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)
Fucking ouch.
“He could have easily cruised through life without you. Could have found contentment with someone else. Someone who would be good for him and could bring the old Bracken back to us.”
Cat hissing and spitting, Madisyn took an aggressive step forward. “Now you’re just pissing me off. You’re saying I’m not the sensitive, supportive person he needs, but I’m not the one treating him like he’s broken or not strong enough to pull himself out of whatever pit he fell into. I’m not the one who won’t accept him the way he is now or who tries to handle him—a fully grown dominant male—with kid gloves. I might not pander after him, Kathy, but that’s because he doesn’t need me to. And it would only insult and hurt him if I did.”
“That’s just—”
“The more you treat someone like they’re broken, the more they’ll feel like they are, and the less capable they’ll be to help themselves. Maybe your need to smother him comes from a good place, but it doesn’t help him. Just because he’s not the same as he once was doesn’t mean he needs fixing.”
Kathy shook her head. “You don’t know him like we do, so you can’t possibly know what he needs or what’s good for him.”
“I know that what you did today wasn’t good for him. By trying to fuck me over and work against what all your pack mates are trying to achieve, you betrayed every one of them. You didn’t care that Shiloh would get caught up in this. You didn’t care how it would make Bracken feel, because all this was about you and communicating how you feel. I’ll never forgive you for hurting him, which I’m sure doesn’t bother you. What should bother you is that I’m not sure he’ll forgive you for that.”
“You’re right. I won’t.”
At the sound of Bracken’s voice, Kathy spun to face him. Madisyn had already sensed his presence, just as she’d sensed that he wasn’t alone. Behind him were Shaya and Nick. None of them looked happy.
Kathy licked her lips. “Bracken—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” Bracken held out his hand to Madisyn. “Come here, baby.”
Crossing to him, Madisyn placed her hand in his. He pulled her to him, but not to his side. Instead, he urged her to stand behind him. Silently snorting at the protective move, she snuggled into his side and splayed her hand on his abs. Not just because she sensed he needed the emotional support, but because she didn’t entirely trust that he wouldn’t lunge at Kathy—something he’d later regret. Much, much later.
Glaring at Kathy, he said, “You fucked with my trust. Worse, you fucked with my mate. And for what, Kathy? What did you hope to achieve? You had to know it wouldn’t run her off. Were you hoping she’d fly off the handle and attack Shiloh—something that could potentially cause such a rift between Madisyn and Harley that not only would Madisyn get fired from the club, but the pack might not accept her? Was that your goal?”
“No,” said Kathy. “I wanted you to see Shiloh again. I wanted you to remember what it was that first attracted you to her. You haven’t given her a shot since your family . . .” Wincing, she let her sentence trail off. “Be honest with yourself, Bracken. You want her more than you want Madisyn, or you would never have pursued her when Madisyn was right there in front of you. What you felt for Shiloh was so strong that it overrode whatever draw you might have felt toward your true mate. But you’d forgotten that because you’re rarely around her anymore. I just wanted you to remember. She would be so much better for you.”
Feeling his mate stiffen, Bracken rubbed her arm as he glared at Kathy. “I’ve told you once before, Madisyn is what I need. Just her. I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as much as I want—”
“The bond,” Kathy finished. “It’s the bond pulling at you, not her.”
“I think you’ve said enough,” Nick rumbled, face hard as stone, but Kathy tried to speak again. He shook his head, stepping forward. “No, you’re done. Now you’ll listen. I agree with Madisyn that your concern for Bracken comes from a good place. But nothing you’ve done or said here today was good. He’s a grown man. He knows what he wants and needs. He knows his own mind. And you had no right to interfere, in any case.”
Shaya sidled up to her mate. “Your problem, Kathy, is that you think being the Alpha’s mother gives you a special pass to take liberties. You think it gives you some authority over the rest of the pack. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to remind you who’s Alpha female here. You’re a strong woman with strong opinions, I get it. But what you did today—displaying so much arrogance as to think you know best for someone else and have the God-given right to play with people this way—didn’t show strength. It showed weakness.”