Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79692 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Yes. He didn’t ask questions.” Alejandro had a feeling he knew why it was so, but he held himself from voicing his suspicions. There was time enough later to talk about the ranger. For now, they were better off concentrating on trapping Pasquale and finding out why he wanted Calys dead.
Calys’ answering smile was more genuine this time and tinged with relief. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want him harmed.”
Privately, Alejandro doubted the younger man was easily harmed. Someone who could so easily mask his footsteps, even against shifter hearing, wouldn’t be the kind that was easily killed.
“He will be all right, princess,” he said.
“I hope so.” She sighed, and Alejandro found his gaze straying towards her breasts and the way they heaved against the scooped neckline of her tight shirt. His gaze moved downwards, Alejandro taking in how her boyish pants only served to emphasize her tiny waist.
His cock stirred to life, and when he heard Calys gasp, he saw her looking at his crotch.
Alejandro felt himself flushing. It was no proper response from a Cavaliere to his lady, but he didn’t think there was any way for him to kill his erection without cutting his dick off.
When Calys swallowed, licking her lips, his cock strained harder against his pants and he heard himself asking, “Would you like to take a drink with me?” It was stupid to spend more time alone with the princess. He knew that, but even so, he could not help it.
When she smiled at him, his chest tightened, yet another proof that what he was doing was stupid. Dangerously so.
“I know just the place,” she told him.
Moments later, they found themselves in a bar reminiscent of an Old West saloon. Even its staff was dressed in costume, the men sporting tall cowboy hats and the women outfitted like milkmaids.
“Howdy,” one of the servers tipped his hat as he came to their table. “What can I get you fine folks?”
“Just orange juice for me, please,” Calys said.
“Ice-cold beer,” Alejandro said.
When the waiter left, they looked at each other, and an awkward silence was born.
“This is like our first date.”
Clearly, his hellcat had a knack for making things even more awkward.
Alejandro shook his head firmly. “We are not going to talk about that.”
A crestfallen expression fell over her face.
He steeled himself against that look. “No.”
“But—-”
Before she could finish talking, the doors of the bar swung open and a group of shifters swaggered in. Panthers – and drunk, by the smell of them. They kicked chairs out of their way before settling on the stools behind the bar.
“Do you know them?” he asked Calys under his breath.
“I think they’re from the Cortez pack. Mean drunkards, almost all of them,” she whispered.
As the panthers shouted for beer, one of the newcomers slapped the behind of a milkmaid passing by, causing her to drop the tray she was holding and splash water on the panther.
“You’ll pay for that, slut.”
At the words, Alejandro’s fingers wrapped around Calys’ wrist, knowing she was the type to interfere.
Her blue eyes were fiery with superhero fervor. “He must be taught the error of his ways.”
A sense of déjà vu hit him, and he immediately checked the princess’ eyes for any signs of a dark fit coming over her.
Calys made a face. “No, I’m not going to change just like that.”
He said readily, “You did before, the moment you saw someone about to be bullied.”
“That was different. I wasn’t sure about you helping me right a wrong. But now I am. You will—-”
“Look who’s here.” A mug of beer was slammed down on their table, forcing Alejandro and Calys to lean away from each other.
“It’s The Human Monster and the Moretti Dog.”
CALYS
The way Alejandro’s jaw tightened made my chest squeeze in pain. It was so unfair how everyone treated him when he hadn’t even done anything to deserve being called like that. It was his brother, Domenico, who had caused his clan to be the butt of everyone’s jokes. But even what Domenico Moretti had done wasn’t a sin. He had only chosen to love his human wife with all his heart, and for that, the other wolves had called him a dog.
Before I could think of what I was doing, I had already shot off my seat and slapped the panther’s face.
“Apologize to my Cavaliere now.”
The panther rubbed his jaw. “You fucking slapped me, bitch.”
I glared at him. “I’ll do more than that if you don’t say sorry to him now.”
He looked at his companions, and in unison, they jumped off their stools and stalked towards us, menacing scowls on their faces.
Alejandro gently pulled me back. “Princess, let it go.”
I shook my head. “No. I was wrong to let them call you that before. I promised you, remember? I won’t let it happen again.”
“Even if you fight them off, it won’t change a thing.”