Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Austin ducked behind the counter, looking under the countertop and then turning around to check out the shelves, currently empty. Stone climbed to the high ceiling behind him and the floors and other woodwork were amazing.
“New tables,” I said, wandering through. “A crystal chandelier or two. Maybe paired with old-school lighting fixtures. The kind with candles? But obviously not real candles.”
Austin nodded and then stiffened, glancing out the window to his left. A large oak stood on that side, stretching out over lush green grass. Way beyond, picnic tables sat before the trees, mulch beneath them.
Wariness and aggression filled the bonds now, and Austin turned slowly to look at me, his eyes dark, his muscles flexed.
“What?” I asked. “What’s the matter?”
“I’ll check it out,” Ulric said, quickly stripping.
“What’s the matter?” I asked again, looking out the window.
Movement caught my eye, a shape flitting through the trunks and disappearing into foliage. A large wolf, obviously a shifter.
“It’s not wise to attack when an alpha is with his mate,” Austin said quietly, as though to himself. “He should know that.”
Ulric ran in the opposite direction, probably heading for the cover of trees before he lifted into the air. He needn’t have bothered. Another wolf appeared at the tree line, this one massive and stepping out like he owned the place.
“Summon Tristan for battle, Jess,” Austin told me, his tone rough and ready. “This ends today.”
“What exactly is this?” Hollace asked as we all started shedding our clothes.
“Can we kill them?” Cyra asked.
“Shifters have been attacking, trying out our defenses,” Austin explained as more wolves stepped from the trees. “We’ve been sending them on their way without too much damage, relaying the message that this territory is well established. They should’ve backed off. When they didn’t, I wondered if the various attacks were orchestrated by the same group since they were all wolves. This is almost certainly my answer that yes, it is the same pack. Now here’s the alpha, attacking when I’m with my mate, only a couple of pack members on hand for protection. He clearly hopes to take us down and claim the territory as a prize.”
“He’s an idiot,” Hollace said with a laugh.
“That’s a yes to killing them, right?” Cyra clarified. “It oughtta be.”
“Yes, Cyra. This alpha has crossed a line in a big way. He’s clearly asking to have his world ripped apart. I’m happy to oblige. Give them all you’ve got. Just leave one alive to tell the tale. I’m done with these attacks. Time to send a message the shifter world is going to hear. We’re no longer just a pack. We’re something much more robust than all that. We’re something better.”
More wolves stepped out, fanning out all around the building, standing close together. Far too many for us to combat alone. I’d forgotten to ask where Sebastian and Nessa were. They would’ve been helpful. But the gargoyles weren’t far away. Neither was Dave, and he was coming fast now, probably having felt the shifters through the wood. Hopefully, he had some of his pals with him.
“Okay,” I said, looking back the way we’d come. “Lock the doors after I leave. I can land on the roof. I’ll call the gargoyles and have them sound the alarm. The shifters will get the message. We can stall until they get here.”
“Don’t bother,” Austin replied, nude and fierce, going to the large sliding glass doors and pulling them wide. “I’m all the shifter we need.”
Shivers coated my body as Cyra made an “oohh” sound, exaggeratedly shaking with a smile.
“Let’s do this,” I said, jogging out behind Austin and shifting quickly. I rose into the sky as my magic blasted out. Call to arms! We’re under attack!
Wolves surrounded the property, obviously intending to lock us in. To trap and kill us.
Anger kindled within me, quickly burning hot.
Cyra flew into the sky in a jet of fire, but Hollace hesitated for a moment as Austin walked out a little ways and shifted. The great polar bear rose up, so much larger than their alpha wolf. So much more destructive. They had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into with him.
A familiar loud buzzing filled the sky. Tristan had gotten the message and started the territory-wide alarm. If someone couldn’t feel my pulses of magic for whatever reason, they would hear the thrum of gargoyle wings.
Then thunder rolled across the clear blue sky, Hollace having shifted into his enormous thunderbird form and lifted up into the air.
The wolves tensed, one and all, looking upward. Surprise! We weren’t an ordinary shifter pack, as Austin had said. We weren’t an ordinary cairn, either. We were definitely more. So much more. They hadn’t properly done their homework.
Austin roared, and I felt Nathanial and Tristan coming in fast. Dave, too, would arrive any second. Austin didn’t wait, though. He rushed toward the alpha, covering a lot of ground very quickly.