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)
I say, “I’ll go do it now.”
Jase looks annoyed. I know he doesn’t want me to experience discomfort again, but if I can help, of course I will.
I step out onto the deck, Jase right with me, holding the phone.
I pull in a big breath and let it out slowly.
I do it again. “I do smell the plants, Erica, and I think the fragrance is getting even stronger, but they’re not bothering me.”
“Good news,” she says. “Can you shift and touch one in wolf form?”
I undress and Jase commands the shift, following me outside the yard. I walk, as wolf, along the river’s edge and they feel like regular grass to my paws.
I hear Jase telling her the good news with relief swimming through my veins.
58
JASE
It goes against the nature of a predator to just sit back and wait for a viper to strike. My instincts tell me to hunt down the threat and take it out first.
I don’t shy away from a fight; I thrive on competition. Everything about my nature is designed to not only hunt and take down those lower on the food chain, but I’m also built to protect. Protect my mate. Protect my pack.
And win.
This adversary coming for us isn’t looking for a fair fight. She thinks she’s poisoning us, so we’ll be weak when she decides to strike out. From her actions and from meeting her myself, I think all this is about more than curing her sick husband. I think she’s another power-hungry Starling witch willing to delve into dark magic to not only get her way but also to get a leg up. She’s a predator too, and she’s slated us as her next conquest.
We defeated that other SCC witch. We took their property to the SCC when they wanted it back. We hid Aphra and Halla and pissed them off further. We got her on radar with the SCC. If she just wanted the magic from our cave, would she plant toxic flowers that’d not only weaken us from fighting back but also potentially kill us through our water supply?
We’re meeting up in a while so in the meantime I’m working on the bookshelves upstairs, being productive and killing time.
“I need to go to the library,” Bailey says, coming down the hall. “Get on my computer and find out everything there is to know about Alta.”
“Joel’s already been doin’ that,” I tell her.
She deflates. “Oh.”
My girl. Looking to help however she can.
“You’re already helping, baby. If not for you discovering those plants, we’d be sitting ducks.”
“That was by accident, not because I tried. I want to help. If I can do more, I will always do more.”
I kiss her. “I know. I love that about you. We’re cooking up a plan.”
“Let me know how I can help.”
“Absolutely not.”
Her mouth drops open.
“My job to protect you, Bay,” I tell her. “When we go after her, someone will be watching you, Ivy, Amie, and Stacy.”
Her face contorts like I’m holding that shit sandwich under her nose again. It’s been a minute, but I don’t miss this expression.
She puts both hands on her hips. She’s about to get sassy with me.
Signs are pointing to me liking this stance. Because I’m instantly hard.
I grab her and pull her to me. Her expression changes when she feels my cock poking her in the belly.
I just found a better way to kill time.
I spin her around, grab her hands and press her palms to the banister.
“Gonna fuck you hard and fast, Bailey. Hang on.”
I lift her dress, rip her underwear down and once they hit the floor, I nudge her feet apart while freeing my cock from my jeans.
She trembles. She’s breathing hard. And she’s wet for me. I bite gently into her neck at her mate mark while thrusting up into her tight, perfect heat.
“Mm. Dresses are my second favorite thing you wear.”
Her head falls back against my shoulder. She grips the banister tighter.
“Wh-what’s the number one?” she pants. “Mm. Ah!”
“My flannel shirts,” I say.
“This might be my new favorite position,” she tells me.
“What was your favorite before this?” I pick up pace, feeling the sensations climb higher and higher. My knot’s about to join the party.
“It changes every time,” she says and whimpers.
Laughing deviously, deciding I’ll have to keep getting creative, I reach around and begin circling her clit with one hand, pinching her nipple with the other. I do this while I suck hard on the mark that shows the world she’s mine.
She cries out. And now I’m verbalizing, too, because my knot is sending us both to a higher plane.
After I release and slip out of her, I slap her sweet ass, drop into a squat, lift her panties up, and straighten up while getting them into place. I kiss her mate mark again and turn her around to face me.