Filed To Story: A Claim of Fortune Book PDF Free by Jaymin Eve
My favorite body part shot to attention, and I risked a glance at the caged dragon to find he looked mostly curious, without any obvious jealousy.
Interesting.
Hunter and Slade did a sweep of the house before leaving, and I reminded them that Fin was out there raging around as a bear, and to keep an eye out for him. Then I took my mate up to my room, barely able to stop from throwing her over my shoulder and charging.
Emme didn’t always love the way we carried her around like our own personal wolf plushie, and today she wanted to walk on her own. “Shower first?” she suggested, breathing in the scent of my room until she started to calm. My caramel and cinnamon tones were everywhere, and I loved that she needed a hit. Just like I needed every part of my Shortcake.
Emme’s expression remained somber as we entered the bathroom, and she didn’t even protest as I slowly stripped her clothes off, annoyed by the small piles of plaster, wood chips, and rubble that hit the floor too. She’d come close to being hurt again, and I was so fucking sick of my mate being in harm’s way. I wanted to rage and crush the world around us.
In the shower, Emme leaned down and rested her head against my chest, and I did nothing but hold her. She was so tall that it had to be uncomfortable to bend her neck in that way, but she didn’t show any sign of it.
“When did you start reading romances?” she asked randomly, her voice soft.
There was a hint of urgency in the question, as if she was worried if she didn’t ask now, she’d never hear the answer. “Oh, and why all the plants? I’d really love to know about those too.”
Smiling as I propped my chin on top of her head, I said, “Well, I honestly started reading when I first discovered girls. My brothers clued me in on the importance of romance, and while they didn’t suggest the novels, I did my own research and concluded that female authors were all but giving me an insight into their minds… their wants… their needs.”
Emme wiggled against me, and at first, I thought she was upset about the mention of “girls,” not that any female existed in the world now except for her, but then she chuckled.
Needing more of that, I continued: “Funniest part was that it did teach me about romance, but it also opened my eyes to true escapism. I love the heart and soul that are woven into these stories, and the fact that I get spice as well… Sign me the fuck up. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“I love that,” she mumbled against me, her soft lips brushing my skin, and I had to remind my dick that it was not play time. Not yet.
“And the plants.” I thought back to when that had started for me. “I guess it would be from my mom. Dad taught me weapons, and Mom taught me to surround myself in greenery. She loves to garden. You should see their pack’s house… I don’t think they’ve bought groceries in ten years. She grows everything. They even have their own cattle. It’s a full farm community in their area.”
Emme was quiet as she absorbed that information, and then she let out a sigh. “You really did come from a good family, didn’t you? I honestly thought they only existed in fairy tales. Even in romance novels the families are usually fucked up, hence why these main characters always have to save themselves.”
I’d never thought of my family as anything other than fucking awesome, but the more I experienced the real world, the more I was coming to see that I’d been truly blessed. Growing up with them was a gift that I needed to be more mindful of. “I should ring my parents again soon,” I murmured, holding her even closer. “They want to visit and meet you.”
“I’d like that,” she said, her voice low and relaxed. “I’d like to see a real family in action.”
I pulled her up until she stood straight, and I could stare into her beautiful blue irises. “You do see one. Every day in our pack house. We’re a real family, and you’ll eventually accept our unconditional love, which is the sort of love you should have had growing up.”
Her lips trembled, but she didn’t cry.
She was so strong. It killed me that she’d been forced into that position, when her omega soul was soft and gentle.
“Let me take care of you, baby,” I breathed, pressing my lips to her right cheek, and then her left, before slowly kissing across my perfect freckles and down to her mouth.
“Yes,” she said, breathily. “Please, Golden.”
I reached for my shampoo and lathered up her hair, slowly and gently, marveling at how beautiful she looked when her head fell back to give me better access. The long lines of her throat called to me, and I brushed my lips down the front as I finished off her hair.
By the time we were both clean, the aching sadness had left her body, and she smiled as she snuggled into our bed. We were both naked, and my dick was hard enough to punch a hole through the wall, though I didn’t even bother palming the needy asshole. It was time to focus on Emme’s needs.
“Will you read to me?” she asked, pointing toward our latest story. “I need to escape into a nicer fantasy world for a bit.”
We were halfway through a series that I’d started reading during one of her nightmares. They were coming less frequently, thank fuck, but I was glad the reading persisted.
Reaching for the book, I smirked at the realization that we’d left off last night just before chapter twenty-seven. The perfect chapter for what I had planned.
EMME
My head spun from the chain of events today.
So much had happened in such a short period of time, and I wasn’t sure I understood the full reasoning behind it. Sure, the witch had made her agenda clear-she was on the side of Fletcher and the Termaine witches. But what had they hoped to achieve?
Was it destabilization?
Were they hoping to kill a bunch of entitled alphas and weaken Golden Claw’s council?
Was it just a show of power?
Or had they been attempting to kidnap me again, and if so, why had there been no real effort?
I had all the questions, and no way to get any real answers.
“You ready to continue our story, Shortcake?” Kellan rumbled, settling back on his pile of fluffy pillows, dragging me against his side. It was the middle of the day, and after our shower I was exhausted, naked, and ready to curl up with my mate until our pack returned.
“I’m so ready,” I murmured, rolling over to face him, draping my arm over his chest to enjoy all those gym and hockey muscles. As I traced the expanse of his bare, golden skin, a random thought hit me. “We should get tattoos.” We were the only two-oh, and Talon-who didn’t sport any ink.
Kellan let the book fall to his side as he turned his focus on me. “What would you get? I’ve never been able to decide, even though Fin has drawn me up dozens of options.”