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)
“You and me are definitely friends,” I say. “I appreciate what you’ve done for me with this three-day thing with Jase very much. Can’t tell you how much. I’m just… I’m worried about Sis. She’s really strong, kinda stubborn, and I don’t want her loyalty and strength to put her in harm’s way. Leona told me folks are saying his wolf isn’t afraid of our council. He’s fearless and deadly with terrifying teeth that could easily rip her to shreds if his wolf doesn’t recognize her.”
“I’ll give you a hint at how Fate plays,” Dani says, voice not much more than a whisper. “Look up the herbal uses of sweet cicely root.”
I open up a search window and scan through the long list on the screen pictured beside the cicely plant, something Mom definitely grows.
Dani points to a bullet point that says sweet cicely root can treat wounds and dog bites before saying, “Fate knows what it’s doing.”
“So… in that vein, does that mean Fate wants me to feel all this pain and Jase all this frustration?”
She opens her mouth, but I raise my hand. “No. Don’t tell me. I just told myself I didn’t want to know and now I’m being stupid by even bringing it up.”
“Fate has it all in hand,” she insists. “It’s gonna work out how it’s intended to. It always does. Sounds like you’re being a big help to Jared and Cicely, too.”
I found out today through census records that Jared’s pack was dissolved. We dug deeper and Joel got even further than me with his alpha-level access to legal files that included interviews with the SCC about the events that happened just before the dissolution. Jared’s first shift meant the death of his pack alpha as well as a few betas.
We were able to put a timeline together to map out the sequence of events and paint a picture. A little program I wrote to scan all our databases pulled names and locations of surviving pack members who submitted witness statements to the SCC after the death of that pack’s alpha. Jared told the guys he hasn’t been in touch with anyone from his pack since he was barely into his teens. Joel and Lincoln will be running with further research while I focus on working on my petition and legal request.
I see movement from the corner of my eye and look through the glass wall that sections the library from the entrance to the town hall; a little vestibule that we call the lobby. Malachi Carswell is coming this way.
“I’d better dash,” Dani says, taking another sip of her coffee while getting to her feet. “Good coffee.”
“Here. I’ll give you a to-go cup.” I grab one from the stack under the coffee station.
Malachi waves as he approaches. “Hi. Busy?”
“What can I do for ya?” I ask.
“Do you… um… think you could help me find a book?”
“Books are my jam, so sure.”
“Uh… Thinner by Stephen King? I couldn’t find it yesterday in his section.”
“Bachman. He wrote Thinner under his Richard Bachman pseudonym.”
“Oh!” He palms his forehead. “Right. Okay. I’ll look.” He wanders that way.
Dani says under her breath. “If he knows Stephen King wrote it, he knows the pen name. Or he could’ve looked it up online. He’s trying to strike up a conversation.”
“He asked me on a date,” I whisper. “Just before I went to Italy. I told him I’d think about it. I think he’s here to see if I decided. I’m guessing he hasn’t heard about Jase and me.”
“You gonna go?” she asks.
Hm.
“Just an innocent date. What could it hurt?” she suggests, mischief in her eyes.
“And put him in peril? That wouldn’t be nice. Jase might hurt him.”
“Or, Jase might realize what he’s put you through a dozen or more times.”
I rub my lips together while I ponder this.
“If I were you, I might be tempted. Your call, though.” She winks before she pops the lid on her paper coffee cup. “See ya.”
21
JASE
Danica steps out of the building into the parking lot and comes face to face with my wolf.
My lips peel back to show her my teeth as I release a warning growl.
She stops, teetering on her high-heeled boots, looking surprised as her fear hits my nose, making saliva drip from my mouth.
“Jase!” Grey clips from behind me.
I’m growling louder.
She looks at her cousin for help.
He steps between us.
“Quit it, Jase.”
I shift back to two feet, still growling, doing my best to level her with a kill stare while I get back into my clothes and shoes, struggling to fit my cock into my jeans.
When my growl fades, she jokes, “Thank you for putting that weapon away.”
But her expression betrays her fake bravado.
I glare at her. “It’s not for you. Believe that.”
“Bet you’re glad you didn’t let him use it on you, huh?” a young male’s voice quips from behind us.