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)
He did a slow blink. “I really don’t know what to say to you right now.”
“If you need coffee that badly, you can get one in the bakery downstairs. It opens at seven every morning, so you’re covered.” He looked so relieved she had to laugh. “Come on, I’ll come with you. I could really do with a Danish pastry right now.”
An hour later, Eli pulled up in the parking lot outside the main lodge. Normally his wolf would relax on reaching their territory. Not today. The further away Eli had driven from Casey, the more the beast had snarled and snapped his teeth.
Eli let out a heavy breath. It shouldn’t have been so hard to leave her. It wasn’t like she was in any danger on her territory. But their mating was so new that he wasn’t quite secure in it yet. Being away from her made him edgy, and he suspected that that would only worsen as the day went on.
Every instinct he possessed urged him to remain at her side. Not just to guard her, but to reinforce their bond. The link wouldn’t strengthen until they got to know each other better and deepened their emotional connection. He didn’t properly know her, so he couldn’t yet claim to love her, but the seeds of that emotion were there. Everything he did feel for her was so intense and consuming that she cast a huge shadow over every female who’d come before her. And that was as it should be.
Eli slipped out of the SUV and headed for the main lodge. The three-story, timber-framed building housed the Alphas, their pups, and Kathy. The other members resided in varying smaller lodges that were dotted around their expansive territory.
With its earthy colors, spacious rooms, comfy furnishings, and rustic tone, the main lodge had a very relaxing, welcoming feel to it. Especially the large open-spaced living, dining, and kitchen. The pack often gathered there throughout the day, so it was a constant hub of activity until after dinner when most people headed to their own homes.
He was quite sure they’d be shocked to hear he was now mated. Although they’d be happy for him, they wouldn’t like that there was a chance he’d leave the pack. Eli had felt the same when the others mated—it was only natural, since they were such a tight-knit group. The loss of one could affect so much.
Their pack was very insular, but Nick would be happy for Casey to join purely because she belonged to Eli. The others would welcome her just the same, but they’d also be slightly wary. When you had such a small group of people, the addition of another person could shake the dynamics in a major way.
Casey would never be content to lounge around, doing this or that. She was far too dominant for that. She’d need a place in the hierarchy. Eli didn’t doubt that his brother would see the benefits of having Casey as an enforcer, especially since she wouldn’t require any training. The pack already had five enforcers—Roni, Marcus, Bracken, Zander, and Jesse—but there was always room for more.
Roni was the most dominant female within the pack, though Ally was a close second. His sister was also one of the best fighters—Eli should know, since he’d trained her himself. Casey, however, was even more dominant than Roni, and she could probably wipe the floor with his sister in a matter of minutes.
There was a chance that Roni wouldn’t like having such an addition to the pack. And if Roni didn’t like it, her mate—by extension—wouldn’t like it. Marcus would always back Roni, just as Eli would always back Casey. And that meant Eli could end up at odds with his sister. He really didn’t like the thought of that.
The porch steps creaked beneath Eli’s feet as he climbed them. He pushed open the door and walked through the country-style kitchen, past the dining area, and then into the living room. With the bulky chairs and sofas, there was ample seating, but some of his pack mates preferred to sit on the shaggy rug near the stone fireplace—just as Harley and Madisyn were doing right then.
The living room had a very cozy feel, especially with the throw pillows, artsy display shelves, potted plants, and the framed pictures that lined the walls and mantle. The only people absent were a mated pair, Kent and Caleb, and the Alpha’s pups. The little girls’ laughter and squeals filtered in through the open windows. Eli suspected they were having fun in the outdoor play area set back from the lodge.
Jesse saw him first. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. I stopped by your lodge to see if you …” The enforcer trailed off as he caught sight of the brand on Eli’s neck. “Is that what I think it is?”