Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138217 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Then that big, generous laugh of his would fill the air, making everyone grin.
Valya might find the idea of himself as a mogul amusing, but their entire clan knew their alpha’s foresight meant a more secure future for their cubs. He wondered what Theo would think of the bear Yakov loved as a friend and respected as an alpha. But that was a question for another day.
Today, he ushered her into their apartment as fast as possible.
“Bedroom,” he said, putting her case beside the sprawling bear-sized bed. “Bathroom and toilet are the next doors down. I’ll take the couch.”
Theo stared at the creamy white of the embroidered duvet that sat fluffy and warm atop a neatly made bed. Below that were cream sheets, but the assemblage of pillows provided bright pops of autumnal color.
“There is a large number of pillows.” Theo’s tone was painfully polite, but at least the pillow mountain had shocked her out of her numb state.
“Honest truth,” he said, starting to throw the pillows over his shoulder and off the bed, “I don’t get it, either. But interior décor is Chimeg’s bailiwick and I’m not a stupid bear. I don’t ask any questions.” Was he ever going to get to the end of this pile? “Submissive, my furry ass,” he muttered. “She’s about as submissive as a feral squirrel. Those things look small and cute but they can claw your face off.”
He’d wanted to make Theo laugh with his description of his short-tempered clanmate, but the woman who ordinarily shimmered with contained energy just stood there without moving.
Until at last, she said, “Yasha . . . will you stay? I’m so cold.” A shiver rippled through her.
Yakov didn’t need to think of his answer. “Of course, pchelka moya.” Tenderness burned a fierce and wild need inside him. “Can you stay awake long enough to change into more comfortable clothes? I’ll go do the same.”
When she nodded, he went to hunt out the stash of spare clothes; such emergency wardrobes were a necessity in a race that occasionally destroyed their clothing with an inopportune shift. He found a pair of washed and folded sweatpants that would fit, as well as an old but clean T-shirt. When he heard Theo moving to the bathroom, he busied himself with other tasks so she wouldn’t feel rushed.
But she was back in the bedroom quickly, and then he heard the sound of the mattress being compressed. Leaving his jeans and other clothing on the sofa after quickly getting into the sweatpants and tee, he padded barefoot to the bedroom to find her in bed, curled up on her side. She’d put her hair in a braid and had the sheets pulled up to her chin.
A shiver racked her frame once again even though the apartment was at a more-than-comfortable temperature.
Muting the lights to almost but not quite full dark, Yakov strode to the bed and got in behind her. She didn’t resist when he tucked her against him, her body fitting perfectly into the curve of his own and the vulnerable slope of her nape bare to him.
His bear nuzzled gently at her as, the vanilla scent of her shampoo in his nose, he held her tight until she fell into a deep sleep. Only then did he turn off the lights. But he stayed awake far longer, listening to the rise and fall of her breath, this woman who’d destroyed all his doubts about who she was by telling him the worst of her secrets.
He believed her.
Every fucking word.
What Theo had told him could damage not only her but the twin she loved. It had been an act of desperation rather than of trust . . . but this, tonight, her so vulnerable in his arms, this was trust. “Sleep, milaya moya. I’ll keep you safe.”
But when he came awake in the dead of night, his heart pounding and perspiration sticking his T-shirt to his back, it was with the haunting certainty that he couldn’t keep her safe. That Theo was destined to die, her blood soaking her hands as he screamed, helpless and frozen.
He squeezed his eyes shut, buried his face against the warmth of Theo’s nape, and said, “Fuck that,” under his breath as a gentle rain pattered against the windows. It didn’t matter how many times that nightmare vision tried to convince him of failure, he wasn’t about to buy into it.
No one was going to take Theo from him.
A vow that came from the primal heart of the bear within.
Chapter 26
It’s working. What we considered a failure at the first pass has proved to be a total success. This is the project that’ll put my name in the history books, never to be forgotten.
—Councilor Marshall Hyde to Dr. Upashna Leslie (17 July 2068)
IT WAS DIFFICULT to avoid bear surveillance.