Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Three of the four females claimed so far by these alphas are already pregnant and knowing Riley, Erica isn’t far behind the others. My father found love again after many years alone. So yes, when it’s meant to be in Arcana Falls it will be. This means that me and Jared will figure it out, too. Somehow.
I carry the box of food into the trailer, then come back for the full cooler. After that, I bring in the large laundry basket of my clothes and toiletries. And as I put the food away, I’m touched, because it’s obvious to me that Kathleen asked my dad for a list of my favorite foods. And her girls did a bang-up job of packing for me. Not only am I equipped with all my grooming essentials, but they also took a healthy helping of scraps of frilly fabric from my underwear and lingerie drawers, too.
10
JARED
“Get her out of here,” I plead.
“She won’t go,” Linc replies.
Tyson and Mason are with him.
“Drag her kicking and screaming if you have to. Leave me the keys. I’ll unlock myself after you’re gone and get as far away as I can get. I’ll cross an ocean and burn my passport so I can’t come back.”
“We’ve taken a six-council member vote and it’s unanimous,” Linc advises. “You’re here for a reason. We’ll help you figure things out.”
I glare at him. “Do I not get a fucking choice? Remind me when I asked to be part of your pack, Linc.”
“She’s part of our pack,” Tyson says, “and you’re hers.”
I growl with frustration.
He leans forward aggressively, a challenge in his eyes.
I stare back for a minute, but I’m the one to look away first. Because I don’t need to make an enemy here of a guy trying to help. I need to talk them out of this because I can’t take the chance.
“Jared,” Mason says, coming closer and looking me over. “You need to shift to heal. Back of your shoulder’s lookin’ rough.”
“Send her away and I’ll do it.”
“We’re not sending her away, Jared,” Tyson insists. “We send her away, you’re out of here and we can’t help you fix this.”
“And…” Mason says, “Your female will have our asses in a sling if she thinks we made it easy for you to hit the road.”
“True. That little lady of yours may be all wolf shifter, but she’s also part hellcat,” Linc adds.
Before I can even fathom how to respond to this, Linc says, “Here.” He squats and reaches into the bag he brought in, pulling out a giant leather, metal, and belt buckle contraption that looks like the seat of a sex swing.
If it were different circumstances, I might quip about his bondage gear again, which I did in the past when he brought a bunch of it out to see if he had anything we could use in a rigged-up restraint system. But I don’t have much in the way of humor in me right now.
Actually, none at all because now I’m wondering if he used any of his bondage gear when he was fucking my mate. What the fuck he meant by hellcat? Cold suffuses my veins, so I box-breathe and work hard to beat it back.
They must sense this because they all back up and give me a minute.
When I look up to show I’m through it, Linc speaks.
“This was in the attic of Tyson’s place. Generations back, we had an alpha go near rabid with illness. Pack healer worked on him using this to keep his mouth shut while the healer did their work. It should fit. Put it on before you shift.”
“I…” I let that hang because no, I’m not through it.
“Unless you’re willing to shift soon, you need first aid. Are you gonna be able to stop yourself from a shift if one of us gives it to you?” Mason asks.
I fight hard for composure and when I find some, I manage to say, “Not you,” to Linc. “I smell her on you.”
He raises his hands defensively. “She was upset, brother. I gave her a brotherly hug.”
I growl. And it’s not quick. It’s a continuous low rumble. A warning.
Linc leans in and looks me in the eyes. “Stop it.”
I stop growling but my lip remains curled.
“See?” He throws a hand up. “The fact you’re there growling at me and I’m able to shake it off? Everything you’re doin’ is pointing to your need to be with your mate. The way all of us are reacting shows we’re equipped to help. And if you give us a fucking chance, we might be able to help you make it so you can have what Fate’s showing you is yours. She’s yours, brother.”
“And if I shift against my will, then wake up with her blood on me?”
“She’s your mate,” Mase argues. “Maybe your wolf knows this.”