Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“Yes, I can be very sweet.” The way she speaks makes me uneasy. Any semblance of ease vanishes. She stares back at me as though I’m her prey. I shift uncomfortably. She doesn’t seem to want my company, and I find myself regretting my decision to comfort her. She obviously doesn’t need it. I start to get up, but then that knot in my chest forms again. My hand flies to the center of my chest and I press on it to try to ease the discomfort.
“Are you all right?” There’s a trace of concern in Veronica’s voice.
Nodding my head, I plant my ass firmly back down in the seat. “It’s funny you should be asking me that, because I came here to ask you the same question.” As the words leave my lips, the hard pain dissipates, granting me freedom to breathe normally. Rubbing the spot, I’m amazed at how quickly it left me. I make a mental note to talk to Devin about what the hell just happened.
It’s similar to the pull from last night. Something has changed and it demands attention.
In the silence, my eyes find Veronica’s dark gaze. Her lips are pressed in a hard line.
“I’m fine. I was mistaken about something last night.”
“Mistaken?”
Her eyes narrow and I hold my ground as a flare of anger passes through me. She was more than shaken last night, so beat down, yet she refuses to acknowledge it. It’s none of my business, except that she’s my pack and this damn restlessness prods me to push. Just like I have to with Lizzie.
My eyes widen at the realization that Veronica’s pulling the same shit Lizzie does. I narrow my eyes right back at her and repeat the single word incredulously, “Mistaken?” She seems to be shocked at how brazen I am, but I’m not going to back down. This pull inside of my chest demands action.
My voice is tighter than I’d like when I ask, “Why were you crying?”
Veronica clicks her tongue while searching my eyes before she purses her lips. “Why does it matter to you?”
“I hurt for you. You’re a member of my pack and I want to help you.”
“I don’t need help, little human.” Her wicked grin returns and her hard mask resurfaces. “How could you possibly help me?”
“I can’t answer that question until I know what the problem is.” I stare straight back at Veronica, unaffected by her arrogant tone. She’s not going to fool me any longer. We all have walls we build, brick by brick, to keep ourselves protected. Hers have tumbled down and I’ll help her rebuild them if she needs, but only if that’s the boundary she needs. My teeth sink into my bottom lip wondering if I should push her, and if so, how much harder.
Her shoulders relax and she leans back in her chair while tapping her bloodred nails on the desk. “I didn’t like last night.” Her cool expression and flat tone are at least a bit more genuine. I’ll take the small opening she gave me.
“You didn’t want him to claim you?”
She shakes her head gently. “It’s not that. I’m honored to be his mate. I really am.” She takes a deep breath and adds, “I didn’t know fate would give me a mate at all.”
“I don’t understand. Don’t you all have mates?”
Her response is to give me a soft smile that doesn’t reach her dark brown eyes. “No, only werewolves, dear.” She watches her fingers tap along the desk for a moment before continuing. “Other shifters too, I suppose.” She breathes in heavily before meeting my questioning gaze. “Not vampires. We don’t have mates.”
“But you have Vince?”
“Only because Vince has me as a mate. Fate’s a cruel bitch.” She snorts a laugh although there’s no humor in what she said.
“Why is it cruel?”
“Well, for starters, she gave Vince a bitch for a mate. And then for me …” Her voice trails off and she straightens in her seat before staring into my eyes. “Fate decided to give me a mate. One person to love for my entirety. I will love him with everything I have, but I will live much longer than he will. I will watch him grow old, while I am ageless. I will hold his hand when he dies, yet I will live.” Red tears brim around her eyes as she smirks.
“Like I said, fate’s a bitch. I never planned this.” She huffs that same humorless laugh. “I never wanted this. I never thought I’d have someone to love. And now that I have it, I’m not sure that I should. I wasn’t made for this. It’s not what I am.” Her voice turns hard at the end and it makes my body stiffen with fear. She’s a roller coaster of emotion ranging from disbelief to sadness and ending in anger. At first I’m taken aback by her honesty, but then I focus on what she said.