Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 137524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 688(@200wpm)___ 550(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
I stand up and turn around, seeing Dominic. “Must be Friday, and it’s weird that you always smell like cookies now.”
“My mate likes the way I smell, thank you very much.” He sets the big basket of food down on the picnic table and looks at the progress I’ve made since last week.
Dominic has been worried about me a lot lately, but I can’t figure out why. It’s as if he keeps coming back to make sure I’m making progress. Like something is going to happen and he’s making sure I’m prepared.
“You’ve come a long way, X. The house looks great.”
“I’ve got nothing but time on my hands,” I say as I grab the basket, pulling out the cookies first. They are my favorite and always smell the best.
Not too long ago, I was doing pretty bad and walked too close to town. I think I was in a daze and following a scent. I stumbled upon the back of the town bakery, and I stopped when I saw a woman coming out. I’d been smelling something so good coming from the shop, and I think that’s what led me there. When I saw her, I thought she was my mate, though I was surprised that the scent wasn’t stronger. It was only a hint of my mate. It turned out that the woman was Ruby and she belonged to Dominic. She wasn’t mine, but the cookies she had in her hands smelled like mine. So now every week he brings me a basket from her, and the cookies are what I look forward to the most. They remind me of something I have buried deep in my heart, and I refuse to let it out.
“I know you’ve come a long way, Xavier, and I just wanted to say that I’m really proud of you. You’re making a good home for your mate.”
I turn to Dom with a mouth full of cookies and shrug. “It’s not good, it’s the best.” He laughs, and I don’t know why. It’s not a joke. I’m a good builder, and this is the best thing I’ve ever made.
“Okay, X. It’s the best.”
The house is a big one-story log cabin. It has an extra-large great room that opens into a kitchen. I built a big fireplace in the great room and put river stones around it. It has a large master bedroom with a big master bath, and four other bedrooms. I built bunk beds in the kids’ rooms because I expect to have at least two litters.
“Everything is pretty much done. Thank you for coming by and keeping the place up for me the past few years. I only needed to clean up a few things and make a couple of changes. I appreciate your mate sending me things as well.” Ruby is a good mate, and Dominic is a lucky male.
Dominic nods in understanding, looking me over as he does. I’m sure I still look a bit savage to him, with my hair down past my shoulders and my beard just as long. I don’t think he can see much other than my eyes when we talk.
“Ruby sent you some more clothes, although with the way you’ve been working, I don’t think anything will fit.”
I nod, not really caring if anything will fit. They’re just clothes. “Once your mate has the pups, she’ll be busy for quite some time.” I feel a pang of guilt saying that. I don’t mean that she should be caring for me, just that I’ll miss the cookies.
“Yes, we’ve thought about that. I think we’ve got it figured out.” He looks around at the house and nods his head like he’s come to some kind of decision. “What are your plans tonight, Xavier?”
“I’m going to kill a deer and smoke the meat. Why?” He’s asking stupid questions.
“There’s a little fair going on in town tonight. I think you should go see it.”
“Too many people.” I grunt the response, turning around to finish packing up my tools. I don’t have time for his dumb ideas. I like solitude and quiet. Town is loud and busy.
“Xavier, I think you should come. Don’t you want to see if you can find your mate now that the house is finished?”
At his words I stop what I’m doing. He’s right. I do want to find my mate, and unless she happens across this cabin in the woods, I probably won’t ever find her out here. I don’t turn around, but I nod my head in understanding. I’ve got to try to make an effort if I want to find her.
“I’ll see you soon, friend.” I hear him turn and walk back towards town, leaving me in my solitude again.
When I know he’s gone, I turn around and go back to the picnic table to look at the clothes Ruby sent for me. It’s a big paper sack full of things that are unnecessary, like shoes and belts. But I remember that she isn’t shifter so she doesn’t know this. I grab a pair of jeans and a button-up shirt and take them into the house with the basket of food.