Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“You’re upset.”
“You feel this. I feel nothing.” She took a deep breath. “I know some people would think that’s amazing, and great, and fun, but I … don’t. I feel gutted.” She pressed her lips together. “And for that, I do feel guilty. If you’d found Rose, or any of the other women, and they’d been your mate, there wouldn’t be a second’s hesitation. I’m the weird one.”
“You’re not weird.”
“I come from wolf parents, and yet I can’t change into a wolf. I get sick. I get injured. I don’t heal quickly. For all intents and purposes, I’m a human, and I suck.”
Rage pulled her in close. “You don’t suck.” It was probably wrong for him to think so, but he imagined her sucking on something else. He had to get himself under control because he didn’t want to push her too far, too soon.
William had asked him to take his time, and he’d respect the other alpha, even though a part of him didn’t want to.
Stroking her hair, then her back, he held her tightly. He felt that need rise up—the one that made him want to protect her, never let her fear anything ever again. He kissed the top of her head and Karina suddenly pulled away. She had a smile on her face.
“So, where are we going tonight?”
“I’m taking you to dinner.”
“At the diner?”
“Yes, I happen to have noticed there is no other place in town.”
“The diner is special. Everyone loves it. Most of the shops must be approved.”
“Through your dad?” he asked.
“And the rest of the pack. We all know how temperaments are, and, well, he knows it can be a challenge getting people to agree, but he does it to help keep a fully organized and functioning pack. It works.” She shrugged. “The diner was willing to offer other kinds of food, which is why it won, and so far, other than the bakery a few shops down, no other restaurant has opened. We do have potlucks, though, and special tasters to help the diner grow, and stuff like that. It helps. It all helps.”
He loved hearing her talk.
Rage didn’t give a shit how William ran his pack. The food he had at lunchtime was amazing. The burgers, fries, and onion rings had been delicious. Karina hadn’t been able to finish her food. Again, another little note to the fact she wasn’t a wolf. The diner served wolf-sized portions.
Stepping across the town square, it was aglow with fairy lights, giving it an almost magical feature. He liked it. It wasn’t so much festive, but it was close to it. He could imagine for Halloween and Christmas, this pack went all out. Mainly because within his own pack, he did allow the festivities to run wild.
Rage was a sucker for the kids, and once they started to beg him for some fun tricks and then of course the treats, he’d done it.
He’d not thought about having children himself, but one glance at Karina, and he couldn’t help but imagine her full and ripe with his child. Those tits looking fuller than they already were. His cock started to harden. Gritting his teeth, he had no choice but to order to gain control of his erection. Entering the diner with a hard-on didn’t show control.
Several of the pack stopped and greeted him. He was polite and nodded in their direction, but he also made sure to take hold of Karina’s hand. He expected her to put up a fight, but she allowed him to take the lead. They were able to arrive at the diner, and the seats he’d asked to be saved were.
Walking Karina to her seat, he knew people were watching and whispering.
“Do you really think they’re mated?”
“Karina can’t mate, she’s human.”
“He is making a big mistake.”
“They look so cute together.”
“Karina is so lucky.”
There was a mixed bag of feelings. He smiled and grabbed the menu, glancing over at it, and seeing Karina trying not to look at everyone.
“Relax,” he said.
“Easy for you to say. I bet you can hear what they’re all whispering about.”
Just as quickly the whispering stopped. Karina couldn’t hear, but he could.
“Yeah, I could,” he said.
“What were they saying?” Karina asked.
Her curiosity got the better of her, and he saw her slowly relax. He didn’t care what it took, as long as she did so in his company. Rage didn’t plan to have to win over his mate. Karina not being a wolf had certainly thrown a wrench into the works, but at the same time, she had been an amazing person to find.
Rage did have every intention of denying a mate. He knew William had wanted to bind their packs together with a woman, but he’d not wanted to. His intention had been to show that they could come together with one objective—to protect each other against any potential attack. They didn’t need women or money, or agreements, other than those of men keeping their word.