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)
“It’s always coming.” Erik’s eyes met his. “Best we meet it head-on from every front, including owning cattle. Never thought I’d own cattle.”
“I don’t suppose we could combine farmland,” Jackson murmured.
Erik huffed out a breath. “We’ve always had problems combining land. Even if you’re letting Philip use the Embervault Mine, I’m sure you just granted him a license.”
“Of course, I did.”
Oakley snorted. “I’ve gotta get to school. Erik, don’t forget that prom’s Friday night, so I’m off duty.”
“I won’t forget,” Erik said. “Did you get your tux?”
“Yeah. I had Mrs. Pompion change the cummerbund. Apparently, there’s a difference between eggplant and purple.” Oakley shook his head, muttering something before jumping into his truck. “Later.”
Snow flew under the tires as the truck pulled away, leaving clouds of exhaust in the cold air.
Jackson watched the vehicle disappear down the road. “He’s an odd choice for an Enforcer, but he fits.”
Erik pushed away from his truck as snow began drifting down again. “He’s good at the job. I’ve got a couple of older members backing him up, but that kid’s gonna be valuable. I like him. He stepped up after his dad died. It’s not easy, but he’s doing it.”
“Look at you, all domesticated and responsible,” Jackson said, half-smiling. “Taking care of a whole pack.”
Erik brushed snow off his shoulders. “I don’t know how you did it starting at fifteen.”
“I had the damn council breathing down my neck.” It was time for all three of those males to find a hobby before he found one for them thousands of miles away from his territory.
“I can imagine that was a pain in the ass.” Erik chuckled, shaking his head. “And they’re still holding on, huh?”
“Unfortunately, but I’m about to take care of that problem.” Jackson blew out a breath, watching it fog the air. He studied his ally. “When I was at Nightsom’s the other day, Victor mentioned something about being ready for the trials to step up as the Alpha. You know anything about that?”
Erik frowned, the lines around his mouth deepening. “Trials?”
“Yeah.”
Erik exhaled slowly. “I think my pack had a series of trials several centuries ago that Alphas had to endure before claiming leadership. Strength, endurance, strategy, and they had to survive them all. But we scrapped that stupidity generations ago. Too many good wolves died proving a useless point.”
How dumb. “You think the Slate Pack still does that crap?”
“I don’t know, but if Victor said it, maybe. Their pack leans more toward the traditional. Sometimes, old traditions die hard.”
Jackson considered that, tension sliding along his spine. “I should ask Emily.”
Erik’s gaze sharpened with something unreadable. “You two seem pretty close these days. What’s going on between you, anyway?”
“None of your damn business.” Jackson pushed to his feet.
Erik chuckled, low and rough. “So you already said. I’ll see you in about an hour.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Erik lifted two fingers in a mock salute. “Say hi to Emily for me.”
Jackson didn’t bother replying. He watched Erik move toward his truck, boots smashing packed snow. The engine rumbled to life, and as the vehicle pulled away, Jackson let out a slow breath, the air fogging white in front of him. Something about Victor’s words stuck like a splinter beneath his skin. The Slate Pack couldn’t be so backward that they still had physical trials, could they?
He wouldn’t ever let one of his kids endure a stupid trial. So he’d have to become Alpha of another pack. Emily was worth it.
Jackson turned and walked back into the cabin, the warmth of Emily’s presence still clinging to the air. One night with her, and the thought of moving forward without her wrapped a band around his chest. She belonged with him. He’d held back last night, kept control, made himself gentle when his instincts urged him to claim.
Footsteps shuffled across the floorboards. Emily stumbled out of the bedroom, her platinum hair tousled, the oversized shirt she wore falling to her knees. The sight of her so sleep-warmed and slightly rumpled stole the air from his lungs. His gaze snagged on the bare skin of her legs, and heat flared low in his gut.
Her eyes landed on his mug on the table. “Coffee?”
He crossed to her without hesitation, his body already awake, the hard press of his cock uncomfortably tight against his jeans. Lifting her as if she weighed nothing, he reveled in her surprised laugh, light and free and so damn perfect it cracked something inside him. He wanted her agreement, though.
“Jackson,” she protested, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Morning,” he murmured against her hair, inhaling the scent of wild berries and sleep. He carried her back to the bedroom, sitting with her tucked against him. She tipped her head back, meeting his gaze with a smile that made his chest ache.
“I don’t usually laugh before coffee,” she teased.