Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Why would everyone in my late uncle’s pack dislike his mate?” I asked, still confused.
She looked away.
“Because I’m barren.”
I could see what it cost her to say that word. It seemed to stick in her throat like a bone, but she somehow got it out anyway.
“You can’t have children?” I asked sympathetically. “I’m sorry, I know that can be rough for a woman, especially if she really wants them.”
“You have no idea,” she said, and her beautiful eyes were so sad that for a moment I wanted desperately to reach around the kitchen island and just hold her. I can’t explain it, but loneliness came off her like a soft blue cloud and it made me feel protective of her and sad for her at the same time.
“So the people of the Pack…”
“They don’t care for me much,” she said and took a sip of her cocoa. “I was sold to your uncle because a soothsayer gave him a prophecy that I would bear a male of his line many heirs.” She shook her head. “But the prophecy failed. And now, here I am—Carter’s dead and I don’t have any children to keep me company.”
“I’ll keep you company,” I said. Impulsively, I reached across the kitchen island and covered her small, delicate hand with my own. I felt the by-now familiar tingle of instant lust, but I did my best to ignore it. “I’m sorry you were left all alone up here in this big house,” I said to her. “I may not be much, but I hope you won’t be quite so lonely while I’m staying here.”
She smiled at me, but her lovely eyes were still sad.
“You’re very sweet, Kor. Thank you for that. Your company and companionship are very welcome here.”
“I still don’t see why the Pack here blames you for a failed prophecy,” I said, angry at the idea.
She shrugged.
“Well, Carter made it very clear to everyone that I was the reason there were no heirs. He wasn’t about to be blamed for it himself. And it’s not like he didn’t try to…to get me pregnant.”
Her cheeks got pink, and she looked down to where my hand was resting on top of hers.
“So he…” I cleared my throat. “It wasn’t a, uh, problem on his end?”
“Oh, it might have been—he might have had a low sperm count. I don’t know—he refused to be tested,” she said. “But as for trying, he certainly tried. Every time I had a Heat Cycle, he…he…” She shook her head. “I didn’t…didn’t always want him to but he said we had to keep trying…trying for an heir. So he—”
She broke off with a shudder, but I understood what she was saying. She hadn’t been a willing participant. Every month for her entire married life Uncle Carter had raped her—the bastard! I had a sudden wish that I could dig him up and make him sorry for the pain I saw in her beautiful eyes.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, and my voice came out sounding rough. I squeezed her hand gently. “So sorry, Vivienne.”
There were tears in her eyes when she looked up, but she brushed them quickly away with the back of her hand.
“How did we get started talking about this, anyway? I’m so sorry—I’m an old lady, you don’t want to hear my troubles.”
“Old Lady?” I gave her an incredulous look. This was the second time she’d referred to herself as “old” or “over the hill.”
“Well, yes. I mean, I am past forty,” she reminded me.
“I don’t care about that—you’re fucking gorgeous,” I told her. “And I don’t mean for your age—I mean you’re a complete knock-out.”
“Oh, please…” Her hand went to her cheek and I saw that she was blushing. “Please don’t say such things. I’m sure they can’t be true. Carter certainly never said anything like that.”
“Then he was a fool,” I said firmly. And a rapist, I thought but didn’t say. “You’re a beautiful woman and he should have told you so every day of your life.”
“You’re going to make me vain,” she said and laughed that soft, musical laugh I was already getting addicted to. I found I wanted to hear it again, but I couldn’t think of anything funny to say. All I could think of was how soft her skin was and how good she smelled. Was that her natural female Were scent? I had never smelled anything like it.
“Well, it’s getting late,” Vivienne said, at last sliding her hand out from under mine. “We should probably be getting to bed. I mean, me in my bed and you in yours,” she added quickly, and her cheeks went pink all over again.
“Oh, of course.” I gulped down the rest of my hot cocoa, which had grown cold while we were talking, and stood abruptly. My hard-on had gone down some, thank the Moon Goddess—it only made a small tent in the crotch of my trousers.