Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
The truth was, he didn’t want Graham to die. In the few short days he’d been around him, he’d come to really like the bastard. It was going to be hard to watch him go, if it even came to that.
For the first time since hearing what Milton did and the harsh reality of what it meant, he was clinging onto the tiny ray of hope. That was all he wanted—a tiny ray of hope that it was going to be okay.
Rose stepped toward him and placed a hand on his cheek. “Then we tell them.”
****
Graham was out with Rocco, heading toward the clubhouse as he’d opted to go with him to break the news. Rose had decided to stay back. She didn’t want to see the pack’s reaction when he told them. She knew it made her a coward, but she just couldn’t handle their judgement right now.
Working her way around the garden, she checked on her brassica plants, to make sure they were doing okay in the plummeting temperatures. She loved gardening, it was a nice way for her to relax, but she tensed up as she sensed someone close. Getting to her feet, she spun around, intent on using the tiny shovel in her hand, only to stop when she caught sight of Draco. He looked slightly crazy, but she knew he was prone to tendencies of crazy.
“Draco,” she said.
“I, uh, I need your help.”
“What?”
He ran fingers through his hair and she saw the blood on his hands. “Draco, is everything okay?”
“Look, I know I’m not known for being the sanest of wolves. Lose a mate prematurely, and trust me, it will do that to you, but I promise I’m not on edge, and I’ve not done anything stupid, at least not yet.”
This had to be the most she had ever heard Draco talk.
“But, it’s … I need you to see it, rather than tell you. You’re safe. I’m not crazy. I’m not going to kill you.”
Rose couldn’t help but look at the blood. “Do I need to bring my cleaning supplies?”
“No, you just need to trust me and come with me. I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”
There was something in his voice that made her believe. Without a second thought, she put her tools down, dusting off the dirt, and then following him out of her home and toward the main forest. She loved living in the cabin at the edge of the forest because she was not close to the pack, while also being very close to the pack. Most pack loved to be close, but Rose liked to be near, not too close. Again, this was one of those elements that made her a little odd. She didn’t need company every second of the day, nor people touching her all the time.
They moved to the opposite end of the forest, and Rose frowned as they came upon a much older cabin. She’d explored the forests for many moons in her time but couldn’t recall ever stumbling across this old cabin. The scent was confusing her.
Draco stopped at the doorway and he spun toward her. “You need to stay calm. Don’t make any sudden movements.”
“What’s going on?”
“No one else knows about her.”
“Her?” Rose didn’t have a clue what she was about to witness, and she didn’t get the chance to ask any more questions as they stepped over the threshold.
Then, she saw her … or it … or possibly a thing. It wasn’t quite human nor wolf, it was like her body was glitching between the two states, and then it was like her body gave out, exhausted. Only, Rose looked toward the woman’s eyes, and they were all wolf as they looked at her.
The woman was beautiful, there was no doubt about it. Also, afraid. The eyes were looking as if she wanted to strike, but that wasn’t all. There was real fear beneath the depths, which she couldn’t hide.
“Draco, she’s infected,” Rose said.
“I know, and she has been for a few months.”
“The club doesn’t know?” Rose asked.
“No, no one but me, Lelah, and now you.”
“Lelah?”
“That’s my name,” Lelah said. “I’m Lelah.”
“She found a stray dog, took him to the vet, and Milton convinced her that all people who got strays needed an injection.”
Rose opened her mouth and then closed it. She didn’t know why she was so shocked by this mad doctor. No, there was no way she was going to give him credit for being a doctor. He was a mad scientist, a crazy person.
She thought about Graham. In a way, it was a similar circumstance.
“A few months?” she asked, looking toward Draco.
She didn’t move a muscle, as she sensed the other woman, in her own way, was stalking her.
“Yes.”
“What about … the transition?” Rose asked.
Draco ran a hand over his face. “Her body has been fighting it, but I took your advice.”