Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
“Of course I did. I won’t have any new horrible memories coloring his dreams.”
“That’s a lot of energy you used,” I stated, a bit concerned. “And you can’t get out of spaces you’re locked into.”
“I’m well aware,” she snapped at me.
“So how did you—what is that?”
She was smoothing her hand over a heavy green robe that, somehow, I hadn’t noticed she was carrying before.
“From your elf for your mate.” She eased away from me, only to take my hand and lead me toward Cole.
“You saw Teague?”
“Obviously.” She said it as though I were tedious for asking.
I grinned at her. “How did that go?”
She waved a hand dismissively.
“He went into the concrete vault after you and Evan?”
“He did.”
“Interesting. He doesn’t normally go into small, cramped spaces. He doesn’t like them any more than you do.”
“I’m aware.”
“Why do you think he did that?”
“To deliver the robe.”
I bumped her gently with my shoulder. “Is that what you truly believe?”
“Perhaps he was checking on Evan. He seems fond of your mate’s sibling.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Did he kill the men, or did you?”
“As though I’ve ever needed help killing anything.”
“But?”
She shrugged. “He was upset.”
I grinned at her. “Are you crying?”
“Absolutely not. I have something in my eye.”
I let it drop as we reached Cole.
“Here, Alpha,” she said to Cole, holding the robe up for him.
He slid his arms in immediately and wrapped it around himself. The robe was warm and beautifully made, an ornamental garment fit for a king, made of thick, padded cotton, brocade, and silk. The toggle clasps holding it closed were made of gold. It was intricately embroidered around the collar and sleeves and was, quite simply, a work of art.
Cole rounded on her, yanking her into his arms and holding her tight. “Thank you for taking care of my brother.”
“Of course. I told you I would.”
“Yes, you did,” he rumbled, the emotion playing havoc on his voice. “I was scared, but Mere never doubted you. He has complete faith in you.”
“As well he should,” she said, hugging him back before easing free. “This covering is a gift from Teague that he bade me to give to you. You should treasure it. He doesn’t often create garments anymore. Also, he graciously relieved the men in the cabin of their heads, so there is more cleanup to be done there. And as you already know, I don’t wash.”
“I do know that.” He smiled at her. “I’ll never forget this, and will be forever in your debt.”
“No debt. Evan’s mine too, is he not?”
“Yes, he is,” Cole agreed with a sigh.
“And Teague feels protective over him as well. And of you, Alpha, because you’re bound to Merritt, who cared for him before he even knew he wanted that in his life.”
Cole turned to me. “Thank you for being here and standing at my side.”
“Always,” I told him, then turned to Evan. “I need you to walk Ondine home so she can rest, and keep an eye on her, all right?”
He nodded, smiling, before he slammed into me hard, hugging tight.
“Everything is gonna be all right,” I promised him. “But after today, you won’t ever see your uncle again.”
“I know. He’s responsible for what happened to my father.” He sucked in a breath. “And I know what Cole has to do.”
“Not Cole,” I told him. “Me. And I hope you can find it in your heart to––”
“We’re people, Mere, and I know that. But we’re wolves too, and everything can’t be talked through or fixed. My father taught me that. He said sometimes, there has to be atonement in blood.”
“Yes.” I gave him a last squeeze before he offered Ondine his arm and they started back up the hill toward my property.
“Everyone,” Cole said, addressing the brave men and women of his pack who had fought along with him. “From today, I am alpha of the Swann Pack. We’re going to turn the main house into a place where all you unmarried people can live, with my beta, Reggie Cunningham, taking up residence on the top floor with his intended, Helene.”
There was clapping and whistling, and Reggie looked away and pretended he was looking at something riveting toward the tree line.
“Fletcher Beauden will live on the first floor and be in charge of the management of the home, sharing that responsibility equally with his sister, Meg.”
Meg, a woman I’d never met, but who Cole obviously knew and valued, came up and gave her brother a tentative hug, being careful of his injuries.
Cole then turned to his uncle, aunt, and cousin.
“The house you built to impress others solely for the purpose of securing the most profitable mating for your son, will now benefit the entire pack.”
There was applause after that.
“Tomorrow, Reggie will make arrangements to have everything you own moved out of the house. He will supervise the packing to make sure nothing that belongs here travels with you and that all your possessions are removed. The main account and ownership of the land both need to be transferred to me tomorrow. All your personal assets, your real estate portfolio, and your investments will remain with you. All I want is the money the pack uses collectively to send children to college and, again, all the land purchased in Coille.”