Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
CHAPTER SIX
Entering her lodge, Ally slung her jacket onto the sofa and headed for the stairs. Sensing that Derren had expectedly followed her inside, she said, “You can go now.”
“Not until you’re steady on your feet.” Derren wanted to go upstairs with her, help her get clean, take care of her—an odd feeling that was made stronger by his wolf’s urge to do the same. But he hadn’t earned that level of intimacy with her, and it was best for everyone if he ignored the urge in any case.
Ally couldn’t deny that she was still a little weak, but she’d be damned if she’d admit it out loud. “I don’t need a nursemaid.”
“Good. I’d just send her away anyway.”
Knowing he’d purposely misunderstood what she’d said, Ally just rolled her eyes. Not interested in wasting what little strength she had on arguing with him, she left him in the kitchen while she took her shower. Since her head wound had healed, it barely stung when she shampooed her hair. She wanted to linger, to let the hot spray wash away her tension, but she was too tired.
Dressed in her sweats, she made her way downstairs. Derren was still in the kitchen, and he’d apparently made himself a sandwich. “Feel free to make yourself at home.” The bite of sarcasm in her words actually made him smile.
He plonked the sandwich on her dining table. “Sit. Eat.”
Well, that made her bristle, even as her stomach rumbled. “I don’t respond well to orders.”
“Yeah, I’m learning that.” He moved closer, breathing in her delicious scent mingled with her coconut soap. “You need to eat something. You missed lunch, and you used up a lot of energy. Eat.”
Although his Beta tone was irritating as shit, she wasn’t the type to cut her nose off to spite her face. So with a huff, she took a seat and dug into her sandwich, which was actually pretty good. She purposely gave her full attention to the sandwich, disregarding the wolf opposite her. But it was hard to ignore a six-foot-plus male who was packed with hard muscle and armed with an unrefined sexuality. Especially when said male wanted her attention.
“Is it always like that?” Derren asked. At her questioning look, he added, “The visions. Do they always seem real?”
“Yes.” Even when she was sleeping, they were never unclear or dreamlike.
“Must be hard, scary, watching people you know—maybe even care about—be seriously hurt or die.” He deliberately brushed his foot against hers beneath the table, almost smiling at her reproachful narrow-eyed look. “I guess the flip side is that you get to save them.”
“Not all of them.” At his speculative look, she cursed. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Who didn’t you manage to save?”
She so wasn’t going there. Done with her sandwich, she got to her feet. “You know what, I think I’ll go relax in the hammock for a while. I’m tired.”
“I’m not so easy to dismiss, Ally. Surely you’ve figured that out by now.”
She had. It was a frustrating quality that part of her admired. “Look, I’m grateful that you watched over me while I was unconscious. But I’m fine now. You don’t need to stay.”
“I know.” But he was still going to stay; his expression made that clear.
“Fine. Do what you like.”
“I will.” He always did. It had made him a difficult son to raise, since his parents were—
Instantly, Derren shoved the memory of them and their betrayal from his mind before it had the chance to darken his mood.
Stepping out onto the porch, he had to smile at the sight of Ally lounging in the hammock, eyes closed, listening to her iPod. And effectively dismissing him once again. She was a stubborn, prickly little thing intent on holding the world at a distance. Why that intrigued him, he really couldn’t say. But very little intrigued Derren, and the fact that she could do that drew him as surely as her scent and delectable body.
He could fully admit that to himself now that he was no longer looking at her through a dark cloud of resentment and suspiciousness. He was no longer knotted up inside, no longer unreasonably angry with her or himself for how badly he wanted her. It made him able to see her more clearly—see the sharp, strong-willed, wounded female who possessed a dangerous edge and who could show loyalty and kindness to a pack that hadn’t given her the same.
With that one deed, she’d earned not only his respect but his loyalty. Maybe even a piece of his trust. That pleased and relieved his wolf.
Hearing footsteps, he turned just as Shaya and Nick rounded the corner. Derren gently tugged on Ally’s hair, gaining her attention. She scowled until she noticed her new visitors.
Switching off her iPod and pulling out her earbuds, Ally sat up. “Hey. What’s this?” She eyed the plate in Shaya’s hands that was covered with tinfoil.