Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Gabe blinked a couple of times. “That’s pretty much exactly it.”
“That’s what I figured,” I said, laughing, not telling them that it wasn’t just what I thought but also what I experienced.
I didn’t want to be all that open about how I felt with Miles. Not until I figured out why he didn’t seem to feel the same for me. Speaking about it would make me feel like a lovestruck fool, especially if for some reason fate had messed this up and Miles didn’t reciprocate any of these emotions. It wasn’t that he was completely shutting me out, but there was an icy barrier there that I couldn’t seem to break through, and that just didn’t sound normal for someone who was meant to be my fated mate.
“I remember Eli’s scent really triggering me,” Gabe continued. He separated from Eli, moving to stand next to him. Even then, they still held hands, as though the other was seconds from floating off into the sky. “I could smell him from what felt like miles away, even in my human form. It was intense.”
“And not because I hadn’t showered, either. I’m a very clean guy.”
I took another chug of cold beer, the hops fizzing down my throat. I knew exactly what they were talking about. I had followed Miles’ scent through the rain-soaked woods before I even knew what I was chasing down. It had been instinct that drove me toward him. And it was a scent that could only be described as intoxicating—something I wanted to bottle up and carry with me forever. It was also something I could scent from a long distance. Hell, I could smell it now, even though Miles was probably lounging in his house or maybe somewhere out on the town. “Was there ever any doubt?” I asked innocently, even though it was one of my more important questions. If they answered yes, then maybe this hesitation I was feeling from Miles was normal, but if they answer—
“No, none,” Gabe said.
“Nope,” Eli echoed.
Great. Not the answer I was hoping for. I swallowed down my disappointment and tried to keep my expression as neutral as possible. It was immediately made difficult when a particularly strong breeze carried the scent I was just thinking about. It hit me like a freight train smashing through a wall. I inhaled deep and closed my eyes.
“Everything okay?” Eli asked.
Gabe seemed skeptical. “Yeah, what’s bringing on these questions?”
I was a shit liar and couldn’t really make anything up on the spot, especially not with the way my brain currently sparked like downed wires whipping in a storm. It reminded me of the feelings I had back when I was a kid and couldn’t get through homework problems, when my brain refused to connect the dots no matter how hard I tried or how prepared I was. It was a frustrating way to live, and I thought I’d shed most of it once I left school behind.
Guess not.
Besides, this was my pack I was speaking to. Why would I need to lie? I could tell them the truth. “I think I found my—”
“Everyone!” It was Emmy’s loud voice booming through the buzz of conversation and music. His deep tone carried through the yard. I turned toward the sound of his voice and saw him standing there, a hand on… fucking hell.
A hand on Miles’ shoulder.
I kept my composure even though I wanted to drop to my knees from the intensity of the scent that drifted in my direction. He wore a crisp white T-shirt and dark shorts, paired with clean white tennis shoes. His gold bracelets and necklace glinted under the white lights from Emmy’s patio, matching the sparkle in his eyes as he looked directly at me.
He winked. I licked my lips, happy to see him but confused about why the hell no one told me he’d be coming. Chris gave me a look from across the yard, searching me for a reaction.
“This is my good friend and the Bobcats’ new athletic trainer, Miles. He’s also a shifter and moved out here on his own so I invited him to game night.”
Miles raised his hand and waved at the group. Rebecca walked over first and gave Miles a warm hug, breaking the ice and causing the rest of the pack to go over and greet him. I held back until the crowd dispersed and returned to the pockets of conversations they had previously formed.
“Hey,” I said, almost timidly, as I approached Miles. My heart pounded in my chest. I couldn’t stop staring at his lips, couldn’t ignore the way my body reacted at having Miles in my vicinity. There was a pleasant heat that spread through my core. It tickled at my limbs and pooled in my gut. He opened his arms and took me in a quick and friendly hug.