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)
Marveling at how he could say that with absolutely no emotion, Madisyn watched as he shed his clothes in minimal, slightly rigid movements before herding her into the shower. As they stood under the hot spray, he wordlessly cleaned her wounds and washed away the blood streaking her skin. His touch was soft but clinical. Efficient. It rubbed her cat the wrong way. The feline was already in a shitty mood.
Madisyn melted into him, curling her arms around his neck. “I know you didn’t deliberately shut down, but I’m still not having it. You’re going to have to snap out of this soon.”
He splayed his hands on her back. “Next time you go to the shelter, I go with you. I stay with you. I leave with you.”
Oh Lord. Tensing, she lifted her head. “Bracken—”
“No sense in arguing with me on this,” he said, his voice still flat. “It’s not up for debate.”
“You’re an enforcer. You have duties,” she reminded him.
“I’m not the only enforcer. I can swap shifts with someone else.” He shut off the shower and stepped onto the mat, closing a door on the conversation.
As he patted her dry with a towel, she said, “You didn’t fail me, Bracken.” He ground his teeth but didn’t acknowledge that she’d even spoken. “That’s what’s going through your head. And it’s keeping you in this state, because your psyche wants to protect you from the guilt that’ll come tumbling down the first chance it gets. You didn’t fail me.”
Having wrapped the towel around her, he met her gaze as he began to dry himself off with another towel. “You’re right. I didn’t fail to protect you. I didn’t have the chance to even try because I wasn’t with you. From now on, I will be.”
Her mouth tightened. “You can’t be with me every time I leave pack territory.”
“Can’t I?”
Hearing voices outside, Madisyn cursed, knowing he’d use the excuse of having visitors to escape the conversation. And that was exactly what he did. Heading to the bedroom, he pulled on some clothes and then disappeared downstairs.
Dressed, hair wet, Madisyn headed down a few minutes later to find the Alphas, Betas, Jesse, and Zander spread around the den. And they were all watching Bracken very carefully. Rather than pacing and growling, as another male might have in his situation, he was standing utterly still near the window, his expression completely deadpan.
Shaya gave Madisyn a wan smile. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Fine,” Madisyn replied, staying near the outer edges of the room. She couldn’t explain it properly, but she didn’t want to walk farther into the den. Didn’t feel welcome at the lodge right then while Bracken was looking at her like he didn’t even know her. It made her feel like more of an outsider than ever.
“Bracken said the wounds are pretty shallow,” began Ally, “but I’d still like to heal them if you don’t mind.”
Feeling a little awkward, Madisyn shrugged. “Have at it, I guess.” Crossing to her, the Seer slipped a hand under Madisyn’s T-shirt and gently placed her palm on one of the wounds. A strange, pleasant warmth trickled through Madisyn, soothing and healing. “Thanks.”
“Makenna said to tell you she’d call you tonight,” said Ally. “I have to say, I got the feeling that teaming up on someone wasn’t a first for you and her. It would have been fun to watch if we didn’t want the hyena dead so badly.”
Madisyn looked at Nick. “Where is he?”
“The shed,” replied the Alpha.
Her brow creased. “Shed?”
“Eli’s guarding him,” Nick added. “Don’t worry, the bastard isn’t going anywhere.”
“What did he have to say for himself?”
“No one’s questioned him yet. Bracken wants his turn first.”
Madisyn cut her gaze to Bracken, who was watching her closely, and then slid her eyes back to Nick. “The hyena hasn’t said anything?”
Nick shook his head. “Didn’t even fight us when we forced him into the SUV. He was meek and compliant. Halfway here, he sprang to life.”
“The dumb prick thought we’d buy that he wouldn’t try to run,” said Derren. “But Zander had anticipated that he’d try it, so he was ready for the move and sucker punched him. The bastard was still out cold when we tied him up in the shed.” Derren looked at Bracken. “You ready?”
Bracken nodded and then sliced his eyes back to Madisyn. “Shaya and Ally will stay here with you.”
Tension stiffening her spine, Madisyn felt her lips thin. “In other words, you don’t want me to go with you.”
“Let’s think of it this way,” said Bracken. “You had your fun with him. Now it’s time for me to have mine.”
Bottle of water in hand, Bracken shoved open the thick wooden door and stepped into the shed. It was like walking into a wall of heat. The musty air was hot and heavy and thick, and it stank of wood, dust, and the coppery scent of old blood.