Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Who was that?”
Spinning on her heel, she found Derren staring hard at her. “Nosy little bastard, aren’t you?”
With two purposeful strides, he closed the small distance between them. “Who was it?” When she didn’t answer, Derren snatched the phone from her hand, unsurprised to see there was a missed call from Zeke. She might not realize it, but the same expression always took over her face whenever the subject was the Collingwood Beta—one that contained betrayal, hurt, and weariness. It never failed to prickle the protective instincts of Derren and his wolf.
Ally held out her hand. “Give.”
He might have, but then a beeping sound was quickly followed by “1 New Message” flashing on the screen. Before she could seize the phone, he opened the message and read it aloud. “Ally, why won’t you talk to me? I just want to know that you’re okay.” Derren met her pissed, narrow-eyed gaze as she yanked the cell from his hand. “You’ve been ignoring his calls. Good. Keep it that way.”
Her spine locked. “Who I speak to is my business. Should I grab a ladder so you can step out of it?”
“I don’t want him contacting you.” He didn’t want a single ounce of her time spent on the fucker.
“And you think I do?”
No, he didn’t. She looked more pissed about it than he was. Maybe it was time he had a little chat with the Beta—his wolf fully supported that idea. Derren’s intention must have been right there on his face, because she shook her head.
“Don’t, Derren. If he thinks bugging me will get him any kind of a reaction, he’ll keep doing it.”
Derren’s wolf snarled. “I should just overlook that he’s harassing you?”
Confused by his implication that it would be an unreasonable request, Ally snickered. “Yes, you should. I’m no one to you.”
His hand snapped around her wrist in a proprietary hold. “Wrong.” He didn’t know what she was to him, but it wasn’t “no one.”
She tensed as his expression blackened and possessiveness oozed from his skin to hers. It slithered over her like demanding, territorial hands. As his eyes fell to Ally’s mouth, his need punched its way inside her—filled her, taunted her, and acted as a flick to her clit. Her knees buckled. Oh, help. “Tone it down,” she ground out.
Scenting her heat, Derren smiled inwardly. “Now we’re even. I’ll check on you later.”
And he did, to the delight of Ally’s wolf. When he couldn’t coax Ally to come with him for dinner at the main lodge, he stayed with her. The little shit also ate half of her meal. Then he rose from the porch step and held out his hand. “Come with me.”
Ally narrowed her eyes. “Where?”
“I want to show you something.”
“What?” Wariness coated the word.
“Stop being so suspicious. Come with me,” Derren repeated.
There was a dare in his eyes that made Ally’s shoulders stiffen. She’d be damned if she’d show any weakness. “Fine.” She placed her hand in his, swallowing hard as his hunger and satisfaction seemed to invade her pores, and he pulled her to her feet. “Let me just put this inside.” Once she’d set the empty plate in the sink, she returned to the porch. “Where are we going?” She tried to sound vaguely annoyed, but she was actually curious. And his smile said he knew it.
“You’ll see.”
As he led her into the forest, she quickly realized they were headed in the direction of his lodge. But he didn’t take her inside. He led her deeper into Mercury territory. When they reached a small clearing, he urged her to squat beside him.
“Look.”
“What am I supposed to be looking at?” She didn’t see anything. She could smell plenty of wildlife, but she couldn’t see anything.
“See the small rock overhang over there? Watch closely.”
Moments went by, and she still didn’t see anything. “There’s nothing—”
“Shush. Give them a minute.”
Them? She went to question him again, and that was when she noticed a little movement. Something was crawling out from under the rock . . . something small with black fur. And then, with a brief struggle, it was out. Another one joined it. And another one. “How adorable are they,” she whispered with total awe. Ally guessed the little wolf pups were around four weeks old.
Moments later, a mature female wolf followed them out of the hole. Fuck, it was a wolf den. “Derren, we really shouldn’t be here.” Full-blooded wolves weren’t bothered much by shifters, but they didn’t like them around their pups.
“It’s okay,” he assured her.
No, it wasn’t—especially since four more adult wolves had approached the den. “We should go.” She exhaled a relieved sigh when Derren stood. But then the apparently suicidal shithead moved toward the wolves.
She grabbed his hand to stay him. “What are you doing?”
“Come on.”
“What?” Her voice was a strangled squeak.