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)
“Security and satellites, as well as scouting the territory for threats.” He looked up and his eyes focused.
Absolutely fascinating. Jackson’s best friend was a happy nerd. “And Thursdays?”
Thane smiled, showing even white teeth. “Special projects, like maybe this farming community you’ve been talking about.”
“I see.” Emily studied him briefly. He had to be a few years older than Jackson but not by much. The man seemed to live with one foot in a ledger and the other watching the world from above. “So, you’ve been working with Jackson his entire time as Alpha?”
“I have,” Thane replied. The wolf was tall with horn-rimmed glasses that seemed at odds with his predatory nature. Emily had rarely seen a wolf wear glasses before.
She could use some of his skills. “It’s nice that you’re so organized.”
“Well, almost organized,” Thane said with a half-smile. “Compared to Raya, nobody is.”
Probably, true, but still, the guy seemed shockingly efficient. Emily had to admit that Jackson surrounded himself with people who knew their jobs inside and out. “Are you a decent fighter?” she asked.
“I am. Thought I might be an Enforcer someday, but efficiency called.” Thane shrugged. “Still, I’ll step up if Jackson needs me to protect and defend.”
Jackson drove around a downed tree as the snow flew sideways at them through the darkness. “You’ve defended my ass more than once.” He slowed down to cross over more branches. “When I get mated, I’ll need Enforcers. If you’re not interested, I should probably start putting out some feelers.”
“Sure.” Thane made a quick note on a yellow legal pad.
Emily’s mind drifted to her pack’s structure. They had a pack administrator, but Mrs. Flowergate wasn’t anywhere near as efficient as Thane and Raya.
“When you talk about satellites and surveillance, what exactly do you mean?” she asked, curiosity sparking through her.
Jackson groaned. “Why? Why would you ask him that?”
Emily blinked. “What?”
Thane leaned forward, his eyes lighting up. “Okay, so when it comes to satellites, here’s what we’ve found and how we can hack into them—”
He launched into a detailed explanation that lasted a solid fifteen minutes. Emily tuned out somewhere around the five-minute mark. Half of what he said sounded like a different language, but Thane didn’t seem to mind what had to be her glazed expression.
Jackson barely hid a smile.
She wondered why her father had never considered updating their pack’s technology. Wolves seemed to get stuck in the past sometimes. Jackson was different. Maybe stepping up as Alpha so young had made him more open to modernization.
Her stomach growled as the hour stretched even later. Jackson glanced at her. “I need to swing by the office for a few minutes, then we’ll grab something to eat. You’re staying at my place tonight.”
Emily should argue. She should remind him that, according to Thane, two of his potential mates were already in town at the hotel. But the idea of one more night with him was too tempting to resist. “I know it’s late, but our healer often works odd hours. Is there a chance one of your doctors is around?”
He took his phone from his pocket and shot off a quick text. An answering ding came almost immediately. He looked down to read, his hand sure on the steering wheel. “Yep. Doc Gwen is there tonight.”
Hope ticked through Emily. “Could you drop me by the doctor’s office? I’d like to speak with her.”
“Absolutely. I’ll drop you off, then swing back to pick you up to get a very late dinner.”
She wanted to spend more time with him before she left for good. “Sounds like a plan.”
“What’s up with the doctor?” Thane asked, leaning forward again.
She glanced back at him. “Nothing important. Just…female stuff.”
Thane blanched and immediately leaned back in his seat. “Got it. Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry.”
Jackson sped up. “Thane, you patrolling tonight?”
“Depends. Do you need me? I was hoping to look at some of our investments in Japan.”
Jackson clicked the heater on higher. “I also need you on patrol.”
“Okay,” Thane replied cheerfully. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a good fight.”
“You don’t think the Ravencall wolves are going to attack, do you?” Emily asked.
“I do,” Jackson said. “I just don’t know when.” He glanced at her, then back to the road, where snow drifted slowly down, barely covering the ice.
Awareness had her instincts humming. “What?” Emily pressed.
“Nothing.”
“Jackson,” she said, her tone sharper. “I can usually tell when someone’s lying to me. What aren’t you saying?”
He hesitated, then said, “If the Ravencalls attack anyone, it’ll be the Slate Pack. I think your people are in danger. Your father says you’ve got enough resources, soldiers, and patrol squads, but I’m not sure I believe him.”
“We do,” she said, though doubt scratched at the back of her mind. “I don’t know if we’re as well-trained as some of the other packs, but we’ve got the numbers. And while Victor’s an ass, the guy can fight. He’s trained many of our younger members.”