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)
Emily ran her palm across his jaw, no doubt scratching her tender skin. “My guess is she’ll probably want to wait a week or two before testing my blood.”
“I would think so.” He enjoyed the heat of her body against his lap. Her warmth seeped into his skin, stirring something low and insistent inside him. “We’ll figure this thing out with your pack, but it may be that Victor steps up as the Alpha for the time being.”
She sighed, her fingers curling slightly against his shoulders. “I don’t completely trust him not to kill my father. Just to make sure the threat is gone.”
“I don’t think he’s that stupid,” Jackson replied, voice rough. “The pack would turn on him whether he liked it or not.”
She nodded, her eyes clearing. “That’s true.”
He could at least give her that peace. “I’ll speak with Seth and Erik. Even though none of us interferes with the business of each other’s packs, I think I can get them to agree to protect your father. We can tell Victor we’ll all go to war if he hurts Philip.” It was a long shot, but he’d give it a try.
She swallowed. “Okay. That would go against tradition, but why not ask?” Her hands slid down his chest. “What now?”
His breath hitched. “Now, you figure out what you want to do with my pack,” he said. “And I expect you to keep writing because you enjoy it. We could use your help with the safety procedures for the mines, like you’ve done for your father.”
“I’d like that,” she said, though the lost tone in her voice hadn’t disappeared. She barely concealed a yawn.
He stood, lifting her effortlessly. She yelped, smiling as he laid her back down on the sofa. The smile lingered on her lips as he grabbed a blanket somebody had given him at some point from the nearby chair and draped it over her, smoothing it into place and lingering on the good parts. “I want you to take a nap.” He let the Alpha show in his voice. “Your body needs to heal, and sleep is the best way. I have to run into town with Thane and look over schematics.”
Her eyes met his, heat flickering there. “Hurry back.”
“I will,” he promised, brushing a kiss across her forehead and stepping away before the temptation to stay overruled everything else. “I’ll have patrols on the house the whole time.” The place felt like home with her in it. He crossed the room, his boots scuffing softly against the wooden floor, and paused near the wall beside the fireplace. Reaching up, he removed a small painting, revealing a sleek security panel embedded in the wall.
Emily sat up, surprise widening her eyes. “What is that?”
“A security system.” Given the price of the damn thing, it’d better be as good as Thane promised.
She blinked. “You have an actual security system? Like a human one?”
He snorted. “Yeah. We’re all modern, remember? Thane insisted upon installing it when he updated City Hall awhile back. To be honest, I’ve never used it before, but now, your safety is all that matters.” He booted it up. Hopefully, it still worked. Relief flitted through him when the green light blinked and then glowed. “The code is 0802, just in case you need it.”
Her lips curved slightly. “0802?”
“August second.” He felt warmth rise in his chest despite himself. Would she remember the date?
“The day we kissed at the lake so long ago?” she murmured, her smile softening the tension in the air.
Jackson’s pulse kicked up. “Yeah. That was one hell of a kiss.” The memory still stirred something primal inside him. He’d waited so long to feel her mouth beneath his again, her hands gripping his shoulders.
Silence thickened between them, charged with something that had always simmered beneath the surface. Her gaze dipped to his mouth, and for a moment, he considered crossing the room and showing her just how much he still remembered that kiss.
Instead, he exhaled roughly and adjusted the panel. “Okay, that’s good. I’ll be back in about an hour. Take a nap.”
“You’re bossy.”
“You have no idea,” he muttered, hoping she understood him. “You’re gonna need your rest, baby.” With that, he engaged the alarm, opened the door, and jogged out into the swirling snowfall, his mind already focused on finding whoever the hell was trying to sabotage his mines so he could return and spend the night with Emily.
His mate.
Finally.
Chapter 35
Emily couldn’t sleep. She spent about half an hour curled up on the sofa, watching the fire. Her mind spun, but no answers came to her. She hated even considering the possibility that Victor would become Alpha of her pack. Not once had she truly believed he could manage the feat. But then again, she hadn’t expected her father to be attacked with silver, either.