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)
Madisyn frowned. “You think this will really come to a full-on battle? His beef is with me.”
“True, but many people stand between you and him,” Vinnie pointed out. “The Mercury Pack has many, many allies. It’s closely tied to the Phoenix Pack, which has just as many allies. You might as well have a ten-foot-tall wall surrounding you. But Archer can’t let this go, can he? It’s bad enough that one little sow got away from him. If he can’t, at the very least, punish the person keeping her from him as a message to others that running will only lead to the death of those who help them, he’ll look even weaker. He can’t afford that if he wants to keep his position of Alpha of his clan as well as reign over the other clans.”
“This isn’t just about the sow for Archer,” added Tate, sipping his coffee. “It’s about showing just how far he’ll go in such a situation. He needs to keep those other clans in fear of him if he’s to continue maintaining control over them.”
Luke nodded. “You’re standing in the way of all that, Maddie. He thought you’d prove to be no problem, given that you were a lone shifter. But that changed overnight.”
“It wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t my mate,” said Bracken. “She’d still have the protection of my pack and the Phoenix Pack.”
“But not all your allies might have been willing to back you in a battle over a loner,” said Vinnie. “They will if she’s one of you—especially if she’s your mate. I don’t have to tell you that you’re a hero to many. That will make it harder for Archer to get the backing he needs. People won’t want to go up against you—some out of fear, some out of respect, some out of both. But there are those who will.”
“Like Archer’s MC chapters,” said Luke.
“Although the clans under his control likely despise him, they’d probably back him since they very obviously fear him,” hedged Tate. “And there are always mercenaries who’ll do anything to anyone for the right money.”
Vinnie rested the hand holding his cup on the arm of the chair. “Archer claims he doesn’t want war, just the whereabouts of Daisy, and maybe that’s true—I don’t know. But he’ll act soon, one way or another. Maybe in a productive way, maybe with the sole purpose to piss you off, hoping it will make you think that going up against him isn’t worth the bother. He can’t afford to be here long.”
“The more time he’s away from his territory searching for one clan member who’s managing to evade him, the weaker he looks,” mused Luke.
Madisyn rubbed at her temple. “I hate the idea of anyone going to war, but I won’t hand Daisy over to him. No way.”
Sitting on her other side, Ingrid clasped her hand. “No one would ask you to. I don’t know all the specifics, but I know enough to be sure that Archer is a bad one. If it comes to a fight—and my Vinnie believes it will—you have us.”
“You’re sure Archer bought that you’d side with him, not Madisyn?” Bracken asked Vinnie.
“He bought it,” the Alpha stated confidently. “Like I said, he already thinks I banished her from my pride.” Vinnie tilted his head and pursed his lips. “Cain told me a little about you.”
Bracken didn’t let his expression alter. “Did he?”
“When I heard you were Maddie’s mate, I called Cain for some info on you. I need to be sure she’s looked after. He assured me that you’d treat her well and that her safety would be your priority. Does he have that right?”
Both Bracken and his wolf bristled. “You don’t get to act all paternal and protective of her when you didn’t offer her a place in your pride.”
Vinnie’s mouth curled. “She wouldn’t have joined—I saw that straight off. But I did hold out hope that she’d mate with one of my boys.”
Bracken didn’t rise to the taunt. He simply stated, “Not gonna happen.”
“Yeah, I see that.”
Ingrid shot her son a reprimanding look. “Stop poking at the wolf.”
“Give me that back, you scrawny little freak!” a girl shouted.
The sound of footsteps thundering up the stairs made Bracken look to the doorway just as a teenage girl and a boy of about eleven came running into view.
Glowering madly, the teen snatched a pink cell phone out of the boy’s hand. “If you ever touch my phone again, Damian, I’ll puncture your lung with my heel! Why don’t you go play Dungeons and Dragons like the loser you are!”
He sneered at her. “You’re just mad ’cause Gran loves me more! And why wouldn’t she? You’re so dumb, Elle, you couldn’t find water if you fell out of a boat!”
Elle’s fingers retracted like claws. “At least I wasn’t born on a highway where most accidents happen!”