Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Lucky number Seven—that’s my name.
I’m trying to fit in.
I even gave myself a human name.
No matter what I do, I still don’t feel real.
I long for a connection that I can’t explain.
I look everywhere and yet, it’s nowhere to be found.
Gracie changes that.
She’s my mate—the one.
Her life is in danger.
I have to save her.
Life without her is not an option.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
GRACE
“You can’t run anymore, Gracie. You’re mine now.”
“I’m not,” I argue as his large body pins me against the wall. My heart is thundering so loud it feels as if it’s echoing in the room.
“You are. You need to accept it. You were always meant to be mine. I’m never letting you go.”
My body quakes because I know what’s coming next. His mouth opens and his teeth elongate as fangs appear. His eyes shift into a color that reminds me of burning flames, more yellow than orange but intense and terrifying.
I scream, my body tightening as he lowers his head. I push against his large frame, but he doesn’t budge. Panic claws at me.
“Grace? Jesus, are you alright?”
My eyes snap open as Jessie’s hands bite into my upper arms, shaking me. I look at him, struggling to focus. Just like always, it takes a few minutes before the dream completely fades and Jessie’s face replaces the man—creature—from my dreams.
“I’m okay,” I murmur, feeling anything but.
“You keep having these nightmares. You need to see a doctor. A Xanax would do you wonders,” Jessie mutters. It’s plain to see he’s disgusted with me.
“I’ll look into it,” I lie. I can’t take anything. I barely sleep. Medication makes the dreams worse, and I have a harder time coming out of them.
“You going to be okay now?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, wishing he’d let it drop. It’s not like he cares that much. I know I’m irritating him more than anything. When he was looking for a roommate, this wasn’t exactly what he bargained for.
He doesn’t realize what’s going on. I doubt he’d believe me anyhow. I can’t explain it, but I know the man exists. I also know he’s getting closer.
I’ve been having these dreams for the last year, but they are definitely getting more intense. If I told Jessie or anyone else that the nightmares didn’t feel like nightmares but instead visions, they’d think I was more insane than they already do. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this happen. I don’t talk about it because, when I do, people think I’m crazy. I’m not… at least I don’t think I am. I dream of things that happen. Does that make me psychic or insane? To some people, it’s the same thing.
It was to my mother.
I shake those thoughts away. The past won’t help me, and the memories never change.
Jessie leaves without a second look. I rub my neck, my throat raw because I was screaming. No wonder Jessie was annoyed. I look at the clock and it’s five in the morning. It’s almost time for me to get up for work anyway. Jessie got home less than an hour ago. I guess he has a right to be pissed at me. There’s not much I can do about it, though.
I’ve been thinking of moving and I still might. I’ve never been able to stop the things I’ve seen in my dreams, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop trying. It could be different this time. After all, this is the first time that I’ve dreamed of someone that can’t possibly exist. With teeth like that… he can’t be real. No one has fangs in real life. I don’t watch horror shows, either. So, it’s not like I have a vampire fetish. With my history, watching science fiction and horror shows are a big, huge no.
I might be too literal. It could be that the guy in the dream is just evil—a monster—and that’s what the dreams mean. Either way, he’s coming for me, and I can’t just lie down and let him get me. I have to try to escape…
Even if it’s impossible.
2
#7
(STARK)
“I’m done,” I huff, falling back on the couch. I look over at Leo, who has Ettie on his lap. They’re so deliriously happy, it’s hard to stomach at times. I know I sound resentful and maybe I am a bit. I want what Leo has. Our lives are lonesome. I’m worried if I don’t find this mate that Oracle speaks of, I might very well end up like him—talking to myself and hiding in my dark room carrying on a romance with my hand.
Not that doing that is satisfying at all. Nothing happens and I mean nothing. My dick is dead. It wasn’t so bad when I didn’t know what I was missing. Now that I do? Hell, I’m obsessed with finding a woman who will somehow magically turn me into a man. I’m like that fucking movie that Ettie made us sit through. The main character was a wooden puppet who only wanted to be a real boy. Ironically, I’m a real boy wanting to have a little wood.
“I take it blind date number one hundred and seven was a dud,” Leo says, and I flip the asshole off.