Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Olivia didn’t intend to back down. She needed to know what she was dealing with being stranded in a castle with a man claiming to be a werewolf. There was no telling what the consequences might be. And yet, she felt no fear, only confusion.
“Shift in another room and return as the black wolf,” she said.
“Are you sure you want me to do that, Olivia? Wouldn’t you prefer to get to know me better, gain each other’s trust as you do with the wolves before you judge me?”
She sat straighter in her chair, her shoulders drawn back. “And what would you do if I told you I was a vampire?”
Tiernan laughed. “I can smell a vampire miles away.”
Olivia’s mouth dropped open for a second before he could catch her shocked reaction. “Okay, now I know you’re nuts. First, werewolves are real and now vampires are as well. This has gone far enough. If this is some kind of joke because you find the assignment that brought me here ridiculous, I don’t find it amusing.”
“I can assure you it is no joke. Let’s assume for a moment that I am telling the truth. Would you not prefer to speak with me in length and gather all the information on the sex life of werewolves you need to write your piece?”
Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “Are you pretending to be a werewolf to help me with my assignment?”
“Nay,” Tiernan said, shaking his head. “I am a lycanthrope, and I will eventually prove it to you. But you would never fully know and understand the wolf in me before getting to know and understand the man. Even if you think me crazy, think of what insight you would get on werewolves if I were speaking the truth.”
“And what am I to do with this news when I leave here? Tell the world that werewolves exist?” she asked, thinking how her career would be over, and no one would ever hire her to work with wolves again.
“I would hope that your love of wolves would keep you from revealing our secret. and I also hoped that you would accept a position here at the MacMadadh Preserve and remain here and help me care for the werewolves.”
“I won’t deny that I had high hopes of acquiring a position here with the renowned expert on wolves, not werewolves, so you can see my dilemma,” she said, upset that her dream of working here had come crashing down around her and annoyed that no matter how nuts he sounded, she still found him appealing. Did that make her just as nuts as him?
“There are wolves here, along with the werewolves, that need care, and it is a substantial position I offer you.”
Curiosity had her asking, “And what position would that be?”
“Second in command to me.”
Her eyes spread wide, shocked by the prestigious offer. She assumed, though more hoped, that it would take years before, if ever, she attained such an important and highly regarded position. Not everyone in her field achieved such success. It would be her dream come true, if only it hadn’t been offered to her by a man with a few loose marbles or a werewolf, either one wasn’t promising.
She decided to ask questions that might help her get to the truth of what was going on here and, if necessary, see what might need to be done to protect the wolves. “Wouldn’t someone who has been with you for years expect to be offered the position?”
“All my year-round workers are werewolves, and they dinnae question the pack leader. I have provided well for them, some for hundreds of years. They are loyal to me.”
“Hundreds of years?” she asked, thinking if she had any doubts that he was nuts that he had just confirmed it for her.
“Aye, hundreds of years. Some werewolves live longer than others. I continue to research and do what I can to help the lycanthrope protect and sustain themselves. When the snow calms, I’ll take you to the preserve’s laboratory so you can see what we’ve achieved so far.” Tiernan smiled. “I know I may sound crazy, but you really have nothing to lose by believing me long enough for me to prove it to you. Besides, think of all the accurate information you will get for the piece you’re writing. That should be worth it alone.”
She didn’t know if she would agree with that, but she had little choice in her present situation, so maybe it was best to make the most of it and sort the rest out later.
Olivia didn’t believe what she was about to ask. “You don’t intend to make me a werewolf, do you?”
His smile was cunning and a tad seductive. “I like you as you are. Do you like me, Olivia?”
“I can say that Laird stole my heart. He is an impressive wolf. As for Laird Tiernan, I believe that most women find you appealing, so I can’t deny that I feel the same way. Whether I can say I like you or not has yet to be determined.”