Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“I’m thinking we either have two problem shifters or our one shifter outsourced the attack on Jared and Brenna. Jared told me the perp didn’t seem to know what he was doing.”
“Fucking hell. I’m going to lock this place down when you leave, and then I’ll tell my mate what has happened.” I refuse to start my new mating off with secrets between us.
“Jared figured you would want to tell her.” Kol stands up and paces the large room. “He wanted me to remind you to make sure she knows they are fine.”
I automatically kick into work mode. I press a few keys on my keyboard, and Henry, my security system, switches on the emergency protocols. This is the most important case of my life, and I refuse to let anything happen to my mate. “I turned on the three-factor authentication for the gate around the property. You’ll have to stop and let it scan your eyes to get out and have the backup code ready if you want to get onto the property.”
“I figured as much.” Kol nods. “I have the code stored up here.” He points at his green head. “And my eyes are always with me.” Kol and Seth Stark, my head of IT, set up my system so no one can get past it unless I want them to. If an intruder attempts to bypass the gate and scale the fence around the property, there’s a nasty little electric shock surprise waiting for them.
“Thank you for taking the lead on this. Until we figure out what we’re dealing with, all information is on a need-to-know basis. Right now, no one else in the company needs to know shit.”
“I’m one step ahead of you. I already wiped all of Briella’s information from the work servers and told the other operatives to start searching for this asshole.” The Orc is one efficient motherfucker.
“Good job.” I step over to my home computer and type in the emergency lockdown code. There’s no way this fucker will get anywhere near my home and my mate. I reach into my desk drawer and pull out a burner phone. “Keep me updated on this.” I toss it over to Kol. I trust all my operatives, but I can’t be too careful with my mate. “I want to know everything.”
“I’m heading out to my cabin.” Kol lives on the Arch Orc Settlement right outside Fable Forest. “My computer system has a firewall from hell. The CIA can’t even get past it.”
“Be careful. I used to think the same thing about our offices, but this asshole is attempting to prove me wrong,” I warn my friend.
“Let the fucker try to come onto Orc property to get information from me.” Bloodthirst flashes through his unusual eyes. “My Orc brothers will tear him to shreds and feast on his remains.” He heads for the door, and I follow him out into the warm summer night.
“Remind me to never piss off an Orc.” I whistle through my teeth.
“Never piss off an Orc,” Kol calls over his shoulder and glances back in time to see me lift my middle finger to him.
I take a deep breath and head into the cabin to relay all this information to my mate.
“Is everything okay?” Briella rushes over to me as I step in the door.
“It will be,” I tell her as an idea flashes through my mind. In our shifter world, nothing is more important than protecting our mates, so we have very severe punishments for attempting to harm or causing harm to a soulmate. There is nothing off-limits when it comes to protecting your soulmate.
“I know I promised you time before we seal our mate bond, but things have changed.” Worry flashes through her clear blue eyes. “Everyone is okay, but your stalker has been busy.” I take her in my arms and explain about the accident and the fucking scent of outlaw shifter outside of my office.
“Are Brenna and Jared okay?” The air of fear emanating from my mate causes my inner bear to growl his displeasure.
“They are fine,” I reassure her. “But we can’t take any chances.” Now, here comes the part she might not agree with. “So, I want to seal our bond today. The shifter society recognizes protecting our mates above all other priorities. I can get help dealing with this asshole from other shifter authorities if we’re mated.”
Briella takes a deep breath and shrugs. “Let’s do it.”
“Are you sure?” I’m shocked she agreed so easily.
“I thought my sister was nuts when she met and mated with Jared all in one day, but seeing them together proved to me that fated mates do exist,” my mate breathes out. “Jared treats her like a queen.”
“And I’m going to do the same with you.” I pull her curvy body tighter against mine and lean over to place a kiss on the vein pounding at the base of her neck.