AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Knots form, Chase and I will be sharing a bed tonight.
I take a few deep breaths as I sit in the tent and listen to the boys gathered around the fire outside.
“What will you do if Jax shows up again?” I hear Ash ask Chase.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him from hunting Madison down for the rest of her life.” Chase says with a steely determination in his voice.
“You seem to like her a lot for someone you’ve just met.” Drew’s voice fills my ears.
“She’s his mate,” Isaiah says boldly as though it makes all the sense in the world.
I’m Chases mate? My heart thunders from beneath my ribcage. How can they possibly know that? What does that even mean?
“Isaiah shut up with the mate stuff. The last thing I want to do is freak Madison out or make her feel uncomfortable.” Chase growls in a low voice.
“Right, sorry.”
“In time the secret will come out,” Ash’s voice says, “no need to force it now. The poor girl has been through a lot. She deserves a little time to just breathe and figure out what she wants.”
“Judging by the way she looks at you, I think I know what she wants.” Isaiah’s low chuckle fills the air.
“I hope so, still she’s spent enough time forced into relationships. I want her to have the freedom of choice in this.”
“Even if it means you end up alone?” Drew inquires.
“Even if it means that.” Chase mumbles solemnly.
“Let’s lighten the mood a little bit, huh?” Ash says brightly.
“What do you guys think we should do next?” Chase asks.
“There’s a little gambling town not too far from here. We could try to make a little money to get a compound of our own. It’d be nice to be able to put down roots.” Isaiah offers.
Inside the tent I remake the bed taking deep breaths. I can’t stay in here alone, my head is swimming because of the conversation I just overheard.
Sliding on my shoes I lace them up and put on a brave face and head out to the fire.
“There’s our very own sleeping beauty,” Isaiah jokes.
“Do you feel better rested now?” Chase asks, his eyes searching mine. He probably wantsto know if I overheard the conversation they’d just had.
“Oh yes, thank you for tucking me in. I was much more comfortable than I would have been just crashing out by the fire.” I offer brightly hoping I don’t betray myself by showing the anxiety that simmers beneath the surface of my flesh.
There’s no way I am ready to have that conversation.
“Of course, I know Ash has had to tuck me in a few times in our youth after a heavy night of drinking.” Chase says with a relieved laugh.
He bought it.
“While you were sleeping, we were talking about what to do next, how do you feel about doing some gambling tomorrow?”
A slow smile creeps onto my lips, “I am in.”
Chapter 9
Chase
Under the scorching heat of the sun, we roll into the gambling town. The whole place is reminiscent of the wild-west with its wooden structures and dust-laden streets.
