Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
The shifts covered her as modestly as any other floor-length dress she’d worn in her life, and she left her room in search of tea, something that might settle her stomach.
Her mother, Silvia, was in the kitchen, and she smiled broadly. “Good morning, Suzette. How did you sleep?”
“Fine.” Until my mate awoke me.
“Hungry?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I could eat. Just some tea, please.”
Silvia chuckled. “I don’t think I ate a bite on the morning of my mating ceremony.” She set a cup of peppermint tea on the table. “Put plenty of sugar in it, though.”
Suzette sat at the table, her feet bare, her hair damp, and sipped the tea while her mother chattered on about anything and everything to fill the time.
When her father entered a few hours later, his brow was furrowed. He kissed his wife and drew in a breath. “There’s a problem at the plant. I need to go take care of it before the ceremony.”
Her mother gasped, her eyes wide. “Strogan, can’t it wait? It’s our daughter’s mating day.”
“Unfortunately, it can’t, but I promise to meet you there. I’ll take my suit with me and change either at the office or when I arrive.”
Silvia frowned, her lips pursed. Suzette had never known her to argue with her husband, and she was holding her tongue this morning, too.
Suzette felt the same frustration. Why did her father need to run off to work this morning of all mornings? She pasted on a smile, though, determined to be pleasant. “It will be fine, mother. We’ll get dressed and head to the government center. He’ll meet us there.”
“Thank you for understanding,” he said as he came close and kissed the top of Suzette’s head. “I’ll be there.”
The resounding snick of the back door shutting made Suzette flinch. Unease crept up her arms and legs, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
Shaking off the foreboding sensation, she rose and put her teacup in the sink. “I’ll go up and pack the last of my things.”
“That’s a good idea. Don’t take much, Suzette. Everything will be provided for you by your mate. Just some sentimental items.”
“I know, Mother.” She kissed her mother on the cheek and headed for the stairs.
It took only minutes to add her favorite doll and a few photos to her backpack before she wandered back to the window to stare out into the morning. She couldn’t wait to get out of this house after two weeks of sequestration.
A noise downstairs made her turn toward her bedroom door moments before an unknown presence made her freeze in her spot. Perhaps it was from one of the men who’d been guarding her. Neither of them had come close enough to her for her to scent them in the past two weeks. She was certain that had been intentional. But they might have been sent to accompany her to the government center where the ceremony would take place.
She gasped when her door flew open without warning.
The man who came toward her said nothing as she backed up against the window. What chilled her to the bone, however, was the fact that he looked so ordinary. He had no special features, nor was he very large.
His face was covered with a mask, but his eyes were dark and menacing as he covered the distance between them in seconds.
Suzette never had a chance to scream before he lifted a cloth over her face and held it against her nose and mouth. She fought, kicking and pulling at him, but her struggle was futile and lasted only moments before the world went black.
Chapter Two
“What the hell do you mean she’s not here?” Brock nearly shouted as he entered the government center to find three men standing at the entrance with this horrifying news.
His mother and father were with him, and his father stepped forward to face the men. “She should have arrived thirty minutes ago,” he stated as if everyone didn’t know this. It was the custom for the woman to arrive at the ceremonial building a half hour before her intended mate so she could be waiting for him.
“We’re aware, sir,” one of the men responded. “Her father arrived here fifteen minutes ago, having come separately from his wife and daughter. He’s gone to the house now.”
“Why weren’t they together?” Brock barked.
“I’m not sure. Something about a work commitment.”
“Work?” Owen responded in frustration. “Today?”
No one answered. They didn’t know more than they had shared.
Brock spun around, his heart beating out of his chest. “Where’s Elias? When I left my post this morning, he took over.”
Suddenly, a man Brock did not know burst into the building. He glanced around before settling his gazes on Brock. He swallowed hard. “I’ve been sent to inform you that your intended mate appears to have been kidnapped.”
All the blood ran from Brock’s head. He planted a hand on the wall as his skin heated to boiling. If he wasn’t careful, he would shift right here in the government building—to hell with the consequences.