Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Rolling onto his back, he pinched the bridge of his nose. God, he was such a dick. His wolf pushed against his skin, urging him to seek her out. That was what he’d do. He needed to find her and fix this. Cats were notorious for holding grudges, but Harley would accept an apology with grace if it were heartfelt. He was counting on that now.
Once he was washed and dressed, Jesse headed downstairs. Harley was nowhere to be seen, so he exited the patio door and saw that, yep, she was sitting in the tree with a book. She didn’t look at him, though she had to have sensed him. She was fully dressed in a pair of slashed jeans and a pale-blue T-shirt—a T-shirt that hid his claiming mark. He was hoping that wasn’t intentional. In any case, it annoyed his wolf.
“Morning, baby,” he greeted gently, testing the waters.
She looked down at him and softly greeted, “Morning.” She seemed serene. Relaxed. Trouble free. Which made absolutely no sense to him. Her attention went right back to her book.
“Come here,” he coaxed.
Gold eyes cut to him. “Why?”
“So I can apologize.” That got him no response. All right, he’d do it from where he stood. “I hurt you last night. I didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry.”
She pursed her lips. “Apology accepted.”
He sensed it wasn’t a lie. He also sensed that, though she may accept his apology, he’d broken something. Something he wasn’t sure he knew how to fix. And it didn’t bode well for him that she’d resumed reading her book as opposed to climbing down the tree.
“Baby,” he said. “Baby, look at me.” Her gaze met his, and his enhanced vision picked up that it was clear and tranquil, yet there was something missing. Anxiety trickled through him, and his wolf’s hackles rose. “Don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“Then don’t wish you could.” Her eyes flashed. Ah, he’d hit the nail on the head there. “I told you before that you’re more important to me than anything. I meant it.”
Harley knew her smile was a little sad. She was more important to him than anything, but not so important that she had any rights to his memories of Torrie. She’d spent the past hour debating on whether to stay or go. She was very tempted to just pack her shit and march out, but that was fueled by anger and wounded pride, not good sense. And walking out felt too much like giving up. Harley had never been a quitter.
Besides, it wouldn’t be as simple as that. Jesse had already lost one mate; he wouldn’t let go of Harley so easily. They’d have the argument of all arguments. Harley wasn’t a fan of drama. But she could only stay if he understood that he couldn’t stonewall her, that he’d only have everything from her if he gave her everything back.
So, she reasoned, she’d have to make him understand. Yes, she could lay it all out and give him the chance to fix it. And if he couldn’t give her what she needed, she’d just have to wish him well and then leave. Her cat didn’t fight the idea of leaving him, still hurt by his actions.
“Come down and—” Jesse cut off at the sounds of voices. Dammit. “Give me a sec, baby.” Returning inside the lodge, he strode to the front door and opened it wide. A grim and enraged Derren, Ally, Bracken, Eli, and Roni were fast approaching. “What?”
“Don’t freak out,” said Derren.
So, of course, Jesse began to freak out. “Is this about Hector?”
“No. Although Donovan says he’s close to tracking the guy’s parents.”
“Then why are you here?” Jesse frowned as Derren held up a folded newspaper. Taking it, he stepped back to allow the wolves to enter.
At that moment, Harley walked into the living area, arms folded. “Everything okay?”
“I don’t know yet,” said Jesse. He wanted to go to her, hold her, but she had a warning “everyone keep your distance” vibe going on right then.
“Check out page four,” Derren told him. So Jesse did, and then swore.
Harley glanced from person to person. “What’s going on?”
“Looks like a reporter managed to get some photos of you and Jesse when you visited your aunt,” said Roni.
Harley’s face went slack. “You’re kidding me.”
Roni shook her head. “There are pictures of you both inside the SUV; one is of him kissing you, and another is of him stroking your claiming bite.”
“The reporter writes that you’ve ‘switched sides,’” Jesse growled. “That by mating into a pack and quitting your job, you’ve turned your back on humans.” Crunching the paper in his hands, he looked at her. “As if that’s not bad enough, the extremists will now know where you are.”
Harley’s cat hissed. “Let me guess . . . the author of the article is Gabrielle Rowan.”