Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Her hands clasped tight, Andaya lifted her brows. “Well, how did it go?”
“Good,” said Isaiah, stepping inside. “A celebration will take place on Monday to make the mating official.” He closed the door behind him.
“Just like that?” she asked.
“Just like that.” He slipped off his jacket and then hung it on the coat rack. “Why wait? Seems senseless.”
She tilted her head. “I don’t know whether to interpret this as you just don’t care who you mate as long as it’s done quickly … or if you’re so at ease with moving fast because you’ve decided she might just fit you.”
“The latter.” Following the sounds of a football game, he walked into the living room to find his father sat on the sofa watching TV.
Koen looked up at him, an apology in his deep brown eyes. “I did tell your mom we should wait at home for you to call. She agreed, all smiles. Then she disappeared, and I had a pretty good idea of where she’d be, so I hightailed it here.”
Slipping past Isaiah, she sniffed. “I was worried, that’s all.”
“You couldn’t worry at home?” teased Koen, the glimmer of humor in his gaze.
Andaya cast him a haughty look. “Are you not even going to ask our son how the meet went?”
“I already know; heard him tell you.” Koen refocused on Isaiah. “I’m glad it went well. I wasn’t so sure if using the website was the best way to go, despite its success.”
Isaiah took the armchair. “I had a few doubts as well initially.” He’d signed up regardless because there had seemed no harm in giving it a try.
“But not now?” prodded Koen.
“No. She and I are definitely compatible.”
“Tell us about her.” Andaya sank onto the sofa beside Koen. “You’ve been stingy with details.”
Because Isaiah hadn’t seen the point in relaying them when he hadn’t been sure the meet would amount to anything. “Her name’s Quinley. She’s twenty-five. A submissive. Works at a beauty salon. And she belongs to the Crimson Pride.” Though not for much longer.
“Crimson Pride,” echoed Andaya, her brow creased. “I don’t think I’ve heard of it.”
“What makes you think she’ll fit you?” asked Koen.
“We’re similar in some ways—blunt, decisive, determined, calm,” said Isaiah. “We’re on the same page, want the same things, and she has no issues with transferring to our pride. She also knows what it’s like to find your true mate but be unable to have them.” And also apparently understood the impact of toxic rumors.
Koen’s brows inched up. “Is hers human like yours?”
Isaiah shook his head. “No. He’s a shifter. He not only rejected her, he claimed and fully imprinted on her Alpha’s daughter.”
Andaya winced in sympathy. “So Quinley’s had a front row seat to their personal show.”
“To an extent.” Isaiah sank deeper into his chair. “It seems that the couple moved to his pride for a while after the claiming. But they’ll soon be back, and then they’ll be appointed as the Crimson Pride Alphas.”
Realization washed over Koen’s face. “Yes, I can see why she’d be in a hurry to mate. No wonder she has no issues with a transfer. What breed of shifter is she?”
“A black-foot.”
Andaya blinked. “Well, at least she won’t bat an eyelid at how pallas cats are.”
Speaking of eyelids not batting … “She believed me when I told her the rumors about me were false.”
His mother frowned. “You told her about them?”
“No. Her Alpha seemingly had his Beta look into me. He heard about the rumors and asked if those who spread them would give Quinley any problems.” Isaiah crossed his feet at his ankles. “She dismissed the rumors; said the people persisting to believe that I was guilty were dicks.”
Her frown smoothing out, Andaya smiled. “I like her already.”
“I think she’ll make a good addition to the pride,” said Isaiah. “She’s a healer who specializes mostly in easing pain. We don’t have anyone like that.”
Koen tipped his head to the side. “You know, I wouldn’t have thought you’d choose a submissive for a mate. You never dated any.”
“I’ve always been very self-focused, and care needs to be taken with submissives.” Watching his mother bristle, Isaiah shot her a look. “Don’t pull that face, you know what I’m talking about. You don’t need to be handled delicately, but you do need someone who’s attentive, mindful, and focused on you. I couldn’t—and didn’t particularly want to—give that much of my time and energy to someone I was dating. But Quinley will be my mate, so it’s different.”
“How did your cat behave around her?” asked Koen.
“At first, he didn’t take much notice. But her cat is very bold and stays close to the surface, so that caught his attention.” Isaiah didn’t add that his cat had also been intrigued by her claim to be familiar with toxic rumors—he wasn’t going to share her private business with others unless she gave him her consent.