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)
My next question was, “What about Bailey?”
Bailey and Jase still haven’t done the deed. But as of last night, Brody Savage and his mate Addy finally have. And that’s great news for the second couple, but based on how I was feeling last night, I have no idea how Bailey didn’t also succumb. I’ll be having a conversation with her.
The witches are still working on the portal for somewhere safe for Jared to run as well as a cloak. But after breakfast, they want to run a test with Jared’s wolf.
Before they told us they took advantage of the lunar event instead of orchestrating it, Jared was annoyed, Annoyed might be putting it mildly. The looks he was giving Grey and his cousins could peel paint.
Finally, he spoke up. “What if something went wrong? What if you were wrong?”
“A minute, Jared?” Grey pulled him aside and had a conversation with him.
While that took place, Erica explained what went down with the moon and told me they didn’t know how it’d go, but that Vivi and Ronnie were watching and ready to sound alarms with Gus and Sean if necessary. They say they didn’t fix things, that Fate did, using the moon and their help, showing Jared’s wolf exactly who I am to him. And he accepted this, embraced it.
When Jared and Grey came back, Jared asked if they could cast a permanent spell over me to protect me from his wolf. Erica said that wasn’t an option, but that if his wolf was still looking to attack with the upcoming shift test, they’d go back to the drawing board to see what else could be done.
Cat and Stan along with Mitch and his mate Gloria turned up with patio chairs and breakfast. Neither Jared nor I could muster breakfast, both on edge about the coming test. Cat brought a spare coffee cake just for us, so we can eat that later.
Halfway through the rest of them eating, Jared jumped to his feet saying, “Can we just fuckin’ do this now please?”
“Erm… patience is not my mate’s strong suit,” I explained.
And I found myself highly amused, which made him a little growly. But I figure he must be hopeful rather than dreading it because up until now, his philosophy has been more of “don’t tempt fate” than “let’s see how this goes.”
Not only has Jared turned a corner, hopefully his wolf has, too.
***
We’re in the bunker and Jared is masked and restrained. The phone is on a shelf, so the other alphas won’t trigger Jared’s wolf, but allowing them to hear and come help, if needed.
I’m wearing another belt with the taser and stun gun. I have my bracelet on as well as the anklet. Erica is going to make more green crystals later for a top-up, but there are still five on my wrist.
“I love you,” I say.
“Love you, too,” he tells me.
“I love how you purr for me now,” I add.
He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
“I don’t know if I got pregnant last night but even if we are expecting a baby, I want to go on adventures,” I add. “Lots of them.”
He cracks a smile. “Gonna want to bring you out on jobs and test your lock-picking skills.”
I laugh, then add, “I do have skills.”
“Mm,” he voices and I’m turned on, but also feeling my feelings.
“If it’s a boy, we should name him Jeremiah, after your dad.”
“Fuck,” he mutters, but he’s not upset. He likes that.
I ask, “What were your mom’s and sister’s names?”
“Mom was Lauren. Sister’s was Ellery.”
“I really like Ellery for a little girl,” I tell him.
“What was your mother’s name?” he asks.
“Cassandra.”
“We have a girl, her name’ll be Cassandra. Cassie.”
“Then we’ll need two girls so we can have an Ellery and a Cassie.”
Jared laughs. “Fuck, woman. You’re such a brat.”
“And don’t you forget it,” I warn.
I hear a laugh through the phone.
“Oops,” I say.
“Don’t mind us,” Grey quips through the phone.
“Okay, let’s get on with it.” I straighten up.
Jared takes a deep breath, then another.
“Love you,” I whisper as he shifts.
I’m just inside the barred doorway.
His restrained and masked wolf does what it always does when it first shows up. His fur fluffs up, and he does an assessment of his surroundings, of threats. He’s growling almost immediately. He arrives in a fighting stance, which speaks volumes about how his mind works.
“Jared,” I call out.
He stops growling and sniffs before he locks on me with his eyes, blinking a few times.
And that feeling in my chest, that connection to him, it’s active. It was amped for a beat, but now it’s not.
“Hi,” I say.
He sits. And now his tail is thumping on the floor.
“Oh my goodness! You’re wagging your tail!”
I burst into tears.
He whines and pulls on the restraints.
He wants at me. He whines again. Because I’m upset?