Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“We do.”
“Yes, our job isn’t done.”
“Yes, of course, right. You’re right.” Leah got to her feet and turned to Mystic. “We cannot stay strangers for long. I have missed this.” She gave Mystic a hug.
Killian clenched his hands into fists, wanting to tear her out of the other man’s arms. He had to constantly repeat to himself that there was nothing going on. They were merely friends. The wolf inside him was not happy.
“You’re right. You shouldn’t stay a stranger. Killian, it was a pleasure to finally meet the man behind the rumor.”
Mystic was doing it to piss him off, he was sure of it.
He gripped the young bear’s hand and made sure to put all his strength behind the grip.
“Pleasure,” he said.
Leah said goodbye to some of her other friends and then they were on their way. He placed a hand at the base of her back as they left the company of the bears, and headed out toward the cabin.
“You know, you’ve been quite rude tonight,” Leah said.
“And you think you’ve been polite?”
“Well, yeah, polite people make conversation, they enjoy their host’s company. Charlie could have kicked us out and sent us on our merry way. They didn’t have to invite us in, give us food and shelter,” Leah tutted.
“And you think I should be okay with another man touching you?” He walked several feet before he realized Leah hadn’t followed him.
“You’re jealous?” she asked.
“I’m not jealous.”
“Oh, my … yes you are. You are so jealous. That’s why you have a problem with Mystic. You are the jealous wolf. I don’t get it, you didn’t want to be my mate, so you shouldn’t be feeling jealous.”
“And I thought we had both agreed to give this mating thing a try.”
Leah’s lips formed a perfect O.
“Or had you forgotten about our agreement?” he asked. He didn’t even know why he was bringing that up. He didn’t like what he had to do. The very idea of having a taste of his mate, of making Leah his, and then terminating it was going to fucking destroy him. He didn’t even know what it would do to Leah. He tried not to think about how she’d feel at the end of it. He consoled himself with the knowledge that she’d be able to find another mate. That was the difference between them.
Leah reached out and grabbed his arm. “I’m sorry.”
He looked down at where she touched him and he even felt the calmness of the wolf within him. It was the first time his wolf felt at peace in the last couple of hours.
“I didn’t think. Mystic and I are best friends. Or, as close as friends can be when one is a witch and the other is a bear. I’ve known him most of my life.” She shrugged.
“And both your parents had hoped you’d be each other’s mate.”
“Charlie told you,” she said.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head. “You shouldn’t be apologizing. The truth is, I have no right to claim you as my own, do I?” he asked.
“Don’t do that,” she said.
“How can I not? It’s true. Everyone knows it.” He ran fingers through his hair. “Let’s get to the cabin.”
Leah followed beside him and he didn’t like her being close without touching her. She smelled like bear, which he hated, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her in close, hoping his scent would wash over her and mask the disgusting hint of bear.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Then shut up and allow me to do it.”
Chapter Seven
Leah knew she shouldn’t be happy that Killian was jealous, but she was. There was nothing to be jealous about at all. Mystic was like a brother to her, and she cared about him deeply, but that was it. There was no unrequited love, no longing, nothing. They’d been best friends for a lifetime. They had even admitted that the thought of mating with each other was sickening.
Killian didn’t know that. He was jealous. A mate who rejected her was jealous. She loved that.
“You know he hates my guts because I’m touching you.” Mystic had whispered those words to her, but she hadn’t believed him. Why would she when Killian made it abundantly clear after their super-secret mission that she was to go back to her coven and he’d return to his pack, not mated.
She rubbed at her chest, hating the spark of pain from the constant overflowing feeling of rejection. Leah knew she should be over it by now, but it seemed no matter what she did, she was always going to feel that sting.
“Here it is,” Killian said, breaking into her thoughts.
Her parents had stayed at the cabin many times. It was one the bears saved for visitors.
They stepped inside the cabin and Killian reached out to flick on the light. She knew Charlie hired cleaners to come in every week to keep it nice and tidy. There were no cobwebs or any sign of dust.