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)
Ripper had never really understood why witches were so obsessed with ‘perfection’. Perfection, in their eyes, being strong and in full control of their magick. They looked down on those who didn’t meet that standard; targeted them rather than protected them. He didn’t get that mentality at all.
‘The Change is no easy thing to go through,’ he told Paisley. ‘It’ll take a few days. Aside from the initial bite, it won’t hurt. But you’ll be tired. Feverish. Drift in and out of consciousness. And there’ll be times you’ll—’
‘Want a lot of sex, I know.’
‘Then you know you’re gonna need a wolf to fuck you during most of it,’ he said bluntly.
She swallowed. ‘I’m really not going to have a problem with that.’
Emberlyn choked on her Danish, her shoulders shaking.
Paisley blushed. ‘What? They’re all hot as hellfire. I’m not gonna lie and act like it’ll be a chore.’
Ripper’s lips threatened to twitch. ‘If you’re sure this is what you want, I have no objection to you joining my clan. Are there any unmated wolves in it who you feel comfortable with? If so, I’ll ask if they’ll put you through the Change. It’s not something I do.’
Emberlyn tilted her head. ‘How come?’
‘As you’ll know, a werewolf injects an enzyme into a person’s blood to Change them,’ he explained. ‘Each werewolf has an individual enzyme like they do a fingerprint. She’ll always feel a slight platonic connection to the wolf who Changes her due to that enzyme. I’m the Alpha – it’s important I’m not more connected to some clan members than others. The only exception is mates and family.’
‘Gotcha,’ said Emberlyn. ‘Makes sense.’
Paisley twisted her mouth. ‘I’ve met quite a few of your clan during my time working at the laundry hub. I can’t think of any who I don’t feel comfortable with, so I’m not fussed.’
‘All right. I’ll talk to some of my unmated wolves and get back to you.’
A delighted smile split Paisley’s lips. ‘Awesome.’
A door slammed upstairs and footsteps marched along the landing, causing the floorboards to creak.
Ripper tensed. ‘Who else is here?’
‘No one,’ said Emberlyn before taking a casual bite of her Danish.
Goosebumps swept over his skin. He looked at the twins, both of whom appeared unnerved. ‘Does that kind of thing happen a lot here?’
Emberlyn gave a noncommittal shrug. Not comforting.
After they’d finished their drinks and food, the twins made their excuses and left.
‘Thank you,’ Emberlyn said to him on returning to the living room after seeing them out. ‘I appreciate you being willing to accept her as part of your clan.’
‘There’s no reason why I wouldn’t.’
Sinking back in the armchair, she studied him closely. ‘You okay?’
He felt his brow pinch. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
She pulled a face. ‘I heard the rumor about CeCe and Neal,’ she said, her voice low. ‘It can’t be easy for you.’
He exhaled heavily. ‘It’ll be harder for Logan.’
‘Why?’
‘He cares for her more than I do. He’s gonna be exponentially pissed. He would do anything to have her, even enter a triad.’
A line dented her brow. ‘So it wouldn’t really be his first choice?’
‘No. He and I have shared women before, but only ever for a night.’ Those females hadn’t been girlfriends or bed-buddies, they’d always been women who neither he nor his brother were in any way committed to. Then no jealousy could come into play.
‘Is there no way she’d consider committing only to Logan?’ Emberlyn asked.
Ripper shook his head. ‘I assured them both that I’d be good with it, but she refuses to believe that it wouldn’t hurt me to see them together; she says she couldn’t do that to me.’
Emberlyn frowned. ‘But she can be with Neal knowing it would hurt you? That she’s fine with?’
‘It would seem so.’
‘What’s the difference?’
Ripper shrugged. ‘You’d have to ask her.’
‘Am I wrong, or has Neal been trying to win her over for years?’
‘You’re not wrong.’
‘It’s a bit strange that she’d suddenly give him a chance,’ Emberlyn casually threw out. ‘Could she maybe have done it to—’
‘Bring me to heel? Maybe. Makes more sense than her type abruptly changing overnight.’ Ripper pushed to his feet. ‘I’d better go find my brother and convince him to not beat Neal bloody.’
Side by side, they walked down the hallway toward the front door.
Emberlyn slid him a quick glance. ‘Do you think Logan will accept that CeCe has moved on, or do you think he’s going to push you harder for a triad?’
Ripper sighed. ‘I don’t know. Probably the latter.’
‘Will it work?’
‘No. She wants me to feel that I’m losing her. And I do. But not in the way she’s thinking.’
Emberlyn opened the door. ‘What you’re saying is that she was a close friend for a long time, and this whole thing – the way she’s behaved, the way she’s pushing, the way she’s now playing games – has tainted that friendship. You feel like you might not get it back,’ she reasoned.