Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Her knowledge about Alpha Protectors was limited. It wasn’t just her. No one in the valley really knew much about the communities of Alphas who lived in the mountains surrounding the valley. What they did know was that the Alphas existed to protect the citizens of the valley. Presumably they patrolled the mountains every day to do so.
Would he take some time off after their ceremony? That unnerved her. If he hovered around her, he would figure out quickly that she sucked as a mate. If he wasn’t home most of the time, she could keep him from realizing her housekeeping skills were paltry because he wouldn’t know how long it took her to do each task.
Molly had far bigger concerns about other expectations her mate would have besides cooking and cleaning. He would of course want her to spread her legs for him. And he would expect to impregnate her. The thought of accepting his, uh, member, into her body made her toss and turn at night. The thought of getting pregnant and having a baby as a result terrified her.
Her mother set down her knife and turned toward her. She wrapped her up in a hug and held her close. “I know you’ve never been thrilled by the fact that you were born with the mark of an Alpha Protector, and I’m sorry it’s so stressful for you, but it’s an honor, honey, and I promise everything will work out. Fate does not make mistakes. If She saw fit to mark you, She knew what She was doing.”
Molly took a deep breath and held her mother close. All she could do was hope her mother was correct.
If not…
If her mate was displeased with her lack of skills and tendency to hide in a quiet corner reading…
Molly would find herself in a world of hurt for the rest of her life.
Chapter One
Two years later…
“Take a deep breath, honey. Goodness and mercy,” Molly’s mother muttered.
“You’d think we were sending you off to be slaughtered,” her father added.
As far as Molly was concerned, that might as well be her fate. Slaughter. It might be preferable to facing her mate. Today. Now.
She was shaking like a leaf in fall as she knelt on the ceremonial pillow in the government center. It was customary for the female to arrive first and be situated on her knees in the middle of the round room, where she was expected to remain with her head bowed until the ceremony was over.
This had all been explained to her thoroughly by her parents in the last few days, but no words could keep her from being nervous.
Soon, her mate and his parents would enter the official room, and she would be surrounded by the five people. Her mate’s father would speak the ceremonial words, and then it would be done. Molly would officially be mated to a stranger. A man she won’t have set eyes on yet.
Molly flinched as the door opened. She held her breath, heart racing so fast that sounds were muffled. She felt like she was underwater. Noises were muted, and she was heavy. She hoped she wouldn’t faint and further embarrass herself.
Thank goodness it wasn’t important for her to listen closely to the words spoken because she wasn’t capable. She was using all her energy to focus on her mate’s shiny black shoes and the cuff of his dress pants.
The only words she was expected to speak were “I do.” And she managed to utter those two tiny words when the time was right.
The ceremony was short, as she’d known it would be. Near the end, her mate had placed his hand on top of her head, which had surprisingly steadied her.
Her breath hitched as the door to the room closed a second time, indicating she was now alone with her mate.
It was hard to control the panic. She kept taking deep breaths, but nothing would stop the trembling and anxiety.
Her mate—whose name she now knew was Gavin—squatted in front of her and slid his hand from the top of her head around to tip her chin back. He smiled as he met her gaze. “It’s over, Little one. They’ve all left.”
She swallowed. Over? To her it was just beginning. It would never be over. Granted, she knew he was referring to the ceremony, but that part was the least of her concerns.
Gavin slid his palm down her arm until he reached her hand.
She looked down at their connection, somewhat stunned to realize how much larger he was than her. She’d been told the Alpha Protectors were larger than any man she’d ever encountered in the valley, but that had obviously been an understatement. This shifter could crush her like a bug without flinching.
He didn’t look inclined to harm her, though. He was smiling warmly and caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. “Can you stand, Little one?”