Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Frankie watched him go and then headed down the tunnel that she was pretty sure would take her to the kitchen, but she couldn’t be absolutely certain. Soon the scents of food drifted to her, and she knew she’d taken the right route.
She heard footsteps approaching just before a male wolf rounded the corner. Marcus. Her wolf stilled, watching him. Knowing he had history with Trick made Frankie feel a little awkward. And slightly jealous, yeah, even though she knew it was ridiculous. Something in her expression must have given her away, because realization dawned on his face and he halted.
Marcus scratched his chin. “Trick told you, huh?”
Slowing to a stop, she nodded and then gave a slight shrug, going for nonchalant. She didn’t want him to see that the whole thing bothered her on any level, particularly since she knew it was senseless. “He didn’t want Greta to blindside me with it.”
“I think Roni found it a little weird at first. Maybe even felt a little threatened by it, like Trick would be competition. She couldn’t have been more wrong.” Marcus rubbed his jaw. “He’s probably already told you this, but maybe it will help if you hear the same from me. Trick and I were never a couple. Never wanted to be. We were close friends and trusted each other, so that made it . . . comfortable, I guess you could say, to indulge in random one-night stands. Uncomplicated and undemanding. There was nothing more than that between us.”
Not really comfortable with the conversation, she simply said, “Okay.” She hoped he’d end it there. He didn’t.
“Even if I had wanted more—which I hadn’t—he wouldn’t have given it to me. He’s always been so very sure that he’ll recognize his mate on sight that he held his sexual partners at a distance, reasoning that letting them close could lead them into thinking he wanted more. He did it out of loyalty to a mate he hadn’t yet found—or, as it turns out, who he hadn’t consciously known he’d found. For Trick, there’s only ever been you. No one else counted.”
Warmed a little by his seeming determination to reassure her, she nodded. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“You’re good for him. For a long time, Trick has made a point of taunting the fuck out of others. But it’s been at least four months since he last teased anyone. I knew something was wrong, wondered if maybe he and his wolf were becoming restless and sour by watching others find their mates while he remained alone. He wouldn’t talk about it. Wouldn’t even admit that he was losing hope of finding you. See, Trick comes across as someone who’s easy to read, but he’s not. A lot of stuff goes on in his head; he just keeps it to himself. He does that for the same reason that he pushes—or did push—people’s hot buttons and deliberately stirs things up.”
“To keep a part of himself separate from others.” She tilted her head as something occurred to her. “Is it because of Jana?”
Marcus rocked back on his heels. “He told you about her? Good. It shows he’s holding nothing back from you.”
He did seem to be genuinely pleased by it. This wasn’t someone who was at all jealous or even slightly discomfited by her connection to Trick, she mused. The tension that had stilled her muscles began to ebb. Even her wolf began to relax a little.
“To answer your question, yes, I think it is because of Jana. No one’s going to crush hard on a person who goads them, taunts them, and deliberately makes them feel uncomfortable—even though he’s not malicious about it. He wasn’t like that until the Jana incident.”
“What was he like?” she asked, curious.
“More empathetic, sensitive, and unguarded. Oh, he still teased people, but he did it in a lighthearted way. He did it to lift the mood or make them laugh, not to piss them off. I’ve seen him act that way with you. I wondered if there was anything of the old Trick left in him. It’s good to know that there is; it’s good to watch it resurface. I’m glad he has you back.”
Frankie felt a smile curve her mouth. This wolf was easy to like. “I can’t really blame him for scratching your itches.” Especially since Marcus was hot.
Marcus laughed. “Thanks. So things aren’t going to be weird between you and me? Because I really don’t want that.”
“Things aren’t going to be weird,” she assured him truthfully.
“Good. See you at dinner after I go see what Trey’s called a meeting for.”
They parted ways, and Frankie soon arrived at the kitchen. It was kind of odd walking inside on her own. Sure, this was technically her pack, but she still felt like a visitor at times. Grief marred the air, but there was an unexpected hint of warmth there too.