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)
“That’s all we want, Merritt,” Narah said gently. “For us to share with you, and for you to share with us.”
“I told Cole I was interested in you, and normally he backs off, but he didn’t this time. He’s been so different since we got here, and I don’t know why.”
“You should talk to your cousin,” Abel counseled his son. “If he wants to share Merritt, you should allow that. He’s very important to the continued health of our pack.”
“And now I’m done,” I announced, walking to the front door and throwing it open with ease, even though it was six-inch thick-cut glass and cherrywood, as well as being nine feet tall. “As fun as this has been, I need you all out of my house. All you’re doing is pissing me off with this talk of submission.”
Abel turned to his son. “I don’t understand. This is your power. Why isn’t it working?”
I was sure it had been used on others, many times over the years, and probably not too long ago on Desmond Laramie to acquire his parcel of land. Now I had to wonder if the Haviland Pack was angry for a reason. Of course, it didn’t give them the right to try and kill innocents, children at that, and they’d killed other pack members, so I had been just in my response to their threat…but still. What had Justin done, either for his own amusement or profit, or because he felt it was best for the pack or in the name of his father?
“I don’t—he’s not—”
“He’s not what?” Narah asked her son, her voice rising in concern.
“Earlier,” I said, and I could hear how brittle my tone was, “in the hospital, I had to release a small portion of my power, and none of you, except Cole, could remain standing. Unless you want that to wash over you again, I suggest you go.”
“Cole grabbed for the bed,” Justin snarled at me. “Any of us could have stayed on our feet if we’d had a bed to brace against.”
“Get. Out,” I ordered, and a blast of hot, prickly air blew through me and hit them.
Only then did the look of surprise and horror, expressions I used to feed off of, appear on their faces. Fear had fed my soul once. I remembered it, and had the urge to gnash my teeth and draw blood. This feeling, right now, was why apologizing to Ondine was going to the top of my list. It was my nature to punish and kill, hers to ensnare and kill. We were the same. Just because, as a rule, I controlled myself, didn’t mean I was allowed to judge her.
I wasn’t angry with Fletcher—he’d done nothing to me—but he didn’t know that, so he ran with the others to the door. It had to be disconcerting for him to see his alpha, his pack leader, bolt on my order.
It hurt to know that Narah’s words had been empty, that she wanted what I possessed, not my hand in friendship. I felt no warmth toward Abel or his son, except that I had thought well of the alpha for taking Cole and Evan in after their father died. And yes, that was what a pack, an alpha, was supposed to do, but still. Easy to see them all so clearly now.
I strode out onto my porch after them just as Cole and Reggie were climbing the stairs up from my driveway, where a pickup and an SUV were now parked.
“Hey,” Reggie called out. “Sorry it took so long. Cole wanted everything out of his and Evan’s cabin for whatever reason, so all their stuff is in… What’s wrong?”
No one said a word.
“Mere?” Cole strode over to me and dropped the duffel he was carrying, letting it slide off his left shoulder before he slipped a hand around the side of my neck. “Are you all right? Is Evan all right?”
“He’s fine,” I told him. “Everyone else is tired, so they’re going home. You should come inside with me.”
“Yeah, that was my plan. I had the weirdest feeling that I should bring all my stuff and Evan’s from the cabin and… I just… It was strange. Like nothing of ours should be there. So right now all of it is in the back of my truck, and I’m sort of freaking out.”
“It’s fine, it’s good.” I smiled at him before turning to the others. “We’ll see you all later. Reggie, thank you for helping.”
“Of course, but it’s a lot of stuff, Merritt. I can help you bring it all in.”
“No, it’s fine. We’ve got it.”
“Cole,” Abel barked at him. “I don’t want you or Evan here. Merritt’s not safe and—”
“Sorry?” His tone, that had been warm and soft with me, was icy and sharp with the alpha.