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)
Cheeks reddening, Sherryl took two steps toward him. “It doesn’t bother you that she slept with her cousin’s mate? You’re okay with that?”
Eli pushed away from the SUV, gratified by the glint of unease in her eyes. She wasn’t quite as sure of herself as she liked to appear. “What bothers me is that you think you can fuck with my mate. Why you’d think something so damn stupid, I haven’t a clue. But if you have any sense of self-preservation, you’ll quit your games and stay away from her.”
Sherryl jutted out her chin. “You think you scare me? Touch me just once and I’ll have my entire pack crawling all over your territory within the hour.”
“I know I scare you. And I know Casey does, too.”
Sherryl shook her head. “She might think she’s hot shit, but she’s a nobody.”
“If you really thought that, you’d pity her, laugh at her. Instead, you feel compelled to fuck with her life and piss all over it—and you don’t even care who might get hurt in the process. That’s because you know that the ‘nobody’ is you.”
Her face twisted into a bitter scowl. “Bastard.”
“You reek of envy. Do you know that? It’s true. You know Casey’s better than you—a better player, a better person—and you hate her for it. You’re rotting on the inside, and it shows on the outside.”
They both stilled at the sound of footsteps coming toward them. Eli knew the rhythm of that purposeful walk; knew it was Casey. Apparently, so did Sherryl, because she grinned and tried to plant a kiss on his mouth. He shoved her away with a growl.
Laughing, she turned to Casey. “Sorry. I can’t help wanting to get a taste of that mouth. I’ll bet it’s got some skills.”
“She’s baiting you, Casey,” warned Eli. “She wants you to attack so she can go cry to her Alphas and set her pack on yours.” He gave her a look that said, “Don’t fall for it.”
Sherryl laughed again. “Oh, she won’t do that, Eli. No. Casey doesn’t want my Alphas asking questions that might lead to me telling them about her night with Preston. That news would get back to dear ole Mallory. And oh, that would be bad. Very, very bad. Isn’t that right, Casey?”
Eli watched his mate carefully, impressed she was able to leash the ferocious anger that rippled down their bond—especially since her mink was no doubt tugging at the reins, wanting to lunge and maul the female who’d touched her mate. Casey stood unnaturally still, her gaze eerily blank and so disturbingly cold it could chill a person right down to the bone. And that stare was fixed intently on Sherryl, whose smile began to slip from her face.
“Come on, Casey, I’m just having some fun,” said Sherryl. “No need to be so serious. It’s not like I haven’t kissed any of your other boyfriends, jeez.”
Again, Casey didn’t respond. Just stared at the other female, utterly still. The air thickened with tension and suppressed anger.
“So serious,” Sherryl mocked, but she nervously combed her fingers through her short hair.
Casey ever so slowly tilted her head. Her words came out just as slowly when she asked, voice flat, “This really seemed advisable to you? You didn’t have a single moment where you thought, hey, trying to kiss someone else’s mate will be the height of stupidity?”
“Well, it’s not like I can kiss my own, is it?”
“You know, a part of me used to feel sorry for you. No one should have to bury their true mate—especially when they’re just a kid. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
Sherryl’s nostrils flared. “Bitch, I don’t need your sympathy.”
“That’s good, because you no longer have it.” Wicked fast, Casey closed the gap between them and pushed into her space, going nose to nose with her. “I’ve had enough of your shit to last me a lifetime, and I’m absolutely done dealing with it. You don’t get to mess with my life just because you hate your own—I’m no one’s whipping boy. And if you think I’ll tolerate you offloading your brand of bullshit onto my mate, you’re out of your freaking mind. Never again, Sherryl,” she snarled, eyes flashing mink. “You never again even try to touch him.”
“Or what? You’ll smack me down?” Sherryl snickered. “Like I told Eli, you won’t risk me telling my Alphas your precious little secret.”
“Since the dead can’t talk, I won’t have that worry.”
Sherryl’s eyes flickered, and she took a shaky, involuntary step back.
“You touch, bother, or fuck with Eli again,” Casey went on, “I’ll kill you. You go telling tales to Mallory and hurt her just to be a vindictive bitch, I’ll kill you. I will, and I won’t lose a second’s sleep over it. That’s not a threat, it’s a promise. A promise you need to heed, because I won’t just kill you, Sherryl, I will shit motherfucking fury all over your goddamn bony ass—and you won’t even see me coming.”