Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Breathing in and out. Taking his time.
He closed his eyes, and Poppy was there.
Her smiling lips. The sparkle in her green eyes. Images of past encounters flashed in his mind. His words stinging, wiping that smile off her lips. Klaus wanted to pound his own fucking face from the nasty shit he’d said to her. Not just about her, but also about … Anna, her mother.
Anna Davenport was a well-loved and respected woman within the pack.
Yes, she slept with men, but no one ever spoke about it. During one of his alpha-training sessions, he’d asked his dad about why he accepted it.
“Son, Anna paid the ultimate price. She lost her mate. Her one true love. That kind of pain is enough to send anyone crazy, but with her daughter and the pack, she found a way to heal. I would never begrudge her what she did.”
When he said that nasty shit to Poppy, he hadn’t known what her father had done. How he’d protected his own father. Laid down his life for George. Running a hand down his face, he knew he had to do something that would make her realize he was sorry. Not just by words, but also by actions.
He headed back to the main town, charging through the trees, not hitting a single one as he walked, making his way to where he needed to be. Rushing with all of his might. The moment he had a clear view of the town, he slowed down, attempting to catch his breath as he walked closer.
The town was busy. The pack was making their last preparations for the Lionel pack. Klaus had a desire to tear it all down. To tell the Lionel pack to fuck off, that their unwanted mates weren’t welcome, but that wouldn’t be diplomatic.
His father had worked hard to make them a respected and cherished pack. Where no one wanted to take their territory.
Klaus was aware that not all packs were like his father. Some were built on fear and control. This pack was built on community.
He saw Anna outside her shop, standing on a ladder. No one was helping her, but he understood why not. People were so busy, and he went to her, quickly holding the ladder in place.
“Mrs. Davenport, this is not safe,” he said.
She chuckled. “Hello, Klaus. Mrs. Davenport is way too formal. Call me Anna. And I know it’s not safe, but I have to get this right. Ah, there, see.” She climbed down off the ladder, and they stepped back. “All aligned. Perfect.”
He stared up at her shop sign and shook his head. She’d been straightening the letters on her shop.
Klaus had been given this job to do by his father a few days ago, but he hadn’t gotten around to it. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“Klaus, we all get busy. Don’t worry about it.”
Chapter Four
Poppy gripped her shoulders and tilted her head from left to right, then back again. She ached from all of the baking. What was more, her mother had asked for her to drop off some of the baked goods at the alpha’s main house, where Nicole was apparently waiting for them.
The large house came into view, and she saw Bethany in the front yard, bouncing a ball and then aiming it for the hoop.
She clapped her hands as soon as the young girl scored. “Well done.”
Bethany spun around. Her eyes were wide. “Poppy.”
“Hey, Bethany. Is your mom in?”
The young girl looked toward the house and then back at her. She nodded her head, but there was something about her that Poppy wasn’t sure about. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, of course. Everything is fine. You know, just out here dribbling my ball. Not making negotiations for alpha training or making deals with my brother.”
Poppy stopped and then smiled. “O-okay. Sure. Should I knock?”
“Right, you want to take those in because of the whole, pack visit. Yeah, I’ll get that.”
Bethany was acting oddly.
Poppy followed Bethany as she opened the door. “Mom, Poppy’s here with a delivery.”
She stepped into the house as Nicole came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands. “You are a real lifesaver. Your mother, tell her I owe her one.”
Whenever the alpha and his mate needed some emergency cooking, they often asked her mother for help.
Nicole was gifted in many ways, just not in the kitchen, and there had nearly been a war with a different pack as they felt she had given them all food poisoning on purpose. They hadn’t. Nicole’s cooking wasn’t great, not even by a little.
So very gross.
The pack would still try her food if it was potlucks or festivals, but they would be sure to only try a little bit. Not to hurt her feelings.
Walking into the kitchen, Poppy was aware of Bethany sticking around.
“No problem. Mom said if there is anything else you need, just give her a call.” She unloaded the bags and then put her hands back to her neck and shoulders, easing out the tension.