Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 129691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Nodding, Vinnie turned to Luke. “Find out everything you can on Dale Bray, the Silva Clan, and any whispers of where their underground territory might be.”
Luke nodded. “It’ll be done.”
“From now on, I’m walking you home every night, Bree,” Alex declared. “Before you start chewing chunks out of my ass, hear me out. I’m not trying to strike at your pride. I don’t for one second think you’re incapable of protecting yourself. I just don’t want you to be put into yet another situation in which you’re forced to do it. I want to be there as a deterrent to anyone thinking of fucking with you.”
“I was going to suggest you have an escort home from now on,” said Tate. “The hyenas will try something else, Bree. You want someone to be there with you when they do.”
“You’d want the same for Elle if the situation were reversed,” Luke pointed out. “Even the strongest person can be brought down.”
Vinnie nodded. “And then there’s the fact that the hyenas—”
“Oh my God, stop ganging up on me, I’ll agree to the escort,” Bree burst out. It wasn’t as if Alex wouldn’t accompany her home most days anyway. And it was the smart thing to do. Plus, Luke was right—she’d want the same for Elle.
Alex smoothed a hand up and down her back, his tension easing slightly. “Good. Now let’s get out of here. There’s someone I need to speak to.”
Alex was reading an article on his cell phone when the door to the en suite bathroom opened. Clad only in towels and chuckling like little kids, Dominic and Mila padded into the bedroom.
Mila’s face hardened the moment she spotted Alex sitting on her plush armchair. “For shit’s sake! Can you not just knock on the damn bedroom door like everyone else? Or even call in advance to say you’re coming?”
“I could,” said Alex. But he wouldn’t. He liked sneaking onto Phoenix Pack territory and working his way through the network of tunnels within the ancient cave dwelling—no one ever saw him unless he wanted them to. Plus, annoying his sister was a nice bonus.
Dominic shook his head at him. “How the hell do you keep bypassing our security measures and creeping onto our land?”
Alex frowned. “How many times do you need me to say it? I’m a wolverine. We go where we want to go.”
The wolf planted his fists on his hips. “But every time you point out a weak spot in our security, we cover it.”
“You say that like it would ever make a difference.”
Mila all but stomped her foot. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to talk to your mate.” Alex sank further into the chair. “You ever heard of the Silva Clan?”
Dominic pursed his lips. “Doesn’t ring any bells. Why?”
“The hyenas who waylaid Bree belong to the clan. The Alpha’s name is Dale Bray.”
“Never heard of him. I take it they made a reappearance.”
“In a sense, yes, they did.” Alex told them about the incident with Frasier Banks.
“How is Bree?” asked Mila.
“Fine. Fuck all rattles her for long.” Which made Alex proud as hell. “But I don’t want her living with this cloud of danger hanging over her head. I can’t get rid of it until I know where the clan’s territory is.” He paused. “Did you know she was planning on leaving the pride?”
Mila’s eyes widened. “Seriously? Why the hell would she want—? Dani.” She sighed.
“She was part of why Bree wanted to leave. I can understand why. Just yesterday, the bitch went to Vinnie and asked him to strip Bree of some of her omega duties.”
Mila’s jaw tightened. “Dani’s going to push her too far one day, and she’s going to regret it. You said Bree was planning to leave. Does that mean she’s reconsidering it?”
“It means she’s not going anywhere,” Alex stated.
A smile curled Mila’s mouth. “Oh, I see how it is. It’s about damn time you made your move.” Her eyes narrowed a little. “How serious is it? Are you talking a fling, or something more?”
“It’s more,” replied Alex.
“Does she know that?”
“Yeah. She said she’s content to just go with the flow and see what happens.”
Mila snorted. “You don’t go with the flow. You dictate how the flow will go.” She shook her head. “That poor girl has no clue what she’s dealing with, does she?”
Alex gave an innocent shrug. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, yes, you do.” Mila pointed a finger at him. “You don’t waste words, but you can be pretty damn compelling when it suits you—you know just what to say to get what you want. Poor Bree thinks she has a choice on how this relationship will go. But we both know that if you don’t hear what you want from her, you’ll flick that ‘pretty damn compelling’ switch, muddle her brain with steamy make-out sessions, and generally do just about whatever it takes to coax her into giving you your way.”