Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
“Ah, yes, now that I think about it, there were a couple of times he’d stop by, I’d offer to serve him, and he’d tell me no, that he was waiting for you.” Adele sighed. “Now, I see it a little.”
Lisa chuckled. “Anyway, he kept asking me on a date. For a good six months, and I kept saying no. I wasn’t interested in dating wolves, or anyone. I’d found a life for myself. I like No Wolves Road.”
“I’m kind of liking Storm’s pack a little more,” Adele said. “Do you think they would take honorary members or something? I could perhaps join, become a human member?”
“You’d have to ask.”
“Come on, I could claim to have helped you and Shadow get back together?”
Lisa smiled at her friend.
Adele sighed. “Remember, all next year, I’ll nag him. It’s what he did with you.”
“I guess you’re right. He did nag me until I gave in.” Lisa sighed. “Our first date was pretty awesome; at least to me it was. We had a candlelit picnic at the small park. It was perfect. He picked everything out to perfection—the location, setting up the candles, the food.”
“Did he cook?”
“I don’t know if he did or not. I can’t remember that little detail. I just know it tasted good, and he made me laugh. When I got a little too cold, he offered me his jacket. He was the perfect gentleman. After the end of our date, he leaned in and kissed my cheek. He did walk me home as well, which was so sweet.”
“It sounds lovely.”
“It was. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days afterward.”
“Did he not take you on a date after that?” Adele asked.
“Oh, he did. We went out for breakfast at the diner, and he’d visit me at the coffee shop. We were friends and the dating thing was different. He taught me there was a lot more to wolves than I thought. Then, of course, I heard him saying those things, and it kind of messed everything up.”
“But he didn’t mean them?” Adele asked.
“No, he didn’t mean them. In a strange way, I think he wanted to have believed them, maybe?”
Adele frowned. “Okay, how can you forgive someone if he wanted to believe you were weak, and all he was doing was using you? That makes no sense, Lisa.”
“It could be the hormones, but it was the fact that he wanted me and I had gotten under his skin. He didn’t want to live without me. I believed his apology, Adele. I forgive him and I want to make this work. Like you said, how can two people who hate each other make this work?” She pressed her hands against her stomach.
“You’re doing this for the baby?”
“No, I’m doing it for myself.”
“And I’m not going to put my foot in my mouth again,” Shadow said, stepping into the kitchen.
Lisa didn’t know how long he’d been listening to their conversation, but he came around the counter and pulled her into his arms. Like so many times before, she felt complete when she was with him.
“I know you hate me, Adele, but I promise you, I’m not going to hurt her again. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“As it happens, Mister, I don’t hate you. You make her too happy; however, what I can say is that if you do ever hurt her again, I’ve got a lot of knives and I know how to use them. I will not be afraid to cut a certain appendage off.” Adele said to the very tall, muscular, and exceedingly intimidating wolf.
Lisa laughed.
“So, Shadow,” Adele said. “How do you feel about increasing your human members?”
“We’ll talk,” Shadow said. “First, Lisa, there is something I would like to show you.”
She frowned but followed Shadow as he began to walk her out of the kitchen, toward the main corridor near the front door.
“Shadow?”
“Trust me.”
She did and he opened the door, and Lisa looked out to gasp. There was a red carpet from the main door, leading up to what appeared to be an altar. The whole pack was outside standing on either side of the red carpet.
“Shadow, what is going on?”
He lowered down to one knee.
“Lisa, the love of my life, my mate, my reason for even breathing. I am completely and totally in love with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. As the whole pack knows, I messed up. I nearly lost you, and I’m not a man who doesn’t learn from the error of his ways. I want to make this right for both of us.” He let go of her hand long enough to grab a small box out of his jacket. “I don’t want to go another day where you’re not my wife. Where you don’t belong to me. Also, I want to belong to you. I am yours, Lisa. Before my pack, I declare myself to you. Every single part of me, the whole of my being. I am your loyal servant. I’m in love with you, and I intend to spend the rest of my life being yours. I will never give you a reason to cry again. I will never let you go. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”