Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“I’m fine.” I knew then and there that I was going to need to explain to him precisely what I was, because if I didn’t, it would feel like lying. “Are you?”
“I’m a wolf, I can heal this.”
“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,” I said, gently putting my hand on his cheek.
He leaned into my palm a moment, then stepped forward into my space and buried his face in my shoulder, arms around me, clutching tight. I hugged him back, letting him feel my strength so he knew I could care for him.
I had the overwhelming urge to tell him everything about myself right that second. Normally, I justified not showing people what I was as a concern for the sanity of mortals, because not everyone could take that kind of shocking reveal and not have a mental breakdown. But Cole was a wolf, something that also was normally kept hidden, so not trusting him to handle something he dealt with every day was irrational. But to show him right then didn’t seem like I’d be doing him any favors either. One surprise at a time seemed kinder.
“Mere,” he whispered. “Look at me.”
But I didn’t want to stare into his face and see uncertainty there, or maybe even fear. If he wasn’t sure of me, he couldn’t very well trust me.
“Mere,” he whispered again.
I looked up and saw his smile.
“You protected all the kids. You were amazing.”
I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath until I saw the warmth in the depths of his eyes. And all of it was for me.
“When this is over, we’re going to have a talk, you and I.”
It was the worst idea ever.
“Say yes to me.”
But absolutely no good could come from this flirtation, and—
His hand was around my throat so fast I gasped. Not from fear, but excitement.
“I’ve never felt like this before, so I need to figure out what—” His voice cracked, and he took a deep breath through his nose. “—this is.”
I took a couple steps back from him, out of his reach. “It’s just the adrenaline,” I assured him. “The others are close, so—”
“It’s not that at all, and you know it.”
But I didn’t have time to say another word before the rest of the pack crossed onto my land, joining us to stand over the fallen men. Their expressions said it all—they had murder on their minds.
“Wait,” I warned them, but it was too late. Several of them suddenly dropped to the ground beside their attackers.
It made no difference to the boundary I’d drawn whether a death was warranted or not, necessary or not. Violence was violence, be it due to hunting or revenge for the death of innocents.
I felt terrible that I was causing these men and women any additional pain as I turned to look at Cole…who was smiling.
“Why are you—”
“It’s good to know how safe we all are just this close to you, Mere.”
He was out of his mind. “This should terrify you.”
“And yet I find it quite comforting.”
“As do I,” Abel said, walking up beside Cole and putting his hand on his shoulder, looking at me in awe. “You’ve already been such a blessing to our pack, Merritt.”
“Where are our children?” a woman asked me, and several other concerned voices joined hers.
“Before I call the kids back, we need to move the dead men from in front of the main house. All of us know the killing was necessary, but the kids won’t understand.”
“Oh my God, that’s right,” the woman said, grabbing hold of my arm and turning to Abel. “And what are we going to say to the police and—”
“We’re not going to say anything,” I told her, taking her hand gently in mine after prying her fingers off my arm. “We’re going to bring those men up here, and the kids need to go to their homes once I call them down. They can’t be anywhere near the alpha’s house until that area is clean.”
When I was done speaking, I turned to Abel. “With your permission, Alpha.”
“Yes, you’re right, of course.” He stared at me a moment before turning to the others. “Do as Merritt says. Let’s get this done quickly.”
Cole, who was already healing rapidly and looking much better, which I saw several of the wolves who weren’t so lucky notice, immediately directed others to follow him.
Five men followed Cole, and Abel turned to me. “Were you an alpha at one time, Merritt?”
I shook my head. “I’ve just always owned my business, so I’m used to giving directions. If you want to handle everything yourself with Tuss’s father—”
“Matthias. His name is Matthias Haviland.”
“Well, if you’d rather I—”
“No,” he rushed out, clamping a heavy, clawed hand down on my shoulder. “Clearly, he’s a madman and there’s no agreement to come to with him. I truly thought we’d left on good terms, with arrangements we both understood after the lives he took from us.”