Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
He pulls into an alley between a couple of shops. It spills out into a parking lot behind the shops. I’m surprised to see a row of bikes lined up in the lot. Bradan parks and cuts the engine.
We climb off the bike, and he leads me into the back door of one of the shops with his palm on the small of my back. I look up at him, smiling like a little kid entering a candy shop.
My smile grows as I note we’re entering a little gift shop. My sisters immediately come to mind. I would love to get some things to take back for them.
“Taylor,” Nika sings as she appears.
She rushes over to pull me into a hug. I love that her hugs are so warm. Nika and the other ladies have really gone a long way in helping me come out of my shell.
I haven’t been as shy around them, and I consider them my friends. Nika has become like a mother figure. She worries and fusses over me the most.
I’ve sort of been soaking that attention up. I’ve never had a mom to care about me. I can’t remember one home I stayed in where the foster mom showed me genuine love.
Mrs. Perkins, my social worker, was the closest person I’ve ever had who felt like they loved me. Too bad she disappeared when I turned eighteen. So, yeah, I’m soaking up this hug and the love I feel coming through it.
“Come, you have to meet my sister. Violet owns this place, isn’t it great?”
“Yes, it’s amazing,” I say.
“Bree, my other sister, tells fortunes and paints custom tarot cards in the attached shop. She’s up at the pack house helping with the celebration.
“Celebration?”
“Oh, um … sorry,” she mutters, looking cautiously at Bradan.
He rumbles with laughter and shakes his head. I look between the two of them, trying to figure out what’s going on. Bradan leans in to peck my lips, then heads for the front of the shop without another word.
Nika drags me along to follow her. When we come to the front of the store, Bradan is hugging a tall, curvy woman with long, silky-looking hair. She has such a pretty deep-brown complexion like Nika, although I can tell she’s closer to my age, maybe younger.
“Violet, I want you to meet my mate. Taylor, this is Violet,” Bradan says.
“Hi, Violet. It’s so nice to meet you,” I say.
“I’ve heard so much about you. If I weren’t busy trying to hire new staff to run this place, I would have made the trip to the clubhouse to meet you myself. Got my coin to enter and everything,” she says with a bright smile.
“Coin?” I say in confusion.
“Yeah, since all the kings are now mated, all supers need a coin to enter clubhouse territory. No coin, no entry. Thank goodness I know this big guy,” she says and tosses a thumb over her shoulder at Bradan.
“It is to protect you and your sisters,” Bradan says.
“Oh.”
“I was just about to lock up and head up to the main pack house,” Violet says.
“Do you mind waiting for Taylor to do a little shopping?” Bradan asks.
“Of course not. After all, she’s as good as a luna around here. Her wish is my command.”
“Thank you. I won’t hold you for long. I just want to find something for each of my sisters.”
“Take your time. I’ve already let my alpha know I’ll be there once you’re done perusing. Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
I chew on my lips. I don’t know my sisters well. Choosing something for each of them will be harder than I thought.
“Well, one is pregnant. Do you have anything I could give her as a baby gift?”
“Oh, yes. We have some gorgeous mobiles for hanging over the crib.”
“Perfect.”
“I’m needed at the pack house. Take my card. Nothing is too much,” Bradan suddenly says abruptly.
“We have her. We will make sure she makes it up to the pack house.”
“Thank you,” Bradan says before he vanishes right before my eyes.
I stand with my brows knitted, wondering what’s going on. I’m frozen until Violet places a hand on my arm to grab my attention. I look up at her and blink a few times.
“All is well. Come, let’s find your gifts,” she says.
“Okay, thank you.”
Nika and Violet keep me distracted with finding my gifts for my sisters. I send them back home to our room with plans to wrap and hand them out when I return.
By the time we go to lock up the shop and head to the pack house, my mind is all over the place. I’m nervous and concerned. It finally dawns on me that I’m here to meet three packs of werewolves.
What have I gotten myself into?
Bradan
When I arrive at the main pack house, I head inside and go straight to the main hall where meetings and balls had been held in the past. This used to be the pack house for the Sapphire Moon pack when it was run under Alpha Dyson. This was once my home away from home.