Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
No. My fist pounds against the dumpster as I near the back exit, leaving a massive dent in the side. I look around and release the breath I was holding when I see that no one saw my outburst. I need to check my anger before it creates more trouble.
I didn’t mess this up. I’m fixing it. I only have to think back to her lying on the ground in fear of me after claiming her. That’s enough to solidify my decision to keep pushing her. She will learn to trust me again. The fucked-up part is that I think she’s really pissed that now I know she can be shaken. Like it somehow makes her weak. That’s a load of shit. My mate is anything but weak.
The building is small and it’s easy enough to encircle it, drawing in air as I go.
I pause as I scent the air, detecting a number of vampires in the tall grass by the fence. It’s easy to catch the trail. I move to follow it through the field but stop short, thinking I shouldn’t leave my mate for too long. It’s only a moment for me, only seconds until she’s back in my sight. I can smell her and feel her even. The thought of leaving her alone, though, even if only for a moment? I don’t fucking like it. That tightness in my chest eases as I see my mate’s fingers on her neck, running along the little indents of the scar I gave her.
Knowing she very much feels me as I do her, I stride to the passenger side and open the door for her.
“I’ll drive,” she demands as she walks to the driver’s side, ignoring my attempt to reconcile.
Just as she opens the door, I tell her, “It would be better if I drive. After all, I’ll be trying to scent our way.” She purses her lips and clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth before striding toward me, her heels tapping out a staccato rhythm on the pavement. “Fine, pup.”
Before she can slip into the seat, I wrap my hand around her waist, holding her there. Tension crackles between us as her chest rises and falls. My gaze is locked with hers.
“I want us to be okay,” I admit to her in a whisper. Her fingers wrap around mine, releasing my grip as she swallows and says, “Me too.”
That’s all I get. But it’s better than nothing.
It’s silent in the car as I pick out the way to go. Veronica’s still and quiet.
There’s an out-of-sync energy that surrounds us and I despise it. The atmosphere is so different between us. It’s as though we’re at war, but neither of us wants to be fighting. It takes less than half an hour until I find a gravel road. It reeks of vampires. Far more than what I smelled back at the donation center. Braking, I stop the car. I squint down the road, but it’s too difficult to make out what it leads to.
I look to my mate and tell her, “We should continue from here on foot.” Watching her hand open the door, suddenly I’m not liking that she’s with me. I’m slow. They could outrun me, but they could also grab her. They could take her and do to her whatever the hell they’re doing to the other vampires. And what could I do? If they stay to fight, I’ll win. My strength is unmatched. But their speed is superior. They could easily outrun me. They could take my mate captive and leave me nothing but a trail to follow.
“Wait.” My voice is far too loud, considering vampires are close. She leans into the car with her hands braced on the doorframe.
“What the hell, Vince,” she hisses. “You need to be quieter.”
“Get in the car.” Her eyes narrow at me, not liking my tone. “Baby, there are too many vamps. I don’t trust it.”
“We’ll be fine, Vince.”
“I won’t be able to live with myself if something happens to you.”
“I’ll be fine; stop worrying. I can handle myself.” She stresses the last part, shifting her stance and the gravel crunches beneath her heels.
“No, I can’t live if something were to happen to you.” Sadness flashes across her eyes and I don’t understand it.
“You’ll be just fine if I die. You’ll have to learn to live with it.” Her hard words seem out of place with the sorrow reflected in her dark eyes. It takes a moment for me to grasp what the hell’s going on. My hand slams against the wheel in anger as it hits me. She’s going to have to keep living after I die because she’s a vampire, not a wolf. I’m such an insensitive asshole. She jolts at my harsh movement.
“I’m sorry. I wish things could be different.” I barely get the words through my gritted teeth. I haven’t really thought about the fact that my mate is immortal. What the hell is wrong with me? “Get in the car.”