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)
Philip nodded, his gray hair looking thinner than it had just a week before. “Yeah, it could take months to heal from this. In my current state, I probably won’t be able to shift for at least a month.”
“That will be too late,” Emily said, frustration crawling through her.
A heavy knock sounded on the door before Victor strode inside and took in the occupants.
Jackson bristled, stepping forward instinctively, but Emily shook her head. If he attacked, Miliki and Caidrik would likely back Jackson up, but the pack members outside would not.
Victor scanned the room, his gaze steady. “I’m sorry about the current situation, but this is over.” His eyes flicked to Jackson. “Get out of my territory. I don’t want members of any other pack here while I prepare to undertake the trials.” His gaze locked onto Emily. “You mated him.”
She blinked. “How did you know that?”
“I can smell it,” Victor said simply. “Can’t you?”
Truth be told, all she could smell was Jackson, but she didn’t know if she was giving off the vibrations of mating. Her pulse pounded in her ears as Victor’s words hung in the air.
“You just passed out, Em. You’re done.” His cold gaze flicked to Jackson. “You have half an hour to leave my territory with your mate.” Then he looked at Nadia. “I’ll give you two more weeks to get to know your father, but then you need to return to your farming community with your guard dog. We are not adding additional members to this pack. Ever.” Finally, his eyes settled on Philip. “I expect you to be ready in two weeks for the ceremony that will make me the Alpha. Don’t make me kill you.”
With that, he turned on his boot and exited the house, shutting the door quietly behind him. The silence that followed pressed against Emily’s chest.
Her head dropped as her father patted her shoulder.
“Sometimes, things happen that we don’t want,” he said softly. “There’s a good chance Victor will mate somebody strong and with good lineage. One of his progeny might step up as Alpha. Or…maybe when I feel better, I’ll challenge him. Or, even in the far future, thirty years from now, either Jackson or your child will become the Alpha. That’s the agreement.”
Emily swallowed the lump in her throat. There was no guarantee her father would ever recover. She lifted her gaze to Jackson, searching for an answer, but none came. Victor, her dumbass, brutal cousin, was about to become the Alpha of the Slate Pack for the foreseeable future, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it.
Chapter 34
“Thanks for flying in to get us,” Jackson said, stepping out of the truck with Emily already in his arms, considering she’d ridden on his lap from the landing area. Thane had flown the helicopter to pick them up, and Jackson had piloted it back, needing to get the hell away from Slate territory before Emily challenged Victor.
Oh, Jackson would’ve stepped in, but then they would’ve fought to the death. No matter who won—and it would’ve been him—their packs would’ve ended up in a war neither could afford.
“Any time.” Thane flipped the switch to turn down the heat. “Want a ride to the office?”
Jackson shook his head. “No. I’ll take one of my other rigs after I get Em settled in.” Nothing in him wanted to leave Emily alone right now, but he had to put measures in place to protect his pack. Plus, her eyelids kept closing. The female needed a nap.
Thane rolled his neck. “Great. I left everything you need on your desk as well as tons of cookie platters and holiday cakes for Emily from pack members. They really want her to join the quilting, knitting, Mah Jong, bridge, golf, soccer, book, and gin rummy clubs. If you have questions, give me a call. For now, I plan on getting some sleep.”
Jackson shut the door and moved through the snow and up his porch.
“You don’t always have to carry me.” Emily had an arm over his shoulder and felt exactly right against his chest.
He clomped across the porch and reached down to twist the doorknob. “You’re exactly where I want you.” True statement. Completely.
She looked over his shoulder as Thane no doubt drove away. “How are you going to get your truck back?”
“Dunno. I’ll figure it out later.” A truck was the least of his worries. His new mate had been entirely too quiet for the trip home. He opened the door and walked inside, placing her gently on the sofa before lighting a fire. Warmth flickered through the room, casting light over the walls and catching on the worn fishing gear that had once belonged to his father. Rods and reels, polished and maintained, hung neatly along one wall, reminders of summers that felt a lifetime away.