Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“Okay.”
“Yeah? Okay?” Linc checks.
“Go on,” I gesture toward the others, “Get outta here. I’m gonna take a few minutes for myself while you guys go decode the mystery. Get a proper shower now that I’ve got water here.”
“Now who’s bossy?” he quips.
I growl with frustration.
“Be back soon,” he says with humor, tugging my ponytail. “Text me if you need anything.”
“Don’t come back unless there’s a reason. I’m fine here. I’ve got food, water, and shelter.” And my mate close by. “Got all I need.”
“I’ll avoid the urge to tell you to be smart and safe.”
“Good. Because you don’t need to tell me that.”
“Got it. Wanna hug you, Sis, but know that’s a bad idea.”
“I feel it,” I tell him, pressing my fist to my chest.
He puts his lips to my forehead in a quick peck.
“Lincoln?” I call out.
Our eyes meet.
“She’s gonna be a very lucky girl. Whoever she is.”
He smiles and we hold gazes for a moment and it’s an acknowledgement of our history, an assertion that we still mean a lot to one another, just now in a different way.
“Thanks, babe,” he says, “Means a lot. Jared’s a lucky guy. Between us, I was hopin’ it’d be you.”
“Me, too,” I whisper. “Just between us. But this feels right. It’s meant to be.”
We stare at one another for a moment and I feel nothing but affection for Lincoln Fowler. He is such a good guy.
He kisses my forehead again.
“Later,” he whispers and then he leaves.
They’re all pulling out or gone already. And I’m relieved for the peace, for time to just process.
I sit on a camping chair and stare at the sky for a while.
I felt pretty sad and hopeless when Jared’s wolf showed I mean nothing to him. I cried myself to sleep in his bed alone while he was chained out here. But seeing Jared today, feeling what I feel from him, I’m not taking his rejection or threats of a bond severance seriously. I’m also not going to stand around feeling sorry for myself. I’m going to fight for the future Fate promised me with him.
Grey, Ronnie, and the other witches might find answers. Maybe Cat Savage will find something medical that can help. Undoubtedly, Linc and Joel will be investigating. And maybe I can get Bailey to do some of her digging. Because Joel and Linc might not tell me everything, but Bailey is pretty good at information retrieval, too. She might be able to find out if there are others like him on record. And she has some off-record connections. Could that information lead to answers on how to move forward safely? Does he have any family left?
Shit. Bailey! My belly dips and I feel guilty. Because what’s going on with Bailey? I haven’t had the headspace to ask.
I grab my phone and there are two texts from Amie. The most recent one stated that Bailey came back today with the Young witches, but no sign of Jase yet and she’s not sure what the heck is going on.
I send a heart emoji to Amie and send Bailey a text.
I don’t know where you are, if you’re back or still in Italy chasing Jase. I have no idea if up is up and down is really down but things are beyond wonky for me if you haven’t heard.
Since it’s five o’clock somewhere, I go into the camper to grab a bottle of beer, crack it open, and go back out to stare at the sky some more.
My phone pings.
Bailey: I just got back. Wonky is the whole vibe apparently because get this! Jason Creed identified me as his mate. No, I’m not celebrating. I’m mad as hell. He’s a jerk. I told him I reject him. And he thinks it’s all a big joke. I know the Youngs are trying to help you with your problem. I’m so sorry btw. If I wasn’t across the ocean in the biggest drama of my life I would have been here for you. But we’re having our dramas concurrently so there’s not much I can do for you and definitely nothing you can do for me. I would love nothing more than to come out there and offer you moral support if nothing else (not like you want me cooking meals) but the big jerk prob won’t let me anywhere near you because of your mate so if there’s anything I can do, please let me know and I’ll certainly try.
Jason and Bailey? Wow. I’m reeling. I read it a second time, floored. Jason and Bailey. Is this why the guys were acting mysterious yesterday? She followed him to Rome and sometime since then, he identified her as his?
And she’s pissed? She’s not doing cartwheels and throwing a party? He has to have done something pretty shitty for her to be anything but elated about this. I mean, I’ve watched her moon after him for years. For more than half our lives. Jason is hot. And Jason is a good guy. A sweetheart, really. Or he was until he recently started being a dick to her to try to scare her off, I guess. And I hated watching her unrequited crush on him, which meant she was constantly crushed because Jase was sowing his oats every chance he got.