Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
But she had every right to see her father. Even though they’d just mated, Jackson could feel the worry and deep concern living inside her.
He felt her beneath his skin, through every part of his body, embedded deep in his heart. He had wanted her for as long as he could remember, and now she was his. Nobody would harm her, but protecting her from Philip’s injuries was beyond his control. They should reach Slate Pack territory soon. Then Jackson could assess for himself how much time Philip might have left. The odds didn’t sound great.
His phone buzzed. He tapped a button on the dash and lowered his voice. “Yeah?”
“Why are you whispering?” Thane asked softly.
Jackson glanced at his mate. “I’m driving, and Emily’s asleep in the passenger seat.”
“Ah.” Thane’s voice dropped further. “I can call later if—”
“No. I’m on the way to Slate Pack territory, so talk now.”
Thane’s exhale crackled through the speaker. “All right. Somebody trashed my cameras last night. Brand-new ones, too. Wires ripped clean out of the ground. No tracks, no clues. Can you believe that?”
Jackson’s pulse ticked up. Damn it. Who was fucking with him? He needed to bring in more pack members sooner rather than later. His force was good, but he needed bodies. “Any suspects?”
“No. Good news is that the saboteur didn’t have time to do any other damage. Zylas Blount found the demolished cameras and called it in right away.”
Jackson tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “You think it was him?”
“No. The kid’s solid. He was patrolling when he spotted my mangled devices. If it was him, he would’ve done a lot more damage before calling it in. But whoever did it knew what they were doing. Hit the exact spots to blind us, used the storm as cover, and they were quick about it.”
Jackson’s grip tightened on the wheel. Snow swirled past the windshield, but his mind was already racing ahead. The kid could’ve been injured or worse. “I know our numbers aren’t great, but I want squads of two at all times. Make that three wolves if one of them is younger than twenty-one.” He had to protect the pack’s future.
“Good idea, although a few of us like to patrol on our own. Like me.”
Jackson watched a branch skate across the snowy road. “Me, too. Set parameters for that. Base it on experience and age, so older members can patrol solo if they want. But I want everyone, including you, to check in with a central location before and after patrolling.”
“Got it. A couple older members of the pack would probably love such a job. I’ll call it something catchy like Wolf Dispatch Coordinator and send out an invitation to apply for the position,” Thane said.
Jackson considered his current resources. “Now that you mention it, we do have many older pack members who aren’t contributing. They have every right to retire and fish all the time, but I’m wondering if we shouldn’t at least offer job opportunities that don’t involve mining or protection. Something that isn’t physically taxing.”
“I can ask Raya to come up with a plan for that.”
Jackson’s eyebrow rose. “You finally admitting there’s something going on?”
“Whatever. You and I have never talked about females.”
True. They both kept that close to the vest. Plus, the only female Jackson had ever wanted to spend time thinking about was currently sleeping in his truck—right where he could keep an eye on her—and now wore his teeth marks. He rubbed his chest. He wore hers, too. It was more than he’d ever hoped to have. “Thane? Thanks for the hard work on this. I want a full report about the destruction by the time I get back, and I want the cameras reinstalled instantly.”
“I’m already on it,” Thane said, his voice clipped. The guy really didn’t like anybody messing with his equipment. Ever.
Jackson rested a hand on Emily’s thigh, needing to touch her. She didn’t stir. The last thing Jackson needed right now was to look weak within his pack, and the fact that he hadn’t found whoever had been sabotaging his mines, and now his damn cameras, didn’t look good.
“Speaking of Zylas Blount, do you think the kid will challenge me?” Jackson asked. He’d hate to have to hurt the kid.
Thane coughed. “No, not really. I don’t think he wants the job.”
Smart kid. He seemed to be doing a good job with the patrolling. “Good. Tell him I want him to step up as Enforcer since I just took a mate.”
Silence reigned over the line for a moment.
“Jackson? Please repeat your last,” Thane rumbled.
“I mated Emily Nightsom. I need Enforcers.”
Thane was silent for several more moments, then finally bellowed, “Raya!”
The sound of footsteps echoed through the phone. “What?” she muttered. “I’m trying to go through the camera feeds to see who took them out. So far, nothing. The storm certainly isn’t helping. What do you want?”