Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“Hello again.”
Leah looked up to see Morgan, the town healer, who also dealt in herbs and charms. She liked to dabble in magic, but there was not a magical bone in her body. She was a lovely woman and helped Lucinda and Killian locate all the necessary herbs she needed to keep practicing magic.
“Hello, Morgan.”
“I have to wonder if you cast a spell on her,” Morgan said, lowering her butt to the ground. “Do you mind if I sit?”
She had come to realize most of the wolves loved closeness. They enjoyed being there, close. She’d noticed this about Killian. For now, at her request, they shared separate beds, but she had a feeling he snuck in and held her. Leah didn’t have any proof, just a feeling that throughout the night she hadn’t been alone.
For six months, she had the worst nights’ sleep, and now she slept like a baby. It was odd to her. There was no point in denying it. It was Killian.
“Not at all. Take a seat.”
“Killian will be here soon. I know he’s just helping a few wolves, and then he plans to come and sit with you.”
He spent a lot of time in her company, even if they didn’t talk. Leah didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to be a doormat, but she felt this need to talk to him, to be with him. The mating bond hadn’t faded, and if anything, since being in his pack, it had only gotten stronger.
“There’s no reason for him to come and sit with me.”
Morgan chuckled. “I know the two of you are going through a bad patch, but I hope one day you can forgive him. It is so rare for a pack to be handed over to a son.”
“What do you mean?”
“In most packs, there must be a fight, where each man fights for the title of strength. Killian was more than prepared to do that, but his father, our previous alpha, didn’t want that. We all know Killian is the strongest, and he would have won, but there is always that option open.”
“Did any men within the pack want to fight him?”
“No. Our pack has never been safer than with Killian. He puts us all first. We’re aware of what the prophecy said, and we also know what happened. What he did.”
“How?” Leah asked.
“He told us. Killian doesn’t keep any secrets from the pack. He explained what happened and that was one of the reasons we destroyed the prophecies. They were no longer important. Our pack was important—each other, and seeing our alpha happy. Killian loves you with his whole heart. The pack always felt he needed to put us first, to prove that his father was right.”
And that was why he had to do everything in his power to keep the pack. On one hand, he’d been completely selfish because he’d taken her along for the trip. On the other hand, he was doing something completely selfless—putting the pack before his own wishes and desires. Tears filled her eyes, and she quickly averted her gaze.
That infuriating man. Damn it. How could she be mad at him now?
Picking Witchy up in her arms, she smiled at Morgan. “I’ve got to go. I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t worry about it. We’ll have lunch tomorrow.”
“Make it the day after tomorrow.” She held Witchy close, kissing the back of her neck. Witchy settled into her arms.
Heading out of the park, Leah crossed the town, but there was no sign of Killian. A pack member told her one of the kids had thrown up on his clothes, so he’d gone home to change.
Leah went home. She put Witchy in her bed and placed a blanket around her, before going to the stairs. She heard the shower running. Stepping into the bathroom, she waited.
Killian didn’t take long. The shower turned off, and then he stepped out of the stall and came to a stop. “Leah.”
She held up her hand. “I want to stay mad at you. I do. What you did, taking me with you, mating with me…” He went to say something else, but she held her hand up to stop him. “No, I’m speaking right now. Mating with me, even if you didn’t know that was part of the deal. You were willing to make that ultimate sacrifice for your pack.” She stopped. “I’ve had a lot of people tell me that you … have wanted a mate for a long time. That you’ve been searching for me, or in our case, waiting for me, and for your pack you were willing to give me up to save them.”
“I didn’t want to.”
“You were doing what you had to do.” She dropped her head. “And how can I hate you when I think about you like that? You were being selfish and selfless at the same time.”