Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Ignacio’s expression didn’t alter in the slightest. “Dahlia is my mate.”
“But not your true mate. Do you think it’s Casey?” It would explain a lot of things—why Ignacio had repeatedly sought her out rather than punishing Miles for not paying his debts; why Ignacio had never hurt her, not even when she held a knife to his throat; why he’d never insisted on retribution for her hurting and embarrassing Dahlia.
Miles had said that he’d paid his most recent debts to Ignacio. Eli hadn’t believed him at the time, but what if it were true? What if the reason Ignacio came to her again and again looking for cash to cover Miles’ habit, was very simply that he wanted to see her?
Ignacio could even have been responsible for the attack on Sherryl. He wasn’t the type of person who’d claim their true mate—he’d consider her and the bond itself a weakness. But he probably wouldn’t keep his distance, and he’d likely want some form of attention from her. He’d also avenge her if he felt the need to.
“No, I do not,” said the cougar.
“Yeah? I’m not buying it. As I recall it, you questioned that day at the marina whether I was sure she was mine. You didn’t seem convinced.”
Ignacio gave a careless shrug. “It just seems rather coincidental to me that you didn’t like me confronting her, wanted me to leave her be, and then the very next day you claim you’re her mate. Naturally I wondered if you made that claim purely to protect her.”
“Well I can assure you that she’s mine,” said Eli, his voice thick with possessiveness. “You know, I originally thought you targeted me to strike at her. But it wasn’t that, was it? You targeted me because you don’t like that I have her.” The more Eli thought about it, the more it all made sense … and the more he wanted to slit Ignacio’s throat.
“That’s quite an elaborate theory you have there. Even if I were single and had my eye on Casey, I’m not the jealous type, Eli. Rest assured, I have no designs on her, just as I have no wish to do you harm. I’m also not in the habit of hiring loners. As I said, I do my own dirty work. I wish you luck in finding the real culprit.” Ignacio gave a courteous nod. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
As they watched the cougar walk away, Casey spoke. “I don’t think he ever thought he and I were true mates, Eli.”
“I think we’re both too close to the situation to really be sure,” said Eli. “We need an outsider’s opinion.”
A short while later, Eli stood near the fireplace while most of his pack mates were scattered around the living area of the main lodge. Casey and Cain were also present. She sat on the sofa, her legs crossed, her arms folded, her gaze focused inward. She’d been quiet on the drive home, and she hadn’t spoken much since arriving at the lodge, which was why some were casting her concerned looks that she totally missed.
Although the pack often headed to their own homes after dinner, they’d lingered to attend the meeting that Eli had called for. He was just waiting on his mother and Gwen—both of whom were cleaning the kitchen. Eli could hear cutlery clinking and the faucet running, so he knew the females weren’t done yet. The only people absent from the room were the two pups, who were playing in Cassidy’s room upstairs.
“Can you give us a hint about what this relates to, Eli?” asked Shaya. “My imagination is coming up with all sorts of dark scenarios.”
“It’s about Ignacio,” he replied. “He hasn’t attacked again, before you ask. But we did see him tonight.”
“So nothing bad has happened?” asked Ally, nibbling on her nail. “There wasn’t another incident that I failed to foresee?”
Derren squeezed his mate’s thigh. “You haven’t failed anyone. Don’t use that word again.”
“There hasn’t been another incident, no,” Eli told her. “And Derren’s right: You haven’t failed us.”
He heard the click of heels on the hardwood floor moments before Kathy walked inside closely followed by Gwen. The human female headed straight to Zander and let him pull her onto his lap.
As soon as his mother had taken a seat, Eli said, “I’ll get straight down to it. Casey and I saw Ignacio at The Den earlier. Some of the things he said and did make me wonder if he believes that Casey is his true mate.” Just speaking the words was enough to make Eli’s stomach harden. He didn’t want anyone coveting her. “She disagrees with my theory. I wanted to run it by all of you.”
There was a boom of silence, and some of his pack mates exchanged uneasy looks.
Nick rubbed his jaw. “He didn’t seem happy at the marina when he realized you’d mated with Casey. He also wasn’t convinced it was real, and I could see he didn’t want to heed your warning to keep his distance from her. But I never got the sense that he thinks she’s his.”