Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“You are my mate,” he says. “I’m going to do this for you every day for the rest of your life.”
“Wow. Lucky me. Thank you so much,” I say, digging into a Danish. My words don’t really convey everything I feel at hearing him say something so deeply committed. I don’t think I entirely believe him. Not that I think he’s lying, but I’m sure once he really gets to know me, he’ll start softening all this heavily committed talk.
“You have a lot to learn about your new identity, and your new place in the world,” he says. “That’s why we’re going to go to the country estate where our pack traditionally lives. You need to be able to shift and run free in the countryside without risking being discovered. The pack will be gathering at the next full moon. They will be very excited to meet you.”
“There’s a whole pack of people like you?”
“People like us, yes.”
That makes my stomach do a bit of a flip. The notion of being in front of a whole lot of ferocious wolves all looking at me and knowing I am mated to their leader feels scary. I know that I’m one of them too, but it doesn’t feel real, and I know I’m never going to be frightening to anybody.
“Do I have to?”
“Do as I say? Yes,” he says. “Don’t worry, you will be well protected.”
“Do I need to be protected from your pack?”
There’s a moment of brief hesitation before he replies. “Of course not.”
I narrow my eyes at him a little. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“A great deal, as I haven’t had the chance to tell you much of anything as yet. Too busy chasing you around the park and getting you into bed for a decent sleep.”
I smile at his tone, which is indulgent. There is a lot I don’t know about him, about myself, about everything. I suppose I have to trust him, because there’s not really a lot of choice.
I wonder what would happen if I decided I didn’t want to be his mate? I wonder what would happen if I told him I don’t really like the countryside? Everybody says they love it, because it’s so peaceful and nature is beautiful, yadda yadda. But most people live in cities if they get the chance. I fled to a city as quickly as I could when I got the chance.
“I’ve taken the liberty of having someone go to your apartment and get your things,” he continues. “All your clothing and toiletries will be waiting for you at the country house.”
“Oh… thank you?”
“Invasive, I know, but it was a necessary part of the preparations. I hope you will forgive me.”
I smile, half-because he’s charming, and half-because I never imagined someone like Cain Lupin would make any kind of an apology to me. I don’t really even know what to say, so instead I eat.
By the time I’m done with breakfast, I feel an overwhelming tiredness coming over me. I let out a yawn and just barely avoid the urge to curl up under the blankets and go right back to sleep.
“Sorry,” I say. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Nothing is wrong. Eating and sleeping is all you’ll feel like doing for the better part of a week. This is why I want to take you somewhere quiet where you can rest. I also got some things for you in the meantime. As much as I enjoy you naked, I think you might sleep better in these.”
“You got me pajamas?”
He holds up a finger, indicating I should wait, and leaves the room. I get the pleasure of watching his muscular back and ass as he leaves. God, he’s a magnificent specimen. I am so damn lucky to have been able to sleep with him even once.
When he returns, his arms are full of several boxes in various colors with pretty ties on them. It looks like Christmas just came for me. He lowers them all onto the bed and smiles broadly, indicating I should open them.
“How many pajamas did you get?” I ask the question, astounded.
His laugh is genuine and warm. “This is just a few things.”
This is more than I have ever been given in my entire life. I feel tears starting to spring to my eyes. I try to blink them away, but the harder I try to resist them, the more they want to come. Before I know it, I’m holding a pretty box and absolutely bawling my eyes out.
“Have I hurt you?” The question comes through a tight hug.
“No, of course not,” I sniff. “It’s just so nice. It’s the nicest thing anybody has ever done for anybody ever.”
“It is far from the nicest thing anybody has ever done, and it is only the first of the nice things I hope to do for you,” he says, releasing me slowly. “Open them up.”