Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33372 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Karina is human. She cannot protect herself. Only we can protect her!” Again William slammed his hand down on the desk.
Rage took another long, deep breath. He was in another alpha’s territory but he felt his wolf was close to the surface, wanting to dominate, to take control for the sake of his mate. Once he had him under control, he looked at William.
“Listen to me closely. I wasn’t asking your permission, William Westblood. I was here as a courtesy to you, to let you know I will be taking my mate out for a short trip to the nearby village, so I can spend some time with her.” He took a step toward William, but then stopped himself. He wasn’t going to allow this to elevate any further. “You promised me that when it came to Karina, you would not stand in my way.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“And she’s my mate. You asked me to come here. You wanted an alliance, for me to find a woman. My mate was right here, and I’m not leaving without her. I’ve followed all your rules, now you will keep your word and not interfere with my business. Karina is mine and she will still live a life, even with the constant threat of attack. I will protect her. I will do whatever is necessary to make her happy.”
There was a knock on the door and in response, William growled, but that didn’t stop Patricia from stepping over the threshold and closing the door behind her.
“We’re talking,” William said.
“I heard, and I’m pretty sure the whole house heard, apart from Karina, who is changed and ready, hoping her father will allow her to go with Rage.” Patricia went straight to William and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m here, my love. I know you’re worried. We all are, but this is Karina, she won’t do anything stupid. You know this.”
“She’s our baby girl,” William said.
“And when we placed her in that lineup, there was always a chance she would be chosen, human or not. Rage picked her. They belong together, and if you stop them now, then it would be like our parents stopping us.”
Another growl from William.
Patricia chuckled. “Exactly.” She turned back toward Rage. “You may go. All we ask is that you protect our girl.”
“Always.”
He looked toward William, who gave a nod of his head. This wasn’t the alpha, but a concerned father. Rage had never fathered children, so he didn’t have a clue how he would react if another man thought he could protect his own daughter. He imagined that time would come.
Leaving William’s office, he found Karina sitting on the steps. She wasn’t wearing a dress this time, but a skirt and top. The skirt melded to her sexy curves, and the top seemed to billow out at the arms. She looked amazing.
“Did I dress okay? Rose helped me. We didn’t exactly know where we were going.” She glanced down at her body, and he held his hand out for her to take.
She slid her hand into his, and he gripped hers tightly, trying to offer her as much comfort as possible.
“Is it too much?” she asked.
“Karina, you look perfect.”
And there was that blush he loved so much. “Thank you.”
He pulled her in close, pressing his face against her neck. The last time he did this, Karina had tensed up in his arms, but now she rested against him. There was a change in her. It was slow and subtle but it was there.
Running his hands down her body, he gripped her ass and pulled her in closer to him. Karina released a gasp and pulled away from him. Her teeth had sunk into her bottom lip, and he cupped her face.
He heard the clearing of a throat, and he looked over Karina’s shoulder to see her siblings watching. Rage had completely forgotten they were not alone, but he just couldn’t help it. Whenever he was close to his mate, he had this compulsion to touch her, to hold her, to get as close to her as physically possible.
“See you later,” Rose said, with a smirk on her lips.
Karina brushed past him and opened the door. “Bye.”
She pulled him out of the house, closing the door behind him. His car was waiting for him.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a car,” Karina said.
This made Rage pause. “No car?”
“Dad never wanted me to leave the pack. Whenever he left to go on trips, I stayed home.” She shrugged.
“Well, then, it’s going to be my pleasure to introduce you to new and exciting things.”
She smiled at him, took his hand, and climbed into the car after he opened the door. He closed the door, rounded the car, and climbed straight in. Rage got the sense they were being watched, and one glance back at the house, and he saw the curtain twitch. Of course her family would be watching their every move.