Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
“You’ve made me very fuckin’ happy tonight, Blossom,” my mate says gruffly. “I knew the instant I caught your scent that you were meant to be mine. I knew I loved the way you look, smell, feel. But right now, what you’ve given me tonight, letting me in, giving me all of you, being my touchstone to make sure I don’t inflict damage on those I care about? I’m falling in love with you, too. Understatement. It’s an incredible feeling. Let’s go, though. I have things to tell you and want to do it in the privacy of our home.”
He helps me to my feet before pulling a twig out of my hair and tossing it. He wiggles his fingers so I’ll grab his hand. We walk a little while before I suggest we run home as wolves, which we do. And I’m nowhere near as fast on my feet as I would be if I’d had more practice, not as fast as I was earlier because I’ve definitely tired myself out. But it’s a good tired. I’m getting stronger, faster, and know it’s just the beginning of feeling so much more connected to myself.
And as much as our play tonight was wild, beautiful, exhilarating, and has me absolutely exhausted and even sore from it, when we get back and into the shower, I reach for him, knowing he smells that I want him again. Because I don’t want the best night of my life so far to be over yet.
“I can’t believe I’m even able,” I whisper against his chest as he takes my hair into a fist and goes for my throat with his tongue. “I heard your pack members saying something about me smelling like I’m in heat.”
“You’re definitely in heat, Stace, and I do not fuckin’ like a bit that anyone smelled that but me.” As angry as he looks saying it, suddenly he’s smiling. “Good chance I’ve planted a pup in you tonight.”
Oh, my stars; I hope so. The sheer joy this notion brings me has tears springing forth in my eyes. The warm, gentle look in Greyson’s gaze as he soaps me up with his strong hands tells me he feels the same.
A baby. I really do hope so. I can’t help but worry about the notion, though. Because of things I know about my family. That I suspect. And with what might be lingering in my body from living in that village.
“I’ll take care of your brother with as much care as I can. Trust me?”
“I trust you,” I tell him.
And I do.
But I can’t help but worry all the same. So many good things are happening right now. So many things I never thought I’d have. Is it possible that it all won’t be ripped away and I won’t find myself once again hungry and depressed, surrounded by junk and despair?
I hope with all my heart that whatever happens, I don’t lose him. As long as I have Greyson, I could even go back to living in that junkyard.
***
“I’m an important part of the Young coven. I need training and that’ll come. Tomorrow might be trial by fire with some of this SCC shit, but we’ll see. I knew I came into extra power, hit some milestone when we mated. Knew something was different in me, felt it, but have no clue how to tap into it.”
We’re snuggled up in bed and it’s nearly dawn, but he’s given me information about the evening he’s had. He says he left the conversation and ritual with his aunt feeling like things were happening how they were supposed to. He seems a little frustrated at joining the coven late, at not having all the facts about his family and his place in it for all this time because of how his parents’ bond was severed, how he grew up not knowing that side of his family.
He mused about having a different upbringing if he’d had an opportunity to know how to use the magic he has, says he would’ve started his training at age eighteen if he’d grown up with his biological mother. He told me he’s always known his witch blood is there, says he’s generally very able to put people at ease, to bring them around to his way of thinking. He said it’s been a little perplexing to deal with my insecurities and my fears because he’s used to being able to assuage those things for people.
He says he did recognize his packmates, but was furious at their presence and it took a minute and my touch to tamp that down because he was in the rut, because I’m in heat, also because he’s alpha – which makes sense.
He requested my promise to keep being open with him. I gave that to him with the caveat that I’d try my best.