Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
It had been fucking hilarious and had taken everything Jesse had not to laugh. Shaya was damn sneaky. But Jesse supposed that a submissive female mated to an Alpha would have to find alternative ways of getting what she wanted or she’d feel constantly oppressed.
Nick’s jaw tightened, and he glared at an unsuspecting Shaya through the window. “I’ll kill her.”
“For what it’s worth,” began Zander, “she is right about branching out.”
Nick snorted. “Whatever.”
After everyone left, Jesse and Harley spent the rest of the day alone. It was a day lazily spent lounging, snuggling, bathing, eating, and fucking. Later, they gave their animals freedom and let them run and play together. When it turned dark, the wolf padded back to the lodge with the cat clinging to his back and playfully biting at his ears. Happy.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sound of a twig snapping brought Harley out of her book. Sitting comfortably on a tree branch, she listened harder . . . and heard light footsteps. Someone was coming. Someone who didn’t want to be sensed.
Jesse was currently guarding the perimeter of the territory and nowhere near their lodge. And since she’d left her cell on the kitchen counter, there was no way she could call for backup. So she remained absolutely still, straining each of her senses. She scented the prowler before they came into her line of vision. Motherfucker.
Harley watched as they halted a few feet away from the building and stood on their tiptoes, trying to peek through the windows without coming close. Then they started to creep toward the patio doors. She waited until just the right moment before she—in a short series of quick, fluid, silent movements—descended from the branch and landed directly in front of the prowler, who jerked back in surprise. Harley gave a mock smile. “Howdy.”
Licking her lips, Kim glanced around. “Where’s Jesse?”
“You’re not supposed to be here.” Her cat took a swipe at the she-wolf.
“My mom and I are leaving in half an hour.”
Good fucking riddance.
“I came to say good-bye to Jesse.”
“Well, he’s not here.” Harley cocked her head. “But you already knew that. You didn’t really come here to see him. You have something you need to say to me? Let me guess . . . you’re here to tell me how happy you are that I claimed Jesse. I appreciate the sentiment.”
Reeking of envy, Kim glared at Harley. Her expression was so sour it was a wonder she had a grip on her temper. “It doesn’t matter that you claimed him. He’s still not yours.”
“He’s not?” Harley sensed the weird bitch genuinely believed that.
“There’s no mating bond. Imprinting has started, but your scents haven’t mixed.”
“Should I thank you for bringing what I already knew to my attention?”
“If you know that, then you know he won’t fully imprint on you. He can’t,” Kim added with a smugness that made Harley’s cat spit.
“You do realize that if envy was a fatal disease, you’d be on life support right now, don’t you? In your position, that would disturb me.”
“I’m only speaking the truth: you’re not officially mates until you have a mating bond.” And this clearly comforted Kim while she was dealing with the unique situation of not getting what she wanted and having to leave without Jesse.
“Want to know why you and Jesse would never have worked? You want to change him. You think he’s broken and needs fixing. We’re all a little broken. There’s helping someone, and there’s trying to shape them into someone else. The latter just breeds resentment.”
“You need him to change if you have any chance of developing a mating bond. He’s completely closed off.”
“Yeah, to you. And to most of the population.”
Kim arched a brow. “If he’s so open to you, where’s the mating bond?”
“The potential of it is close. I feel it. Like electricity in the air.” It was almost as if it was waiting for something. Harley simply wasn’t sure what. “Very close.”
“But that’s probably all it will ever be: close. That will never be enough for your animals. His wolf and your cat will withdraw from the relationship. His scent will leave your skin; your scent will leave his. At least you get to keep the mark. Although I’m not sure I’d want to forever wear the mark of a guy who left me.”
“I’d ask how long you’ve had it in your head that Jesse could be yours, but I can’t find it in me to care. If you really do feel the need to continue this pointless conversation, just call me later at 1-800-kiss-my-fat-ass.” Harley turned her back on Kim, dismissing her. The she-wolf simply wasn’t worth—
A hand knotted in her hair and dragged her back. Little bitch.
Jesse pulled his cell out of his pocket and saw “Zander” flashing on the screen. He tensed, remembering that the enforcer was guarding the road leading to the main lodge. “Tell me Hector isn’t back again.”