Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“She wants him to be her personal bodyguard. Maybe he would have accepted the role if it wouldn’t mean joining her pack—I don’t know. But by the way she looks at him, I’d say she’s hoping to also have him in her bed.” Just the thought made Madisyn’s blood boil. Her cat bared a fang.
“She might be respectful enough of mating bonds to back off,” said Makenna. “If she doesn’t, you can take her. Just the same, you can deal with Bracken. He won’t be an easy mate, but neither will you. If he thinks differently, he’ll have some shocks coming his way. Does he know you’re a pallas cat?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t recall him ever asking. Dominic’s the only one who won’t stop pestering me about it.” The blond, incredibly hot wolf was another of Makenna’s pack mates. “I’d tell him to shut him up, but it’s more fun to mess with him.”
Makenna snorted. “Dominic has probably already correctly guessed what you are and is just fucking with you right back. He’s very perceptive.”
The door swung open, and Dawn walked in. “Sorry about that. So where were we?”
“Well, we were talking about telling the packs about the Maverick Clan,” said Makenna. “But then you left, and Madisyn got talking about her and Bracken.”
“Bracken?” echoed Dawn as she returned to her seat, frowning at the impish grin on Makenna’s face. “You’ve started something with him, Madisyn? What about Lucah?”
Madisyn sighed. “I really don’t feel like telling this story again.” So Makenna told the story instead.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Dawn sent her a look overflowing with sympathy. “You should have told me about this sooner.”
“I was embarrassed. Still am.”
“You have no reason to be,” Dawn insisted. “It was Lucah who messed up. Not you. I don’t get why someone would play another person like that.”
“Me neither. And what was his end game? Because that’s exactly what it was to him—a game.”
“It could have started out that way, but that may not be the case now. Did he claim to care for you?”
“Oh yeah.” Madisyn snorted. “He was smooth, said all the right things. Lying bastard.”
“But totally insignificant,” added Makenna, “since you have your true mate now.”
It seemed to take a few moments for the import of those words to hit Dawn. Then her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Madisyn, you found your mate?”
“It’s Bracken,” Makenna told the cougar, eyes twinkling.
Wincing at Dawn’s squeal of excitement, Madisyn said, “You can’t go around telling everyone, Dawn. I need some time to get used to it myself.”
“I take it you haven’t let him claim you yet—it’s not the kind of thing you’d rush into. Still, don’t delay it too long. I’ve been waiting a very long time to see both my girls mated.” Dawn gave a watery smile. “Now you can forget all about that damn idiot Lucah and build something with Bracken.”
“Yeah, but I still say it would be fun to track down Lucah so you could make him pay for being a dick,” said Makenna.
“It would,” Madisyn allowed.
“Fun?” asked Dawn. “Why? What exactly would you do to him?”
Madisyn averted her gaze. “I don’t want to tell you.”
Dawn frowned. “Why not?”
“You’ll start using words like ‘forgiveness,’ ‘empathy,’ and ‘conscience.’” Madisyn shuddered. “I hate those talks.”
Makenna chuckled. “You gotta be honest, Madisyn—if it wasn’t for Dawn, you and I would be in prison by now. Her ‘talks’ eventually got through to us.”
Dawn patted her arm. “Thank you, Makenna. At least someone appreciates me.”
“I appreciate you, Dawn,” said Madisyn. “I just also want to set the bastard’s ass on fire and watch him burn. Is that so wrong?”
“Yes, actually,” clipped Dawn. “It’s called ‘first-degree murder,’ and there are—”
“See what I mean?” Madisyn made an exasperated sound. “You take the fun out of everything.”
“It should not be fun to watch someone burn.”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”
“I know you have a conscience, Mad—”
“See, there you go using those odd words! Next, you’ll have me writing lines like ‘Setting fires is wrong’ over and over. God, that brings back memories.”
Dawn planted her hands on her hips. “Well, it is wrong.”
“Depending on what or who you’re burning, sure.”
“That’s not why—Stop laughing, Makenna! Snorting coffee out of your nose is not attractive.”
That just made the she-wolf laugh harder.
CHAPTER FIVE
Bracken sat on the wooden steps of his porch, beer in hand. Light was draining from the sky, and shadows were slowly creeping his way, coating the shrubs and trees surrounding his lodge. The cool breeze danced over his skin, bringing with it the scents of pine, wet grass, and wildflowers.
Once upon a time, he’d preferred the noise and bustle of the main lodge, where the Alphas resided. Now, he liked his alone time. Preferred solitude. He had it right then. Apart from the sounds of leaves rustling, wings fluttering, and the creek burbling up ahead, it was otherwise quiet. Tranquil. Would have felt peaceful if such an emotion didn’t elude him.