Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Makenna’s brows lifted. “Well, it’s pretty natural that he wouldn’t want another male’s hands on the female he’s marked. I gotta be honest—it’s kind of surprising that he marked you, since he never struck me as the possessive type. And I never got the feeling he was harboring a crush on you, especially since he was pursuing Shiloh pretty hard for a while.”
Yeah, and that hadn’t been easy for Madisyn to watch. Her cat had hated it.
“But then, he hasn’t pursued her since the extremist attack, has he?” Makenna mused. “Experiences change us. He’s changed, which means his needs may have changed too. She might not be what he wants and needs anymore. In any case, if he bit you that hard, it wasn’t an accident. Some part of him wanted to put that brand there. What did you tell him?”
“I pointed out that he was being unreasonable, which he didn’t deny. Then he left, went to get in his car, got knocked over by the sows, and then . . .”
“Then, what?”
“Well, he’d hit his head kind of hard, so he was pretty dazed. I kept talking to him, telling him to keep his eyes open. And then he looked at me. I’ve never seen his eyes look so . . . clear. Probably because in that moment, while he was totally out of it, he had no guards up. And I was thrown by what had happened and panicking because of all the blood, and I just kept thinking that he’d better not die. And then, well, something happened.”
“What?”
Madisyn scratched at her nape. “I sort of, um . . . felt the pull of the mating bond.”
Makenna’s mouth dropped open. “No shit! You’re serious?”
“Very. I only felt it for a few moments. The power of it seemed to be too much for his brain to bear while he was in so much pain from hitting his head, which is probably why the mating urge didn’t kick in. But yeah, he’s definitely my true mate.”
Makenna scooted forward on the desk. “Oh my God, this is huge. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Because I’m still getting used to the idea. I haven’t told anybody yet.”
“I gotta say, Madisyn, I did not see this coming. I mean, you and him . . .”
“There was no immediate, overpowering sexual attraction,” Madisyn finished. “Not even an elemental fondness. Nothing.”
“But you’ve always liked him.”
“I always found him good-looking, but I’m not alone in that. I was a little drawn to him but not in a way that rang alarm bells.”
“Yeah, but that’s not so strange. You’ve never been keen on finding your true mate. It could be that some part of you felt something around him that you instantly rejected, I don’t know.” Makenna clasped her hands. “Did he feel the bond? Tell me he did.”
“He felt it.”
“And he wants this, right? I mean, he’s not stupidly pushing you away out of guilt over his family’s death or anything?”
“No, he wants the bond.”
Makenna frowned. “You don’t sound happy about that.”
“I am. Sort of. I mean, like you said, he never harbored a crush on me. I really doubt he would ever want a relationship with me if there were no mating bond, and that kind of puts a downer on this for me.”
“You’re not thinking of fighting this, are you? Because it would be fruitless. Bracken’s the type to go after what he wants.”
Madisyn nodded. “Point in fact, he pursued Shiloh relentlessly.”
“Forget about Shiloh. Like I said, experiences change people. Bracken has changed in many ways.”
“Yes, but the fact that I annoy him hasn’t changed. I really don’t think he likes me as a person.”
Makenna waved that away. “If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t have given you the time of day. That’s the way he is. My mate’s the same.”
“Speaking of Ryan, how is he?”
“His usual gruff self.”
“How’s Sienna?” Just thinking of Makenna’s little girl made Madisyn smile. The toddler was the cutest thing ever.
“Fine. She was busy stealing food from Dexter’s pockets when I left . . . which is bad, because she then eats his stash, and you know that kid hoards things for weeks on end.” Makenna rolled her eyes. Little Dexter was a cheetah shifter who’d once been a resident of the shelter before the Phoenix Pack adopted him. “But I refuse to be distracted. Back to the none-too-small discovery you made last night—how do you feel about it? Not about Bracken being your mate. About finding your mate.”
“It’s a little scary. Everything will change if I let him claim me.”
“If?” echoed Makenna with a snort. “You’re going to let him claim you at some point.”
Madisyn raised a haughty brow. “Is that so?”
“Yes, because at this point in your life, you want a mate. You just don’t like change—never have. Get to know the guy better, give this a chance. I don’t think you have to worry about Shiloh trying to lure him from you. But Claudia Brookson might be a problem. Whenever I go to the Velvet Lounge on the weekends, she seems to be there. And she always has her eye on Bracken.”