Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Rose had always been a biter, but because she was wolf, she had bitten her before, and that didn’t exactly end well. Karina ended up in bed for three weeks after the bite. The wound had gotten infected and there might have been a pesky problem with nearly dying, but she didn’t hold it against her sister. At least it cured Rose from her biting problem. Always a silver lining in her book.
“If you do bite me, it would give Dad something else to worry about,” she said with a shrug. “Can you hear them?”
Rage and her father were downstairs. She had no idea what was being said.
“No, you know when Dad built this house, he put in layers of soundproofing,” Rose said.
“Ah, yes, so we don’t hear them doing the frisky business.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m not his mate, am I? It can’t be possible.”
“I have no idea, but only mated men act like that.”
Karina folded her arms across her chest. “Is it wrong that I’m a little … nervous? Dad wants this, doesn’t he?”
“The union between the two packs. Yes, he’s serious about it. There is a threat out there, Karina.”
“I know. There is always a threat.”
“And Dad usually knows what to do, but this time I think it has him spooked. He wants to do everything he can to protect the pack, to protect all of us.”
She sighed and Rose gripped her hands.
There was a sudden knock on the door and before any of them could invite the person in, her mother opened the door and stepped inside.
“Karina, we need you downstairs,” her mother said.
She looked at Rose.
“Why? I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?” She hated how close to tears she was. All she wanted was to be strong for her parents, and she felt anything but. She felt weak. Useless.
Those horrible, pesky nerves were attacking her again. She felt sick to her stomach.
Patricia rushed toward her, pulling her to her feet, and then hugging her tightly. “No, my sweet girl. You didn’t do anything wrong. There is no fault here. You are not to blame. You do not have to worry yourself like that. These things happen.”
“Men randomly come up, grab you around the neck, and sniff you?”
“Not … normally, but as a mate, it can happen.”
“So, she’s his mate?” Rose asked.
Karina looked up at her mother in time to see a simple nod of the head.
“That can’t be possible. I have no idea what any of that means. I’m not a mate. Mom, I’m a … person, a human. I didn’t feel anything.”
“We’ve talked to him. We would like you to come down and see him, without him scaring you. That’s all. Just to come and talk to him. He’s a good man, Karina, and he’s a little taken aback that he might have scared you.”
Yes, there had been a little fear, there was no denying it. Actually, there had been a lot of fear, but she had no idea what to expect. She was trying not to freak out right now.
Karina wanted to tell them no, that she didn’t want to see him, but that would be cowardly. Her father had wanted this union. Maybe, once Rage realized how useless she was, he’d move on and find someone else to mate with. She knew it didn’t quite work like that, but she could have hope.
“I can go and see him,” Karina said.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Rose asked.
“No,” Patricia said. “You can’t come, Rose.”
“But Mom!”
“No, no buts. This is not about you. This is about your sister.”
Karina looked toward Rose and saw the worry on her sister’s face. She tried to smile at her, but it was hard to do when she was equally as worried.
Her mother pulled her out of the room, and they headed downstairs. Karina felt her heart start to race and the nerves once again weighing heavily in her stomach. This couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be happening. Yet, as she stepped into the sitting room to see her father and … Rage, she knew it was.
“Karina,” her father said, coming toward her. “I’d like you to meet Rage.”
She could be polite. Forcing a smile to her lips, she looked at the other man, and nodded her head. Words failed her. What was she supposed to say or do?
Rage took a step forward and Karina waited.
“We’ll leave you two alone,” her father said.
“Wait, what?” This was news to her. Crazy and insane news. There was no way they were going to leave her with this man.
The door to the sitting room closed and now she hated her parents for putting soundproofing in the house. What kind of parents were they?
She spun back around to face Rage.
“You’re nervous,” he said.
“It’s not every day that a guy grabs my neck.” She winced and pressed her lips together. “Just ignore me. I don’t have a clue what I’m saying.”