Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
He could hear Joey entering the room and see him from his peripheral vision, but he didn’t take his eyes off Keith. “Joey’s here now and he’s getting out the supplies.” He narrated the tasks Joey needed to perform, hoping to push him along.
Thankfully, it worked, and Joey quickly opened his case and took out what he needed.
“Now he’s going to put the needle into this arm.” He slid his hand over Keith’s arm again. “I’ll keep holding you.” He nodded to Joey who then came over, wiped down Keith’s skin, and smoothly inserted the needle into his vein. “Worst part’s over,” Brian said. “You’re doing great.” Continuing to smooth his hands over Keith, he flicked his gaze to Joey who looked shocked. “Please wait in the hallway. I’ll tell you when the IV bag’s empty.”
He returned his attention to the man beside him and noted that, in addition to being underweight and pale, he had dark circles under his eyes. His skin showed no bruises or abrasions, so he hadn’t gotten that way from a fight.
“Who did this to you?” he whispered, heart breaking. “What happened?”
Chapter 4
“Thank you, Joey. I’ll call you if he needs anything else. Please keep your phone close.”
Keith inhaled deeply, relishing the peace that enveloped him along with the vanilla, anise, and bergamot scent. He then opened his eyes and contemplated the gorgeous man standing beside the bed.
Eight years ago, an Omega from Golden Valley had come to Green Field. Alpha Jackson had insisted that Keith meet Timothy Tillers, which was odd because Rupert generally wanted him out of sight and out of mind. Though Rupert offered no explanation for the change in his behavior, once Keith met Timothy, he didn’t mind, because something in Timothy’s scent triggered him. Having grown up without family, he had always yearned for a mate of his own and he had been certain that Mother Nature would bless him with someone wonderful. When he met that person at nearly eighteen years old, he had been overjoyed.
“You smell nothing like him,” Keith said, mind swimming.
This man—Brian Berger—also looked nothing like him—he was taller, broader, more muscular, similar to Keith’s size when he was at his regular weight. He had a kind face and the warmest eyes. Plus, he was an Alpha, not an Omega. But those weren’t the most critical differences. When Keith thought about it, he couldn’t describe Timothy’s scent and he hadn’t felt summoned by it, encompassed by it. When he met Timothy, his brain fogged, and he believed he was standing in front of his mate. But his draw to Brian wasn’t driven by thought; it was deeper, all consuming. Every particle of his being was prickling with awareness, need, joy, and peace.
“You’re awake.” Brian let out a relieved breath, worry lines easing from his forehead, and sat down. “How do you feel?” He raised his hand and caressed Keith’s cheek, his soft touch trailing warmth and pleasure.
“Confused.” Everything with Timothy had fallen apart quickly and horrifically when, despite Keith’s best efforts, Timothy rejected him, ran back to Golden Valley, and killed most of the Alpha’s family along with himself. He had hated himself for having failed his mate, certain that he hadn’t been worthy.
“Who are you?” Mate, his soul responded. Mate. Mate. Mate. “How is this possible?” He had already been given a mate and hadn’t been able to save him; he didn’t deserve another chance. He leaned toward the impossibly handsome Alpha and inhaled, calmness immediately filling him. Why did this feel completely different, incomparably so? Had he finally died? Was this the afterlife?
“Where am I?” he said to himself as he sat up and looked around the room. Curtained windows, sturdy wood furniture, warm blankets. It wasn’t fancy like Rupert’s house, but it was clean and orderly.
“You’re in Purple Sky.” Brian continued his gentle strokes, palm smoothing over Keith’s face and neck.
Nobody had ever touched him so tenderly, so intimately; reflexively, he leaned into it.
“I’m Brian Berger, the Alpha here.” Brian rubbed his lips together and cleared his throat. “You’re my mate.”
Keith’s breath hitched. “You can feel it too?” he rasped.
“Of course.” Brian dipped his face forward, inhaled, and then smiled serenely. “How could I not?” He scrunched his eyebrows together. “Are you confused because I’m an Alpha? I realize that’s not typical, but I’ve seen it work. The pack I grew up in—”
“He never could,” Keith said, mostly to himself. He pressed his nose to Brian’s throat and felt his strong body tremble and his scent deepen. “Something’s not right.”
“What…” Panting, Brian clutched Keith’s biceps. “What’s not right?”
“This isn’t like the last time.” He dragged his nose up and his lips skated over Brian’s skin. “Not at all.” He considered the situation. “This is right. That wasn’t,” he realized.
“Last time?” Brian gulped, his fingers twitching.