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)
“I’m sorry to hear that, but you’re still not going.”
And on and on it went.
Roni crossed to Eli and whispered, “My money’s on Ally. She’s good at getting her way.”
Eli grimaced. “Yeah, but Derren’s a stubborn bastard who won’t back down for anyone.”
“True. But my money’s still on Ally.”
Eli nodded. “If she turns on those fake tears, Derren will be a goner—he can’t take them.”
And that was exactly what Ally did, so the Betas joined them on the shopping trip. A trip that should have been short, since the objective was to buy shoes for the kids, but neither Shaya nor Ally saw any harm in stopping at practically every store they came across.
As they strolled around the mall, Eli stayed ahead of his Alphas, Betas, and the pups while Zander covered the rear, ever vigilant. The whole time, Eli’s wolf sulked. The animal didn’t like the crowds, how exposed they all were, or the feel of the sun beating down on them. Mostly, he didn’t like being away from Casey. Neither did Eli. It made him … antsy.
Eli suspected that would cease happening once their bond had fully snapped into place. Both he and his beast would then feel much more secure in their mating. The edginess might even calm a little when she finally moved in with him—he’d soon find out.
“Ooh, can we go in there, Mommy? Please?” begged Willow.
Eli pivoted on his heel to see the pup pointing at a toy store. He suspected it was the array of plush animals that had caught her attention. Willow was a sucker for them.
“Pleeeeaaaase!” she again begged.
Cassidy peeked in the store. “Look, they have bracelets with—” She stilled, her eyes briefly flashing white, and then those eyes widened. “Cain’s coming to visit!” she declared excitedly, referring to Ally’s foster brother who’d joined The Movement—a group of shifters that retaliated against the human anti-shifter extremists.
Ally blinked. “What? When?”
Cassidy’s brow wrinkled. “Not sure, but he’s gonna be really, really mad about something.”
“I like it when Cain comes,” said Willow. “He brings me and Cassidy presents. Good ones. Can we go in the store now?”
Shaya looked from one pup to the other, both of whom were wearing pitiful expressions. “Since you’ve been so well-behaved, I don’t see why you can’t have a little treat.”
The girls let out happy little squeals and followed Shaya into the store. Nick and the Betas trailed behind them while Eli and Zander stood outside, on guard.
For what felt like the hundredth time that day, Eli glanced at his watch, as if it would make the time tick by faster. 3:30pm. Not long left to go before Casey’s enforcer shift would be over.
“You know,” began Zander, “I’ve occasionally wondered if maybe Cain and Cassidy are true mates.”
Eli sighed. “I’ve asked myself the same thing.” Cain was a hard bastard who’d long ago lost his moral compass, but he was good with Cassidy. Gave her his undivided attention. Treated her as if she were important. Very few things truly seemed to have any importance to Cain Holt.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Nick and Shaya suspect it, too.”
“I can’t say I like the idea of little Cassidy being bound to someone as messed up as Cain, but if anyone needs their true mate, it’s him. So while I’d worry that he wouldn’t be good for her, I’d find it hard to begrudge him that happiness.”
“I’m not sure he’d ever take a mate. Cain doesn’t like vulnerabilities.” Zander rubbed at his jaw. “I guess time will tell. So … how are things going with you and Casey?”
“Amazing. The only thing that could make it better would be if our bond finally snapped into place.”
“Any idea what’s stopping that from happening?”
“I have a few theories. Her father is an asshole, Z. Made her feel inferior all her life. Her mother never defended her, and her sister … well, she was no sister. I believe her brother loves her, but he also cut contact with her after he separated from his girlfriend. None of them made Casey feel truly important. I wonder if maybe—even if it’s only on a subconscious level—she struggles to trust that she’s my priority.”
Zander pursed his lips. “Could be that. You’re sure it’s nothing on your end?”
Eli shook his head. “There’s nothing I want more than to be fully bound to her. I hate that I’m not.”
“That doesn’t mean the problem isn’t you. Secrets can block the bond. So can fears and insecurities—we don’t always consciously know we have them. Think on it some more, be sure it’s not you.”
Eli nodded, though he was quite certain that it wasn’t him.
He and Zander talked about general things until the Alphas, Betas, and pups finally filed out of the store.
Cassidy held up her wrist, flashing Eli a look at her sparkly bracelet. “What do you think?” she asked.