Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
While my injuries are slightly better, I need at least one more shift. I woke up relieved I’m still restrained and the muzzle is still on, though the muzzle was clawed at. And not only do I need one more shift for lacerations I’ve still got, I need to escape her emotions, which painfully pulse in my chest.
So, I let the biting cold bear down on me and surrender to the monster, yielding to it so I can heal physically, even though I know healing emotionally isn’t in the cards for me.
***
My eyes open to daylight, the scent of food, and to others right here in the bunker with me.
Her scent is first and foremost as she’s here, but so are Greyson and some of his female relatives including Riley’s mate. I smell that Riley is nearby, but he’s not in sight. My eyes find Cicely’s and I feel sorrow from her, but I only see anger. I also see everything I want and can’t have. I’m weak and suspect the monster fought through the rest of the night against the muzzle and restraints and hopefully with how many times I shifted yesterday, it won’t try to push in again now.
“Want to take the muzzle off so you can get some food and drink into you before we get started, bro?” Linc asks. “Ronnie, Vivica, and Erica here will be working together on this.”
“Ronnie is gonna lay hands on you and see what she reads,” the one who I know by the hair color and the scent of Riley is Erica speaks. “Psychometry is her skill. She might see some history and defining events in your life.”
There’s a plate on the floor beside me. A plate of mine from the trailer. And it’s filled with slices of crispy bacon, perfectly peppered over-easy eggs, crispy fried potatoes, and buttered toast – smells like sourdough bread.
“I’ll only talk to you and my coven about those facts unless given permission from you to share with the council,” the shorter of the two brunettes says.
The taller of the two, obviously Vivica, adds, “We’ll give you some privacy to eat and maybe… dress.”
Riley’s mate and her two sisters leave.
“You’re part of that coven and also part of the council,” I point out to Greyson before he gets out the door. “Are you tryin’ to say you’re not gonna know everything they see?”
“We’re here to help more than pry,” he says. “Does it matter if we know what she sees?”
“Guess not.”
“Go ahead and eat. You lead on all this, Jared. If anything’s happening at any point that you want us to stop, say the word.”
Linc stays. Cicely also stays, leaned against the wall beside the door.
She’s wearing frayed black denim shorts today with a red tank top. Both are skintight and her tits look incredible. She’s got flip flops on her feet and her hair is pulled up into a high ponytail. There’s no hiding my mark on her throat with her hair like this.
She looks as self-conscious as I feel right now. She grips her neck with one hand and startles, shuffling uncomfortably, but now her nipples are straining against that fabric and I’m nude so there’s no hiding that what’s between my legs is now awake. Her arousal smells even better than the breakfast in front of me. She just touched her mate mark, and it sparked that much of a reaction. I’m aware the mate mark is an erogenous zone, but she’s clearly wound up from recently being mated and only being mated the once. Newly mated couples tend to go at it for days.
She wants more. So do I. But I can’t give in. And Linc is here, smelling her arousal and recognizing it from firsthand experience. I don’t have the energy to fight a shift, so I really need to not have to fight that right now. I should stop thinking about sucking on that mark on her neck before sucking on her beautiful tits.
“Need you to go,” I say, not looking up, reaching back to unbuckle the leather and steel fasteners at the back of my head. It’s like a straitjacket for my face and I’m sweating under it.
After the three buckles are undone, I set it down beside myself, noting more new grooves in it. He tried to claw it off again. Thankfully it’s still fully together. I’m doing this preparing to keep it in arms reach in case I need to get it back on fast. It’s a little looser than it was when I put it on yesterday. My wolf’s muzzle is evidently bigger than that of the alpha this was made for.
Linc tosses a pair of my sweatpants to me and without speaking, steps outside.
I get them on while she continues to stand there.
“You, too,” I say. “Out.”