Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Madi stares at it like she’s going to argue that it’s too much, but then she nods. “Cool. They deserve a killer tip.”
I pick up the takeout box. “Now where?”
“I need to pick up a few things from my apartment.” We walk down the slick sidewalk.
“Okay. I can call Tony if you want to bring more than a few things. Madi…I’d like you to move in.”
She elbows me. “Are you pretending I have a choice right now?”
I smirk. “It’s hard to fool you, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Listen.” I stop and turn her to face me, causing other pedestrians on the street to walk around us. “I want to make this right for you. Do you believe that?”
She gives a small nod. “Yes.” She sounds a little breathless.
“I want to get you out of New York. I’d like to go somewhere we can be alone. Somewhere we can lie on a warm beach and let our guards down. Get to know each other in new ways.”
A slow smile spreads across Madi’s face. “That sounds nice.”
“Good.” I pull out my phone to order a jet. “We’ll leave tonight.”
“Tonight?” Surprise tinges her voice.
“Yes. I need to know that we’re solid. Then I can face down the threats to the pack.”
Madi
Um, wow.
It’s completely impossible to stay angry or resentful toward Brick. I mean, he had me at that thank you he dropped in my hair the moment he walked in the penthouse, but now I’m starting to feel like we’re a team again.
Brick is on the phone making arrangements as we walk to my apartment. He walks up the stairs with me, but his phone rings again as we walk in. “Hang on–it’s Eagle. I’ll just take this call and then come in,” he says as he answers it.
I nod. Does that mean he doesn’t want me to hear what he’s saying?
No, I’m being paranoid. He said he wants us to be solid. He’s taking me to a beach. Considering what a cold, nasty day it is in New York, I’m thrilled.
I go inside and grab a small suitcase, throwing in a swimsuit and flip-flops for the beach and things I’ve missed most while staying at Brick’s–my Kindle and charger, my ultrasonic toothbrush, my favorite sleep shirt, a pair of bronze dangle earrings Aubrey made for me.
My phone rings, and I check the screen.
Catherine Adalwulf.
I haven’t spoken to her since I figured out Jerry was a spy and contacted her for support. She was the one who told me to call Sully to have him follow up on it. As I’d guessed, she told me that she’d unwittingly been used as a weapon against her mate, just as I was being used.
I answer the phone, feeling a small stab of guilt at communicating with her while Brick still refuses to speak to her. But I’m not unloyal. I’m team Brick all the way, I just happen to think Catherine is, too.
“Madi, hi!” Catherine’s voice is uncertain. I can’t help but feel pity for her. To have your own son hate you would be the worst sort of fate.
“Hi, Catherine. How are you?”
“I’m well. I’m just calling to congratulate you on your mating.”
I stiffen. Brick doesn’t want the Adalwulfs–or his own pack–to know we’re mated. How does Catherine know? Or is she using me to get information for Aiden?
“Ruby told me,” she explains.
I relax a little.
“She also told me how you saved his life. Thank you, Madi. Truly.”
“Well, of course. I–” I start to say I love him. Something I haven’t even said to Brick. Something I’m still trying to defend myself against. But for some reason, holding that back from his mother feels wrong. She feels like an ally in all this. “I love him.”
“I know you do, sweetheart. I saw it at Thanksgiving. I saw what you mean to him, too. I’m sure it’s complicated with you being human. I just want to offer my full support and official welcome to the family. I’m not a Blackthroat, but Brick is my son, which makes you my daughter, now.”
Tears sting my eyes for the relief of having at least one wolf shifter welcome me to their kind.
But it also feels so empty. Like I got married but missed my wedding. Here I am, locked into a lifetime as Brick’s one and only mate, and my own mother doesn’t even know I’m dating him.
She wouldn’t approve if she did.
“Thank you.” My throat is clogged. “It’s, um, it’s a lot to absorb. I don’t understand it all, and that drives me crazy.”
“Well, I’m here. Like I said, I’m not a Blackthroat, but I know Brick, and I can tell you anything you need to know about wolf culture. You’re one of us now, Madi. You’re in our world. I don’t know what it’s like to mate out of species, but I do know what it’s like to mate out of pack. It was awful. I will do everything I can to make it easier for you to integrate.”