Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
We walk through the woods, formulating a plan. I won’t be able to do much of the searching. My role is going to be keeping Rex distracted. The others, though, they can check out all the other buildings. Big and small. They can be shooting content and sneaking around at the same time.
“Quiet,” I say as we hear voices coming toward us. It’s important we are not overheard. We have to keep our wits about us.
Another small band of wolves is coming down the trail. There are four of them, all tall, all blond. We know instantly we are dealing with a Minnesota pack.
There are three guys and one girl. She’s petite, cute, and the only one who smiles. The three males regard all of us with suspicion as they deliberately block the path, forcing us all into a social interaction. They are wearing crisp white shirts and pants with colored ball caps. Looks like they’re on some kind of… I don’t know, conference thing? Hard to tell.
“Nice tracksuits,” the tallest one with the longest hair says. I swear to god I had no idea how many sassy fashion wolves were out here in the wild. I’m starting to think I couldn’t throw a Chapstick without hitting one.
“What did you say to us?” Simon steps forward. His dark hair falls into his eyes and he tosses it out. Cal moves up behind me. Sam snugs closer to Laura and me. These men know how to protect their own, and they know that we are facing hostile entities.
“We said you look like Euro Trash,” the same blond says.
“We’re American Trash,” Sam says, bristling. “And you’re no better.”
“Dressed like a pack of whiteboard markers,” I comment.
That makes the guys, and Laura, all laugh. Even a couple of the other pack crack smiles because it’s funny.
Not all of them are laughing though. The tall guy with the long hair and an incredible allegiance to his goofy clothing over our goofy clothing takes a swing at Simon.
In seconds, a full-blown fight has broken out. We’re still in human form, but there’s a fray afoot. Everyone’s getting hit. I’m trying not to use my broken hand, but I’m getting pushed under a scrum of furious young wolves each eager to prove themselves in combat.
“Excuse me,” a calm voice floats to us all through the arbor of trees. “If I may…”
A hand slides into the fray, grips me by the collar, and pulls me free. I expect to see Rex Regent on the other end of that hand, but it isn’t him.
“Miss Love. The alpha requests the pleasure of his mate,” Fescue says mildly.
The fight stops as soon as it started. The way the Minnesota wolves’ faces pales when Fescue frees me and declares me the alpha’s mate is so priceless it’s almost worth all the hassle I have been through.
“It is generally regarded as a matter of protocol that it is best that an alpha’s mate does not skirmish with the guests,” he says as he leads me away. My guys are with me, of course.
“It wasn’t her fault!” Laura pipes up. “They started with us first.”
“And they will be handled,” Fescue says. “If the rest of you would like to go and get ready for whatever it is you’re planning on doing next, I need the alpha’s mate for a dress fitting.”
I go with him because why not, he did just kind of save my ass. I was getting crushed under that pile-on, and I was worried my tracksuit was going to get ripped. It seems, so far, like no real damage was done though.
“Lunch, perhaps first. I know how fighting stimulates the appetite. I am sure the alpha will be pleased to see you. I know he’s taken a break from negotiations.”
As we enter the dining room, a space set aside for the alpha, and alpha adjacent people, I see that Rex is being chatted with by several people. He is looking hot as hell in his expensive, bespoke business suit.
“Can I truly not prevail on you to get changed? You look…” Fescue pauses for impact. “Scuffed.”
I pause for a moment, but I know damn well that I could roll into lunch with Rex wearing a decrepit potato sack and he’d still be hard for me.
I realize, in a flash, that I feel wanted in a way that has never happened before. There’s no insecurity in me, wondering if he’s really into me, wondering if he really wants me. He has made it abundantly clear and he is showing no signs of changing his mind. I am being referred to as his mate publicly in passing.
This is big. Really big.
I start to feel a bit sick.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I tell Fescue, who is pleased because he thinks this means I am going to freshen up.