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)
Casey widened her eyes, going for clueless. “Really?”
Shaya stared at her for a long moment. “Eli told you, huh?”
“Only some of it,” said Casey. “I noticed you seemed sad sometimes when you saw me and him together. He just wanted to assure me that it wasn’t personal.”
“It’s really not personal. It hurt when Nick walked away from me. I’ve never felt pain like it before or since. It would be easy to be bitter about it, but I’m not. I mean, think of this: If he hadn’t turned his back on me, I wouldn’t have moved to Arizona. And if I hadn’t moved there, I wouldn’t have met Bracken, Jesse, Zander, or Kent. We wouldn’t have later all come back here with Nick and formed the Mercury pack. Caleb might never have known Kent, just like Bracken might never have found Madisyn, and Eli might never have met you, and so on and so on. We’re all where we need to be, and that’s what’s important.”
Casey wished she could say that she’d be able to look back on such a painful time and spin it in a positive way, but she’d be lying through her wisdom teeth. “God, Shaya, you’re so nice.”
Shaya just chuckled.
“What’s funny?” Eli asked as he returned. His mate just shook her head.
Although all the food was consumed within a couple of hours, the guests stayed—drinking, telling stories, teasing each other. Eli relaxed more and more as the evening went on, purely because his mate relaxed. Everyone was kind and welcoming toward her, just as he’d hoped they’d be.
He doodled patterns on her nape with his finger, wishing he knew why their bond hadn’t snapped into place. He’d claimed every part of her. There were no secrets between them, no protective walls, no doubts about mating or about each other. And yet, their bond remained incomplete. He just didn’t get it, but he didn’t let himself dwell on it right then, knowing she’d pick up on his change of mood. He didn’t want to spoil what was supposed to be a fun evening.
It was dark when the tipsy guests finally began staggering out of the lodge—most were humming merrily as the sober, designated drivers guided them to the crowded parking lot. Eli and Casey joined some of his pack mates in following the guests to the door to wave them off.
Just as Riley was about to leave, Gwen grabbed her arm. “Hey, Riley, what can I get Savannah for her birthday?” she asked quietly, referring to the young viper who the Phoenix Pack had adopted.
Riley raised her hands, swaying slightly. “Don’t ask me, I’m genuinely stuck on what to get her. She’s not an easy kid to buy gifts for. There are things I would have thought she’d love, but she’s barely paid them a glance when they pop up in a TV commercial. If anyone has ideas, that would be great.”
Casey shrugged. “All I ever wanted were balls.”
Eli barely managed to hold back a smile as all eyes, twinkling with amusement, landed on his mate.
Riley cleared her throat, her lips twitching slightly. “Balls?”
Casey nodded. “I’d play with them all day, working and improving on my technique.”
Almost groaning, Eli wished he had a pretzel or something to shove in her mouth.
“Technique?” echoed Riley.
“Yeah,” Casey went on, oblivious. “But I was picky about size. I didn’t like them too small—you don’t get as much use out of them then. Hardness, pressure, and diameter are important. They’re no good if they’re going to …” And then realization seemed to dawn on her, because her cheeks reddened. She sighed. “Yeah, I’ll shut up now.”
Eli chuckled, which earned him a pinch to the side from his mate. After waving off the Phoenix Pack, they helped clean up the mess in the lodge. Noticing his mate stumbling a little drunkenly, he spoke into her ear. “You okay? You look like you need to go and lie down. It’s probably best if you spread your legs while you’re at it.”
Casey’s mouth quirked. “I’m kind of tired. Maybe we could just cuddle tonight.”
Knowing she was teasing him, he nibbled on her earlobe as he whispered, “We can cuddle after I’ve taken you.”
“But I’m feeling really sleepy.”
“Come on, I’ll only take five minutes. You won’t even know I was there.”
She chuckled. “Fine, fine. But you have to do all the work.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” Eli kissed her, sipping from her mouth and sifting his fingers through her hair as she melted into him.
Breezing past them, Bracken said, “You’d better hope she doesn’t shift into her animal form when drunk. A mink under the influence of alcohol will be one unstable creature. Then you’ll learn what her nips feel like.”
Madisyn groaned. “Oh my God. Would you let it go already!”
Bracken’s spine snapped straight. “Her psychopathic mink wants me dead, and you’re asking me to let it go?”