Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Jimmy bought the excuse, didn’t beat me, but he told me if Wyatt asks, to say that he did. Jimmy also told me if I defied another order he’d have no choice but to dole out Wyatt’s punishment. Jimmy also made me give over whatever money I had that day as payment for him defying Wyatt. And I know the money was for Jimmy, that Wyatt wouldn’t have seen it. I said nothing and forked it over. Jimmy told me to hang tight and wait for more instructions, but to keep poisoning them, particularly their alphas.
Under Wyatt’s dictatorship, most of the rest of his men, particularly his inner circle, men under forty… they’re like jackals. Survival of the fittest. Most everyone who is left will do whatever it takes to stay off Wyatt’s radar, but things are such that everyone is always a little hungry and therefore doing desperate or even underhanded things.
Though I’ve defied Wyatt on a few things during this whole mess, like lying about my tip amounts so he can’t take them all, I have had no choice but to do most of his bidding. Several alphas and other shifters came into the diner throughout my short time there and the only time I did any poisoning was when Jimmy was present, at the counter by the dessert case, his scent masked, knowing he scented the alphas who walked in.
I’ve been straddling a line between not wanting to do harm and desperately wanting to help my pack. If I followed Wyatt’s orders and he was able to do what he wants and take over, he says he’d bring our pack over and we’d be living in the land of milk and honey. If we got a fresh start, we’d have a chance at more than the bleak existence we’ve had. The close proximity to the bustling town could give us access to new opportunities to survive. But I’m sure it would only happen if we got Wyatt out of the way before he ran things into the ground here, too.
The best chance we have is to find a way to usurp Wyatt and turn things around. That’s where Malachi comes in.
If I’m allowed to pair up with him, he could get closer to Wyatt. We’ve had some exchanges that let me know Mal is more than open to becoming the pack’s alpha. He’d love to challenge Wyatt, but he needs to get stronger for that to happen successfully.
We tested that herb out before I got here on a few of the stronger betas in our pack, including Malachi, and they all got ill and couldn’t shift, couldn’t fight very well when Wyatt took pleasure in laying beatings on them. Wyatt refused to risk it by trying the herb himself, so we didn’t know how it would work on an alpha.
Three times in the diner, I’ve slipped that herb mixture in local shifters’ desserts. The pie has been a good decoy because the herb is sweet, too. And the dessert case is by the cash register so not served by the kitchen. Waitresses slice, dress with toppings, and serve it and I’ve put the herb mixture on top before I dress the pie with the whipped cream and a cherry.
I don’t know if it affects alphas the way it affected betas in our pack, but luckily before I gave Jimmy back the rest of the herb, I put some aside, disguised the scent in my suitcase under the lining. I figured if Mal gets into Wyatt’s inner circle and gets to shift more, gets stronger, I could serve it to Wyatt ahead of a battle.
Wyatt saw me taking extra care with nursing Mal back to health after Wyatt beat him, so dangled Mal like a carrot for me, assuming I was crushing on him. He told me maybe he’d pair us up when I got back. If I succeed with my mission.
I’ve failed epically and I’d expect to be viewed as an enemy to this pack. But instead of hurting me, instead of making an example of me in the public square like Wyatt would’ve done, this alpha has taken me home, saying he’ll make me his. He’s carried me. Not dragged me by my hair. He gave me his shirt, so I was shielded from the cold in that cell.
I’ll have to do whatever he demands, obviously, and hope I won’t be murdered afterwards. It has occurred to me that maybe he thinks I’m just a dumb woman who will get on all fours for him hoping he genuinely wants me as a mate when really, he’s just going to have his way without a fight and then plans to throw me back in that cell and torture me into telling him what he wants to know. But that doesn’t compute because of everything I’ve seen since he walked me out of that cell and faced-off with the other alphas.