Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Then why won’t you let me claim you?” If she feels the pull than it will only get stronger as the moon approaches.
“I’m scared,” she answers in a hushed voice, staring at the ground rather than at me.
I can’t help but to push for more. “Why are you so afraid? I won’t treat you like Shadow did. You have to know that.”
She shakes her head. “You’ve already treated me with more kindness than he ever did.”
“Then why don’t you want me to claim you?”
“The burn.” Her hand not holding her baby rises to the mark on her neck as tears well in her eyes.
I’ve heard it can hurt. I’ve also heard it’s nothing but pleasure. All I know is that it must happen for our bond to be complete. “I promise I won’t hurt you as your mate.”
Although she nods and seems to agree, I can see it in her eyes that she doesn’t want to be claimed. She doesn’t trust that I won’t let her suffer the pain on her own. A deep hurt settles in my chest.
“Think about it?” I ask her. “For me.”
She stares back at me, as if seeing through me, before promising, “I will.”
Jude
“We were just talking about you.” I smile into the phone as Luke answers the ring. I lean my back against the wall in the dimly lit living room. There’s enough light from the large windows that I don’t bother switching on a ceiling light. I haven’t sat down either. I turn and lean against the window frame reminding myself it’s just a phone call. It’s been far too long since I’ve heard my brother’s voice though. The timbre of his tone brings back memories from when we were only children.
“And why would you two be talking about me?” It makes me happy to know they haven’t forgotten me. At times I miss my brothers, but it’s best we chose different packs. I often remind myself of that.
There’s a pause before he answers. “It’s something we’d rather discuss in person.” I tense, not liking a damn thing about that response. The conversation that needs to happen. I’m not waiting when his tone holds too much concern. I know I’ll fixate on it; I’ll think the worst and with everything happening, so many parts moving at once, I can’t allow that to happen.
“Is Owen there?” I question.
“Yeah, we’re both here.”
“Put it on speaker. I want to get this out and over with.” I pace the front of the room and watch as my mate shifts for the children. Lizzie’s watching and I can see she’s trying her damndest to shift. It’s disheartening, but it will happen. The entire pack has faith.
“One second,” he says and then there’s a muffling on the phone.
With a resigned sigh, I step away from the window. I hear Luke pull the phone away from his ear and set it on a table or something that makes a clanging noise into the phone.
“Sweetness, go get us lunch.” I smirk as Owen gives an order, although barely audible on my end, to presumably his mate. Their mate. “You could at least ask nicely.” Her soft voice is followed by the sound of her kissing someone and then a “please” from one of my brothers. I’m not sure which gets the next kiss and then there’s a chuckle and a loud smack. I assume a palm to her ass.
The seriousness of the conversation is dimmed by the interaction, and I find myself looking back out the window at my Lena.
“What’s going on big bro?” Owen speaks first as I hear the phone shift slightly on their end.
“I take it you two are doing well with your mate.”
“You’ve got to meet her Jude.” I don’t even try to repress my smile at his lovesick tone.
“Soon. Very soon in fact.” I swallow and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Have either of you spoken to our father recently?”
“Fuck no.” Luke’s hard words are exactly what I expected to hear.
I hesitate to ask, but it must be done, “Have you heard any whispers of war?”
“Yes.” Owen is quick to respond. My brow rises up my forehead and I still. I wasn’t expecting them to have heard anything about it.
“Our father has apparently made his position in the war known. He’s planning to side with the vampires.” I shake my head, not liking that I’ve grouped all of the vampires together. “The ones going against the Authority.” Silence on their end makes me weary. “Don’t tell me you’ve sided against the Authority.” My breath leaves me at their lack of an immediate answer.
“All right, Jude.” I’ve always liked Luke’s no-nonsense attitude. “Here’s what we know. We’ve got a coven that wants protection. We promised them safety against the other vamps. We’re on the side of the Authority. We don’t know shit about our old pack.” After a moment he adds, “That’s fucked.” I finally breathe and find myself tapping against the window frame. They’re in the same position as my pack. Good.