clue why. The only healer they had in the pack was Edra, a two-hundred-year-old female who still relied on herbs. Not that they weren’t helpful sometimes, but she couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Emily.
“What do you know about Jackson’s pack?” Emily asked, her gaze steady.
“Nothing,” Nadia replied. “I’ve heard of him and his Granite Pack, but you know what—?” She angled her head toward the doorway. “Caidrik,” she bellowed.
The guard dog appeared almost instantly, his stance firm and gaze intense.
Nadia blinked. “That was fast. What do you know about Jackson? We both know you haven’t told us everything about his pack.”
Caidrik’s chin dipped slightly. “I don’t answer to you, little Nadia.” His gaze shifted to Emily. “Or you, for that matter.”
Emily drew in air. “Do you mind providing a little information?”
“Like what?” he asked.
“Geez,” Nadia grumbled. “They’ve fed and clothed you. The least you could do is answer a couple of questions.”
Caidrik’s nostrils flared.
“Are you two together?” Emily asked, not wanting to cause a problem between the couple.
“God, no,” they said at the same time.
Emily barely bit back a laugh as Nadia flushed a pretty shade of peach.
“Caidrik only joined our co-op a couple of weeks ago,” Nadia explained. “He obviously has fighting experience. When our new Alpha asked if anyone would serve as my protector, he stood right up.”
“I’m not much for farming,” Caidrik said simply. “I was just looking for a place to belong.”
Nadia’s gaze softened. “The co-op’s a good place. Or it was, I guess. Now, it’s part of a pack.” She frowned slightly. “I’m still not sure how I feel about that.”
“You have a pack here,” Emily said gently. “Your blood ties you to us. I’m hoping you might decide to stay.” She looked at the obviously strong warrior leaning against the wall. “I’m sure you’d be welcome, as well, Caidrik. We always need soldiers. You worked with Jackson in the mine?”
Caidrik nodded. “Yeah. I worked with him. In the mine. For a bit.”
That felt like a lie. Emily went on instinct, not missing that her sister listened raptly. “I can sense that you have Alpha blood in your veins. Right?”
“None of your damn business,” Caidrik shot back, his tone flat.
“Be nice. We’re guests,” Nadia scolded him with a glare.
Emily patted her hand. “You’re not a guest. You belong here.” She had to convince Nadia to stay. Something deep inside told her this sibling might be more important than either of them realized.
Her feet were completely numb today, a chilling reminder that whatever this illness was, it was killing her. Her father figured she was still slightly off because of the kidnapping attempt months ago which had given her a heck of a concussion. She hadn't told him that she'd again visited Edra, the healer. Edra had no idea what was wrong but had said the sickness mimicked the illness that had killed Emily’s mother…and grandmother. Most of the pack didn’t know about that. The uncertainty gnawed at Emily. Every morning, she woke hoping the sensation would return to her feet. Yet every morning, it didn’t. How could she even start to plan for a future if she didn’t know if she even had one?