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)
Taking his seat at the other end Brandon looked around the table. Witches, warlocks, vampires, bears, and a couple of panthers were present.
“You lied to us,” Alexander said.
“Excuse me?”
“You tried to pass the were-slut off as your mate. I refuse to deal with a liar and a cheater. Your pack is supposed to have morals. I agreed not to hunt because of the deal made by your father. I don’t deal with men like you.”
The tension built in the room.
“This is about more than my mate.”
“No.” Alexander stood. “No more words from you. I won’t speak with you until I see your mate. I want to be introduced to her, and you’ll make peace. Come, Charles.”
The vampires left followed by everyone else except Lizzy and Alaric.
“I did warn you,” Lizzy said, then got up and left.
Brandon dropped his head into his hands.
“This is why claiming your mate is important. You should have postponed this meeting rather than get Lori to accept your claim of mating,” Alaric said.
He was left alone with his men. The house was deathly silent.
“Shit!” He threw the chair into the far wall watching the wood splinter apart.
“Great, does this mean the treaty signed by your father is null and void?” Drake asked. “Can they hunt on our land?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Everything was messed up all because he’d put another woman in place of his mate.
You were warned. Why are you so surprised? A mate is for life, and a fuck is for fun. Elle is for life, and you pushed her out of that role.
“I need to win Elle back,” he said.
“Good luck,” Lewis said, muttering the words.
“Why do we have these meetings?” Darcy asked. “What do we accomplish?”
“I can answer that,” Lizzy said. She was eating an ice-cream as she walked down the stairs. Her gaze went over the broken table. “Did we have a temper-tantrum?”
“Why do we have these meetings?” Brandon asked.
“Naughty alpha. Weren’t you paying attention during class?”
“Cut the shit, Lizzy. Everything is out of control, and I need to fix it.”
Lizzy got up into his face. Her green eyes went brighter as she stared at him. Pain unlike anything he’d ever felt consumed him.
“I may be crazy, wolf, but I can still hurt you.”
As quickly as the pain came it went. Lizzy licked her ice-cream. “For many years we were all enemies. We fought over the silliest things. Our battles were legendary and are considered part of legends to the humans. The problem with our battles is we take human lives down. No one species is supposed to rule the earth. By a select few of each species meeting up, it provides the balance for all our kinds. A sort of truce has been born. However, that truce is as fragile now as it was back then. We’re primal beings. Tip the scales the wrong way, and our kind will be extinct. Our kind will become extinct if we keep going on this path,” Lizzy said. She glared at Brandon. “Fix it, wolf.”
She turned and walked away.
“Shit, you better get your female on your side,” Drake said. “That is one powerful fucking witch.”
Brandon couldn’t agree more. Her bite was far worse than her bark.
****
Elle made her way out of the diner. Layla followed behind her.
“What do you want to do tonight?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. I’m tired. I think I’m going to go home and face my mom and dad. They have a right to know what’s going on between me and Brandon.” Elle pulled her bag over her shoulder.
“Don’t leave, Elle. I can’t leave here.”
She saw the sadness in Layla’s eyes.
“Elle,” Brandon said.
Turning to the sound of his voice she saw him coming out of the forest. He didn’t wear a shirt as he made his way over to them.
“What do you want?” she asked, tired of their fighting. Today had been a long day.
“We need to talk.”
“I’m tired, Brandon. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“No, it’s important.” He looked at Layla. “I’ll take her home. Lewis will escort you home. I don’t want either of you alone in the dark.”
“Great, another babysitter,” Layla said. “Call me when you can.” Her friend walked off. Elle watched Lewis join Layla on the way home.
“He won’t let anything happen to her,” Brandon said.
“I’m not concerned.”
She turned away and stared at him. “What more do you want from me, Brandon? I’m tired. I’m hungry, and I want to go home.”
“You’re angry at me. I get that. Come home with me. I need to talk with you.”
Elle nibbled her lip debating her options.
What’s the harm in going with him?
He broke my heart.
Don’t let him inside.
“Okay,” she said, folding her arms under her breasts. He reached out to touch her. Elle pulled away. “I don’t want you touching me. I can’t handle it.”
He closed his hand into a fist.