Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“You’ll always have me, and you’ll have them too. It’ll be ok,” she said as she squeezed my hand and I rang the doorbell.
The door burst open, Derek standing there, his jovial smile that was on his face a moment earlier completely wiped out and replaced by the staunch look of anger. He crossed his arms, and spread his legs, making his broad frame look as intimidating as he could, something we learned from his father as pups. Never let the enemy assume that you aren’t prepared to fight.
“What are you doing here?” He asked, his voice low and cold.
“Who’s at the…” Mia said and stopped mid-sentence as she saw me standing there. Then she turned and looked at Shayla and smiled. “Shay?” She said, before barreling past Derek and throwing her arms around Shayla.
“Hey, Mia.” Shayla said sweetly and hugged her back. “It’s been forever.”
“Over five years. How have you been? I was so sorry to hear about your parents.”
“Thank you,” Shayla said, a smile on her face, but I could see the hurt and longing for her parents in her eyes.
“Come on in,” she said, before turning and finding Derek right in her path. “Derek, move aside.”
“She showed up with him. We aren’t just moving aside,” he said sternly.
“Derek, this is one of my dearest childhood friends. You will move and you will move right now,” Mia said, an edge in her tone.
I couldn't help but chuckle, which in turn turned Derek’s steely eyes at me.
“Did you forget how he acted about you when you came to the pack?”
“That was five years ago. A Lot can change in five years.” Mia turned and looked at me. “Right, Brett?” I nodded my head slowly, careful to not move too quickly and agitate Derek. “Derek, move and let them in.” Mia said sternly to her mate.
Reluctantly, Derek moved aside, letting us in. Mia still held onto Shayla’s hand as they padded into the kitchen. I turned to Derek, not really sure how I was going to say what I needed to say.
“Listen, man. I was wrong,” I blurted out. I figured it was better to say it straight up than try to sugar-coat it. Derek and I had never minced words our entire lives and I really didn’t see the point in doing that now. “I had a lot of shit in my head, a lot of garbage that I needed to work out. I wasn’t ready. Shit, I was probably not ready until I met Shayla.”
“You attacked my mate,” Derek said, his teeth gritted, his hands balled into fists, ready to take a punch if need be.
“I know.”
“I am not the one you owe an apology to. It’s her,” Derek said, turning to look at his mate and mine, their heads pressed together like they knew a secret, and laughter bubbling between them. “I am pretty sure she’s pretty forgiving.”
I nodded at Derek and walked over to Mia. To finally own up to what I had done.
Chapter 12
Shayla
“You look great,” Mia said, pouring us both a cup of tea. She sat down beside me, taking a sip, her eyes watching her mate intensely.
“He’s not going to try to kill Brett is he?”
“I sure hope not. The last time they saw each other, things were rather intense,” she said, forcing a smile on her lips.
“That bad, huh?”
“Pretty much.” She nodded. I hated that she saw Brett as anything other than the wonderful man he was. The reality is that our past defines us, we don’t always mean for it to, but it’s there, the blueprint for the rest of our lives. Brett shouldn’t be defined like that, he should be known for who he was today.
“He’s a good man,” I said, not really sure of what else to say.
“I believe that. If you mated with him, I believe that.” Her words flooded me with relief and I let go the breath that I didn’t even realize I was holding. “You wouldn’t just go off with anyone. You’re too special for that.”
“Thank you.” I whispered, the emotion of the situation finally hitting me.
“Does he want to come back?” She asked.
I wasn’t sure how to answer the question. Brett had been away from the pack for five years. Wandering alone, but he was not meant to be a lone wolf. He was strong and merciless, yes, but he was also caring and protective. He needed people in his life to love and protect. I was sure that he would tell me that he only needed me but I wasn’t sure if that was true. Too many people in the pack were valuable to him, even if he wouldn’t always admit it to himself.
“He won’t admit it. But I think so.”
“Do you want to live here?”
I thought about her question, not sure how to answer it. I loved my little corner of the world. I enjoyed living alone, secluded from everyone and everywhere. But I also loved my family, people like Mia and Aydin. I knew that I could be happy living among them, but Brett really couldn't be truly fulfilled away from them. At that moment I knew my answer was clear.