Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
His eyes bulge. “In this scrap of a skirt!” She smiles at his outburst and the tip of her tongue plays with her fangs.
“You’re too easy, pup.”
“So you are wearing something?”
“Hmm,” she hums noncommittally.
“Is that a yes?”
“Hmm.” He frowns at her response, but his eyes hold nothing but desire.
Finally he settles on, “That’s fine.” Veronica’s lips curl upward in a pure female expression of triumph. He relaxes back into his seat. “I have ways of finding out.” He turns to look back at the two of us. “So, ladies, how’s everything going?” Lizzie blushes slightly at his question, which makes that wolfish grin return. “Are you ready to be claimed?” Veronica stiffens a little, but Vince doesn’t seem to notice. I notice, though.
“I want to get something pretty to wear.” His brows raise and he chuckles.
“You know you won’t be in it for long … and it’ll probably get destroyed.” Lizzie laughs and hits my thigh at his response.
“I know, but I want it to be special.” She fidgets a little, obviously giddy. I stare at my best friend in wonder.
“You’re in love?”
She bites her lower lip and blushes before she gives me a small nod. My heart swells with happiness as I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “With both of them?” I whisper, and I didn’t realize how much I need the answer until I’ve spoken the question.
Biting down on her bottom lip, she meets my prying gaze and nods. “Both of them.”
The relief is unexpected but so very welcomed. For the first time, it feels as if everything is going to be all right.
“So tonight they’ll,” I hesitate to say it but spit it out, “both claim you?”
Lizzie nods and for a flash of a second, I feel like she’s holding something back.
“Do you have any questions about it?” Vince asks, distracting me from my thoughts.
“It happens under the full moon tonight, right?”
“At its peak,” Vince adds with his nod.
“Not all of us at like once, right?”
“It’s not an orgy. If you were hoping for that, you’re going to be disappointed,” Vince jokes and Lizzie laughs, sucking the last bit of her drink down and then shaking the cup to reach the whipped cream at the bottom. Vince’s attention turns to Veronica, his voice softening. “We’ll each go our own way, and enjoy our mates, biting down and claiming our love for them forever.”
His gaze stays on her, but she fails to look back at him. Unease flows through me, but again Vince doesn’t show concern.
“You two as well?” I question him.
He looks over his shoulder to nod again. “We’ll run errands, get you two all settled and then,” he says, peering back at Veronica and settles in his seat, “the night will come and the full moon will guide us.”
Veronica
The branches crunch under my feet, the cool air gracing my shoulders. Peeking up through the canopy of leaves overhead, the full moon shines down, although the clouds cover it, providing little light to guide us.
My heart batters in my chest. He’s so certain, determined. But since this morning, I’ve felt the advent of something else. It carries the air of betrayal and uncertainty. I haven’t been able to shake it. It’s a warning. I’m not sure who sent it or why, but as the hours ticked by, the feeling only strengthened.
“Who will be there?” I question as if nothing is wrong.
I am his mate and he is mine. Why does it feel as if destiny is warning me not to go through with this?
Squeezing my hand, Vince leads me through the forest so he can claim me. On the surface I do what I can to remain calm, but I’d be lying if I said I was unaffected. Fate has given my hard heart a mate. One mate to love with everything I have, and he’s going to claim me as his. My nerves make my fingers tremble and I yank my hand from Vince’s grasp before he has a chance to notice. Under a denser gathering of trees, it’s dark and I can’t see as well as he can, but I’ll manage.
“Just us and the others with new mates. There’s no need for anyone else to be there.”
“So we’ll all be witnesses to everyone else’s claiming?” My pulse pounds, anxiousness climbing. I knew this would happen. I knew this was coming. I should have said something before now. A heat lingers on my skin, daring me to turn around.
Vince lets out a low laugh. “No, there’s no need for witnesses. My bite will mark you and scent you as mine. You won’t really be able to see anyone else anyway. This is the best spot for the moon, though. It’s better for our wolves.”
“I see.” My mouth dries as we near an area with much more light than the surrounding forest. My heart races in my chest. One mate for all eternity. This is the beginning to a bittersweet end. I shake out my clammy hands and will away my tears. I’ll outlive him by hundreds of years; I’ll watch him grow old and die. And there’s nothing I can do about it. The realization weighs heavy on my heart. But, as always, I shove my emotions into the depths of my cold heart and move forward. I’ve accepted my fate. It would be far too cruel to stop.