Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
“Compassion isn’t a weakness. Amber has taught me that emotions and feelings are not weaknesses. They make us better men.”
“If I decide to allow Winter and Daphne to be at the wedding, you’ll see them.” He returned his attention to the screen and found what he was looking for. “There.”
“I count three,” Brian said.
“Five. There are five men.”
Each angle of the perimeter had two cameras trained at possible entrance points. The second camera showed what the first one didn’t.
“Who manned this station in the past twenty-four hours?”
Brain handed him the log books.
Scrolling through the three names, he found one who also happened to be guard duty to the females. “Bring me Phillip, now,” he said.
“You don’t think he’s working for them, do you?”
“I don’t know what to think until I know more.” He had a feeling Phillip was distracted by one or more of the female prisoners.
Lucas had already returned.
“Anyone willing to openly challenge me?” he asked.
“No.”
“Pity,” he said, suddenly in the need of a good fight. “Did you hear I can invite Winter and Daphne to Brian and Amber’s wedding?” He shook his head. He wanted his men to be afraid of him again, not inviting him and a plus-two to weddings.
Phillip arrived in the room.
“Please tell me why I scented human filth at the edge of our perimeter and wasn’t informed of this during your watch.” He played the footage. He wasn’t sure why the men stood there waiting.
Phillip’s eyes grew wide.
“I can only take it to mean that you’ve found yourself a distraction from our prisoners. I believe my guards had all been warned about how dangerous this duty is. They will stop at nothing to kill each and every one of us.”
“But, your woman, she’s a human.”
“Winter is different, and it’s about time you realize the difference between people who hate us and those who don’t. You’re off guard duty. If I see you near any of the prisoners, I’ll lock you up, Phillip.” He dismissed the man after stripping him of his rank.
“What do we do now?” Lucas asked.
“We wait and see what move they make first. I want a permanent guard posted here. They’re not to give away their position, just to observe. I want to know what’s going on.” They’d destroyed the trackers and now it would seem their location was still known. He would have to either kill them or release them. In doing so, what would he do with Winter?
****
She’d been able to pretend for one week.
Winter glanced at the clock, seeing it was a little after five. Daphne lay down in the crib she’d gotten downstairs with an animal mobile above her, twirling in the shadows and lights. It was a beautiful one.
She pushed some hair out of her face as she finished serving up the casserole. Serving herself a portion, she licked her lips and was about to put Rocko’s meal in the oven to keep warm when the door opened.
He still had guards posted at the door and she made no move to leave the house, and stuck to being in the yard. She rather liked sticking to her safe routine than the fear that constantly clawed at her for being out there, with all of his people. She didn’t for a second believe they were happy with their alpha being with her.
“You’re home early,” she said, trying to keep calm as she looked at him.
His body was tense as he watched her. “I wanted to have dinner with you and Daphne.”
“She’s eaten.”
“Then we’ll enjoy a meal together while she’s playing.”
They hadn’t been alone in the same room with each other since she’d given herself to him. She couldn’t believe the strength she’d shown him in the past couple of days by not going to him. Each night, she woke up hot from within, needing his touch.
She was addicted after just one taste of him, and now she couldn’t seem to stop her body from craving more, from begging for more.
Winter quickly carried both of their plates to the table. Before sitting down, she went and grabbed the casserole dish. She’d noticed each night he always took seconds, large portions as well.
“I hope you don’t mind my food.”
“I love your food.”
She nodded. See, I can do this. I can act naturally. There is really nothing to it.
Sitting at the table, she was acutely aware of him. He was so much larger than her. His body huge, muscular. His hands as he held a knife and fork shouldn’t be in the least bit exotic but then, she felt it deep in her core. She’d felt such pleasure from his touch. He’d brought her to orgasm three times, and they’d felt so good.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“What?”
“Your day with Daphne, how was it?”
“Oh, it was good,” she said. “She’s feeling much better. You? How was your day?”