Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Keith,” Brian hissed.
“I love you.” He blew Brian a kiss and slotted himself into a corner where he wouldn’t be visible from the entryway or the living room.
His jaw clenched, posture stiff, and face red, Brian yanked the front door open and waited for their visitor.
The cars came to a stop, two doors opened and closed, and then Jennifer said, “Hi, Alpha. This is Rupert Jackson Junior.”
“I remember. Jennifer, you can wait out here while I talk to our visitor inside.”
One set of footsteps sounded on the porch and Junior’s faint scent wafted in.
“Jackson, what brings you…” Brian’s words cut off midsentence and he gasped. “What the fuck?” He took a few steps back and Junior walked into the house.
“You sense it too,” Junior said, his voice annoyingly whiney as always.
Keith’s hackles raised. Something was wrong.
“This isn’t right,” Brian said, voice shaking.
He could see and hear them, but he was missing something. Keith frowned.
“You’re saying that because you didn’t notice when you were at Green Field,” Junior said. “Don’t worry. I forgive you. I realize it was a stressful day for you and you had a lot going on with that traitor.”
Brian raised his hands. “No.” He shook his head. “It’s not right.”
“I assumed you’d come back to me once you handled him, but you haven’t so I came to you.” Junior took a step forward and Brian moved back again. “You need to finish what you started so we can be together.”
Keith was missing something but try as he might to use all his senses, he wasn’t picking up on whatever subtext was unfolding right in front of him.
“What are you talking about?” Brian’s tone and expression were so anxious that Keith was considering abandoning the plan and leaving his hiding place so he could shield him from whatever was going on with Junior. “What did I start?” Brian said.
“You removed Keith Iredell from Green Field. The problem is that he’s unpredictable so he could find a way to come back. He’s a danger to everyone, including me. You need to put an end to him, so I’ll be safe.”
It seemed as if his prediction about what Junior would do when he arrived was accurate, though he had to admit that he had expected more subtly to be involved. Or at least a conversation. Then again, neither one of the Jacksons was known for patience, intelligence, or people skills so this sledgehammer approach shouldn’t have been a surprise.
“What is this?” Brian said. “What are you doing to me?”
For the first time, Junior’s expression wavered. “I’m not doing anything,” he said, the slight tremor in his voice giving away his uncertainty. “How could I? Only Mother Nature can control destiny.”
What did that mean? Keith closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and inhaled deeply, putting all his focus into Junior’s scent. For the most part, it was normal, but he picked up the slightest trace of something new, something unnatural.
“You have to kill Keith Iredell so you can be with me,” Junior said. “I’m your mate.”
Chapter 13
“Well then, isn’t this an unexpected development?” Keith sauntered into the entryway and approached Rupert Junior.
“Alpha Berger! Stop him! He’s attacking me,” Rupert Junior shouted.
“Keith, wait,” Brian said at the same time, reaching for his mate. He couldn’t let him walk into harm’s way.
“Everyone calm down,” Keith said and then laughed. “I can’t believe I just said that. When I’m the voice of reason in the room, we are definitely in the wrong room.”
“Keith, please.” Brian clutched his arm. “Let me handle this.” Not that he had any idea what was going on or what he would do about it. The Green Field Alpha’s son was in his house, telling him to kill his mate, while also somehow seeming like his mate. He didn’t understand what he was experiencing. It didn’t make sense. It was wholly different from his connection, draw, desire, and need for Keith, but something was niggling in his mind telling him that Rupert Jackson Junior was his mate even when his heart and his soul knew with absolute certainty that he wasn’t.
“He’s out of control! He needs to be stopped! You have to stop him,” Rupert Junior continued yelling. “Now. Now. Now.”
“Stop barking like a rabid dog.” Keith said. He kissed Brian’s cheek and then easily shook off his hold and walked over to Rupert.
“He’s going to kill your mate,” Rupert Junior shouted. “Do something!”
“I’m only planning on smelling you, but if you don’t chill the fuck out, then I might change my mind.”
“Keith, what are you doing?” Brian asked, feeling panicked that his mate was nearing a taller, broader, heavier, more seasoned Alpha.
“I just covered that. Give me a sec.” He leaned into Junior’s personal space and inhaled.
“What kind of Alpha are you?” Rupert Junior yelled at Brian. “Protect your mate!”