Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
The campsite is a mess. Beer cans litter the ground around the firepit, leftover food has been ripped to shreds by bears, and there’s a pile of used condoms by one of the trees.
I scrub my palm over my face in frustration but get to work restoring the area back to its original. It’s one of the most irritating aspects of my job. Being the head forest ranger of Beacon Island National Forest usually has its perks. Best post. Cushy office with a great view. Lots of vacation time. First dibs on cabin rentals during offseason. Get to boss around all the forest technicians.
But when I stumble upon a wrecked campsite while patrolling, it’s my obligation to set it right, no matter what. If I truly was an asshole, though, I’d have that good for nothing tech, Bradley, come do my dirty work.
Luckily for him, I don’t have the patience to deal with his whining. I get enough of that at home these days, I don’t need to hear it from someone I actually have on my payroll.
My mood sours even further thinking about Remy.
Jesus Christ Remy’s such a brat these days. His temper is going to get his ass whipped if he’s not careful. A man can only handle so much attitude before he loses his shit.
Through the bond, I sense Rey. Warm and comforting. I ignore it just as I always do when she babies him. She’s learned to defuse fights between the two of us whenever she feels the animosity growing strong. It’s gotten worse lately. I ignore the calm she sends my way, and Remy just powers through it as if it has no effect on him.
Feisty energy filled with the urge to spar swirls around me, Finnick’s playfulness matched with a need to put Remy in his place. Aside from me, Remy’s been terrorizing Finnick, who’s more like a brother to him than a mentor.
I ignore Finnick too.
Something has my focus. It’s what drew me to this campground in the first place while out on patrol. There’s a thickness in the air, dark and pungent. Unfamiliar.
Die.
The growled word that rattles inside my head is so vicious and cruel and wrong I have the urge to claw it out of my skull.
Not my voice.
Someone or something else’s.
Inky blackness creeps around the edges of my consciousness. A sinister presence lurks. My heart rate spikes so fast and so intensely it sends all five of my packmates tugging at my bond almost immediately.
Even Remy.
He rarely can be bothered to acknowledge his link to us. We’re a burden to him. An unwanted family. People he was forced to live with and obey.
A trickle of pride stretches from me toward his link, thrumming down the line, a hum of approval and unspoken praise. Of course he plucks himself from the bond as though any sort of good behavior on his end was a mistake.
Fucking kid.
Refocusing on my task at hand, I trek through the woods wondering if we’ll finally get rain. It’s cold enough to turn to sleet if we do. I don’t mind if it drives the campers away and the threat of forest fires lessens.
Die. Die. Die.
Again, the chill of something foreign threatening to penetrate my mind has me stalling, another wave of fresh panic surging through me. My phone begins to ring, and I know without a doubt it’ll be Judd.
“What?” I grind out in greeting.
“Are you hurt? What’s going on? I’m feeling all sorts of crazy shit from you.”
“It’s nothing,” I assure him. “Just lost in my head. Pissed off about some disrespectful campers. How’s Remy?”
Judd grumbles. “Won’t let up about school. Pestering the hell out of Rey since she’s the weak one around here when it comes to Remy. I think she plans on pleading her case on his behalf at dinner tonight.”
“No,” I snarl, authority booming both through the telephone line and the links of our bond. “I’ve only said it a thousand times. He’s mute, not fucking deaf.”
Judd sighs heavily, but I know he agrees. Remy is too small and broken and sad to be thrust into high school where other kids could hurt him both physically and emotionally. Remy has been hurt too much with the loss of his mother and sister. I’ll be damned if I let those mean ass fuckers touch one hair on his bratty head.
But it’s all Remy wants. If I don’t let him finish his senior year with kids his age, then he’ll just start nagging about college or a job. Neither of which are safe for him either.
He acts like he’s imprisoned with us and the world out there waits for him.
Ungrateful shit.
“Sometimes you feel way too loud,” Judd mutters. “It’s no wonder he acts the way he does. You put off those pissed-off vibes when it comes to him.”