Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Her cognac eyes warmed as she realized he wasn’t just speaking about his home. “Does your pack know how romantic you can be?”
Conall grinned. “No. And they’d never believe you.”
Her laughter caused a pleasurable ache in his chest and he braced himself as they turned right past the entrance to Inveralligin, where his home was. “We’re not heading to my place just yet. We’re going to the Coach House. The Canids are staying there, and I’d like to get that confrontation over with so we can concentrate on bringing Callie and James home.”
Her expression shut down, reminding him of the woman he’d met before he’d gotten to know her. If she was donning her mask, she didn’t feel safe. That pissed Conall off. “No one will harm you here, Thea.”
“I know that.” She gave him a pained smile. “I’m just a little nervous. Wanting people to like me hasn’t really been a priority in a while. But if your pack is to be my pack, I want them to accept me.”
He took in her beautiful face, saw beneath to the tortured survivalist; to the woman who held within her a deep well of kindness and compassion, buried beneath a steel layer that had been necessary to endure what she had. “They’d have to try hard not to like you, lass.”
She shot him a flirty smile. “You’re a little biased.”
Conall grinned but stopped when her smile fell as they pulled into the car park of the Coach House. There were more cars than usual, and Conall could only hope they belonged to the pack and not humans who’d dared to venture into Torridon.
The main door to the building flew open before Conall had even fully gotten out of the car. Grace hurried across the lot, her expression taut, and he didn’t know if she would hug him or kill him.
He wasn’t certain she knew either.
At the last second, however, she threw her arms around him and Conall bent down to embrace and comfort the woman who had been like a grandmother to him his whole life.
“Days,” Grace said, pulling back, anger flashing in her eyes. “Days without word.” Her attention caught on the scar on his neck. “What … how … There’s a scar on your neck, young man, which can only mean silver was driven in there at some point.” She paled.
Conall settled his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Grace. Things … have been complicated. I will explain all. But I need you to call the pack members who are closest for a meeting here in two hours.”
“Some members are already here.” She gestured to the cars. “When we heard no word, Mhairi and Brodie called out to the pack to regroup.”
He nodded, pleased, because that was exactly what he expected of his delta and interim lead warrior in the absence of the alpha and his beta.
The sound of gravel underfoot brought Grace’s head up toward Thea. She frowned. “Is this her?”
“Aye, but things arenae as they seem, Grace.” Conall moved past her to take Thea’s hand. “Grace, meet Thea. Thea, this is Grace. Grace is family, not just pack.”
Thea’s hand tightened on his and she held out her other to Grace. Conall almost grinned because his mate was not the type who could paste on a smile to reassure someone. Her inner anxiety made her scowl at Grace. “Nice to meet you.”
Grace studied Conall’s hand in Thea’s. Confusion marred her brow as she slowly stepped forward to take Thea’s hand and as she did so, a gentle wind blew up from the loch. Grace sniffed the air and her eyes grew wide.
Her head jerked toward his. “Conall.”
Mating was rare. Conall’s mother and father were the only mates the pack had known for a hundred years. Not even Grace and Angus, who were as good as. Yet, Conall knew Grace understood. She smelled their scents. Having been friends with the previous alpha couple, she knew what it meant.
“It was quite a surprise for us too,” Conall told her dryly.
“Oh, Conall.” Worry darkened Grace’s eyes. “What does this mean?”
“We have quite a story to tell. That’s why I’d like as many pack members here so I only have to tell it once. And so we can come up with a plan … to get Callie and James back.”
Grace’s eyes flew to Thea, wariness in them that Conall did not appreciate. The expression made Thea try to pull out of his grasp. He tightened his hold on her.
“She’s my mate, Grace,” Conall confirmed, his voice hard.
No one would mess with his mate, emotionally or otherwise.
Grace gave him a sharp nod. “That’s all well and good, but we have to get my lass back.”
Callie would be Grace’s priority and Conall understood that. “We will.” He gestured to the house. “While you call the pack, Thea and I need to meet with the Canids. I presume they’re still here.”