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)
His body tightened in response, and sexual awareness pulsed between them. He knew she felt it by the way her pupils dilated.
She cleared her throat. ‘Hey.’ Her eyes dipped to the recyclable cup carrier tray he held and then to the brown paper bag he clasped with his free hand. He’d left his other purchases in the car.
Ripper stepped into the manor. ‘Coffee for me. Herbal tea for you.’ He gave her the paper bag. ‘Custard Danish. The she-wolves at the bakery said it was your favorite.’
She double-blinked. ‘Um, thanks. Didn’t you bring anything for Paisley?’
‘She’s not mine to feed.’
‘Werewolf logic,’ Emberlyn uttered beneath her breath, closing the door.
‘Werewolf logic?’
‘You all tend to have great manners, but you discount the wants and needs of people who aren’t under your protection.’
‘Do you go around feeding people who aren’t part of your circle?’
‘I take your point.’ Emberlyn carefully plucked her takeout cup out of the holder, spun on her heel and then walked down the hallway. ‘Paisley and Kage are in the living room. Luckily, they already have tea and snickerdoodles, or they’d be feeling left out.’
Trailing behind Emberlyn, he had no way to stop his gaze from dropping to her ass. It was right there, high and tight and utter perfection.
Ripper caught movement in his peripheral vision. He glanced to the side . . . and did a double-take as the outline of a person faded from view. His muscles went taut as he stopped dead. Either he’d briefly seen a spirit or he’d imagined it. He wasn’t sure which scenario would bother him more.
‘You coming or not?’ asked Emberlyn, pausing at a doorway.
Shoving the little incident aside, he cleared his throat as he walked toward her in answer. Following her into the living room, he saw Paisley sitting on one of the sofas while her brother hung over the back of it. Both straightened as he entered.
‘Ripper,’ Kage greeted.
‘I’m Paisley,’ his sister announced. ‘Which I’m guessing you already know, since this is a small town.’
Well, yeah, although . . . ‘We haven’t spoken much over the years.’
‘I don’t run in werewolf circles. I’m hoping that will change, though.’
As Emberlyn lowered herself onto an armchair, Ripper took the sofa opposite her friend.
Paisley scooted forward a little. ‘I want you to know that this isn’t a snap decision on my part. I’ve thought about it a lot.’
Ripper removed his coffee cup from the holder. ‘So this isn’t just because your brother became a werewolf?’
Paisley’s lips flattened. ‘No. It was my intention way before that rat bastard allowed the Change to take him.’
‘Rat bastard?’ echoed Kage, his brows flying up in affront.
Paisley cast him a quick glance. ‘Hey, I’m just calling the situation as I see it.’
‘Why have you got to be so mean?’ demanded Kage. ‘I’m your brother. You should adore me.’
‘And yet . . .’
Her eyes dancing, Emberlyn sipped from her drink.
Ripper shifted slightly, bringing Paisley’s attention back to him. ‘Why is it you’d like to take the Change?’
She rested her hands on her thighs. ‘The thought of it always appealed to me, even when I was little. I think maybe it’s because clans are so tight and the weak are protected. It doesn’t work like that in a coven.’
He frowned. ‘You consider yourself weak?’
‘Not as a person, no. But my magick isn’t strong, so most of the coven consider me a runt. It made me ripe for bullying at school. Of course, they stopped targeting me for their own amusement when Emberlyn became my bestie – she only had to smile at them and they’d slink away like thieves in the night.’ Paisley snickered.
He cut his gaze to Emberlyn, who was sipping her herbal tea again. She was a protector just as much as she was an avenger, he thought. Returning his attention to Paisley, he asked, ‘Is your family aware that you wish to take the Change?’
‘Yes. My parents are not pleased about it. Far from it. But as Emberlyn said, I can’t live my life trying to keep other people happy. My mom and dad should want me to put my happiness before their own. It hurts that they don’t, but it is what it is. My hope is that they’ll eventually come round to the idea.’
‘And if they don’t? Because this isn’t something you could take back. Once done, it can’t be undone.’
‘If they don’t come round, they don’t come round. I’ll have no regrets,’ Paisley stated with such certainty that he believed her.
‘I take it you would prefer to join my clan because your twin is part of it.’
Her nose wrinkled. ‘No, it’s not a factor here. If anything, I’d prefer to be away from him – he’s a fucking idiot.’
Kage narrowed his eyes at her. ‘I despise you,’ he said matter-of-factly.
‘Well, that’s new,’ Paisley deadpanned without looking at him. ‘Carver’s clan needs shaping up, to be frank,’ she said to Ripper. ‘Shane’s clan is tight and orderly but, let’s face it, yours is tighter and more controlled. I’d feel safer in your clan. I never had that in the coven.’