Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 35696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35696 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
He stared at her, waiting.
“I, er, I know we haven’t had the best start with you constantly threatening me and well, with everything, but I … I want to be … happy. If it’s even possible to be. You know?” she asked.
“I do.”
“Do you think we can try?”
“We can.”
“You’re sure?”
“I don’t mind trying if you don’t.” He had no idea what she was trying to say but he was letting her take the lead here.
“I’m Winter. I’m human and I’m a vegan, which is usually an issue for people but I hope we can get past it.” She offered him a smile. “Yes, to your question. I would love to have kids one day. I have this big old dream of finding the man who will love me forever, no questions asked, and we’ll get married, have a bunch of kids, and live happily until we die.” She took a deep breath. “I’m rambling. I’m nervous.”
“I’m Rocko. I’m the alpha of the East Pack, and I have hurt my fair share of humans. I find it difficult to trust people. I’ve noticed more often than not they betray you.”
“It must make for a lonely existence.”
“No, I have an entire pack to protect. I don’t have time to get lonely.”
“You still must feel it.”
He’d never thought of himself as lonely and he wasn’t about to start now. “I rarely make mistakes but with you, I seem to keep on making them.”
“I won’t hold it against you.” She smiled at him. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“No.”
“Thank you for all of this. It means a lot.”
“Do you like to cook?”
“Yes. I do. Do you?”
“No.”
“Then I will cook for us from now on. Are you … vegan?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
He still held her hand. He didn’t want to let her go.
“I’m going to take Daphne back outside. You’re free to join us. It’s your yard.” He let her hand go and watched her leave the kitchen.
Once again, the heavy scent of vanilla hung in the air. He closed his eyes, breathed it in, and just basked.
He was going to fuck Winter. No doubt about it. For a short time, he was going to claim her, rid his body of this need for her, and when he’d had his fill, she would be gone. He’d find other people to take care of Daphne. He hadn’t ruled out taking her to some kind of care center. Humans had them for all of their unwanted kids.
The woman who’d been begging him as she died entered his thoughts. This baby hadn’t been unloved. She’d been wanted and giving her to any kind of care home seemed wrong. He wasn’t a monster and he wasn’t going to turn into something he wasn’t just because caring for her caused him problems.
He’d make it work.
Sitting on the ground in his backyard, he stared at Daphne. She was doing some kind of baby thing, grabbing her feet and rocking from side to side. He watched her, finding his chest starting to ache as he did.
There was no mate in his life and he had this fear rushing through his body that the woman destined to be his was right inside cooking. It couldn’t be. He wouldn’t accept a human as his mate. She didn’t belong to him and he wasn’t going to allow himself to be with a human.
Running a hand down his face, he lay down on the grass and watched her. Daphne was pure, untouched, clean. Her mind wasn’t changed by the views of others. She was special, a beautiful child inside and out.
He reached out, stroking her cheek. So beautiful. He’d make sure she never had a worry or a concern in her world.
There would be a way for a human to be among them and to love them. She would never know anger or hatred, or even fear for her entire life.
“I’ll protect you forever.”
Amazing scents came from the house, making his mouth water, and thinking about the woman creating them made his dick harder. What had she done to him? He looked back toward the house but didn’t catch sight of her.
“What do you think of her?” he asked. She’d proven herself time and time again. She didn’t hate him but in time, that could change.
Could he really have his way with her and throw her out? The idea was tempting but also fleeting because he had this feeling she would be more than just a quick fuck. He was going to want her for a lifetime. He was sure of it.
Keeping her was out of the question though. He didn’t know why the fuck he was thinking about the long term with Winter. She wasn’t his responsibility and so long as she took care of Daphne, he really didn’t care. So far, she’d followed instructions and that was all that mattered right now.