Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“True,” she said with a smile of her own and rested her head on his shoulder. “Did I hear wrong or were there two other wolves in the castle?”
“Werewolves,” he corrected.
She shivered. “That makes it sound too terrifying, and I thought you didn’t allow them in the castle.”
“There are exceptions, and tonight was one of them. I woke and felt the need for a run. Henry was waiting for me by the garage upon my return and with him were Chad’s parents.”
“Oh,” Olivia said, understanding.
“When they learned what their son had done, they hurried here. They were worried and they had good cause to be. They traveled the whole day. They needed hot tea, so I brought them and Henry into the kitchen to talk and have tea. The growls you heard were us bidding each other goodnight. They are staying with Fay and Henry and will leave in the morning.”
“Did you calm their worries?”
“As I told them, that’s for Chad to do, not me. But I discussed his punishment and advised them that if he completed his punishment and learned to discipline himself, he could make a good pack leader. I did not tell them anything they didn’t already know, though I did mention the warning I gave their son.”
“Don’t force me to kill you,” Olivia said, recalling the warning. “And no one doubts that you would, if necessary.”
“I am the alpha in the pack. Refuse to obey me and there will be repercussions. It is the reason Clan MacMadadh has remained safe throughout the years.”
“More like centuries,” she said, lifting her head to glance around at the weapons on the walls. “Are any of these personally yours?”
“Aye, quite a few are mine, others belonged to clan members throughout the years, and some were collected from battlefields that were victorious for Clan MacMadadh.”
“These are all ancient weaponry. Do you have any modern ones?”
“Aye, but they are kept separate. This room is a nod to the clan’s past, a reminder of what so many suffered for us to grow and thrive as who we are… werewolves.”
She shivered not from the cold, being comfortably warm, but from the truth she continued to face, and the decisions that would have to be made.
“You remain chilled. This room is too cold for you. Many rooms are kept at a minimum temperature during the winter months.”
She stood. “Wolves don’t need heat.”
“But humans do,” he reminded.
She shook her head. “There is so much for me to learn about werewolves.”
He stood and nuzzled her neck. “I can teach you much.”
“You already have. I now know that a werewolf’s sexual appetite can be—” She smiled. “Ravenous.”
He scooped her up in his arms and laughing asked, “What’s your excuse?”
“I have several virtual business meetings today, so you are on your own for quite a while,” Tiernan said after finishing breakfast the next morning.
“If there is anything that requires attention with the preserve, I would be only too glad to help,” Olivia offered, eager to learn more about the workings of the preserve.
“I would love to have you work with me, but until you hold a position here, I cannot open the inner workings of the preserve to you. I would leave my pack far too vulnerable.”
“I would never betray your secret,” Olivia said, just the thought of doing so upsetting her.
Tiernan reached across the table to rest his hand over hers. “I trust you, Olivia, or I never would have revealed so much to you.”
“You haven’t revealed everything,” she reminded, threading her fingers with his. “There is still that mystery to figure out.”
“I have faith in you. You’ll figure it out. Besides, you have time to do so. It started snowing again. So, you won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.”
She released his hand to drop back against her chair. “I have a job. Responsibilities back home. Even if I accepted your offer, I would need to give at least two weeks’ notice and then there is my apartment, packing, moving a distance, my parents and two brothers—”
“All who extensively travel,” he said, smiling. “I did my homework on you as no doubt you did on me.” He continued when she confirmed it with a smile. “Your mom and dad are well-known and well-respected wildlife photographers, journalists, and book authors who travel extensively. Your one brother is a journalist working in Europe and living with a longtime girlfriend, and your other brother is a speech writer for major political figures and married to a lawyer. You are the youngest sibling by ten and twelve years, and you were raised predominately by your grandmother and grandfather.”
Olivia nodded, smiling happily. “My grandma and grandpa were the best. My grandpa passed in my last year of high school and my grandma shortly after him. I knew she wouldn’t live long after him. They loved each other too much to be separated. I believe she held on until I finished high school so I wouldn’t be alone. I still miss them both. While I traveled some with my parents when I got older, I much preferred being home with my grandparents. They taught me so much, including how to cook and how to tend to the animals on their small farm.”