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)
The gray wolf knew that this was about more than them coming to his aid. Each of them loathed the Alpha, and they all wanted their pound of flesh. So they took it.
Finally, the bear lost all strength and toppled to the ground. The others all backed off, allowing the gray wolf to pounce and clamp his jaws around the bear’s throat. Growling, he sank his teeth down hard. Only when the life had completely bled from the Alpha’s eyes did the wolf let him go.
Stepping away, sides heaving, the wolf didn’t have the strength to fight his human when he fought to resurface.
Breaths sawing in and out of him, burning his throat, Bracken went straight to his mate, who’d also shifted into her human form. He caught her face in his hands, careful of the gashes on her face. Ally had obviously given her just enough healing energy to repair the broken bones and close over the worst wounds. “You’re okay.”
“Peachy,” said Madisyn, her voice dry.
And, to his absolute fucking surprise, he found himself chuckling. Pain rippled through his ribs, and he winced. “Shit, don’t make me laugh.”
Taryn appeared at his side. “Ally’s busy healing Roni, so you’ll have to make do with me. Do not tell me you’re okay, Bracken. You’re not at all.”
Lying on the ground, he kept his hand locked around Madisyn’s as the Phoenix Alpha female healed most of his injuries, leaving the shallower ones to heal on their own so that she had the strength to help the other injured people.
Getting back to his feet, Bracken pulled Madisyn close and buried his face in her neck, still careful of her injuries. He just needed to hold her. Smell her. Absorb that she was alive and healing.
Vinnie Devereaux shoved his way through the crowds, making a beeline for her. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” replied Madisyn. “Your pride?”
“We’re all good,” said Vinnie.
Holding Shaya to him, Nick approached. “Thank you for coming to our aid, Devereaux.”
Vinnie looked at him. “Didn’t do it for you. Did it for Maddie.”
Nick shrugged. “Madisyn’s one of mine. I’ll always be grateful to anyone who gives her any help, whether the rest of us benefit from that help or not.”
Vinnie stared at him, studying him hard, and then gave a nod. “She’s one of mine too. Not officially. She would never have joined our pride. But she’s under our protection.”
Bracken heard what Vinnie didn’t say: And we’ll protect her from you, if need be.
Nick must have heard that warning too because he nodded. “I get it. But that goes both ways.”
Mouth curving, Vinnie tilted his head. “I think I could like you, Axton.”
Nick’s lips pursed. “I can’t say the same, but all right.”
That just made Vinnie laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Later that night, long after the cats had left and everyone had retired for the night, Bracken sat on the top step of their back porch with his mate—who was dressed in only his shirt—between his legs. His face tucked into the crook of her neck, his chest bare, he kept his arms wrapped tightly around her. As they sat there, enjoying the peace that had settled over them, Bracken pressed the occasional kiss to her throat, cheek, temple, and hair. Her fingers doodled patterns on his jean-clad thighs, sometimes tracing her name there.
His wolf was resting, utterly relaxed, just breathing her in; Bracken and his wolf filled their senses with her.
He was pretty sure all the mated couples were doing exactly what they were doing just then. Holding each other, touching, kissing, and reminding themselves that they were alive.
It might have seemed strange for them to be relaxed, considering they’d been caught up in a battle not so long ago. But when you came close to losing the person you loved most and then had the pleasure of holding them, assured that they were now safe and well, there wasn’t anything more calming than that.
Of course, they probably wouldn’t have been so peaceful if they had lost any of the pack in the battle. Although many wolves and cats had been seriously wounded, Ally, Taryn, and two pallas healers had worked fast to heal them all.
Sensing that his mate was deep in thought, Bracken asked, “What are you thinking?” He idly slipped his hand down the front of the shirt and lightly cupped her breast, feeling her nipple pebble against his palm. She playfully bit his arm, and he snatched back his hand to tug on her hair. “That wasn’t nice.”
Madisyn chuckled, feeling more serene than she had in a long time. Her cat was lazing, tail curled around her, completely content. “Yeah, well, you already fucked me on this porch once tonight—and most vigorously.” Her back was killing her. “Next time, I want a bed.” She felt his mouth curve against her neck.
“I like fucking you on a hard surface. It means there’s no give, and I can pound my cock deep inside you.”