Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Bailey, I fucked up. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”
Pain ripples over her face and she looks away, out Principal Olsen’s window.
I touch her cheek to bring her gaze back. Not insisting, just stroking softly. “Give me another chance, babygirl, and I’ll do everything right this time. I will go toe-to-toe with Alpha Green and my dad and anyone else in the pack who thinks I shouldn’t be with you. I will put a fucking crown on your head and parade you around this school as my rightful queen. If you give me another chance, I will be the best fucking boyfriend this town has ever seen—this world,” I correct myself, spreading my hands wide.
A ghost of a smile appears on Bailey’s face. “What does the best boyfriend do?”
I grin, because I can see her resolve crumbling. “I don’t know, but I sure as hell am going to figure it out. I’m gonna watch my girlfriend and figure out what she needs from me, and give it to her.”
Bailey ducks her head. When I nudge her chin back up, tears glitter in her eyes.
I want to grab her face and claim her mouth like I’ve done before, but I call on my restraint. “I need to kiss you, babygirl. May I please kiss you?”
She reaches for me. Pulls my face down to hers. Kisses my lips. She tastes sweet, like candy. I stroke my lips over hers, savoring the softness, the beauty of forgiveness.
Outside the office, I hear the deep voice of Alpha Green and I break off the kiss. “Come here, babygirl. I have to do something.” I take her hand and lead her out of the office.
Green stands in the office, his imposing figure taking up all the energy in the room. He breaks off his conversation with the office manager when we come out. “Cole. Bailey.” He nods in our direction.
Bailey jerks in surprise that he knows her name, but I squeeze her hand.
I clear my throat. “Bailey, this is, uh, Mayor Green, who is also our alpha.”
Disapproval slams down on Green’s face at my pack betrayal, but I stiffen my back. “Alpha Green, when we spoke at the meeting, I lied about Bailey. She is my girlfriend.”
Green frowns at me. “That’s forbidden, Cole.”
“There’s more. She knows about us.” I swallow at the disapproval on his face. “She knows because she was cornered and bitten by a wolf last full moon.”
“Which. Wolf,” Green demands, fury blazing in his eyes.
I hesitate. Ratting out others has never been my gig. But he bit my girlfriend. And I just promised to give her everything she needs. That includes justice. “Ben Thomasson.”
“I see.” Green surveys Bailey with an inscrutable expression. The office staff, all shifters, look on with avid interest.
“Bailey, I’m sorry for your experiences, both with Ben Thomasson and with the teacher at this school. I hope Cole has shown you a better part of Wolf Ridge.”
She looks up at me, eyes soft and squeezes my hand. “Definitely.”
“Does your mother know about us?”
She starts. “My mother. No. I was supposed to call her.”
“Cole has sworn you to secrecy?”
“Yes, sir.” I don’t know how she knew to call him, sir, but she’s right on target.
Green picks up one of the newspapers. “There will never be an expose like this on the pack, will there?”
Bailey shakes her head. “Never, sir.”
“Nor will you tell your mother or any other human.”
“No, sir.”
“Thank you, Bailey. We appreciate the contribution both you and your mother are to Wolf Ridge.” To me, he says, “Cole, lies and breaking pack rules have consequences.”
“Yes, sir,” I say.
“I expect your complete honesty in all dealings.”
I lift my chin to expose my throat and prove my submission. “I know, Sir.”
“But I understand your home life has been difficult lately. Punishment already served. The pack has failed you and your sister. It’s time we stepped in to do something about your father.”
“I have it handled, Sir.”
“You do?” Green raises his eyebrows. Bailey turns her big brown eyes on me.
“I do. I dropped him off to work at Circle K this morning. Jack Brown gave him a job.”
Bailey squeezes my fingers, still searching my face.
Alpha Green nods. “I’m glad to hear it, Cole. I’m sorry if we failed you and your sister these past months.”
“You did,” I say, because I’m shooting straight now. “And apology accepted.”
This wrests a grudging smile out of the alpha, but there’s no time for more, because the sheriff arrives and Bailey and I have to give our statements.
We finish as the last bell rings. I sense Bailey’s tension as we head out into the sea of students pushing through the halls.
“Hey.” I tuck a protective arm around her and pull her against my side. “I got you, babygirl. From now on. Promise.”
Bailey
Walking through Wolf Ridge High with the homecoming king, star quarterback as my escort is a totally new experience.