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)
“He’ll survive,” I say and it comes out more blasé than I intend.
He growls. And my panties become saturated.
“I’ll just give you two a minute to talk,” Vivi says, moving toward Ivy, Amelia, and Stacy, who are in a huddle.
Caroline has gone back into the town hall, looking angry but wobbling a little. Pretty sure she’s had too much to drink.
I had a conversation with Addy today and she’s worried about her pack friends. Many of those women are like her, suffering with the aftermath of the abuse they endured. I’ve had a conversation with Stacy about it too, and I think I’ll suggest we have Dani come in and do a talk circle tomorrow morning, offering any abused former Silver Hills pack members counselling while we’ve got easy access to them. Dani is great at counselling and at mentoring young women; she minored in psychology when she went to school after her witch training.
“What happens tomorrow?” my guy demands.
“We’re meeting at Bailey’s folks’ solarium where we’ll hear Bailey’s case as well as Jase’s. Then the coven will talk and go from there.”
“You five get to decide whether or not Jase is off the hook? That’s bullshit, Erica.”
Uh oh. He’s calling me Erica. Not a good sign. I’m Rikki. Rik. Baby. Little witch. Little Witch and Rikki are my favorite nicknames from him. When he pulls out my given name and aims it at me, it’s generally not good.
“This doesn’t need to be a Riley and his little witch problem,” I advise cheekily, trying to inject some levity.
My efforts fail as he folds his arms over his muscled chest and shoots me a dirty look. “This isn’t fair to Jase.”
I raise my hand. “Let’s not do this, Mr. Wolf.”
“He’s–” he starts but I cut him off.
“I’m doing my job,” I tell him. “Me and my coven are doing what we need to do right now.”
“Looking after this pack is my job, little witch.”
“This situation has been taken up by the coven in conjunction with Fate. Please trust that we can do our job, honey. We’re all on the same side.”
“So, this is how it’s supposed to go?” he asks. “Jase is suffering. Bailey’s moping around on the verge of tears.”
“Yes,” I tell him.
Because the alternative of letting Jase go level ten alpha and cart her off to claim her would be an absolute disaster. There might be times when it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but we all agree wholeheartedly that this is not one of those situations, that it could do irreparable damage to Bailey, and Vivi firmly believes that’s not possible, it’d be a definite.
My mate is grimacing. “Mating should be a celebration. This isn’t that. Celebrating by the pack who’s happy for them and more importantly, both people in the relationship celebrating because they’ve found their soulmate. This is supposed to be the happiest time of their lives, Rik.”
“Give it time,” I say.
He frowns. “This makes no sense whatsoever.”
“To you, it doesn’t. But believe me, it’s how it’s supposed to go.”
“You saying Fate wants them suffering like this? I have a hard time wrapping my head around that.”
“We suffered, and look at us now.”
His eyebrows fly up. “Are you telling me it might take seven years for the suffering to stop for them, too?”
“No, Riley. It means Jase is currently learning. So is Bailey.”
“But this is what Bailey wants,” he says. “Or wanted. Though her mind would be changed back if Jase got a chance to show her how he feels.”
“This is what Bailey and Jase both need, honey.”
“I don’t get it. And it’s pissin’ me off because of what we went through. I don’t want anyone in this pack going through that kind of pain.”
I’m melting now. My sweet, awesome soulmate…
“It’s not for you to get, Scooby Dooby,” I say, cupping his jaw with both hands.
He’s grimacing now, flexing that defined, stubbled jaw.
“I’m pissed on Jase’s behalf and thinkin’ now about living without you for seven years.”
I put my chin on his chest and gaze up into those gorgeous green eyes. “Riley. We’ve got this. It’s gonna work out. I don’t think it’ll take seven years.”
“How’s that?”
“Vivi is plugged in, so to speak. We’ve done our part and now we mostly wait.”
“But Dani’s the one that started this.”
“Yes, because she’s Bailey’s champion on this issue. We all are, but especially Dani. Trust me, Riley. Bailey needs this time. And Jase needs to learn things about his mate before he claims her. Jase needs this time to show Bailey what Bailey needs to learn about him and about their bond. Believe me, it’ll work out.”
“When?”
“When it works out,” I tell him.
“You don’t know when?”
“No.”
“Do you know if it’ll be soon?”
“No,” I say.
“What about Linc?”
“What about Linc?” I parrot.
“Linc’s gonna be on edge now about when he’ll get his turn.”