Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 213(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 213(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
After meeting Caleb, Bethany, and the others, she wanted to belong so badly. The idea of rejecting them scared her. She’d have no place to call home.
“You know there’s another reason you could be feeling this way.”
“No, don’t say it. That would be even worse.”
“Come on, Heather, it could happen. It’s time for you.”
“I’m not going into heat.” She’d seen her mother just before she’d gone into heat. Her mother and father had been gone for several days once it started. She wasn’t a fool. The heat meant she would have no choice but to find a mate.
“It could be happening.”
“No.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
Heather smiled and she pulled her sister close to her. Mika was like a furnace.
“You’ve got to talk to Uncle,” Mika said.
“No. I will if it gets any worse, but you’ve got to promise me you won’t say anything. I won’t worry him for nothing. Promise me.”
“I don’t like this.”
“You don’t have to like it. But for me, please?” she asked.
Mika sighed. “Fine. So long as you’ve got a handle on it. I won’t say anything. Please, don’t let this get so far that you have no choice but to leave.” Her sister held her even tighter. “I can’t lose you, too.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“We’ve already lost so much. We have to stay together. Build a new life.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” She couldn’t guarantee it, but she couldn’t stand to see her sister upset.
Mika left her alone and she stared up at the night’s sky and the canvas of stars that had enchanted her since childhood. Her sister had been so warm while all she felt was the cold. Her mother had felt this before the heat had hit. When that had happened, the only man who’d been able to satisfy her was her mate, her husband.
Heather knew exactly when the changes began in her body. It was when she met David. Her body wanted him even though her mind wasn’t quite ready to take that leap.
“Please don’t let it be the start of mating heat.” She didn’t know what would be worse, a rejection of the pack or the mating heat. Both of them sounded awful to her.
She gave the sky one last glance and decided to head back to the house. Caleb and her uncle were in plans to build a brand-new property for them. If more wolves were to join, it wouldn’t take long for the main house to be overwhelmed. Currently, she shared a wing of the house with her uncle and Mika.
Heading back, she came to a stop when she saw David jump out of a truck. In the back, she saw lots of brown paper bags.
She didn’t want to be rude to him and so she approached, arms folded. “Hi,” she said.
David jerked around and dropped the keys and the bag within his grasp.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” She quickly crouched down and started to pick up the cans of food that had fallen.
“It’s nothing.”
She quickly placed them in the bag.
David smelled so good—an earthy, musky scent that was all male. It reminded her of her runs in the forest.
“How have you been? We live together and I don’t see you around,” he said.
“I’ve been helping Bethany and my uncle out.” She’d been avoiding everyone at all costs. It was easy to be around Bethany. Being a human, she didn’t have the same senses as the rest of them, so she didn’t feel judged.
Caleb had tried to talk to her about David, as did Reese and Brian. Then of course, her uncle had also tried to encourage a mating.
All their words and attempts had made her too nervous.
She lifted up a packet and smiled. It was her favorite brand of vegan cheese. Placing it into the pack, she felt this glow from within.
For the past week, she’d felt this coldness, and with one block of cheese, it faded. Not good.
She scrambled to her feet and took a step back, looking at David, who inhaled deeply. The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck seemed to stand on end.
“We’re going to be having a cookout in a couple of days,” David said.
“Right.”
“I got you some tofu blocks. I’ve been looking at ways to cook with it.”
She frowned. “You know how to cook?”
“No. I … yes, I can cook for you. There’s no reason you can’t be involved in the cookout. I even got a separate grill.” He offered her a smile.
They were all so nice to her. Finding ways to include her—especially David.
“Thank you.”
“I don’t mind, you know. You being a vegan.”
“Great.” This was why she was never good in many settings. She sucked at socializing.
****
I don’t mind you being a vegan? “Ugh, what the fuck was that?” David slammed the groceries down onto the table. It was the last bag. Heather had already helped and disappeared.