Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Go on.”
Eli flexed his fingers, unable to revisit the memories without wanting to punch the fuck out of someone. “The recording of the humans trying to rape Roni was used as evidence in the trial to show that Nick acted in his and Roni’s defense. Nolan later got hold of it, and he posted it online. The twisted website was run by a jackal pack and allowed its subscribers to upload videos of shifter fights, sexual assaults, and even murders.”
Casey swore. “Tell me Nolan paid for that.”
“Oh, he paid.” Eli, Nick, and Marcus had made Nolan pay dearly. As for Roni’s human attackers … Eli had hunted them down after they served their sentences. It hadn’t been easy, since they’d been given new identities, but he’d found and obliterated them. He also hadn’t told anyone about it, but he was quite certain that Roni suspected they’d died at his hands.
“And the website?”
“We crashed it and destroyed the jackal pack.”
“Good. Bastards deserved to die.” She paused. “So, Nolan’s father was forced to step down from Alpha?”
“Yes. But it didn’t happen until me, Roni, and Kathy had transferred to another pack.”
She tilted her head. “Why do I get the feeling that the bad shit didn’t end there?”
“Because it didn’t. Things were okay at the new pack until another Alpha was appointed. Floyd was a pure bastard. Nick took over after he left juvie.”
“In what sense was Floyd a bastard?”
Eli rubbed his jaw. “There was something missing in him. I never thought I’d question if someone had a soul, but he sure made me wonder.”
“Was he one of your trainers?”
“No.” He’d never taught Eli a single move. He’d just repeatedly forced him to fight to the death, keeping Eli under his control by threatening Roni’s safety. She’d been through enough, and Eli had been determined that she wouldn’t go through more pain.
Sensing that Casey was about to probe further, he said, “We’ve talked about enough shitty things today, baby. Let’s not spoil the mood.” He retrieved two bottles of water from the fridge and placed them on the table, meeting pale hazel eyes that had narrowed to slits.
“There’s something you don’t want to tell me,” she accused.
“There are a lot of things I don’t want to tell you.”
“But you will tell me in time, won’t you?” When he didn’t answer, she pushed, “Eli?”
He sighed. “One day, yes. For now, let’s just say I’ve done some very bad things.” He held his breath, hoping she wouldn’t question him.
She stared at him, her expression totally unreadable. “Did you enjoy doing them?”
“Sometimes.” The things he’d done while battling at the illegal fighting ring? No, Eli had found no satisfaction in them. But the things he’d done afterward to those who’d wronged his family or pack? Well, that was different.
“Did you eat people?”
His head jerked back. “What?”
“Did you eat people?” she repeated calmly, as if it were an everyday question.
“No.”
“Have sex with animals?”
“No.”
“Go on Ted-Bundy-style killing sprees?”
“No.”
“Rape and pillage entire towns like a reincarnated Viking?”
Eli stared at her, at a loss. “What are you even talking about?”
“Hey, a girl needs some reassurance at times.”
His mouth bopped open and closed. “I don’t know what to say to you right now.”
“That’s easy. Say my dinner’s almost ready, because I’m famished over here.”
He almost snorted. “That I can do.” After putting the spaghetti onto two plates, he added the sauce-covered meatballs. Taking the seat opposite her, he set both plates on the table.
Once they’d finished their meal and stacked the dishwasher, Eli spread out on the couch and then pulled her down with him, so she was draped over his chest. He handed her the remote control. “Pick what you want to watch.” He snaked his hand up the back of her shirt and unclipped her sports bra, so he could pet and trace and stroke her to his heart’s content.
“You really don’t have to lie here with me, you know,” she said, even as she snuggled into him with a contented sigh. “I know you’re a busy guy, and I don’t want you being bored.”
“I’m exactly where I want to be. And trust me when I say that being with you is never boring.” Really, there was something so utterly satisfying about simply lying there with his mate, doing something as normal as watching TV.
“Your pack mates don’t resent how much time you spend with me? I mean, you have a position that involves a shit load of responsibilities, and you’re supposed to also work security shifts at the club—”
“Baby, you are my priority. They all know that.” But apparently, she didn’t, and that pissed Eli off.
Not that he blamed her for it. She’d never been made to feel part of her family, and each of the people who’d loved her—or should have loved her—had all let her down in various ways. She’d never felt important to anyone. Never been made to feel enough. It was truly no wonder that she didn’t expect to be his priority any more than she’d been theirs—she quite simply didn’t associate close relationships of any kind with being first to anyone.