Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
We stand and pose for her, inside and outside, under a tree. Then I pick Rayne up and carry her to the Jeep.
She loops her arms around my neck. “I can walk, you know.”
“I need to hold you.” I settle her in the seat and buckle the seatbelt around her.
“Yeah?” She sounds breathless. Pleased.
“All the fucking time. I don’t know how I’ll make it through football season without you.”
“We’ll Facetime. Every day. And I can always sell more photos of my feet to buy a plane–” Rayne breaks off and grins at my growl of disapproval.
“Tell me you’re joking?”
Her smile is fond. She’s absolutely glowing with a radiance that comes from below the skin. “Mostly.”
“Come here.” I cradle her face and urge her closer. “I love you.”
“I love you, Wilde Woodward.”
“We should get married.”
She laughs. “Why?” She’s right. Wolves don’t require the human construct of marriage. Mating goes so far beyond that.
“I don’t know. Insurance or something? I just want to do it all with you.”
“Mmm,” she murmurs. “I thought we did that last night. And this morning.”
“Oh, baby. We haven’t even scratched the surface of the things I’m going to do to you in bed.” I give her a claiming kiss, the kind aimed to curl her toes in those sexy stilettos she’s wearing. Then I shut the door and walk around to my side.
I can’t wait to take Rayne to this dance. Everyone there will catch her new scent. Not just the one that says she’s a shifter now, but my scent embedded in her skin. My claim on her.
No one will ever fuck with or demean Rayne again. She belongs to me, and she will be respected. I think that will go without saying, but I will make sure everyone understands it tonight if it’s not clear.
The dance is over at the brewery in their banquet hall. This town is so small and enmeshed that at least half of the kids’ parents work at the brewery. It’s pack-owned, and the school is predominantly pack kids, so that means they roll out the red carpet for the students at events like this.
I park in the brewery lot. Even though we’re late, there’s a place right up front. Almost like it was reserved for us. I take Rayne’s hand, and we walk under the archway of balloons and streamers to get inside.
There are double-takes left and right as people catch sight of us together. The fact that tonight we’re an actual couple, not new stepsiblings. Or maybe they’re just admiring how beautiful Rayne looks because she is truly stunning. Especially in the high heels no other female her age even knows how to walk in.
Abe is the first–or perhaps the only one with balls big enough–to approach us. “Hey, guys. There’s my Homecoming queen.” He flashes a pirate smile at us.
I pull Rayne closer to my side. “She’s not your anything, Oakley. Rayne is all mine now.”
Abe’s nostrils flare as he takes in her scent, and he raises his brows in appreciation. “Mates. Wow. What did your parents say?”
Of course, everyone hears Abe’s words and openly stares at us.
“They’re cool with it.” I massage the back of Rayne’s neck, letting her know I’m here. Her champion. Her mate.
“Good for you both.”
“Rayne!” A girl named River walks over, a cheerleader, I think. Casey walks behind her in an oddly protective way. The cheerleader holds out the homecoming queen crown. “Here’s your crown, Rayne.”
I tense, but I don’t sense any upset coming from Rayne other than flushed cheeks from the attention. I think she’s pleased.
Instead of handing it to Rayne, the cheerleader sets it on her head, adjusting it until she deems it perfect. “You look beautiful.” She gives Rayne a quick peck on the cheek. “Thanks for what you said to Casey,” she whispers in her ear. Then, in a normal voice, she says, “Congratulations. On the mating, too.” There’s genuine warmth in the girl’s words.
Behind her, Casey gives us both an approving nod. “You mated your stepsister. I like it. Forbidden love.”
That’s when I get it. Casey and the cheerleader. Not exactly forbidden in Wolf Ridge, but out of the norm, for sure. Shifters are not a homophobic society, but certainly heteronormative. Our species can be strongly gendered.
“You gotta do you, Casey,” I tell her. “The pack will follow.” She’s an alpha female. She can make new rules for herself at Wolf Ridge High.
“That’s pretty much what your mate told me, too.” Casey gives Rayne a rueful smile before the two of them walk away.
“Come on, let’s say hi to Lincoln.” Rayne tugs me toward a wall where Lincoln stands surrounded by a bunch of human females.
He looks bored, but not uncomfortable.
“Hey, Lincoln.” Rayne gives the guy a hug, and I don’t even want to smash him into a pancake.