Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Zeke had been the one to check in on her from time to time. He’d never gotten close enough to say hello, even after we Vampires had gone public. I appreciated him for that. Knowing that he’d been able to speak with her while I couldn’t would’ve killed me. Once I’d decided to let Millie live the human life that she was so enamored with, I’d left the country entirely and hadn’t gone back until she was already gone. The mating bond would’ve forced me into doing something I’d already promised I wouldn’t do, or it would’ve driven me insane, and neither was a preferable outcome.
I thought about the old conversation I’d had with Mordecai while I sat in my car, waiting for Reese to pull her head out of her ass and let me inside. He’d been full of warnings not to let my memory of the mate I’d known interfere with the mate I’d eventually meet, but he’d never even hinted that I might actually dislike my new mate.
I hadn’t even known it was possible to dislike the person the Gods had chosen. Sure, there were always bumps in the beginning, but I’d never heard of a Vampire actively detesting their mate. Every story I’d heard since the time I was able to listen described Vampires who were obsessed with the other half of their souls from the moment they met her or him.
The whole situation would’ve been so much easier if she wasn’t so goddamn obnoxious.
My stomach twisted, and I grit my teeth as my neck and back began to sweat.
I needed a distraction. Less than a minute later, my brother Ambrose’s voice was filtering through the speakers.
“You fucked up, little brother,” he answered, amusement in his voice. “What the hell is going on over there?”
“When you figure it out, let me know,” I replied dryly. “This whole thing is a clusterfuck.”
“Sounds like it. Mom called to tell me you’d found her, practically bubbling with excitement—”
“Of course she called you,” I grumbled under my breath, making him laugh.
“She was pissed when she called me after dinner.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“What the fuck is your problem, Bjorn?”
“She’s a fucking nightmare,” I blurted, digging my fingers into my eye sockets. “She never stops talking. She’s loud. She’s obnoxious.”
“She’s your mate.”
“Fucking hell.”
“I’d like to point out,” Ambrose said quietly. “That you’ve found her twice, and the rest of us are still waiting.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“I think you’re pretty blasé about a situation that the rest of us would kill and die for.”
“I’m not blasé,” I shot back. “I’m fucking angry.”
“So be fucking angry,” Ambrose replied. “But don’t be a fucking idiot. The universe doesn’t make mistakes, Bjorn. This woman was meant for you. Maybe take a minute to figure out why the hell that is before you burn it all to the ground.”
“Is this the only reason you were trying to get a hold of me?” I asked tiredly. My hands were starting to shake, and I was pretty sure the symptoms were getting worse because I knew that Reese’s symptoms must be a whole hell of a lot worse than mine were.
I refused to acknowledge why that was.
“Actually, no,” Ambrose said, his tone changing completely. “I found something.”
“What?” I sat up straighter in my seat. Ambrose and his team had taken the last two months following every thread that led to the group who’d killed our baby brother.
“We came to the camp.” He paused for a long moment, and when he began to speak again, his voice was hoarse. “We found where they did—where he was tortured. Where they held him. Zeke left some shit behind.”
“What kind of shit?”
“You gonna be home tomorrow?”
“What kind of shit, Ulf?”
“I’ll be home tomorrow,” he said, ignoring the question. “I’ll talk to everyone together.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Don’t wanna go over this twice, brother,” Ambrose said softly. “Tomorrow, yeah?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.” He let out a sigh. “Now go love on your mate.”
I scoffed.
“Find some gratitude, Bjorn,” he said tiredly. “And go convince your mate that you’re not the biggest asshole on the planet.”
“That’s Chance,” I replied, almost as a reflex.
“Exactly.” Ambrose chuckled. “Love you. Talk soon.”
“Love you, too,” I replied as he hung up.
Ambrose was right. I needed to just suck it up. I knew Reese wasn’t all bad. There were moments when I found her funny. Some of her facial expressions were cute—usually when she’d just embarrassed herself. I couldn’t deny that she was beautiful, even if she wasn’t my normal type. She was lean, yes, but the curves she had were exquisite.
We needed to figure out a way to make things work. I needed to figure out a way to make things work.
On that thought, I reached for the door handle but paused when a beautiful brown-haired woman sauntered toward Reese’s apartment. She was tall and voluptuous, and by the way she pounded on Reese’s door, I figured she must be the friend that Reese had mentioned. Rena.