Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 193(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
I hope I never see them again. Either of them. My heart twists with wretched pain and I gasp for air as another painful sob racks through my body. It’s a lie. A very large part of me wants them to chase me. But I don’t want to be a chew toy they fight over. I’m worth more than a simple fuck, and I’ll be no one’s leftovers. I cling to the words that each of them used to hurt me, hoping that one day I’ll really believe that I don’t want to see them. My mind is at war with itself, with regret and with want. It’s a torture I’ve never felt.
Fuck, they both hardly said a word to me. Tears fall harder at the realization. All Luke said to me was “suck” before I bent over and let him take a part of me that I’ll never have again. It was hot as fuck to hear that word from his lips and made me crave his touch more than I’ve ever wanted anything, but that’s all he said to me. My body tingles with fatigue and sharp pains shoot through my legs all the way to my lungs. I don’t know how far I’ve run, but it’s most likely laughably short compared to the ability of the shifters.
I slow as I near a stream. My face is hot and my lungs hurt with each heavy breath. I wipe my remaining tears before collapsing by the water and splashing my face. The cool water calms my hot skin, but also makes me want to throw up. Or maybe it’s just the situation that has me feeling so sick. I gently rock my body as I try to calm my breathing. I turn, looking for my backpack and clothes, only to realize I’ve left both. I’m naked and alone. I have no idea where I am or how long it’ll be until I find civilization. I can’t believe what’s happened. It’s unreal.
My body shudders with fear and regret. For the first time in a long time, I feel completely and utterly alone and helpless. What the fuck have I done?
Owen
It only took a moment. A very short moment, to notice she was gone. Her absence rocked the very core of me. A coldness set deep in my limbs. So numbing I let go of my hold on Luke and didn’t even flinch as his fist hit my cheek bone, cracking something, although I’m not sure what. Blood fills my mouth, but all I can concentrate on is the opening to the cave. My chest aches and my wolf whines. She’s hurt.
“You hurt her!” I scream at Luke and shove him into the back of the cave.
“You hurt her! Not me!” he screams in my face, so close that his spit hits my chin. His shoulders rock with fury and he glares at me with spite. “She fucking loved what I did to her.” He snarls his words and beats his fist against his chest. “I felt her affection, the spark between us.” He sneers at me and starts walking toward the light filtering in the cave. “You ruined it. You ruined this.”
I yank his shoulder and force him to look at me. He’s not going to blame this all on me. “You took her. I smell her blood!” His eyes leave mine and flash with guilt. “How could you do that to me?” A pain of betrayal hurts my chest. Never once have we fought against each other like this. When our older brother left, forfeiting the pack, our father, our Alpha... We never would’ve survived without each other. We have always had each other’s back. Through all of the bullshit. Yet here we are, finally with a pack of our own, thriving, and we come to blows over our shared mate. “You think I want to share her? I don’t!” His eyes meet mine again with a challenge. “But I’d never do that to you!”
“Bullshit!” His words are full of anger, but also full of doubt.
“I wouldn’t hurt you like that. You know what it would mean to have our mate deny either one of us.” Even the thought of her choosing just one of us nearly crumples my body. There’s no way we could remain Alphas. Not with the pain and weakness it would cause our wolves. Death would be better. At least that would be honorable.
“My intent wasn’t to hurt you.” He glances at the entrance and then meets my gaze before clenching his fists. “It wasn’t about you. I wasn’t thinking like that.”
“You weren’t thinking at all!” I yell at him. Although he doesn’t flinch or react in the least, I see his eyes flash with remorse.
It takes several minutes for us to calm the fuck down; I feel my muscles relax and my skin heal as I stretch my arms and rub my jaw. “Well maybe with your dick.” I try to lighten the mood between us. After all, Luke has never been a peacemaker, and I want this behind us as soon as possible. We need to be united for the sake of our mate. He huffs at my remark, devoid of all humor. I crack my neck and give him a look over. “At least I got to beat your ass.” I lean my neck to one side until it cracks and then the other side. “I’ve always wondered who would win between the two of us.”