Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
‘Kind of like Ripper.’
Paisley waved that away. ‘No, as a member of his clan, I can confirm he respects boundaries. He just doesn’t acknowledge that you have any.’
Emberlyn snorted. Ripper was someone who kept a relative distance between himself and others; someone who liked personal space and alone time. But it seemed that once he attached to a person, that changed in a very big way. And over the past six days, it had become apparent that he now thought himself exempt from her boundaries.
All of which should technically irritate her but didn’t.
The guy might have barged into her life and planted himself firmly in it, but she wouldn’t want him to be anywhere else.
‘Retail therapy usually improves my mood,’ added Paisley, ‘but it’s not working today.’
Yes, Emberlyn had noticed. They’d been to two other stores before this one, and Paisley had had a face like a smacked ass the entire time.
A few clothing stores could be found in Chilgrave. This particular one was run by, and catered to, werewolves. The lighting was gentle and the background music was low, accommodating their enhanced senses. Also, every material was softer than normal so as not to aggravate their slight skin sensitivity.
Street sounds drifted through the door that had been propped open, as did the magnetic scents coming from the neighboring coffeehouse. A few other shoppers were browsing the store. Salespeople wandered about, doing this and that. Clothes of all material were spread around – some clothed mannequins, others hung on racks, the rest could be seen on shelves and tables.
‘At least she wants to see you,’ said Emberlyn, her heels clicking on the faux oak floor as they ambled further into the shop. ‘It’s good that she’s over her snit.’
‘Totally, but I can’t sit through another awkward family meal this week wherein she sporadically cries and my dad fails to look me in the eye. Besides, I don’t want to miss our double date.’
‘Ripper still isn’t impressed that you and Crew invited yourselves along to our date.’ Emberlyn edged her way through a narrow gap between racks, frowning as a hanger got caught on her sleeve. ‘He’ll probably chase you away.’
‘No, he won’t. Though he likes having you to himself, he also likes seeing you surrounded by his clan. It eases his protective instincts. He wants you to have that circle of safety.’
Emberlyn felt her brow pinch. ‘Says who?’
‘Crew, Kerr and Logan. They talk about you two a lot.’
‘Saying what, exactly?’
‘They’re just pleased that their Alpha is content. He’s been alone a long time, and he gives so much of himself to the clan. Neither of which is healthy for any werewolf, but particularly not for an Alpha. Werewolves aren’t built to be alone.’
‘Is it affecting you now that the Change has fully settled into your cells?’
Paisley placed a hand to her stomach. ‘There’s like this urge to belong. To stay close to our clan. To watch over each other. So I can totally get why Ripper eats up your time and pokes his nose into every aspect of your business – it’s, like, encoded in his DNA. He has to know you’re safe and well. Crew is the same with me, but I don’t at all mind. To be honest, it’s a two-way street.’
Emberlyn felt her lips hitch up. ‘I’ve noticed that you seem to be getting along very well.’ They spent a lot of time together.
‘I can’t say for sure that anything serious will come of it. I’ve learned that he typically tends to avoid “serious”. But then, so does Ripper. And you, for that matter. Now look at you both – you make a true power couple.’
‘Power couple?’
‘Yeah. You both scare most of the townsfolk. That makes you both socially powerful. Put the two of you together and bam.’ Paisley’s eyes widened in interest. ‘Ooh, nice purse.’ She plucked it off a peg and turned it this way and that.
Emberlyn snickered at how easily Paisley was distracted by something shiny.
‘Not a nice price tag, though. Ugh.’ Paisley returned the purse to its peg. ‘So what were we talking about? Ah, how scary you and Ripper are. I’ll bet the coven’s idiotic faction is quailing in its boots. They massively fucked up last weekend by setting you up like that.’
They had indeed. The day after Emberlyn and Ripper had paid a visit to those who’d attacked, Reena had turned up at the manor. She hadn’t been too happy that some of her coven had had the fear of God instilled in them by Ripper, but she did understand why he and Emberlyn had confronted those members – or so she’d claimed.
Emberlyn still didn’t trust her. Never would. But she’d keep up the temporary truce for as long as necessary.
Reena was unfortunately no closer to identifying the witches of the faction. It was driving her nuts. She also worried that divisions would form in the coven. While it was good that all were now intent on unmasking the faction members, considering them traitors for bespelling their own, it meant that many were also looking at others with distrust.