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)
As Eli dropped a kiss on her head, Hendrix frowned at him and said, “Uh.”
Jaime tried stifling a smile. “I don’t think he wants to share Casey’s attention.”
“Tough luck, kid,” Eli told him.
Chuckling, Shaya looked at Nick, as if expecting him to be doing the same. But he was too busy glaring at someone on the far side of the room. Shaya poked his shoulder. “Would you stop having stare-outs with Kye?”
Nick frowned at her. “He started it.”
“Cassidy seems to be doing fine,” Jaime cut in.
Shaya’s gaze shifted to the little girl, who was holding hands with Cain in the dining area. “She’s had a few nightmares since the shooting, but she doesn’t seem to remember them afterward.”
“I heard that Cain admitted he’s her true mate,” said Dante, the Phoenix Pack’s Beta male.
“Yeah.” Shaya’s eyes narrowed slightly on Dante. “You suspected it?”
“I doubt that it will come as a surprise to many people,” the Beta told her.
“He’s so good with her,” said Jaime, watching as Cain spun the pup in a circle. “Does she know he’s hers?”
It was Nick who responded. “She hasn’t mentioned it, and we haven’t said anything because we’re not sure how she’d react.”
“I think the knowledge would be a comfort to her,” said Casey. “I mean, it’s clear she adores him.”
“I don’t like the idea that she’d be moving to another pack when she’s older, but not many are lucky enough to have their children stay within their pack.” Shaya slid her gaze to the couple approaching them, who were arguing over a plate of chocolate cake.
Roni whacked Marcus’ chin with her cutlery. “If I’d wanted to share it, I’d have gotten two forks. My God, do you ever stop eating?”
“I have a fast metabolism,” Marcus defended himself.
“You have a bottomless stomach.” Roni shoved a forkful of cake in her mouth, shooting him a look that dared him to try to take the dessert from her.
“He’s no different,” Frankie said to her, gesturing at Trick as he crossed to her. “I asked him to watch over my food while I went to speak to Kathy. All that was left when I got back was a blob of potato salad.”
Sighing, Trick offered his mate his cake. “Here, have that.”
Frankie sniffed, folding her arms across her chest. “No, thank you,” she clipped.
Trick sighed again. “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”
Frankie frowned. “Why would I ever want to cut off my nose? And that would be masochistic, not spiteful.”
His lips thinned. “It’s just a turn of—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Frankie looked at Shaya. “Ally seems kind of quiet.” She tipped her chin at the Beta female, who was talking with Taryn and Riley at the dining table.
“She’s feeling guilty,” said Nick. “Her Seer gifts are playing up, so she didn’t foresee Eli’s attack or the shooting. I’ve told her she has nothing to feel guilty about, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. The words just aren’t penetrating.”
“Derren won’t let her wallow for long,” said Frankie. “It’s cute how he stands behind her chair like a sentry, looking all serious.”
Shaya’s mouth curled. “He’s been in such a crazily overprotective mood since she got pregnant that I half-expected him to be weird about welcoming a newcomer to the pack, especially since minks are rather … interesting … but he’s been great.”
Holding a bowl of chips to her chest, Madisyn smiled. “Casey’s mink is so amazingly sweet.”
Bracken stared at his mate, incredulous. “Sweet? Seriously?”
Madisyn gave him a bored look. “You’re not still whining about that little nip, are you?”
“It wasn’t just a little nip,” Bracken snapped. “I’m telling you, she wants me dead.”
“I can’t possibly imagine why she would.” Madisyn’s words were dry as a bone.
Bracken twisted in his seat to face her. “Oh, is that so? Well, I can’t possibly imagine why someone would start waving their arms when they’re asleep, calling out, ‘that’s not how you do the Hokey Cokey, get it together, people!’”
Licking salt from her fingertips, Madisyn flushed a deep red. “I did not do that.”
“Lies.” Bracken turned to Casey. “Be honest, your mink would totally add my body to her collection if she could, right?”
Casey tilted her head. “I think she’d rather just scalp you.”
Madisyn gave him a pointed look. “See, you’re just being a drama queen.”
Bracken gaped at his mate. “Like scalping me would be nothing?”
Exchanging an amused smile with Casey, Eli squeezed her nape, asking, “Want another beer, baby?”
“That would be great, thanks,” said Casey.
“Make it worth my while, then.” Eli sank into the kiss she gave him, though he kept it PG since Hendrix was watching like a hawk. “Hmm. Best taste ever.”
Casey watched him head to the kitchen. Okay, she watched his ass as he walked to the kitchen. It was a rather delicious sight.
Leaning forward, Shaya smiled at Casey. “He’s so totally gone for you—I love it. I was worried about him for a long time. It’s nice that I don’t have to worry anymore. I was so surprised that he recognized you as his mate so fast, given that Kathy’s experiences had to have left him with some issues. Nick and I recognized each other at first glance, you know.”