Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“He’ll find coming at me a pointless exercise. And you need to back the fuck up.” She didn’t like his aggressive body language at all. Her cat’s upper lip quivered as a low gurgle rumbled in her chest.
“Back up?”
“Yeah. Unless you’re curious about testicular replacement surgery.”
Dismissing that, he asked, “Do you really think those bears came here just to chat with you? They probably meant to knock you around a little. Maybe even take you somewhere for a whole different kind of chat. If I hadn’t turned up and made it clear that you’re mine—”
“Bracken, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, and I’m good at it. I like doing it. You can feel as overprotective as you want, but don’t think I won’t burst any Bubble Wrap that you try to wind around me. I don’t need it.”
“I warned you how I’d be.”
“Yes, you warned me that I’d find it hard to handle what you threw at me. But what you’re missing is that you will find it hard to handle what I throw right back at you. I know you’re hyperprotective, and I get why. But that doesn’t mean I’ll accommodate it.” Her cat sniffed, in full agreement with that.
He ground his teeth. “You’re not listening to me.”
“I’m hearing you, Bracken, but you’re not hearing me. If you want someone biddable who’ll roll over and submit to your every command, you need to walk away. Just walk. Because—knowing what you’ve been through—I’ll be as understanding as I can, but I will not change who I am for you. I will not pander to your paranoia. I will not be wrapped in cotton wool and play down my level of dominance for you. No way. I’m not asking you to be anyone other than who you are—push all you want. But know that I’ll just push back. And I’ll push harder.”
Madisyn expected him to curse at her. Growl. Yell. He just stared at her, jaw clenched, and the tense silence began to grate on her nerves. She was about to turn and head to her car, but then he gripped her nape and pulled her flush against him.
Burying his face in her neck, Bracken breathed her in. Reassured himself that she was safe. “So fucking stubborn.”
“Pot. Kettle. Black.”
“Don’t ever again tell me to walk away. I’m here. I’m staying.” He rested his forehead on hers and swept his thumb over her cheekbone. “It’s a real good thing that you belong to me.”
“Why is that?”
“Because no one else could go toe to toe with me the way you do.” She somehow managed to be understanding while also being firm and asserting herself. “And because I’d have to kill any other male who tried to touch you.” Bracken looked off in the direction that the bears had headed. “I should have killed him while I had the chance. Knowing there’s someone out there who means you harm . . .” He ground his teeth again. “I could track him, find him, ki—”
“No.” She did not want him disappearing for six months only to come home missing yet more pieces of himself. But she didn’t say that. “It’ll be hard for us to get to know each other if you’re not around. You going hunting doesn’t tell me you’re serious about us.”
His eyes pinned hers. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”
“Then stay. Don’t turn this into a personal crusade. Just . . .” She licked her lips. “Just stay.”
He squeezed her nape. “I’ll stay.”
Tires screeched as several of his pack’s SUVs rushed into the lot.
“After we’ve relayed everything to Nick, I’m coming home with you.” Bracken needed to be with her. Around her. Not just because he’d then know she was safe, but because she fed something in him. Something that had been withering away for a while. His soul, maybe.
The sound of footsteps rushing toward them was quickly followed by Nick’s voice. “What the fuck happened?”
Taking a deep breath, Bracken turned to face him. “Well . . .”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bracken woke with a start, heart pounding, muscles tense. For a single moment, he wasn’t sure where he was, but then Madisyn’s scent pierced the panic fogging his brain. It happened sometimes—he woke, pulse racing, disoriented, sweat dotting his forehead. If he was having nightmares, he never remembered them.
Since he’d begun sleeping beside his mate four nights ago, he hadn’t had any of the weird episodes. Just woke feeling heavy and disconnected with that all-too-familiar dull feeling in his gut. But then he’d see her, and his dark cloud would lift.
He took a centering breath and rolled over. She wasn’t there. His heart slammed in his chest, even though he knew there was no real cause for alarm. He reached out with his senses, searching for her. She wasn’t in the bathroom, and he couldn’t hear her puttering around downstairs. He put his hand on her pillow. Cold. She’d been up awhile. He was a light sleeper, so how she’d snuck out of the room without him hearing her was an absolute mystery.