Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“Very funny. I’ve heard about your appetites.”
He tugged the blanket from her strong grip.
“My appetites or that of the wolves?” he asked.
“Does it matter which one? You’d deny either one.”
“I like to fuck, Elle. I’m not a young man. I’ve had my fair share of pussy.”
“You’re a disgusting pig,” she said, turning away from him.
Brandon chuckled. “This is who I am, baby.”
“Then I don’t want to get to know you.”
He stroked her arm. She tensed, but he did it again and then again. She couldn’t give in to his touch when it ignited a fire within her. No man affected her in the way Brandon did. Closing her eyes she took several deep breaths. His hand moved around her waist. She turned on him.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
“I’m not touching your tits or cunt, Elle. I’m holding you in my arms. Don’t you feel different with me close?” he asked.
Thinking about his words, she did feel calmer. The fear brought on by her dream was no longer at the centre of her mind.
“Admit it. You feel different.”
“Yes, what is that?”
“We’re mated, Elle. You’ll feel protected by me and safe. No matter how much you hate me or want to push me away, you won’t be able to.”
Licking her lips she took the chance to glance in his eyes. “Does this work both ways?” she asked, dropping her gaze after several seconds.
What was it about his eyes that stopped her from looking at them?
“Yes, it works both ways.”
She stroked the arm that rested against her stomach. Curiosity getting the better of her, she started to ask him questions.
“When you change, what is it like?” she asked. She’d never seen a wolf transition.
“The first change is painful. We’re born wolves, and the change is in our blood, but we’re not used to changing. Bones need to be broken and fixed back together. Our skin splits and turns to fine hairs.”
She winced at the brutal picture he displayed. “How do you survive it? Is there blood everywhere?”
He chuckled. “We survive it because it’s in our nature to be wolves. We’re supposed to turn. No blood is spilt, and after the first couple of changes we get used to it. My wolf is part of me. The more we accept the beast inside us, the easier the change will be.”
“Does it hurt you?” she asked.
“No. I accept my beast. He’s part of me, and I’d never fight the release that letting him loose gives me.”
“Do you ever wish you didn’t turn?” His arms were huge where they rested on her stomach.
“No. This is what I’ve been born to do. I love changing and love running out in the wild.”
“What colour is your wolf?” she asked.
“Black.”
She thought about the wolf she’d seen outside her bedroom window earlier. “Was that you earlier?” she asked.
“Yes. That’s enough questions for one day.” He kissed her temple. “Get some sleep.”
“Will you be here to chase the nightmares away?” she asked.
“You can count on it.”
Elle closed her eyes. It was the best night’s sleep she’d ever had.
Chapter Eight
Brandon stared at the river several days later. He’d spent every night sleeping next to his mate but not doing anything other than holding her in his arms. Darcy, Drake, and Lewis were preparing for the other creatures to come to Grace Hill. Along with the planned visit, humans had wandered into their town. They were currently staying inside the only hotel available for them. He didn’t like them being in his town or near his mate. One of them from the group was paying a lot of interest in Elle. She didn’t encourage him, but she didn’t shoot the other man down either.
With the other sectors arriving every chance he’d tried to talk with Darcy ended up being interrupted. The meeting took precedence over his human mate, and even as he thought the words they irritated him. Elle was human, but she was his mate. Lori was on his case, and he’d given her far too many warnings.
You’re being light on her because she was a regular fuck until your mate came along.
What mate? She was human.
“Why are you here alone, Brandon?” Darcy asked, moving out of the clearing. “It’s not safe for you to be alone right now.”
“Why isn’t it safe? I’m the alpha.”
“And more of a reason to pick you off, leaving the Northern Forest pack open for someone else to take over. You’re only as strong as your last enemy,” Darcy said, standing next to him.
“You’re always so serious.” Brandon sat down on the edge of the river and paddled his feet into the water.
“I need to be.” Darcy sat down next to him. “You want to talk to me?”
“Yes, I want to know everything about Elle and her family. You were the one to handle her petition.”
Darcy cursed. “Raymond Smith came to me stinking of vampire blood. I don’t know how he found me, but on one of my trips to the city he did. He approached me about this community. He’s a good collector of books and information.”