Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
After I spent some time with his cougar, Garner shifted back with the same control he’d shown before. His fur receded beneath skin until he was standing there as a man again, eyes locked on mine. He tugged his pajama pants on, then immediately crossed the room to me.
“Did I scare you?” he asked, dropping to a crouch in front of me.
I shook my head, surprised by how calm I felt. My heart was still racing, but it wasn’t fear driving it. I was surprised that it felt more like excitement.
“Not at all.”
His shoulders eased, as though he’d been holding tension in his body while he waited for my answer. Then he sat beside me on the edge of the bed, close enough that our knees brushed, but he didn’t crowd me. Just gave me space to figure out what I wanted to say.
His restraint did more to steady me than anything else.
“I never had a place where I felt like I belonged.” The words slipped out before I’d fully planned them. “I was bounced from group and foster homes ever since I was abandoned at a fire station when I was a newborn. Which meant I moved around a lot growing up, as far back as I can remember.”
“Shit, Elodie.” Only then did he reach for me, interlacing our fingers and squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “I’ll probably never know why my parents didn’t want me. And I learned early not to get attached, because nothing ever lasted.”
He shook his head, his jaw tightening.
“I always felt like I was visiting someone else’s life,” I continued. “Like I was taking up space I wasn’t meant to stay in.”
Garner turned slightly toward me then. “You won’t ever have to feel that way again. Not with me. And not with anyone else here.”
There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his voice. “I’m glad you think so, but you can’t speak for your friends.”
“You don’t get it yet, but you will.” He shook his head. “The Wilderness Pack isn’t like most shifter groups. We’re small on purpose. Keane built it that way as our alpha.”
“Alpha?” I echoed, testing the unfamiliar word.
“Alpha doesn’t mean he’s an overbearing tyrant. It means he’s responsible for making sure everyone has what they need. And keeping everyone safe.” He searched my expression to see how I was taking his explanation before he added, “Leyton’s not just his brother. He’s also his second in command—his beta. They balance each other.”
“And you?” I asked.
“Cougars are different from most shifter breeds. Litters, our version of packs, tend to be smaller because we’re more solitary by nature. That’s why this place worked for me, even with bears, wolves, and a dragon mixed in. And our numbers growing as my packmates find their fated mates and build their families.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ve always liked traveling for work. Months at a time, moving from one project to the next. And since I don’t have a leadership role in the pack, Keane has been fine with me continuing that way.”
I liked the sound of that. Traveling toward a destination instead of running from the last place.
I wondered what his schedule would look like now that he’d found me. If I’d be able to go with him.
He must’ve seen the thought cross my face, because he murmured, “Nothing about your future has to be decided today, sweetheart. I’ve already given you a fuck ton to wrap your head around.”
“Knowing this about you. About me.” I pressed my palm lightly to my chest. “It explains so much. Why I never wanted anyone before you. Why this doesn’t feel wrong. And maybe even why I never felt like I belonged anywhere until you found me.”
His gaze held mine as he admitted, “I hate to know you went through all that, but I like that you think you might’ve been waiting for me.”
We sat there for a moment, our knees touching as the quiet wrapped around us. It felt peaceful.
Knowing what he was hadn’t pushed me away.
It anchored me.
And for the first time I could remember, the world didn’t feel like something I had to brace myself against.
It felt like somewhere I could stay. Finally.
10
GARNER
Ididn’t like leaving my mate. She was curled up in bed where I’d left her, cuddled beneath the blanket, getting some much-needed rest. After showing her my cougar, we spent the rest of yesterday in bed. I’d explored every inch of her body, sinking inside her sweet pussy over and over again. Until she finally collapsed into an exhausted heap and drifted off to a deep sleep.
As I pulled on my boots near the front door, I kept my movements quiet so I didn’t wake her. But when I was ready to leave, I couldn’t resist returning to the bedroom one last time. I brushed my knuckles gently along her cheek.