Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Not at the breakfast table, kids,” complained their Alpha female playfully as she strolled in, but Dante simply held Jaime tighter. Trey was behind Taryn, with Kye nestled in the crook of his arm.
Instantly, most of the pack were on their feet, trying to take Kye. Rather reluctantly, Trey handed the baby to Shaya, who then swatted everyone else away.
“Your cat has not moved from my son since the second he scented him,” Taryn told Jaime as she sat. “He sleeps by his crib, like he’s protecting him. When Trey slung him out of the room, he slept outside the door. It’s so cute.”
“It’s not cute at all,” Greta insisted. “You have to be careful with cats. Some of them will sleep on a baby’s face and smother them.”
“What?” demanded Trey.
Taryn rolled her eyes. “His overprotectiveness has now transferred from me to Kye.”
“Why did you give him River as a middle name?” Greta’s face was scrunched up in an expression of distaste.
“One, I love the name. Two, I love rivers. Three, I knew you wouldn’t like it.”
“Congratulations,” Trey said to Jaime and Dante. “Shaya told us that you mated.” Taryn’s face lit up. “Yes, congrats. Sorry, I totally forgot. I blame the sleep deprivation.” Dante and Jaime both gave their Alphas nods of thanks. “I need to get you to work or you’re going to be late,” he told Jaime before putting her on her feet and then rising. “See you guys later.
Tao, can you take care—”
The Head Enforcer raised his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything covered.”
“It’s odd seeing you delegate,” commented Taryn. “I like it.” Dante grinned. “Me too.”
As he and Jaime were passing, Rhett tugged on his T-shirt to halt him. “And you said you’d never let a female wrap you around her little finger.” His smile was so wide it could have challenged one of Marcus’s clown smiles.
“What?”
“That’s what you said at Taryn and Trey’s mating ceremony. My, my, my, how the tables have turned.”
Dante scowled. “Shut the fuck up.” Rhett just laughed.
During the entire drive to the sanctuary, Dante kept his hand on Jaime’s thigh. Much like her scent, the contact had a way of arousing him, settling him, and stirring his wolf all at the same time. It was shocking just how different he felt now that he was mated.
Although he had always been aware that he was without the other half of his soul, he hadn’t truly understood what that meant until he mated with Jaime and felt their bond begin to form. He hadn’t known there were so many hollow spaces inside him until she came and filled them, hadn’t realized just how incomplete he was until her soul fused with his.
Even with all his ease, confidence, and faith in himself, he’d only been half a person. Now that the metaphysical bond existed between him and Jaime, he had someone who balanced him out.
Jaime’s nature complemented his in that she was strong in areas where he might be flawed, and vice versa. In sum, they made each other stronger.
Now, if he could only get his mate to acknowledge that, he might have a chance at getting her to lower those walls of hers and let him in totally, give him all of herself. How ironic was it that all his life he’d been worried his mate would demand too much from him, and it was he who was doing the demanding?
If he let the subject alone, he would end up with the exact thing he’d always wanted—a mate who wouldn’t ask to be his “everything” and would hold back rather than be totally dependent on him.
The trouble was that he found he didn’t want that at all. He wanted every single part of Jaime and was prepared to give her exactly the same in return. How could he not? She was vital to him, even though she was also a pain in his ass.
When they arrived, Jaime gave Dante a pair of coveralls that were a little too tight and didn’t hesitate in putting him to work. He had a feeling that she hoped to discourage him from following her there again, but nothing would discourage him from being sure that she was safe. Not even cleaning up shit and listening to a building of howling, barking dogs. Unfortunately, Shawn congratulated them about the mating. Dante had kind of been hoping for a fight, but whatever. The witch and the lioness were just as happy.
“I’m so pleased for you both.” Riley almost squeezed the life out of Jaime.
“Thanks,” Jaime managed to wheeze out.
Blushing, Riley merely gave Dante a congratulatory smile. Apparently, he still intimidated her.
Once Riley had released her, Ivy gave her an equally enthusiastic hug. “If anyone deserves this, honey, it’s you.” She turned to Dante, frowning. “I’ll bet you feel like an idiot for ignoring your attraction to her for so long.”