Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Next,” he said with a feral grin, “we improve on your combat techniques.” The feral grin should have warned her that the tricky jerk meant to knock her on her ass time and time again. Clearly, he hadn’t yet forgiven her for the parking-lot incident. Jaime didn’t give him the satisfaction of yielding. No, she bore the pain and kept on moving. In spite of the grueling method of teaching, she suspected that she’d actually learned a lot more than she would have if it was just a standard lesson. Perversely, she was even enjoying it…until he suddenly stiffened and twirled.
“What do you want, you nosy bastards?”
His gaze was locked on the trees to their right, but Jaime had no idea what he was looking at.
Then, looking highly disgruntled, the enforcers stepped out of the trees.
Dante turned to Jaime. “See how they blended their silhouettes with their surroundings? That’s what I was talking about.”
“She’s still here?” asked Tao sharply. He was looking warily at Jaime.
Dante’s smile disappeared. “Watch it.”
Jaime’s wolf growled in her head at Tao’s unfriendly tone, backing up Dante.
“Come on, Dante, be fair—she nearly killed Glory.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“She could be dangerous to the pack. No, she is dangerous to the pack. And when Trey finds out—”
“He knows.” Dante’s tone was soft, low, pissed.
“You told him?”
“Of course I did. He agreed that she can stay, providing I keep watch over her.”
“You left out that part when we talked earlier,” said Jaime. The idea of being monitored constantly was a hurtful one, but she understood. She wasn’t one of those people who let pride get in the way of things.
“If you must know, Jaime didn’t want to stay. I’ve convinced her to, and she’s agreed to let me subject her to the same training that I did to all of you. We hope to improve on her self-control.”
“Will that be before or after she’s attacked one of us?”
Jaime crossed her arms over her chest. “So you all want me to leave?” Trick and Marcus looked at anything but her, while Ryan gave her an apologetic look that said it was nothing personal.
“Jaime, honey, ignore Tao,” Dominic told her gently. “He’s just freaked out.” Tao rounded on him. “And so would you be if you’d been there last night.” He turned back to her. “In all honesty, yes, I think you should go.” He stiffened when Dante growled. “I don’t think that training her will make much of a difference. Mostly because there’s no way she’ll finish it.” Jaime arched a brow. “There’s no way I’ll finish it?”
“If anyone knows who has the potential to pass that kind of training, it’s me. I’m Head Enforcer.”
She snorted. “Yippee for you.”
“Dante doesn’t go easy. It’s tough.”
“And I can’t do it because, what? Because I’m a female? I’ll have you know that there are plenty of things women can do that men can’t.”
Tao snickered. “Like what?”
“Well, bend over in prison, for one. Multitask, ask for directions, belly flop with dignity, bleed for five days every month yet not die—”
“Have multiple orgasms,” offered Dominic. When Tao turned and scowled at him, he shrugged innocently. “What?”
“All right, all right,” said Tao, his hands raised in a placating gesture. He turned to Jaime.
“Look, if you think you can handle it, by all means try it. I’m looking forward to you proving me right.
But don’t expect me to be okay with you staying here. You’re a nice girl and everything, Jaime, but you’re also a danger to the pack, and I can’t endorse you being here.” With that, he and the other enforcers walked away. Her wolf relaxed slightly, though Jaime doubted that she would have done so if Dante hadn’t been so close and his scent hadn’t been surrounding her.
“None of the pack trust me anymore, do they?” She already knew the answer to that.
Dante placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “It’s not that. They’re just all in an overcautious mind-set right now because Taryn’s pregnant and Glory’s being a pain in our ass. Plus, most of them were there when Trey’s mom turned rogue. They’ve seen what a rogue wolf can do, and it hurt them all when Louisa had to be killed. They don’t want to have to go through all that again.”
“They shouldn’t have to. Why do you insist on me staying? You said Trey wants me monitored constantly. You’re Beta, you have enough to do without watching over me.” He cupped her chin. “Yes, I’m Beta. This is what Betas do.”
“You look after your wolves’ well-being, I know. But what about their well-being? I’m a danger to them.”
“Only if you stop fighting.”
“Answer me honestly. Do you really think putting me through this kind of training will make a difference?” She refused to even begin hoping.
“I know it will,” he replied with total conviction. Why was he so sure? There was no other acceptable alternative to him than that Jaime was safe and well.