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)
He didn’t properly remember those years – the snippets in his head were like those of a faded dream. The result, though? He didn’t yearn to belong. He yearned to be free.
He hadn’t told anyone, not even his brother, but at times Ripper had felt ‘called’ back to Bloodhill. He’d lost four and a half years of his adolescence – that was how it had felt when he’d come out of his Rabid state. At fifteen, he’d had to slot back into a life that had gone on without him and left him behind.
He hadn’t known how to be ‘normal’, hadn’t felt normal. He’d had no mental foothold. More, he’d felt like he didn’t fit in his own skin.
The call to return to Bloodhill had been so strong he’d occasionally considered giving into it. It would have been easier to go back to that wild, primitive state where complex emotions didn’t exist. The call felt much dimmer nowadays – the pull of the moon beating it by far.
Crew approached and nudged him, his blue-gray eyes lit with energy. ‘You ready?’
Ripper only gave a curt nod.
Kerr wouldn’t be running with them tonight. He’d found himself a female companion for the evening; had taunted Ripper with how he could do the same if only he’d let himself go to Black Willow Manor.
So Ripper had socked him in the gut.
He’d always had a certain image of Emberlyn in his head – her reputation preceded her, and rumors were aplenty. But having earlier realized there were things he hadn’t known, having spent a little time in her company, he realized she wasn’t quite what she seemed.
Still, he couldn’t say what exactly she seemed; couldn’t get a proper read on her. She only revealed the sides she wanted you to see. She didn’t appear to mind being either misunderstood or underestimated. It was unusual for an Alpha personality.
She was unusual. And . . . and he needed to stop thinking about her. She wasn’t for him. Simple.
Peripheral movement snagged his attention. He looked to see his brother approaching, his expression sober, his eyes dull, his wide shoulders stiff.
‘We could be doing something else now, brother,’ Logan clipped. ‘Could be spending our evening with our mate. Instead, we’re gonna have to burn off the moon’s call by sprinting through the woods on all fluffy fours. That doesn’t bother you?’
Ripper inwardly sighed. ‘You really want to go over this again? What’s the point? You know I won’t change my mind.’
Logan’s brown eyes flared. ‘So you’re good with someone else claiming her? Because that’ll happen eventually. Right now, CeCe’s giving you time to come round to the idea of a triad. She won’t wait forever.’
Quite frankly done repeating himself, Ripper felt his jaw harden. ‘Logan, I’m not going to “come round”. This isn’t something I’m ever gonna want.’
Logan stalked closer, his brows snapping together. ‘You think I really want a triad? You think I want to share the woman I love with anyone? The truth is no, I don’t. But I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t lose her. You won’t, though, will you? Which shows you don’t love CeCe anywhere near as much as I do.’
‘You’re probably right. But where’s the sense in you being pissed at me? I’m not the one refusing to give you what you want because, as you’ve just admitted, what you want isn’t even a triad – it’s just for her to be yours.’
Crew leaned closer, scratching at his dark stubble. ‘You might want to keep your voices down,’ he began quietly, ‘because she’s just stepped out of the trees with her friends. And she’s spotted you both.’
Ripper didn’t let his gaze track her down, but his brother couldn’t help but look.
Pain glinting in his eyes, Logan shoved a hand through his dirty blond hair. ‘She’s all I ever wanted, Rip. Sucks that she can’t say the same about only me.’ He stalked off, stripping as he went.
For Logan, it likely felt more ‘unfair’ because he’d wanted CeCe first. They’d grown close in the aftermath of the battle caused by Rosemary, which had resulted in the death of CeCe’s parents as well. She’d been there for Logan while Ripper was Rabid, and she’d been one of the few people who hadn’t treated Ripper differently when he came back. Who hadn’t watched him, wary of what those years spent in Bloodhill might have done to him.
He’d grown to care about her, drawn by her confidence, her daring, her determination and her fierceness. But lately, he’d come to see the flip side of those qualities. Her belief in herself wouldn’t let her consider that things wouldn’t go her way. Her sense of daring made her push buttons she shouldn’t push. Her obstinance meant she refused to back down. And her fierceness caused her to pursue her triad goal without fear.