Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“How are you doing?” I ask.
Ilsa stands at her side, looking at me with her mouth hanging open. I’m guessing she saw the hole in the house. The power of the wolf laid bare and the true terror we can instill in humans.
They’re weaker, more vulnerable. They have to trust us.
And, understandably, Ilsa’s not sure if she can trust me.
My chest gets tight when I think about that. She’s my woman’s mother. Unless the mother is a bad person – and Ilsa’s clearly not – a man owes that to his woman to make an effort with her family.
Ruby watches me closely, then looks at her mother.
Ruby misses little.
“I’m okay,” she says. “I’m not hurt. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She steps forward, glaring up. She’s so sassy I want to kiss her again, would kiss her again if we were alone.
Lowering her voice, she says, “Liam said it can kill you, changing that fast.”
I swallow. “It can. But it’s unlikely to happen with me. I’ve changed quickly before when I’ve had to defend myself. It was part of our training. My instincts would save me.”
“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?” she whispers.
I can’t take this closeness anymore without showing her how much she means to me. I reach out and cradle her cheek, clenching my other fist, breathing slowly as I stare into her eyes.
“I’m not leaving you, Ruby. Not now that I know you want this too.”
She reaches up, touching my hand. We separate when Liam approaches.
Ilsa’s staring at me, her expression difficult to read.
“I’m sorry for what happened with Ruby,” I tell her. “I won’t allow it to happen again.”
“How can you know that?” Ilsa says.
“I should’ve said I’ll try with everything I….”
“Trying isn’t enough. What if you hurt her? You’re supposed to be protecting her.”
“Mom.”
“It’s true,” I say. “You’re right, Ilsa. I’m sorry. Just know that every single instinct I have is to protect your daughter. To make sure she’s safe.”
Always, I almost add, but then I wonder if that’s going too far, too much too soon.
Ilsa nods. “I believe you believe that. I honestly do. I just hope it’s true.”
“Shall we hide the bike?” Liam says, grinning away the tension, his usual calm self.
“Sure,” I say, walking over to it.
After we’ve hidden the bike, I take Ruby’s bag, and Liam takes Ilsa’s. Neither Liam nor I have ever had the need for flashlights at night, but luckily Ruby’s phone has a fairly powerful light, at least strong enough so she doesn’t slip.
I walk close to Ruby, my hand raised, ready to catch her if she falls.
She looks at me as Liam and Ilsa walk ahead, a soft smile on her lips.
“I know you wouldn’t hurt me,” she whispers.
I reach out and touch her softly. “Your mom’s right to be cautious. Did Liam also tell you about the other wolf?”
Her frown tells me he did. So does the way her eyes shift, as though draining of color.
“Yes,” she says.
“I’m sure that wolf didn’t mean it either.”
“But you don’t want to hurt me,” she says.
“Even if I did,” I try for a smirk, my tone lighter, to diffuse some of this darkness. “You’d fix me right up. I’ve seen you poring over those nursing textbooks.”
Her smile comes quickly, and she inclines her head as I help her over a log. Her touch blazes against my hand, tempting me to erupt the way I did before. Tempting me to bow my head and change and run and howl and....
Breathing slowly, I help her down, then we keep walking.
“Have you always wanted to be a nurse?” I ask.
“Hey, that’s not the right question,” she says.
“No?”
“No,” she smiles. “The right question is...Am I creeped out by you watching me secretly at work?”
I chuckle, shrugging. “Well, are you?”
“No,” she says. “Maybe I should be. Maybe I would be. But I know why you did it. You were trying to keep me safe.”
“Always,” I snarl, and I see my own shimmer in her eyes. “That’s all I ever want.”
“Ever?” she whispers.
I swallow, turning ahead, watching as Liam leads Ilsa through the darkness. He’s got his hand on her arm. It’s easier for him with his wolf vision. He won’t suddenly erupt into his wolf self.
He clearly feels protective over Ilsa and Ruby, but in the way Liam always is, wanting the best for everyone.
“You changed the subject,” I say. “Tell me why you want to be a nurse.”
“Well, you’re one bossy wolf, aren’t you?”
I laugh. It’s such a good feeling, a release. Ruby laughs along with me. My hand is on her arm again, supporting her.
I can’t help it.
“I guess I am,” I smirk. “Are you going to answer me?”
“It was that life,” she says, reaching out to touch my arm. She claws onto my forearm as I help her over a log.