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)
It was probably wrong that Eli found this so amusing. “To be fair, Brack, that cat of yours has always been crazy.”
“But not a murderous psychopath!”
“My mate is not a psychopath.” The mink was, however, silently skittering up the porch rail behind an oblivious Bracken, her nose twitching as she glared at the visitor’s back.
“Casey’s not, no,” allowed Bracken. “But her mink sure is. And she’s grooming my cat to be her partner in crime!”
Tipping his head to the side, Eli pursed his lips. “I wouldn’t say partner. More like ‘apprentice.’”
In a blur of movement, the mink leaped onto Bracken’s nape with a little snarl, and then jumped onto Eli’s shoulder.
Bracken slapped the back of his neck. “Ow! She just bit me!”
“She did not.”
“Look!” The enforcer twisted only slightly, not letting the mink out of his sight. Sure enough, there was a mark and a few dots of blood, but nothing like the kind of bite a mink could deliver with those formidable teeth.
“It was just a little nip.”
Bracken’s brows shot up. “A nip?”
“You’re on her territory, yelling at her mate. What did you think she’d do? Come on, don’t be a pussy.” The mink licked at Eli’s face, making him smile. He gently lifted her from his shoulder and held her against his chest as he stroked her. Just as she always did, she snuggled into him with a little purr. “See, she’s harmless.”
“Harmless? You have to be kidding.”
“She’s as playful as a pup.” Most of the time. She’d bitten Eli once, but that was only because he’d tried bathing her after she came into the lodge covered in mud. Honestly, that small bite had brought tears to his eyes.
As she lay in his arms quite content, Eli scratched and rubbed her belly. “It’s okay, gorgeous. The big, mean, whiny wolf is just a little scared of you, that’s all.”
“I’m not scared of her, I’m damn well disturbed by her. And I’d say I have reason to be, considering she just tried to kill me. That’s how minks kill, you know. They bite the nape of their prey, puncturing the skull or spinal cord like a freaking jaguar.”
“And where’s the wrong in that?” Eli asked. Hearing the rustling of grass in the distance, his wolf’s ears perked up. “We have company.”
Soon, Roni and Madisyn came into sight.
Madisyn’s brow furrowed as she spotted Bracken. “I thought I heard you yelling. What’s going on?”
His mouth thinned. “I showed him the photo I snapped of your cat’s little collection of dead bodies.”
Madisyn rolled her eyes. “You make it sound like she killed some hitchhikers and kept their corpses as trophies.”
Climbing the porch steps, Roni gasped. “Oh, Mads, look how cute she is!”
Madisyn’s face went all soft. “And she lets him cradle her like a baby.” The feline put a hand to her chest. “My heart can’t take how utterly adorable this is.”
“You hear that?” asked Roni. “She’s purring like a little kitten. And now she’s licking my hand. Oh, she’s so sweet.”
“She is not sweet,” snapped Bracken. “She just bit me!”
“Where?” Madisyn studied the spot he pointed at. “It’s just a little nip. What did you do to her?”
Bracken’s eyes widened. “I didn’t do anything. She has it in for me.”
“Has it in for you,” the feline repeated. “Right.”
Eli was surprised when the mink let out a contented clucking sound and crawled up Roni’s arm. Then again, the mink probably felt comfortable around her given that the she-wolf’s scent was like his own.
“Hey, cutie.” His sister very carefully shifted the mink so that she was pressed against her chest, her little head peeking over Roni’s shoulder.
Madisyn clasped her hands. “Can I hold her, Eli?”
“No!” Bracken shook his head wildly. “No holding her.”
Madisyn frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to carry home your severed fingers.”
Again, Madisyn rolled her eyes at her mate and then turned back to Eli. “Do you think she’ll let me hold her?”
Eli shrugged. “She should be okay with you, since she’s friends with your cat.”
“You can have your turn in a minute, Mads,” said Roni. “Here, stroke her back, let her get used to you and your scent.” Roni turned toward Madisyn, inadvertently giving the mink a clear view of Bracken.
The enforcer jerked back slightly. “She just snarled at me!”
Madisyn shot him an exasperated look. “Stop being an idiot. She’s too busy purring to be snarling.”
“I saw her,” insisted Bracken.
So had Eli, but he clamped his lips shut and said nothing.
“Now she’s glaring at me over Roni’s shoulder.” Bracken perched his hands on his hips. “I’m telling you, she’s thinking of launching herself right at me.”
Madisyn shook her head. “God, you can be such a drama queen. And stop shouting, you’re going to scare her.” Like the mink was a sensitive, nervous fawn or something.
The enforcer slashed a hand through the air. “That’s it, I’m done here.” Bracken stalked off, muttering to himself.