Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“I came prepared with a plan. Veronica’s coven wants the blood bank, so we’ll give it to them.”
“And then?” His quizzical gaze meets mine.
“Then we’ll have the ability to keep tabs on every move that is made.”
Alec shakes his head. “This needs to happen quickly and quietly.”
“I’ll send her to her coven and gain permission for her to observe another town’s bank. It’ll be under the guise of seeing how things are done. A town where vampires have gone missing. Vince will go with her. Maybe he’ll be able to tail them and sniff them out.”
Alec nods once. “Do you need anything from me?”
“Not now, but when we’re ready I’ll need men to take them down.”
“You won’t have to worry about that. Keep me informed. When we have proof, you’ll have the rest of the Authority on your side. It will be more than enough.” His light blue eyes find mine and he smiles faintly before telling me, “She will pay greatly for this; I promise you that.”
VERONICA
The kitchen appears to be the meeting place for the dogs. It seems they prefer this room to the others.
I glance at Dom and Caleb before quickly averting my eyes. My chest thumps and I struggle to restrain my heart from beating faster.
Embarrassment floods through me still.
I know they saw evidence that I’m not well. If I could go back to yesterday and hide it, I would. Instead I’m trapped here, on an estate run by werewolves who are more than aware of my weakness.
Vince slips a hand down my arm, his thumb rubbing soothing circles as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I offer him my hand over his, all the while pretending to listen to whatever joke Caleb is making.
I laugh when appropriate and do everything I can to avoid asking Vince what they’re thinking. I already know; the sympathy is there every time Lizzie’s eyes meet mine.
Focusing on keeping my breathing even, I slowly flex my hands under the table. My breath threatens to hitch and I start to slouch at the betrayal, but I keep my spine stiff and shoulders squared.
I wish he hadn’t pinned me like that in front of them. I wish he wouldn’t push me in private, let alone in front of them. I massage my wrists in my lap as anger consumes me. He fucking chained me.
The conversation continues without me. Devin needs to tell us what happened so I can get out of here. Back to the coven and back to safety.
Vince’s large hand splays on my thigh; it’s rough with calluses. My pup, my mate. My heart weakens at his touch.
The thought of leaving him behind has drifted to the forefront of my mind.
I know he only means to help me, but it’s not working. It makes me feel weak and helpless to be anywhere near him. I refuse to be either.
I’ve worked too damn hard for nearly two centuries to be made so vulnerable. He hasn’t lived my life and he’ll never know what I’ve endured. There’s no fix or cure.
His simple mind thinks love alone will fix this. I pull away from him, but he grips me harder and turns his head to face me. His silver stare bores into me, but I refuse to look back. My fingers tingle with the itch to touch him; my body wants me to crawl into his lap, but I won’t. I shift in my seat so I’m sitting sideways. The move breaks the contact his hand had on my thigh and settles my back to him.
I look toward Devin, defying my mate and my own needs. His exhale is long and slightly shaken. My heart sinks knowing I’ve hurt him. I don’t care, though. He knows what he did. He can deal with the consequences. He knows the immense pain he caused me. What happened in the room was too fucking much for me to give him my love right now. There’s nothing but silence and damage between us now. I should have known this would happen.
The last of the wolves, Jude, filters in and the atmosphere changes instantly.
“I want to make this fast and simple.” Devin takes a long breath, both of his hands resting on the edge of the counter. His shoulders flex and Caleb stops mid-conversation. “Save your questions until the end.” He looks pointedly at his mate and she huffs, not quite in annoyance, but then gives a short nod. She’s quite brazen for a little human. I rub my wrists again and look down remembering yesterday morning. Remembering how weak I was yet again for sharing something so personal, too personal, with her. I have no idea what made me want to talk to her. I wish I hadn’t. They know too much and I don’t like it.