Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Once she was at her spot, she didn’t even bother to look at the full moon. Instead, she rolled out her blanket, threw it down on the ground, and then lay on her stomach so her back was to the full moon.
She reached for the book she had decided to bring with her—a romance her mother had told her was pretty good. She didn’t spend a lot of time reading anymore. Her spare time had been consumed with trying to figure out how to bring forth her wolf.
“I’m just not going to bother,” she said, opening her book.
It didn’t matter to her. She was not going to turn into a wolf. What was the point in trying?
She read one page and then the second, but none of the words registered. She didn’t understand it. And she couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift to Dex.
After they had been together in the lake, he’d helped her out, taking the towel she had brought along to dry her. Dex had taken care of her, and it had been so sweet and loving.
Now, with the full moon at her back, she couldn’t help but feel those doubts. They completely flooded her.
Dex deserved someone who could run beside him, be with him. The very thought of him doing that filled her with such sadness, and she also felt this anger. Could she give him up? Did she even want to? It would be the right thing to allow him to be with a mate who could give him children, the right kind of children.
Her eyes glistened, and that was when she realized she was crying. She didn’t want to cry. No, she wanted to be defiant, but the truth was, she felt so lost and alone.
“Don’t,” Dex said, suddenly coming out of the forest.
She gasped and turned toward him, to find he was once again naked. “Shouldn’t you be a wolf?” she asked.
“I was one, and I had to sit back and watch as you started to cry.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to let you do this.”
“Dex, don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. Just stupid monthly hormones.” Although, she wasn’t on her cycle, or even close to being there. “It’s fine. Go and run with the pack, enjoy your night.”
“No,” he said. “Every full moon, this is where I come.”
“You do?” she asked, unable to help but frown, as she’d never seen him.
“Yes.”
“I … I’ve never seen you.”
“I watch you.”
“Ah, so you’re a bit of a stalker?”
“Not even a bit, but a lot.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s incredible.”
“You’re not angry?”
“No, I’m not. I’m actually quite glad. Yeah, I’m glad.”
She got to her feet and went to brush the earth from her body, but then realized there was no point, seeing as she’d been lying on the blanket.
“I mean, I’m not glad, because you should be running with the pack, but the past few months, I’ve been thinking that someone is watching me, and I’m right.” She laughed. “You are.”
“Yeah, I am.” He reached for her waist, pulling her close, and then took possession of her lips.
Casey forgot what the tears were all about the moment his lips brushed against hers, and she couldn’t help but melt against him. At first, she kept her hands at her sides, but she just couldn’t help herself, so she began to wrap them around his body, holding onto him.
Once again, that feeling of peace and calm washed over her.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
“And I’ve got you.”
“Don’t cry,” he said.
Casey sighed. “I … I don’t think we should do this.”
“Don’t.”
“Come on, Dex. You’re going to be an Alpha one day. Do you want a mate that can’t turn into a wolf? I bet there are a lot of people in the pack who would agree I shouldn’t be your mate.”
“Then they can fuck off out of my pack. I don’t give a shit.”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “It’s not that simple.”
“Yeah, you know what, it is that simple. It has always been that simple.” He stroked some of her hair behind her ear. “And it can always be that simple. I don’t want anyone else, Casey. You’re my mate. You will always be my mate.”
“But—”
“No, no buts. I didn’t sign up to leave when it seemed to be getting a little harder. I signed up for life with you. You’re my mate and there is no way I am backing down from this. You’re mine, just as I am yours. Forever.”
Tears filled her eyes. “How do you do this?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Make it seem like everything will be okay?”
“Because it will.” He took possession of her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against him. “And we can do everything, as long as we have each other.”