Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Part of being a good alpha is knowing when to step down.”
“Yes, but if you have no one qualified to take your place except a stranger, an opportunistic, lackluster alpha…”
“Ah, the new leader was a stranger. You didn’t mention that part. Gotcha. And your birth mother never came back even after you took over, huh?”
“Not that I know of. But like I said, I didn’t keep looking for her. I wouldn’t have known unless she came looking for me. I never asked for a picture, and she could’ve changed her name.” He shrugged.
“I would have been burning with curiosity.”
“I can imagine. You have no end of questions for me now.”
She felt her face heat and didn’t press further. Eventually the conversation would bump up against the battle that had taken all he cared about, and she didn’t want to open those wounds. Instead, she watched Auntie Jessie chat with the woman on the couch as Jimmy and Mr. Tom tried to work out a puzzle box or something.
“Do you think she’d mind if I just call her Jessie?” Aurora asked, noticing people edging a little closer to her and Sue.
“I don’t know.”
“Jeez, man, stop with the long-winded answers, already.”
Aurora could tell Uncle Auzzie had essentially tuned the conversation out. He was only hovering close to Jessie now because of their obvious and incredible love for each other. Aurora would never forget what it had been like when Jessie was on the brink of death. Her uncle had guarded his mate day and night, not leaving her side, openly crying in front of both packs. His desperation had far outweighed his training.
“I don’t know if they are relationship goals,” she mused, “or if I’m afraid of loving someone that much.”
“She completes him.”
Aurora blinked for a moment before slowly turning to look at Sue’s face. Nothing in his demeanor gave his emotions away.
“Is that from the movie Jerry Maguire? Are you trying to be funny?”
“I never have to try. It happens naturally.”
She could feel her smile bud, and when he looked down at her with glittering eyes, it grew.
“You’re dumb,” she said, turning away.
“I will say this much, since I’m older and wiser,” he told her as a woman walked their way. She had hopeful determination on her face until Sue met her eyes, and then she turned, flustered, and quickly veered to a group of two couples.
“Quit scaring people away,” Aurora told him out of the side of her mouth.
He grunted, taking the note.
“A love like theirs doesn’t happen often,” he commented, watching Jessie and Uncle Auzzie now—Aurora was just going to go with Jessie and watch her cues to see if it was welcomed or not. It felt more natural, because she was more like a friend than an aunt. “They traveled a hard road to find each other. But even lesser loves are worth it. It is better to know how love feels, how to give yourself to someone, how to form intimacy and create memories, than to travel through a cold life alone. It’s a rush to feel truly vulnerable with someone. To fall to your knees admiring her smile.” He paused for a moment, his sorrow leaking into his bearing. The air was thick around them. “I still remember the looks my mate would give me when I did something unexpected for her, like pick her some wildflowers, or take the kids to the park so she could have some alone time. She looked at me like I was her hero. I’ll never forget that rush, and how it felt to be on my knees before her, looking up, feeling no regrets. I will never regret mating her, even though, on this side of things, I’d rather curl up and die than trudge through another day without my family.”
Aurora stepped a little closer until their arms brushed each other, offering him her support. He leaned in a little, the touch firm now, suggesting he needed it. Great heavens, this man was hurting. He needed a bigger support system, more friends.
He needed help.
She knew he was too proud to ask, though. Or maybe he was still that shy, late bloomer, not good at making the first move.
“I had a lot of fun at Christmas yesterday,” she said in a light tone. “It was a really good day.”
He didn’t respond, probably not trusting his voice to do so without giving anything away.
“We should do more gatherings. I’m sure Jessie would be game. Maybe some dinner parties. We could watch Uncle Auzzie try to teach Jessie to cook and eat whatever becomes of it.”
She felt his movement and glanced up to see his small nod.
“And—” She cut off, noticing the woman from earlier turning.
With a plastered-on smile that amplified her nervousness, the woman took the few steps to join Aurora and Sue.