Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“No, that’s not entirely accurate. You weren’t going to tell anyone about this. I didn’t actually get a choice in the matter. This was all on you.”
“Oh, come on!”
He shrugged. “What do you want me to do, Poppy? You want me to pretend that I like this and I agree with it? I mean, I can try, but then it would be a lie.”
“You’re telling me that you want this mating?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Klaus, you don’t like me. You’ve never liked me. Every single opportunity you had to bully me, you did.” She wanted to scream at him, but instead, she had no choice but to keep her voice calm. This was a fucking nightmare of the highest order.
He took a step toward her. She moved back. They did this dance until her back was pressed against a wall. His hands went to either side of her head, trapping her in place.
There was nowhere for her to go.
All she could do is wait.
“I fucked up big time. I know that. I don’t have any excuse for how I treated you, but, Poppy, know this. I want you. You are my mate, and I will not allow another to have what is mine.”
Then, the most unexpected thing happened. Klaus slammed his lips down on hers and kissed her, hard.
****
Klaus didn’t want to be at the town square greeting Lionel and his pack. Including the alpha’s son, Greg. But he was, being what his father would often refer to as the perfect host. Keeping a smile on his face and having a firm handshake.
Holding out his palm, he nodded at Greg, who gave him a smile.
Nothing threatening or challenging. They were both in the same position, only Greg was a couple of years older than him, a little further along in his training. He didn’t like him.
“Thank you so much for having us, George.”
“Come on, Lionel. You know our packs love any reason to party, and well, the sun is shining, life is good, and we can party.”
The two clapped each other’s backs. They were more friends than opposing alphas.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Poppy standing with her mother. The two wore dresses. Anna’s hair fell down her back, while Poppy had hers up in a ponytail. She was always pulling those beautiful golden locks back. He found it so annoying.
He’d seen her with her hair down a couple of times. Each time he had, he’d wanted to know if it was as soft as he remembered.
It was why he … accidentally pulled it in high school. He hadn’t meant to hurt her.
Nope. He’d wanted to see if her hair was as soft as he imagined.
“I hope we’re not imposing on anyone,” Lionel said.
“Of course not. You are always welcome. We do have a room for you to share, Lionel, and as you asked, we have made arrangements for Greg.”
This was news to Klaus. He remembered Greg staying with them all the other times.
His father lifted his fingers, and then he saw Anna and Poppy moving toward them.
No. He didn’t like this. This was so not cool.
Bethany put her hand in his and squeezed his palm tightly. She was attempting to ground him as Anna and Poppy approached.
Lionel had lost his mate a couple of years ago. Each time he visited the pack, he usually had this air of sadness that surrounded him. Not anymore.
The look Lionel gave Anna was one of … ownership?
“Ah, Mrs. Davenport, we meet again,” Lionel said.
“Lionel, as I’ve told you many times before, please call me Anna.” She held her hand out, but rather than shake it, he pulled her hand toward his lips and kissed it. “You remember my daughter, Poppy.”
Poppy smiled and held her hand up in a single hey. That was it.
“My son, Greg. You have agreed to allow him to stay with you for the duration of our visit?” he asked.
“Yes, George, our alpha, requested this, and I see no reason to not allow him to stay with us.”
Klaus wanted to intervene. To pound the fucker’s face in as he moved forward. First, Greg kissed Anna’s hand, in much the same way as his father had done. Then Poppy.
When he kissed her hand, a growl erupted out of him. His wolf was ready to tear the head off of this man, to kill him. To make him suffer.
Instead, Bethany began to growl. It was cute, like a baby wolf.
Everyone turned to her.
“Sorry, I’m practicing. Getting ready for my turning.”
There was laughter, and she glared at him. Yeah, he was going to owe Bethany big time for that.
Poppy had pulled her hand away from Greg’s lips. Which was good.
Now he had an overwhelming need to claim her. To make her his. He felt completely overwhelmed.
His father kept glancing at him, and he had to play it safe and cool. Not let anything bad happen.