Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
So yes, Quinley understood the larger picture. But that Harlan had not been in the slightest bit sympathetic, that he’d offered her no comfort, that his only concern had been ensuring she didn’t interfere with his plans … no, she’d never forgiven him for that.
Nor had her cat. Even now it hissed at the memories, glaring at Harlan, having no respect at all for this male who’d failed her as an Alpha.
“You kept your word,” said Harlan. “You never approached Zaire, never spoke to him, never even so much as glanced his way. In fact, you made a concentrated effort to avoid him as best you could. He didn’t always make that easy for you.”
No. No, he hadn’t. There’d been times when Zaire just happened to be strolling around the area of pride territory where she lived. Times he’d uncharacteristically showed up at pride events for the unranked. Times he’d even unnecessarily been something of a shit to a male she happened to be dating.
“I think he was curious about you,” said Harlan. “An eighteen-year-old boy’s priority generally isn’t finding their mate. But as the years tick on, it can become an itch under their skin. Even though he’d signed papers and was committed to one day claiming Nazra, he wanted to know for knowing’s sake if just maybe he had found his mate. You saw that, didn’t you?”
Quinley swallowed. “Yes.” As had her cat, who’d been irate that he’d had the downright gall to go anywhere near her.
“It must have been hard for you to ignore it, but you did.”
It hadn’t really been about sticking to her word; it had been about protecting her family. Plus, she’d felt no desire to satisfy Zaire’s curiosity when he had no intention of claiming her. He could go live with the mystery, the dick.
“I make difficult decisions all the time—some involve sacrificing a member’s happiness for the greater good of the pride. Every Alpha does. It’s my job to keep the pride strong and, by extension, safe. As such, I don’t regret pairing Zaire with Nazra. But, Quinley, I would rather not reward your sacrifice by backing you in entering a mating with a complete stranger.” Harlan paused. “I’d arrange one with a black-foot from another pride, but …”
But she was unranked, so no one would be interested. Being a healer didn’t give her status among the ranked. “I don’t need you to do anything like that. I just want you to come with me to this meeting and, if all goes well, consent to having the appropriate papers drawn up. It’s not like I’ll be trapped in the mating. If there’s no imprint bond within the first year, I get to leave.” That was how it generally worked.
“I don’t like that you quite clearly feel the need to leave. This is your home, your territory, your community. You should haven’t a wish to—”
“He’s from the Olympus Pride.”
Harlan stilled, his gaze sharpening. “I see.”
Astor chuckled. “You really should have led with that, Quinley.”
Because the Alpha was so very obsessed with collecting alliances with powerful shifter groups, she knew. But … “He won’t gain an alliance out of this, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Pallas cat prides typically don’t form them,” Astor allowed, “but this particular pride is allied with some influential wolf packs.”
A thoughtful look on his face, Harlan hummed.
Quinley felt her belly tighten. He was sat there wondering what he could use to wrangle an alliance out of the Olympus Pride. But she didn’t have money or status or anything else. And she wouldn’t put it past her Alpha to offer Isaiah someone more “worthy” in an effort to get an alliance.
She narrowed her eyes. “As you yourself admitted, you didn’t do right by me when I was sixteen. I’m asking you to not fuck me over now.”
Harlan had the nerve to look confused. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re thinking of throwing another of my pride mates at him to entice his pride into agreeing to an alliance.”
Harlan’s lips tilted upward as he glanced at Astor. “Told you—she’s sharp, that one.” He exhaled heavily. “Yes, yes, I considered it. I would be a fool not to. But I would like to, as my one last act as your Alpha, see to it that you are … compensated for what you lost out on with Zaire.”
If he wanted to make himself feel better, fine—Quinley didn’t care so long as he didn’t mess this up for her.
“What did you say the name of the Olympus male is?”
She hadn’t. “Isaiah Hale.”
Harlan’s gaze sliced to Astor. “Look into him, will you?” At the Beta’s nod, Harlan returned his attention to her. “When and where does Hale want to meet?”
“The location has to be the website’s HQ—that’s a set rule,” she explained. “Isaiah said that he wanted to meet soon, preferably tomorrow.”