Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45069 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
For now, he lifted her hands to his face so she could “see” him with her fingers. “We usually shift when we travel around the mountain. It’s faster.”
She swallowed hard. “What if I can’t?” Panic wafted from her.
“Shift? You’ll be able to shift, Little rebel. I’m certain of it.” He knew that was not what she’d meant, but he needed a moment to come up with an answer to her real question.
“No, Daddy,” she said in a sassy tone that made him smile. “What if I can’t see? How will I travel?”
“I don’t know yet,” he answered honestly. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s possible your other senses will be so heightened that you’ll be able to run free without difficulty.”
He hated that thought. It would scare him to death, but it was true.
“That sounds scary.”
No shit. It sounded like it would give him a heart attack. “There’s always the option of me carrying you like I did to get here.” He tapped her nose. “Don’t you fret over something we don’t know yet, okay?”
“What will I do when you have to leave the house, Daddy? I’m always going to be a burden to you. I’m difficult.”
“Olivia,” he warned, “what did I say about referring to yourself as a burden?”
She pouted, her bottom lip pushing out. She also crossed her arms and hmphed. “It’s true.”
“It’s not true, and just so you know, no Alpha Protector leaves his mate unattended. We never leave our mates home alone, not even the sighted ones.”
Her pretty green eyes widened. “You don’t?”
“Nope. It’s part of our overbearing DNA,” he teased.
“Where will I go?”
“When several of us have to parole the area, we leave our mates together in one home. You’ll be able to socialize and play with other Little girls while Daddy is working.”
Her brow furrowed again as she thought about his words, but then she gave a small smile. “I hope I like them.”
“You’ll love them. You already know my brother’s mate, Jezebel, and his best friend Brock’s mate, Suzette, right?”
“Sort of. We were a year apart, so I don’t know them really, especially since I couldn’t see them.”
“You’ll get to know them, and the three of you will be thick as thieves in no time. You three are the most recent mates to join the Alpha Protectors. The next Little wolf who will join us will be Elias’s mate. He’s Brock’s brother.”
“I can’t keep everyone straight. Tell me again.”
“Arion is my brother. His mate is Jezebel. His best friend is Brock. His mate is Suzette. Brock’s younger brother is close to my age, thirty-five. His name is Elias.”
“Who is his mate? Do I know her?”
Damon chuckled. “I wouldn’t tell you that if I knew, Little rebel. You’ll have to wait and see.”
“When will he claim her?” Olivia asked.
“If I told you that, you would use your super deduction skills to figure out which of your classmates was almost of age. Besides, there are Alpha Protectors from other parts of the surrounding mountains waiting for their mates to come of age, too. Anyone you know who is marked might not be destined for this section of the mountain.” He kissed her nose and then forced her mind to go in a different direction by rubbing his mark against her arm.
Her breath hitched, and she sat taller. “Daddy… That’s not playing fair.”
He chuckled. “I will never play fair, Baby girl.” He pinned her with his hands on either side of her hips again. “Are you hungry, Baby girl?”
She set her fingers on his face and moved them around. “Hmm. Maybe. Let me see you again first. Where are my glasses?”
“I’ll go find them.” He scooped her off the counter. “There’s one more part of the house you haven’t learned about yet.” He carried her toward the corner of the living room.
“What is it, Daddy?”
“It’s a playpen.”
Her cute nose scrunched up. “A playpen? Those are for babies.”
“And who is my Baby girl?” he teased.
She sighed. “Why do I need a playpen?”
He reached the edge and leaned over to set her on her bottom. “It will keep you safe when I’m in the shower or on the phone or cooking. When you’re in here, you do not have permission to stand, just like your crib. No climbing over the side. It’s meant to keep you from getting hurt.”
She glared at him with blank eyes.
“Before you have a tantrum, naughty girl, let me tell you that every Daddy on the mountain has a playpen. Now, I’m going to go find your glasses, and then I’m going to make us something to eat. You may explore the playpen while I do that.”
She crossed her arms and hmphed again. It was going to be difficult to discipline her if she kept looking so cute when she was defiant. He wanted to laugh. Thank goodness she couldn’t see his face. Hopefully she assumed it was stern.