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)
“I’m on the phone with Jackson.”
“Oh, hey, Jackson,” Raya said. “Where the heck are you? We’ve got issues. When will you be home?”
Jackson turned off the interstate. “As soon as I can. I’m going into Slate territory right now.”
“Why?” she asked.
He glanced at his sleeping mate. “I’m taking Emily.”
“Jesus,” Thane muttered. “That’s not the news.”
“What’s the news?” Raya asked.
“He mated her,” Thane said.
More silence.
“You mated her?” Hope and what sounded like excitement filled Raya’s voice. “Yes,” she said. “I knew those other females weren’t right for you. That whole dating game was just stupid.”
Jackson couldn’t agree more.
Raya rushed on. “Do you want me to make an announcement? We should have a shower.”
“A shower?” Jackson asked.
“Yeah, like they have bridal showers. I think it’d be fun. It’d be a good way for the entire pack to get to know her.”
Jackson thought about it. “Yeah, okay. That’s a good idea.”
Emily hadn’t been at full strength for quite a while. Would their mating help her, or was he going to lose her? His shoulders tensed as fire lanced through him. There was no way in hell he would lose her. This mating bond would hold, and they’d live to be hundreds of years old with a pack full of kids. Their kids would probably be tall, too. He grinned.
“Jackson, you still there?” Thane asked.
He jerked back to the moment. “Yeah, sorry. I was just dreading another party,” he lied.
“I’ll put it together,” Raya said. “After I finish with the camera feeds. But you do need to get back here. We need a show of strength.”
“I understand.” His responsibilities and duties pulled him in two different directions. “I’ll check in later,” he said. “Find out who destroyed the cameras.”
He clicked off and kept his hand on Emily’s thigh. Her warmth seeped through his skin. His chest tightened as determination flooded his veins. He’d figure this out. No matter what, she would be safe.
He drove through the main town area for the Slate Pack, noting the gleaming storefronts all with slate accents. The place was quaint, like his town. Smoke curled from several chimneys, and the golden lights from within reflected off the snow outside.
Somebody had shoveled each sidewalk and plowed the road, making it much easier for him to drive. Turning after the main drag, he drove along a freezing-looking river, noting that the road had been freshly plowed.
He turned down the Nightsom driveway with trees spinning by on each side. As he parked in front of the mansion, he noted wolves in human form, many of them, congregated on the driveway, porch, and along the trees on each side.
What the hell was going on?
Emily stretched awake as if feeling his tension. She blinked several times, looking around with blurry eyes. “What are all these people doing here?” Her voice rose on the last, and she fumbled for her door.
“Stop.” He grasped her arm. “You stay in here until I figure out what’s happening.”
“They’re my people.”
Maybe not. He tightened his grip. “I need to know before we go out. How are you feeling?”
She paused. “The same. My legs are weak.”
Was that from the mating, the illness, or the silver that might still be in her system? “All right. Then I want you to stay here. Got it?”
She glanced at him and then set her jaw. For what would probably be the first of a million times during their mating, she disobeyed him completely. She pressed the button, and her window rolled down.
Chapter 33
Emily looked for a familiar face and spotted Bussy near the porch. “Bussy? What’s happening?” she called out.
The older woman, wrapped in a bright purple knit scarf with several shades of the color woven through it, ambled forward, her breath puffing white in the cold air. Snow clung to her boots as she stepped onto the shoveled path. “We’re waiting on news about Philip. Nobody’s heard anything yet.” Her eyes, sharp despite her age, darted toward the house. “It’s been too long.”
Emily’s shoulders slowly relaxed. “Oh. Thank goodness. I thought…” She shook her head. “I thought it was worse.” She opened the door. This time, Jackson let her.
He was out of the truck in an instant and around to move with her, his posture loose but ready, scanning the crowd as they approached the porch.
“Hello, everyone.” Emily tucked her hands into her coat pockets.
“Hey, Em,” called an older male near the steps, his white beard dusted with snow. His flannel shirt stretched over broad shoulders, but his posture sagged slightly with age. “We’re all here for the same reason. Still no word from the doctor. It’s not looking good.”
Emily pressed her lips together as she climbed the steps and then turned to face the crowd. “My father is strong. He’ll pull through.”
Movement from the tree line snapped her attention toward the forest. The air thickened as Victor stepped into view. His heavy boots crunched through the snow, and the slight smirk on his face sent a low hum of warning through her bones.