Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
She wasn’t lost anymore.
She was also his new neighbor. And now that Millicent was gone, he might have to visit Emberlyn often. Because, according to the old woman, her granddaughter was the only living witch who could create the elixir he needed.
Whether she’d agree to create it, he didn’t know. Nor could he know what kind of price tag she’d put on it if she was willing to help him.
A howl rang out somewhere in the distance – one filled with turmoil.
Ripper sighed. ‘Seems like Logan took my advice to shift and go for a run.’ He’d recognize his brother’s howl anywhere. ‘I didn’t think he would.’ Logan had been entirely too pissed.
‘Stop being a selfish fucking asshole – or do you want to have to watch CeCe one day get claimed by another wolf? Because that’s what’ll happen if we don’t do it first, Rip.’
‘Instead of getting calmer as the weeks have gone on, he’s gotten more wound up,’ Kerr remarked. ‘It’s a good sign.’
Ripper frowned. ‘Is it?’
‘Yeah. He’s getting angrier because he’s finally facing that you’re not going to change your mind. He feels CeCe slipping away. And hey, I sympathize with him. But the sooner he accepts reality the better.’
Ripper rubbed at the back of his head. ‘I should never have agreed to share her with Logan that night.’
‘You couldn’t have known what would happen.’
‘No, but it’s fucked everything up.’ It was never good for two brothers to want the same woman. Neither he nor Logan had said it out loud; neither wanting to do something that might lead to a situation that hurt the other.
Three weeks ago, they’d been drinking heavily and – influenced by the beer he’d downed and the call of the full moon – Ripper had agreed to share her with his brother just once.
Worst fucking decision ever.
Because CeCe wasn’t content for them all to go back to being platonic friends. On the contrary, she had proposed that they enter an official triad.
Triads weren’t uncommon among werewolves. But although Logan was willing, Ripper was not. CeCe was adamant that she couldn’t choose between them – it was both or neither. And since Ripper wouldn’t change his mind, Logan was pissed at him.
‘You’re not the one who jacked everything up,’ Kerr upheld. ‘You recently gave them the greenlight to pursue a relationship, saying you’d support it. It’s CeCe who’s the problem, claiming it ain’t fair of her to be with Logan when she also loves you. How is it unfair when he’d be well aware of the situation?’
Shrugging, Ripper scraped a hand over his jaw. ‘She went on and on about how she knew it’d hurt me to see them together and that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. I assured her that she was wrong. I mean, would I like it? No. But I wouldn’t stand in the way of my brother’s happiness, either. Telling her that I’d be good with it just pissed her off, though.’
‘Because she doesn’t want you to be okay with it.’
‘Yeah, I get that. But I’m fucking sick of Logan making me out to be the bad guy here. The person standing between him and what he most wants is CeCe herself.’
‘Which is what I pointed out to him yesterday. He mumbled something under his breath and walked away. My opinion? I don’t think he’s mad at you because you won’t agree to a triad. I think he’s mad at you because she’s insisting on having you both. It isn’t your fault, no, but he can’t help resenting you for it. What guy would want to feel that he’s not enough for the woman he loves?’
Ripper let out a long breath. ‘I don’t see what else I can do at this point. I’ve talked to both of them, I made my stance on the triad thing clear, and I promised I’ll support them if they go ahead with a relationship. But somehow, I still come off as the bastard in this scenario.’
Hearing a car engine come to life, Ripper looked to where the witches once stood. ‘Looks like they’re leaving.’
‘This won’t be the end of it, though,’ said Kerr. ‘They’d all reached agreements between themselves before Millicent passed, thinking they had a decent idea of what the will would state. They’re gonna give Emberlyn trouble.’
Probably. ‘I doubt it will get them anywhere.’ The woman didn’t appear to give one single measly fuck – which he begrudgingly respected. More, she didn’t strike him as someone who’d break. Even at her most vulnerable, when Michael had done a disappearing act, she’d radiated strength and self-assurance. ‘Millicent left her to me in her will.’
Kerr’s head whipped to face him. ‘What?’ he asked, the word coming out on a chuckle. ‘You’re serious?’
Ripper frowned at him. ‘Has there ever been a single time in my life that I’ve told a joke?’