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)
Zhenya stretched out of his arms so Theo could pet her, too, while Dima took some of his body weight off Theo’s arm by lightly gripping the top of her jeans with his claws. Nova and Chaos’s cub—and Valya’s nephew—was a clever child. A mischievous one by nature, but kind with it. He’d end up either a master jewel thief or an alpha.
All bets were off at this stage.
Valentin caught Yakov’s eyes while Theo was distracted by the cubs. A slight tilt of his alpha’s head that Yakov returned with a shake of his. Nothing to report yet. The fact that Theo had been at the facility prior to this visit wasn’t something Valya needed to know to maintain the clan’s security.
That particular thread of this investigation was a private matter.
Valentin nodded before grabbing the distinctive pink bakery box. “Time to hit the road.”
The cubs immediately jumped out of their arms and to the ground.
“Here.” Having come around the counter, Gustav squatted down to put a small bag in front of each cub. “Don’t tell your friends.” A dark scowl. “Our secret, got it?”
He got pounced on with cub licks in thanks.
“Yeah, yeah.” Grumpy words, but he petted both children with big hands that were painfully gentle, the backs marred with the small burn scars that ended up on many a baker’s hands.
Picking up their bags of cookies with their mouths afterward, the cubs padded along behind Valentin as the alpha headed to the door. “We’ll speak again, Theo,” Valentin said. “Yasha, I’ll get a few clothes sent out to the apartment.”
When Yakov made a rude gesture, timing it so the cubs wouldn’t see, Valentin just grinned and walked out. There weren’t many people out on the street at this early hour, but each and every one stopped to gush over the cubs—who played up their cuteness to maximum extent.
“How did your alpha know?” Theo murmured after Valya and the cubs were out of sight.
Yakov put his hands on his hips. “Because he’s too fucking smart. And don’t let the cubs fool you—they’re tiny gangsters, one and all. Whole tiny mafia going on back at the den. No candy is safe from their clutches.”
Theo’s eyes . . . sparkled, the taut anger of her replaced by delight. “Your clan seems rather wonderful, Yasha.”
Yakov could suddenly see her in the heart of the den, surrounded by cubs. He groaned. “Theo, the tiny gangsters are going to take you for all you’ve got. You’re not going to be able to say no, are you?”
“No,” she said, without any sign of that being a problem. “Shall we order?”
Bemused and falling even deeper for her, he placed the order. One box for Elbek and Moon, one for him and Theo. “We need lunch, too,” he told Gustav. “And throw in a few extras in case we have to be on-site longer.”
Gustav didn’t ask anything about that site. Unlike certain bears, the baker preferred to mind his own business. He was, however, a shrewd businessman. “Free samples,” he said, and thrust a small pre-prepared plate in front of Theo.
“Hey.” Yakov threw up his hands. “What about me?”
A snort. “I already got you bears addicted. She could be a new customer.”
Laughing because Gustav really was a bear in human form, Yakov kept an eye on Theo’s plate as she tested things . . . and ended up adding a box of donut holes to their order after she ate the freebie down to the last little bite, then licked her fingers.
His cock wanted to react.
Impeccable timing as always, he thought darkly.
Food order placed, he also ordered three coffees in the vacuum flask mugs the bakery gave out to regular customers on the understanding they’d be brought back after use. “Twelve hours,” Gustav told him. “That’s how long the coffee will stay piping hot in these new cups. Straight from a local manufacturer. Special deal for locals. You report back if it works in the field.”
“Roger.”
Theo walked back from the cooler with a nutrient drink to add to the order.
Gustav scratched his bristly jaw. “You want that heated?”
“I never—” She cut herself off when Gustav began to scowl. “Um, yes?”
Gustav grunted and went off to heat up the drink and put it in a separate flask. Meanwhile, Theo leaned in close to Yakov and whispered, “Is he a bear, too?”
“No, human. With bear tendencies.”
“You want water?” Gustav yelled out from the back. “Free if you have your own bottle. I got a new purifier.”
“No, we’re set,” Yakov said, having stocked his vehicle up with water earlier in the week. He’d also checked the supplies in all the other clan vehicles. It wasn’t technically part of his job, but he liked knowing his clanmates wouldn’t be without emergency supplies should they break down.
Gustav grunted as he returned with Theo’s drink. He also gave her a free mini pain au chocolat.