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)
Her arms looped around him. “I know you will. I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Waking to her alarm the following morning, Quinley leaned over and turned it off. Letting her head loll to the side, she saw she was alone in bed. Her brow knitted at the very unusual occurrence. And then, just as she was extending her senses to detect if Isaiah was in the attached bathroom, memories of yesterday rolled over her.
Quinley felt her lips flatten. That goddamn sorry excuse for a pack needed executing fast. She couldn’t lie, it had given her a little scare to have them come at her that way—guns, claws, teeth, and all. But as she’d sat in the Alpha’s house waiting for Isaiah to return from trying to locate her, fury had settled in. And it hadn’t left.
It had, however, eased under the warmth of Isaiah’s attentiveness. He’d stayed at her side all evening, broody and quiet. He’d showered her, cleaning every inch of her himself. He’d then dressed her, carefully brushed her wet hair, and sat her at the kitchen island with a mug of tea while he made dinner.
A mini argument had ensued when she’d tried stacking the dishwasher—he hadn’t wanted her to lift a finger. She’d subsided, sensing he not only needed to feel he was taking care of her, he needed to feel in control. And it had allowed him to give all the protective anger tumbling around his system some release.
Several people had come to check on her, including his parents and both her sisters—who’d also kindly returned her bag and clothes—but he hadn’t let any of them stay long, insisting she needed to rest. None had argued, all sensing the real problem was that his protective instincts were in a tailspin and driving him to keep everyone at bay.
When he’d finally taken her to bed, he hadn’t fucked her; just held her close. She might have protested, but she’d sensed he hadn’t trusted that he wouldn’t lose all control. She actually wouldn’t have minded if he had lost it, but he would have minded. He would have later regretted it and been upset with himself. She hadn’t wanted that, so she’d let it alone, planning to wake him in style come morning.
Except … he wasn’t here. And if her senses could be trusted, he wasn’t in the attached bathroom either.
It surprised her that he was awake. He hadn’t slept well. She’d woken several times due to how restless he’d been, too in tune with his moods to sleep through it.
Her own cat had been just as restless. She still was, as it happened. Fleeing for her life wasn’t exactly a common occurrence in her world. That the danger to both her and Isaiah hadn’t yet been taken out … yeah, the feline really wasn’t happy.
Making a decision that brought the animal just a little relief, Quinley took her phone from the nightstand and rattled off a quick text to Adaline. She then sluggishly sat upright, yawning. Her sister’s response came fast. Satisfied by it, Quinley left the bed and then went on about her morning business.
Finally presentable, she padded downstairs and tracked Isaiah down to the kitchen. He stood near the sink, his gaze on whatever he could see through the window above it. His shoulders were stiff, and his body was a mass of tension.
Turning on sensing her presence, he frowned on seeing her in her sweats.
“I’m not going into work today,” she explained.
His shoulders lowered, losing their stiffness, and his eyes drifted shut. “You don’t have to stay home just because my protective instincts are going nuts.” He opened his eyes, both relief and conflict swirling in their depths. “I was planning on going to the salon with you and hanging out there to keep an eye on things. Tate already okayed it.”
“I figured you’d have that in mind. But my cat is a little too wound up to deal with a lot of company today. I’m not sure she’d want strangers near her.”
Isaiah crossed to her, his gaze delving into hers, searching. “Yeah, I see her looking all agitated and edgy.”
“A day at home where she feels safe should settle her down.”
He skated one hand along her upper arm, over her shoulder, up her neck, and then skimmed it over her ear as he sank his fingers in her hair. “I’ll stay here with you.”
Loosely gripping the sides of his tee, she opened her mouth to protest, not for a moment expecting him to neglect his responsibilities just to keep her company.
“I won’t be able to focus for shit if we’re apart today, not even knowing you’re here at home. Your cat isn’t the only one feeling edgy.”
Quinley bit the inside of her cheek. “Okay.”
He cruised the pads of his fingers over her scalp in a slow, circular, soothing motion. “I’ll be coming with you to work tomorrow. I won’t get in your way. I just want to stand guard.”