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)
That commanding tone never failed to make her bristle. “Well, I could. But I won’t leave, because I don’t want to.”
“Have you always had such a serious issue with authority?”
“Let’s get something straight right now.” She pointed hard at him. “You’re Beta male here, yes. But you’re not my Beta. You’re my mate.” He couldn’t be both at once. Their relationship would never be peaceful if he tried.
Gratified by the latter fact, he smiled. “It’s cute when you get all assertive.” She’d make a perfect Beta female with her strength, dependability, and way of inspiring loyalty in people.
“Do you think the pack will be as shocked as we are?”
“I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow morning. For tonight, I want to be alone with my mate.” He lifted her and poised her above his cock. “Ride me.”
“Ooh, I like this plan.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next morning at breakfast, their news was met with a stunned silence. Only one person claimed to have suspected that Derren and Ally were mates.
Draping his arm over the back of Ally’s chair, Derren asked Kathy, “What made you suspect it?” The fact that he hadn’t suspected it continued to gall him, even though he understood why.
At the stove, Kathy shook her head in exasperation. “Derren, I’ve known you a long time. I’ve seen how you relate to people, how you keep females you’re dating at a distance. Though I suppose ‘dating’ is a generous word.” She gave a disapproving huff at his past of casual hookups. “You treated Ally differently. You were protective and possessive, and when placed in a dangerous situation, your first thought was for Ally’s safety. Your instinct was to protect her. Not Nick—your Alpha, friend, and pack mate—but a wolf who was technically an outsider until now.”
“If I hadn’t believed Cain was her mate,” began Eli, “I would have suspected it.”
An excited Shaya smiled at Ally. “I did start to wonder about it after our little chat yesterday morning.”
Bracken looked at Derren. “I noticed you were pretty heavy with Ally, but I just figured you were pussy whipped.” At Derren’s growl, he shrugged innocently. “What? Just sayin’.”
Stone, Shaya’s human father and ex–Navy SEAL, who took utter delight in torturing Nick, laughed. “A little like my daughter’s mate.” He’d arrived for a visit early that morning and was extremely annoyed with Shaya for not alerting him to the danger the pack had been in.
“Well,” drawled Nick, ignoring Stone’s comment, “congratulations to you both. And welcome to the pack, Ally.”
Shaya clapped. “I already considered you one of us, Ally, but now you’re an official member.”
That comment felt like sunshine on Ally’s skin. She smiled. “Thanks.” The warmth increased as everyone offered their congratulations. Her wolf was more than content with their acceptance.
Shaya grinned at Derren. “Now aren’t you glad I argued to have Ally come here?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “Yes, baby, he owes his happiness to you.”
“Damn right, he does,” Shaya stated smugly before taking a sip of her coffee. “Roni will be glad to hear the news. She and Marcus have gone to Phoenix Pack territory.”
“I didn’t want them to leave,” said Nick. “But Marcus hasn’t seen them for a while, and they’re family to him. It’s difficult for him and his wolf to be separated from them for too long.”
“It has to be hard to be caught between packs like that,” mused Stone, feeding Bruce a slice of bacon. “I’m surprised he didn’t insist that Roni remain here.”
“Oh, he tried.” Eli smiled. “In fact, he ranted at her to ‘stay inside the main lodge where she’ll be safe.’ Roni just stared at him until he started squirming and gave in.”
“She reminds me of Kye when she does that,” chuckled Shaya, referring to Taryn and Trey’s infant son, who was also her godson. “He never cries or shouts if you say no to him. He just stares at you until you give him what he wants.”
Kathy took a seat, grinning. “It even works on Nick.”
Affronted, Nick scowled. “No, it doesn’t.” But Shaya, Kathy, and Stone continued to tease him about it while they all ate, much to Ally’s amusement. He looked close to strangling all three of his tormentors when his cell phone rang. He left the room to take the call. When he returned, both surprise and suspiciousness were wafting from him . . . acting like pinpricks to her skin.
“That was Donovan,” Nick announced, garnering everyone’s attention. “The hit on us and the Phoenix Pack has been canceled.”
“Canceled?” echoed Bracken.
The Alpha male nodded. “Someone removed the bounty two days ago.”
“You don’t look relieved,” noted Stone.
“It just seems too . . . easy.”
“Well, I don’t find it so shocking.” Kathy stood and began collecting the empty plates. “Kerrie didn’t seem to be having any luck getting people to cash in on the hit.”
“I find it hard to believe she’d just give up.” Derren toyed with his mate’s hair, unable to stop touching her.