Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45605 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Nerves eat at me. This is a big deal. I met Brea yesterday, but that was before I entered into this new dynamic. Before Orion bit me, claiming me, making me a part of the pride.
Brea will be like a sister to me. I hope.
She’s sitting at the kitchen table when we enter. Navin is behind her. Brea has an intricate coloring book and pencils in front of her, and she drops the one she’s using as Daddy guides me closer. She jumps up and skips around the table toward me, throwing her arms around me when she gets close enough. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I smile at her as she releases me. “Me, too.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s been so boring being the only woman living with these twelve giant lion shifters. Now, there will be two of us.”
I’m self-conscious about my dress and lack of bra, but Daddy was right. She’s wearing a pastel blue dress similar to my pink one, and she doesn’t have a bra on either. I won’t let it bother me. It’s not like I’m naked.
“Why don’t we all sit in the living room for a bit and talk,” Daddy says.
I’m kind of surprised. He must have something to say, and he’s not going to exclude me.
Navin takes the armchair and lifts Brea onto his knee.
Daddy sits on the couch and does the same, pulling me between his legs before also propping me on his thigh.
Everyone has a serious expression.
“Did something happen?” I ask.
“Basically, your stepfather is unhinged and crazier than a loon,” Daddy says.
I smirk. “But I knew that.”
“Well, I don’t trust him. We have surveillance cameras on him, and he’s acting erratic. I worry he will do something dangerous if he’s not stopped.”
“Like what?”
“Like burn the house down and possibly start a forest fire.”
I gasp. “Why would he do that? He’d lose his free place to live.”
“Why do crazy people do anything? He probably doesn’t realize that we’ve figured out that he doesn’t own the land or the house. He’s an ass, and he’d rather burn it all down out of spite.”
“How do you know he’s planning to burn my house down?”
“He has gas cans, and he’s been stomping around both the inside and the outside of the house all day today. He’s even loaded some boxes into his truck, presumably his belongings.”
I stare at Daddy in shock. My home. He would burn it down? Because he’s mad?
Daddy rubs my back. “Some of my pride brothers and I are going to go over there. You’re going to stay here with Navin and Brea.”
“Daddy…” I whine. I hate this idea. What if Vincent hurts him? What if he shoots him or he’s already started a fire before Daddy arrives?
Daddy hugs me tight and kisses the top of my head. “I need you to be strong and brave for me while I’m gone. Can you do that?”
“I don’t want you to go,” I grumble as I twist in his lap to grab the front of his shirt.
“I know, Little doll, but it’s necessary. I’ll be fine. Trust me. I’m bigger and stronger and smarter. Plus, I’ll have my brothers with me.”
I lean my cheek against his chest. I hate this. I don’t want him to go, but I’m not going to change his mind, plus I realize as long as Vincent is unhinged and out for vengeance, my existence is endangering everyone in the lion pride.
Daddy gives me another squeeze and stands, depositing me on my feet on the floor. He tips my chin back. “Be good.”
It’s a silly thing to say. I’m a grown woman. I don’t need him to tell me to behave like I’m a toddler, but it’s his way of exercising his dominance over me. He’s reminding me that I’m his to protect and his to discipline. Unspoken is the thought that if I’m not angelic during his absence, I will end up over his knees with a red bottom.
But it turns out, I like having a red bottom, so I’m not sure I can actually be good. Especially if I’m stressed and need something to do to keep my mind off whatever Daddy is planning.
“I don’t see how you’re going to reason with him,” I grumble.
Daddy sits back down and cups my face, holding my gaze level with his. “I’m not going there to reason with the man, Cora.”
I swallow.
“The man stole your property from you. He stole four years of your life. He’s been abusing you, keeping you as a slave, and lying to you for years. I can’t and won’t risk him ever getting near you again.”
“But… What if you get in trouble?”
“I won’t, Little doll. I promise.” He smiles. “Did Brea tell you how she came to live with our pride?”
I shake my head.
“She was sold to a man in town for drug money. He was a middleman who intended to traffic her, but she bravely stood up to him, and for her trouble, he took her out in the woods, sliced her leg open, and left her for dead.”