Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
“It was?”
He made a mess, too?
“And I didn’t get to watch? I had my face buried in your neck and I missed it?”
He laughs, and before I get a chance to be offended by the laughter, he’s kissing me.
Jason is kissing me!
He’s still laughing a little while his mouth moves over mine. His phone is ringing and he’s ignoring it.
I’m just about to start kissing him back, but the phone has started up again and now he’s pulling back.
Well, that was highly effective in rendering me speechless.
My lips are tingling as he moves me to the cushion beside him before rising to fish his phone out of his jeans.
“Sorry, I can feel something. This is urgent.” He taps his chest to illustrate it’s his council connection as he answers his phone, greeting, “Hey Joel.”
He’s immediately pacing while listening to Joel.
“You’re fuckin’ kidding me,” he says, concerned. “I didn’t feel it. I’m on my way.”
He stuffs his phone into his pocket and says, “Sherry’s hurt. Gotta get to the clinic.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“She jumped from the back of the falls and hit the rocks.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s unconscious. We’ll continue this conversation, but you understand where I was at last night?”
I shrug.
He leans over and tips my jaw up. “Don’t wanna think you believe for a second what you said about revenge. Tell me you know I wasn’t about revenge last night.”
I manage a bit of a nod.
He continues. “Bottom line: I want you. I want you more today than I did yesterday. Doesn’t bode well for me for tomorrow but I’m in it to win it with you, okay? Don’t be embarrassed. I just didn’t want us doing something you weren’t ready for. Make sense?”
“Okay,” I say, finding it difficult to maintain eye contact.
He plants a sweet little kiss on my mouth and then the tip of my nose before he goes.
But the minute he leaves, I hear an aggressive-sounding yelp.
“I know…” I whisper. “Bet you’re wishing you weren’t destined to be stuck with me, don’t you? Is that why you keep hollering at me?”
There’s a single, loud yip in response.
42
JASE
I meet Joel outside the clinic.
“What happened?”
“Couldn’t sleep.” He drives his fingers through his hair. “Been restless the last bit but last night, couldn’t relax at all. Went for a run extra-early, like three thirty or something. Swimmin’ the lake and saw her up on the rocks above the falls. Not facing the lake, facing away, toward the jagged boulders on the back end.”
“Shit.”
“Tried to talk her down, Jase. Even alpha commanded her but she was inconsolable, going on about having to have this kid, about having Wyatt in her dreams, about how the whole pack hates her and how she deserves it. I climbed up there to try to talk sense into her. But she jumped. I… couldn’t stop her.”
“Fuck. What’s her status?”
“She’s stable. But Jase, I’m not done. Somethin’ else I gotta tell you.”
I jerk my chin up.
“She… asked me to make her forget him. Made a pass at me. I turned her down. Of course I did. And she jumped. She hit the rocks and she was bleeding, unconscious. Tyson got there, felt my panic. Mase showed next, then Grey and Rye showed up shortly after. Linc stuck to the surveillance room as we were shorthanded last night with the lunar event. I said I’d hang here and wait for you. Stick around in case you need anything. Your sister’s in with Cat. I had Evander on your parents’ house, Jase, but fuck… she gave him the slip.”
“Appreciate your help,” I say. “I didn’t feel anything. Not until you phoned.”
“The moon. Your hands were full, I assume, by the scent of you.”
“Yeah.”
And clearly my connection with my council is getting strained because my headspace is clogged with my pending mating.
“But it’s not done?” he asks.
I shake my head.
He claps my back. “Let’s go see Cat. She’ll fill you in on her plan.”
***
“Mitch. Cat. Lay it on me,” I request.
Cat is in her exam room doorway with Mitch Blakely.
“She has serious injuries, Jase,” Cat says. “Multiple broken bones, serious swelling, and significant internal injuries. Based on my suspicion about the head injuries she sustained, she won’t be waking up anytime soon to shift and heal, which puts her at grave risk. Frankly, it’s a wonder she’s alive. A medication Dr. Blakely brought for Cicely’s mate can work in our favor. Shifters from Brody’s pack used it to reconnect with their wolves and if we administer it to Sherry at a specific dose, it will force a shift in order that she can heal while unconscious. We’ll need to administer multiple courses, depending on how quickly her injuries heal. This is still experimental, but we believe it’s the best chance in helping her heal.”
“Thanks, Cat,” I breathe out and look my sister over.