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)
“Ah,” she says. “Makes sense.”
“Size of our pack, it’s practical. That’s why we keep the areas around us undeveloped. Lots of room to roam without worrying too much. We have a code system, too, to keep people aware of how safe things feel. If there are threats. Things went amped recently with Mase and Amelia’s mating and some drama with her ex, so we haven’t come down to code green yet. Yellow is caution, orange is extreme caution and red… well, we generally lock down or evacuate when it’s code red. Thankfully we don’t have those too often.”
Her expression drops, but she tries to hide it. And I sense she fears things will go extreme.
She offers no feedback, and I’m grateful I can sense who she is otherwise I might be suspicious based on her silence. She’s come from a pack determined to harm us, a pack where she was ordered to bring that harm. She needs to feel comfortable enough to talk to me and I need to summon patience. Because I sense down to my bones that she doesn’t have a deceitful bone in her body. She’s afraid. And it’s my job to ease her fears, make her trust me so she’ll open up.
11
Stacy
“What’s on your mind?” Greyson asks, eyes on me as we eat the reheated chicken dinner sent over by his mom and sister.
I finish chewing what’s in my mouth and dab with a napkin as I swallow before I shoot my shot and ask the question plaguing my mind.
“Would I be able to … make a phone call?”
He drops his napkin. “Of course.”
I swallow again, heart beginning to race as I watch him move to the counter where his phone is charging. No hesitation. No questions. Just… of course.
“To who?” he asks belatedly, setting the phone down beside me.
“My brother,” I reply, wondering how many times he’s called my phone, which is in my backpack, definitely out of battery by now. And maybe out of minutes.
He gestures to his phone and sits down again. “You know the number off by heart or you need your phone?”
I nod. “I know it.”
I hope this is the right thing to do. I know I have to do something, so… here goes nothing…
I shakily dial Wyatt’s mobile number. It rings once and goes to voicemail. I hang up and call the salvage yard’s office line. Greyson fingers a lock of my hair. “If he wants to talk to me, feel free to pass the phone.”
I nod, though I’m not being entirely honest by doing so. Because I’m only calling now because I’m sure he’s not going to answer.
The phone rings four times and mercifully goes to the voicemail greeting, which is my voice.
“You’ve reached Silver Hills Salvage. Kindly leave a message and someone will call you back as soon as possible.”
It beeps.
“It’s Stacy. Things went a little crazy and um… we need to talk about it. Can you hang tight until I’m able to call you back? Don’t do anything, okay? I need to talk a couple of things out with you. Believe me… it’s worth your while to hang tight and wait to hear from me. Okay? Sorry to be vague but it’ll be worth it. I’ll call you back as soon as possible. Thanks.”
I didn’t get time to think over the best way to approach that but looked at the clock and knew it would likely be the best time to get his voicemail. To buy time. I had to try both numbers or he’d know I’m avoiding him. I’m so very glad he didn’t answer the phone and pummel me with questions and demands. I’m hoping he won’t do anything stupid. That he hasn’t already done something reckless. Hopefully, my dangling it being worth his while to wait will mean he doesn’t do any of the things he threatened to do. And that it’ll make him more open-minded. To what, I don’t know yet. What my next move will be is a mystery for the moment, too.
Heart pounding hard, I hand Greyson his phone. And he doesn’t miss that my hands are shaking.
“Think it’s time you explain things to me,” he states. And his eyes are hardening a little.
My heart is still racing, so I blow out a breath. “Well…”
He looks me over, scrutinizing me for a moment. “Your brother?”
I nod. He knows. It’s obvious.
“He’s the alpha,” Greyson states.
I nod again.
“What should we prepare for? What do you think is coming down the pipe? I can feel the tension coming from you here.” He thumps his chest with his fist, “As well as see it. Trying to be patient, wife, but I do need answers, and you’ve got me thinking I need ‘em sooner than later.”
He feels me. The confirmation of it and the fact that I know I’m also feeling him rocks my world in the best way, but I can’t linger on this because of the intensity in his gaze.