Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Shaya brightened. “Thanks, Jesse.” She called the two wolves over. Eli entered first, though he only took a single step inside. Jesse didn’t get up to greet him. Honestly, it would be better if he stayed where he was and kept a tight grip on his mate anyway. Tension was gathering in her muscles, but she looked deceptively relaxed.
“I came to apologize,” said Eli, casting the margay a wary glance. “I took my anger out on you and I said some pretty sly remarks. I was out of line.” Simple. To the point. No attempt to justify his behavior. “It won’t happen again.”
“No, it won’t,” said Jesse.
“And I’m sorry for my mother’s behavior.” Eli shook his head. “She had no right to do what she did. If I’d known what she planned, I would have put a stop to it. Please believe that.”
Roni entered then, shoulders hunched and eyes glinting with shame. The cat unsheathed her claws, and Jesse ground his teeth as they dug into his skin. Just a little more pressure would have him bleeding, so he was glad that Roni didn’t advance any farther into the room.
“I’m sorry too, Jesse.” Roni bit her lip. “I don’t have an excuse. There isn’t an excuse for turning up at your house to confront your mate—a female who was totally justified in what she did. I’m not going to blame my mother. Nick was right; I should know better than to let her get me all worked up.” She looked at the margay. “I came to apologize to Harley too.”
Going by the way she was tapping her claws . . . “I don’t think Harley or her cat will be receptive right now.”
Roni’s shoulders slumped. “On a scale of one to ten, how mad at me is she?”
“Harley or her cat?”
“Both.”
“Harley blames Kathy, not you. But her cat . . . she’s gonna need a little time.”
Roni inclined her head. “Fair enough.”
“Kathy, Caleb, and Kent have been dealt with,” said Shaya. “The boys had actually backed down well before Nick arrived at the scene. They feel like shit but are too scared to face your mate, especially in her cat form. As for Kathy . . . she’s been uncharacteristically quiet. Subdued, even.”
“It’s because Jesse told her she lost a lot of his respect,” Roni explained. “Respect means a great deal to my mother. Not just because she’s a very proud, dominant female, but because my father placed a lot of importance on respect.”
Eli nodded. “He’d say you had to give it before you could get it, that to lose someone’s respect was a shameful thing.”
“Then it would seem that Jesse hit her where it hurt.” Inhaling deeply, Shaya turned to Jesse. “Dinner’s almost ready. Are you coming to the main lodge to eat?”
Since the cat’s claws were still pricking his flesh, he replied, “Not tonight.”
“I thought as much.” The Alpha female smiled weakly. “I hope you’ll join us for lunch tomorrow. I won’t say breakfast, because I know you two prefer having the mornings to yourselves.”
The cat slowly unfurled and did a long, lazy stretch, showing off those sharp claws, never losing sight of the visitors.
“We should go.” Eli backed out of the lodge, pulling Roni with him.
Rolling her eyes, Shaya said, “She’s not getting ready to pounce; she’s just stretching. Her markings are beautiful, especially those little spots.” The redhead stepped forward, reaching out. “I don’t suppose she’d let me give her a little st—” The cat hissed, and Shaya snatched back her hand. “Understood. I’ll see you both tomorrow. Have a good night.” With a little wave, Shaya left the lodge.
The cat retracted her claws and padded up Jesse’s chest to rub the sides of her neck against his face, scent-marking him. He scratched her head. “Such a cute little thing, but you have those wolves nervous.” Because cat shifters were temperamental in their animal form, and this little margay had already perfectly demonstrated just what she could do with those claws.
Just then, his stomach rumbled. The cat blinked and looked around, seeming confused. He chuckled. “I’m hungry. Come back, Harley; tell me what you want for dinner.” But she didn’t. He sighed. “All right.”
Holding on to the cat, he got to his feet and walked into the kitchen. She didn’t struggle to be put down. “I think you like getting carried around. Maybe it’s because you like being up high.” He looked in the cupboards and the fridge, searching for inspiration. “How about I grill some steaks?” he proposed. “Come on, Harley, I need an answer here.” The cat made what sounded like a noise of complaint, and then bones began to crack and pop as she shifted back into her human form.
Curling her limbs around him, Harley said, “When you stroke her and coo to her like that, she doesn’t want to shift.”