Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
I make my way back downstairs and grab the basket. I head out the backdoor, securing it before I slip into my car. I enter the address into my GPS, and I see the house isn’t far away, but it looks like it’s off the beaten path. It’s all alone in the woods, so maybe it’s just a house with a lot of land. Maybe they are having a Halloween party or something.
I pull out onto a now completely empty Main Street, and the rain starts to pour as I hit the country highway, making it hard to see. It causes the drive to be longer than it should. The rain eases off when I finally hit the turn off. I’m sure it will start up again any second, so maybe I can do the delivery before I get poured on.
I make the turn, going from a paved, smooth surface to a rough, gravel path. Before I can react, my tires slip. The ditch grabs my back wheel, pulling me off the driveway. I grip the wheel and try to push the accelerator, but my car’s tires are pretty puny, and they just kick up the muddy water while spinning in place.
“Well, shit.”
I can see the house with my headlights, and it only looks to be about a mile away, sitting at the end of the road, nestled in front of a bunch of trees. Looking around, I notice everything is surrounded by trees; I’m completely in the woods. I grab my purse and utter a few choice words when I see I don’t have any service on my phone. I don’t have much of a choice, so to the house it is. Even if it’s down the long scary gravel road surrounded by a dark forest.
The sun has fully set by now, so I need to get a move on. Maybe once I give them their cookies, they can give me a ride back to town, or maybe they have a truck that could pull me out. I really don’t think it would take much, just one good tug.
Grabbing the basket, I slip from my car, putting my hood back over my head. I make it about halfway down when I start to hear the crackle of sticks. Someone is walking through the woods, crushing them beneath their feet. I stop and try to see what’s making the noise, but with the sun gone and the dark clouds, I can’t make out much.
I hear a growl to my right, followed by another snapping twig, making my heart jump in my chest. When the howl sounds from my left, panic truly sets in, and I start running for the house. My heart pounds in my chest, and I look behind me as I run, seeing a white wolf on my tail. It makes me run faster than I ever thought I could, and as I hit the front porch, I pray the door is unlocked. Relief hits me when I grab the handle. It turns. I burst through, nearly falling inside. I manage to turn, slamming it behind me and pressing myself against the door.
Suddenly, I hear the sound of a lock latching into place from the outside. I slowly turn and test the knob. It moves, but a deadbolt is holding the door shut. I see the lock all the way at the top of the door. Who puts a deadbolt that high, and why would you lock someone into your home and not out of it?
Another growl sounds, and this time it’s from inside the house, making me freeze in place. I drop the basket from my hand.
“I’m sorry, Ruby, we had no choice,” I hear Gwen’s voice from outside.
“Gwen! There’s a wolf out there!” I shout to her.
That’s when I realize there’s one in here too.
Chapter 8
Dominic
Mine.
I watch as Ruby slowly turns around and faces me, her red cape covering some of her face, but I’d know her scent anywhere. The mating moon is full, and it’s time I claimed my mate.
Having her near me calms my beast, and I’m able to think clearly. I remember Gwen drugging me, and I have flashes of Stone bringing me here to my home. I must have slept for a few hours because when I woke, it was nighttime, and I could smell Ruby was near. I began pacing the room, hearing her come closer and closer. I could feel the other wolves outside, Gwen and Stone leading her to me, so I waited for her to come. Now that I have her with me, we can mate, and I can mark her fully as mine.
I take a step towards her, still in my wolf form. Our wolves are larger than the average wolf, about triple the size of a normal one. I move slowly so she sees my intentions, and I watch for her reaction.