Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
I snorted. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“How about the fact that there aren’t just bear shifters?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I assumed there were wolves at least, with all the werewolf stories out there.”
The grin he flashed at me was full of mischief. “Dragons too.”
“What?” I shrieked, pulling out of his hold to sit up straight. “Like real-life, fire-breathing dragons that can fly?”
“Yup, and there’s even one in my pack.” He chuckled at my stunned expression. “And he prefers to live in a cave instead of his perfectly nice cabin that he only uses every once in a while, when the mood strikes. Which you’ll see for yourself since his place isn’t too far from ours.”
Crap. I’d been so distracted by everything Leyton had to say that I’d forgotten to tell him I needed to leave soon because I’d committed myself to a contract for the next six months.
6
LEYTON
Evette had handled me shifting into a grizzly and all the information I’d tossed at her about fated mates without freaking out. But judging by her wide eyes and paler-than-usual skin, she wasn’t a fan of the idea of living next to a dragon shifter who could breathe fire when he was in his animal form. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as though meeting Artemis would alleviate her fear since he was a grumpy bastard who tended to use one-word sentences when he bothered to speak to anyone. “Artemis can be a little intimidating, even for me. But he’s a nice guy…deep down inside.”
She shook her head, and a lock of her hair fell over her shoulder to rest on top of one of her perfectly rounded tits. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
Twining the dark blond strands around my finger, I asked, “Then what is it?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t go back with you,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.
For a moment, it felt as though the world came to a screeching halt. But then I realized she was upset because she didn’t want to part from me. Which I hoped meant she felt as though she didn’t have a choice. “Why not?”
“Today was my last shift at the hospital where Cressida gave birth. I’m a travel nurse, and my contract there was only for seven weeks while one of their employees was on maternity leave,” she explained. “I’m due at my next assignment tomorrow afternoon to fill out some paperwork and go through their hospital’s orientation.”
Seven weeks wasn’t that long. If her next contract was the same length as the one she just finished, I didn’t see the problem. “How long are you supposed to be there?”
“Six months.” She grimaced and shook her head. “It’s the longest time I’ll be in one place since I started working as a travel nurse. Which I was looking forward to until I met you yesterday and it felt as though I was leaving something vital to my happiness behind.”
Being away from my pack for six months wasn’t going to be easy, but not having Evette close would be much harder. For me and my bear. “There’s a simple solution to our problem.”
“Really?” she sniffled, tilting her head back to meet my gaze with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
Her nose was a little red, and as much as I hated that she was upset, I loved that her feelings weren’t hidden. Evette was the kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, and I vowed then and there to be the one who helped to keep it safe so nobody ever took advantage of her softness.
The only way I could do that was by sticking close, something I intended to do anyway. “I’ll come with you.”
“You will?” she breathed, tears streaming down her cheeks as her eyes widened.
“Of course,” I confirmed with a nod, my bear chuffing his approval in my head.
For him, there wasn’t any other option. We belonged with our mate, so wherever she went, I should follow. My beast was led by instinct, and his thinking was less complex than my human half. It had caused a few issues in the past when he disagreed with a decision I made and was stubborn about it. But this time, we were on the same page. No chance would I let my fated mate drive away from me only hours after I found her.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s nothing for you to say, baby. The decision is made, and there’s no changing my mind.” Dipping my head, I brushed my lips against hers. “Where are we headed?”
“Umm…” Her green orbs were hazy with passion as she blinked up at me. “I have the address in my phone. I can text it to you if you give me your number.”
I enjoyed knowing that a simple kiss was enough to fluster my pretty mate. It was proof that she felt the connection between us, same as me. And I was relieved that she didn’t try to talk me out of coming with her. To most humans, the speed with which I made the decision to uproot my life for a woman I barely knew would’ve been shocking. But Evette seemed to take comfort in it.