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)
Ruby covers her mouth to cover her tears, and Eagle pulls her onto his lap.
“Have you been bespelled by the witch? Is there anything we need to do to release you from the Adalwulf pack?”
My mom lifts her shoulders helplessly. “It’s hard to know what’s real and what is smoke and mirrors with the old witch, but she isn’t long for this world.”
“Catherine, I was just saying that you’re the one person who knows the Adalwulf’s weaknesses. I thought you could join the council while we discuss next steps.” Madi’s luna power radiates through her words. I don’t think she even knows how much authority she wields with her voice.
My mom’s eyes widen and a look of wonder comes over her. “She’s taken on alpha powers. A true luna,” she says in amazement. “I didn’t know if that lore was real.”
“Same,” Vance agrees.
“Have a seat.” I wave a hand toward a chair and settle back on the sofa beside Madi.
My mom sits down. “I think an all-out war can be avoided, if that’s what you want. Now doesn’t seem like the time to strike when your pack just took an internal hit.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
“The Adalwulfs are in turmoil right now. My brother is about to die from the magic poisoning, and his own son can’t wait. Aiden has been amassing strength and support of his own within the pack.”
“Yes. Remember how Aiden reacted when you said he was on his father’s leash?” Madi catches my eye.
Mostly what I remember was feeling my mate was being threatened and the need to protect her, but I try to recall the conversation before I shifted.
“Right. The attack on the island was Odin’s doing. It was reckless–he sent all his best wolves, and you decimated them. That means Odin’s power base is gone.”
Billy nods in approval. “That’s good.”
“If you somehow force a showdown now between father and son–between Odin’s supporters and Aiden’s–you can fracture the pack,” Eagle fills in.
“Exactly.” My mom accepts a plate of food that Vance filled for her.
An idea begins to form in my mind. “All right.” I catch the gaze of my mate. “I know just how to play this.”
Chapter Seventeen
Brick
The full moon peeks over the tips of the towering pine trees. The silver light limns the hardened top crust of the snow, making the white drifts glow.
I stand barefoot, ankle deep in the snow, with my pack at my back. Madi’s beside me, bundled in a winter coat.
“Which way is the Adalwulf land?” she asks. We’re on Blackthroat land, the plot of land Madi found for us, and we purchased. She’s seen it on a map, but this is her first time visiting it.
I don’t like having her out here, so exposed, but she insisted on coming to see us off, and I no longer argue with her instincts.
“That way.” I point into the thick forest. “Down the hill, through a ravine.”
“Okay.” It occurs to me that she might not like leaving me out here, exposed, facing danger without her.
My beautiful, courageous mate. Our luna.
I face her and cup her cold-reddened cheeks. “This won’t take long. I’ll be back before midnight.”
“All right.” Her breath puffs out, and I can’t resist dipping my head to claim her mouth.
The kiss warms me to my toes. Someone in the pack starts howling in appreciation. Probably Vance, the jokester.
She shivers, and I break the kiss. I can’t keep making out with her right in the snow.
She’s smiling as she steps back to let me shift into a wolf.
I unbutton my shirt with one hand and strip it off. The wolf crawls under my skin, seconds away from taking over. My voice is barely human when I call to the pack. “Tonight we claim this land as ours. Let’s mark our territory and let the Adalwulfs know we are stronger than ever.”
Wolves don’t howl before a hunt, but werewolves do. An eerie chorus rises.
Behind me, to the left, Billy lets his wolf tear out of him, shredding his clothes. Nickel is more fastidious, stripping and rolling up his clothes neatly to leave on a stump.
I keep my eyes locked with Madi as I undress. She takes in my every move, staring at my bare chest as if fascinated.
I brush her cheek. “I’ll be back by midnight.”
Her voice is husky as she replies, “I’ll be waiting.”
I grip a strand of her hair in my fist and growl for her ears alone. “Be naked.”
She licks her swollen lips. “We’ll see. Alpha.”
I don’t kiss her again. If I do, I’ll take her right here in the snow.
I step back and call my wolf. The change grips me. I land on all fours, shaking off the lingering tingles.
The first thing my wolf wants to do is rub against Madi. She runs her hands down my sides and strokes my face, laughing when I lick her.