Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Ryder is touching my breast.
Not the whole thing. Just a gentle graze of his fingers. But still a purposeful touch.
I’m about to twist my body to give him further access when footsteps thud through the cabin and then the door opens. The fear of facing more ridicule from Wild has me jolting out of both Ronan’s and Ryder’s holds, making me stagger down the steps and onto the grass.
I don’t say a word to any of them, choosing to dart next door as quickly as possible. I sneak into the cabin and find Sadie already fast asleep on a sleeping bag on the floor. Destiny’s soft breathing can be heard from the bed. Mage is curled up next to her, his little wolf head poking out from under the covers. I quickly change out of my clothes and into my pajamas before sliding into bed next to my sister.
How dare anyone suggest there’s something wrong with her?
There’s not.
And screw Jace and CJ for talking shit about my sister. Whatever friendship I thought I had with them is over. I’m Team Ryder. The trespassers need to go. Wild can go right along with them for all I care.
I hug her close to me and inhale her sweet scent. I’ll protect her from the words of others. I’ll protect her from everyone.
* * *
* * *
Everything is all fucked-up.
Yes, I’m annoyed at Wild for stating his bullshit lies, but I’m more bothered by how Ryder’s been acting. He hasn’t smiled or laughed since he spoke to Dad the night after our…tent rendezvous. Things only worsened when he caught Raegan hanging out with the enemy. Wild and Mya didn’t help when they stirred up their shit.
I just want everything to go back to normal.
I want them to leave. All of them.
I just want it to be me, Raegan, and Ryder again. Sneaking out to swim in the creek, hunting, fishing, reading, hanging out. Just us.
Ryder’s been missing since early this morning when Rowdy came for him. My guess is they went hunting. Since I need a minute to myself and my thoughts, I choose to help the littles and Mom gather eggs in the chicken coup.
The morning sun hits Mom’s golden hair and makes it shimmer. Her smile is wide as she squats down beside Kota and Declan with Dawson sleeping in the baby carrier on her back. She’s really beautiful. And young. So young compared to our father.
Anxiety sours my gut. What if what Wild claimed is true? What if Mom really is Dad’s daughter? Bile creeps up my throat. We’d all be at risk for birth defects. Maybe that’s why I’m attracted to men when I’m supposed to want a woman.
If I were Raegan or even Ryder, I’d have the balls to come out and ask Mom. Right now when she’s caught off guard and doesn’t have a chance to make anything up. I could discover the truth with one bold question.
And yet, I bite my tongue.
Knowledge isn’t always power. Knowledge can be pain. It can maim and destroy. In the case of this accusation that she’d marry her own father and have children with him, I realize I don’t want to know. I’m okay with being blissfully ignorant.
“Everything okay, Ro?” Mom asks, her lips tugging into a concerned frown. “You’re looking a little sad lately. I’m worried about you.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. I am a little sad lately, but I can’t tell her. I refuse to. This family already feels as though it’s brittle and my problems might be what completely shatters us. Not happening. Ever.
“All good, Mom,” I lie, grinning brightly at her.
She scrutinizes me, eyes skimming all over my face as though she can see right inside my head. I keep the too-wide grin stretched over my face, though it begins to shake slightly. I think I might have her fooled…
“Ronan, baby,” she begins with a sigh. “Depression runs in our family.” Her features shutter at a past memory that momentarily holds her hostage. “Promise me you’ll talk to me before you let whatever’s bothering you completely consume you.”
“Promise.” My forced smile falters, so I look away before she can see it. “I’ll run these up to the big house.”
She purses her lips together, studying me for a beat, and then nods, handing me the basket she and the little ones have been filling with eggs. I grab my own basket and hurry out of the coup before she’s able to dig any deeper. In my haste, I nearly railroad over my brother.
Ryder side-steps me and raises his arm holding his rifle, eyes wide as he assesses me.
“Sorry,” I grumble. “I just had to get out of there.”
His gaze travels past me to where Mom can be seen in the coup. I watch as his features harden into stone. The last thing I need right now is Ryder confronting Mom about what Wild said.