Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“She’s great. Working in her lab right now.” Erik pulled out a chair to sit. “How’s Mia?”
“Good. A little dizzy, but that’s normal.” Seth’s smile softened.
“I can’t wait to meet my nephew,” Erik murmured.
Seth lifted one shoulder as he approached the table, balancing four glasses and the bottle. “Mia’s convinced it’s a girl.”
“That’d be fun, too.” Erik took a glass.
Seth’s gaze shifted to Jackson. “Good to see you.”
Jackson met his cousin’s eyes. They were distant cousins, but the resemblance was undeniable. The same layered shades of blue in their eyes, the same broad, solid build. Yet Seth carried himself with a polished air these days, dressed in black slacks and a crisp white button-down shirt, open at the collar.
Jackson suppressed a grin as he drew out a chair and sat. He didn’t remember Seth dressing this well before mating Mia. As for him, he had no plans to trade in his worn jeans and T-shirts for anyone. Whoever ended up with him would have to take him as he was.
Jackson figured if he ever took Emily out somewhere nice, he might need to get a decent outfit. That thought hit hard, halting his mind for a beat. She hadn’t quite agreed yet, damn it. Yet her warmth and the feel of her against him lingered in his senses.
“Cheers.” Seth sat and lifted his glass.
Jackson clinked his against Seth’s and downed half the expensive brew. Smooth. He made a mental note to bring alcohol next time. It would be his turn. He’d have to find something good.
“How’s Emily?” Philip asked directly.
“She’s good. Having fun with Luna right now,” Jackson replied smoothly. Emily had asked him not to mention her illness, and he wasn’t about to betray that trust.
Seth’s gaze flicked toward Erik before settling back on Jackson. “We need to talk about the helicopter crash.”
“Totally agree.” Jackson kept his fury at bay. Emily could’ve been killed, damn it.
Erik swirled his scotch. “If the Ravencalls have Stinger missiles, we all need to know.”
Philip slammed his now-empty glass onto the table. “My daughter was in a helicopter crash?”
“Yes.” Jackson leaned forward. “We were shot down with Stingers, but I landed the chopper safely. We made it to Copper territory. Your daughter’s unharmed.”
“She’s perfectly fine,” Erik added, his voice steady.
Good. At least the Copper Alpha backed him up. Philip didn’t need to worry, which would just cause Emily to worry.
“Are you sure it was the Ravencalls?” Philip asked.
“Yeah,” Jackson said. “Four of them attacked us on the way to Copper territory. We took care of them.”
Philip’s eyes widened. “Emily fought?”
“Yes. And she fought well.” Jackson kept his tone even. If he was already lying, he might as well stick to it. No need to worry Philip more than necessary. He only hoped Erik hadn’t shared the full story with his brother, though he doubted it. The good news was that both Volk brothers generally liked Emily, and Jackson didn’t see either of them wanting control of Nightsom’s pack.
Clearing his throat, he leaned back in his chair. “So…we haven’t all met in a while. Should we talk about the fact that Philip tried to take over the Copper Pack?” His voice stayed deliberately bored.
Erik’s eyes gleamed with interest as he leaned forward. “Yeah. Should we talk about that, Philip?”
Philip pounded a fist on the table. His gray hair, neatly trimmed, framed a face etched with age and authority. Intense black eyes, the same shade as Emily’s, locked onto Erik. Despite the lines on his face, the power beneath his skin was undeniable. “You were engaged to my daughter and are now mated to someone else.”
“Your daughter called it off,” Erik replied calmly. “And you know it.”
Philip’s jaw flexed. “Yes, all right. But you weren’t the Alpha of the Copper Pack when I attacked them, were you?”
“No,” Erik admitted. “But I am now. Still want to challenge me?”
Philip’s mouth curved slightly. “Not in the slightest.”
Seth, seated beside Jackson, shifted forward with a glint of amusement in his gaze. “Still…I think compensation is in order.”
“Excuse me?” Philip reached for the bottle of scotch. He tipped the bottle toward Jackson, who held out his glass for a refill.
“Compensation is due,” Erik said. “You attacked my pack. You’ve got to pay.”
Philip scoffed. “I’m not paying you.”
“Yeah, you are,” Erik shot back without hesitation. “I want a quarter of the profits from the Embervault Mine you’re leasing from Jackson.”
Philip’s gaze stayed steady, the look of a man who’d negotiated more times than anyone at the table. “Five percent, and that’s it.”
“Fifteen,” Erik countered.
“Ten,” Philip replied, extending his hand across the table.
“Deal.” Erik clasped his hand, the shake brief and firm.
“Well, wasn’t that nice and easy?” Jackson leaned back in his chair and swirled the amber liquid in his glass.
Philip set his glass down and straightened. “Now, we need to discuss the fact that the Ravencall and Ghostwind packs might combine. Are you sure it was only the Ravencalls that attacked you?”