Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Lips pursed, Casey nodded. “It’s a likely scenario.”
Smiling, Jaime took a long breath. “Man, I want to be a mink.”
Dante sighed at his mate. “I don’t know what bothers me more. That you’re weird enough to declare something like that, or that you truly mean it.”
Nick took a step forward. “Well, this will make disposing of the bodies a quicker job. I suppose we’d better get started.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
That evening, Eli lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling while playing his fingers through his mate’s hair. She’d crashed hard, just as he’d expected she would.
After the minks had slinked away—they hadn’t tripped any alarms, proving there really wasn’t a way to mink-proof your territory—and the dead cougars were disposed of, the Phoenix Pack members left and then everyone headed to their respective lodges.
Eli and Casey had taken a long shower before sliding into bed. He’d fucked her soft and slow before rolling onto his back and hauling her close. No sooner had she pillowed her head on his chest than she slipped into a deep sleep.
Although he was dog tired, Eli found himself wide-awake. The day’s events just kept replaying in his head over and over and over. He couldn’t relax. Couldn’t unwind. Not even with the feel of his mate pressed against him, safe and healed and sound asleep.
At least he didn’t have to worry that his mental restlessness would wake her. No, she was out cold. The soccer game had taken a lot out of her. Dueling with Sherryl straight after the game had all but exhausted her. It was only the adrenaline and worry for his pack mates that kept her alert throughout the whole Ignacio mess.
Pride trickled through him. His mate was fearless. Never backed down or showed weakness. She stood her ground, and she gave no quarter. There was no denying that Casey Frost was tough as hell. Which was a damn good thing, because if she’d needed him today to boost her strength through their bond while she dueled, he’d have been fucking useless to her.
He couldn’t understand why their mating bond hadn’t yet fully formed. It made no sense to him. None.
She’d struggled to believe she was his priority at first, but that was no longer the case. They were both fully open to one another. They had no doubts about mating, kept no secrets, and had complete trust in each other. And fuck if she wasn’t wrapped around his heart. He knew she loved him just as deeply; he felt it. He couldn’t possibly doubt the depth of her commitment—she’d moved to his fucking pack, for Christ’s sake.
They were tight. Solid. Happy. There was nothing he wanted more than to be fully bound to her. He knew she wanted the exact same thing just as badly. And yet, their bond remained incomplete—something that pained him and his wolf every day.
He just didn’t fucking get it.
Eli was missing something for sure. What he needed was an outsider’s perspective. He was too close to the situation. And, since sleep eluded him, there was no time like the present to go talk to someone. So, leaving Casey to rest, he headed back to the main lodge.
He knew his brother would be awake, relaxing on the porch swing. Nick always did it after a battle, as if some part of him was paranoid that the family or allies of their intruders would come for revenge.
Using the heel of his foot to still the swing, Nick tipped his chin in greeting. “Thought you’d be in bed with your mate.”
Eli sat on the swing beside him. “Shaya and the girls okay?”
“Fine. How’s Casey?”
“Exhausted. She went out like a light.”
“I’m not surprised, given how eventful her day has been. The adrenaline crash will have hit her hard, too.” Nick eyed him curiously. “So, why are you here instead of lying beside your mate?”
“You’re one of the most perceptive people I’ve ever met. You know me better than anyone except Casey. If I …” Eli trailed off, struggling to put his thoughts into words.
“You don’t understand why your mating bond hasn’t fully formed yet,” Nick guessed.
“I’ve looked at it from every angle. I can’t work it out.”
“Neither can I,” Nick grumbled. “Your bond with Casey might not be complete yet, but it’s damn strong. It’s easy to see just how much you two care for each other. You meshed your lives so easily. Connected so well. Honestly, I don’t think any couple here became so solid so fast—it’s probably because neither of you held back.
“Initially, I thought your bond would snap fully into place very quickly. I truly don’t get what could be standing in the way. One of you must be blocking it on a subconscious level. Do you fear the fact that it’s completely irrevocable? That there’s no way out that doesn’t involve one or both of you potentially turning rogue?”