Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
He stands and crosses to me, laying a hand firmly on my shoulder. “Scarlet, you’re not just a woman. Not anymore. The forest called to you. The goddess handed you a miracle child, the chance of a mate-bond, and a place in this pack. It’s fate.”
I glance at my hands, relishing the strength of Reed’s reassuring grip, Nixon’s firm words and Finn’s gentle explanations. These men… these wolf-men have done nothing but look out for me. Since I arrived at their cabin, they’ve been gentle and considerate, passionate and kind. They’ve given me space to develop feelings and waited to explain their world to me. Now they’re promising me a forever commitment and the family I thought could never be mine. “You said… you could give me children?”
Nixon nods. “Our seed is meant for you. If you choose us, if you ask for the claim, and let the bond settle into your body, it will heal what was broken. You were told you couldn’t have children in the human world. But here, with us… anything is possible. We will breed you, Scarlet. We will fill you with babies, and this house with our pack.”
The cabin seems to brace with my hesitation. Outside, a bird trills and I close my eyes, fighting the sting there. I came on a quick trip to do business, but instead, I found men who want to promise me forever, a baby I’ve bonded with, and a world that doesn’t want to let me go.
“I thought I knew who I was,” I whisper. “I thought I had a path.”
Nixon reaches for my hand, and his fingers tighten around mine. “You did. And it led you here.”
“This place,” Finn murmurs, “You’re part of it now, Scarlet.”
I look from one to the other, these men who carry the wild in their eyes and speak like prophecy.
“I need time,” I say, my voice trembling.
“Take it,” Nixon murmurs. “We’ll wait. But know this, Scarlet. Your place is here. Not because we want you to stay. Not because you’re a part of us already. But because the forest, the goddess, the bond… you were chosen for us to love.”
And in my heart, something soft cracks open.
Because they’re not willing to overwhelm my choice and claim what’s rightfully theirs. They’re waiting for me to choose them, too.
28
NIXON
A part of me understands why generations of wolf-shifters have taken their mates by force. The patience required to convince a reluctant human woman to give up her ordinary life to join a wolf-pack and bear wolf children is enough to try the patience of even the most patient man, and I am not a patient man.
But when Scarlet falls asleep in my arms, her red hair cascading around her, and her pretty pink lips parted, my wolf is quiet. She’s everything I hoped our mate would be. Beautiful, of course, but not only on the outside. Her heart is sweet and open enough to love a child who isn’t her own. She works with us, finding a role in whatever task we need to tackle. She’s down to earth, not pretentious, and as in love with the forest and the craftsmanship that shapes its trees as we are. She challenges us, and holds her own, even against the strength of my will, with its alpha stubbornness.
Finn told me about how she helped sell some of his furniture. It warmed my heart to know that when we claim her, she’ll be able to continue the life she loves. The goddess is wise to send us a mate who could find happiness and contentment in our lives.
She’s bright and clever, challenging us and bringing new light to our world.
And in bed, she’s fire, accepting her place between the three of us, bringing us more pleasure than we could have hoped for.
All we have to do now is convince her that this life is better than what she could have if she returns home. No human man could give her what we can.
“Nixon,” Reed whispers, interrupting my thoughts. His arm is around Scarlet’s waist, and he was breathing so evenly, I was convinced he was asleep.
“Yeah.”
“You think she’s going to choose us?” he asks.
“Of course.” It’s my role, as alpha, to be strong and sure. My brothers are relying on me for confidence and guidance.
“I’m not so sure,” he says. “There’s still doubt in her mind. She’s holding back. Isn’t she?”
She is, but I was hoping he would be too overwhelmed by her to notice.
“I think you should give her your knot.”
I flinch at his suggestion, and Scarlet stirs, burrowing closer to my chest, arching her back in the process, and Reed groans as her naked ass grinds against his dick.
“She’s not ready,” I say. “That’s only for after the claim.”
“There’s no rule against it,” Reed counters. “Nothing to say you can’t breed her before the claim. Maybe, if you prove to her that the doctors were wrong, she’ll believe that this is where she belongs.”