Series: Star Moon Pack Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 118781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“After all, I spend enough time here, right?”
Her frown tells me she’s about to come up with something that’s supposed to cheer me up, but the ringing of the phone behind the front counter cuts her off. She answers it in a chipper voice, but her face falls, and her eyes meet mine once she hears the person on the other end. “Yes, she’s here. I’ll send her straight over.”
I know who it is and why she looks so concerned. There’s no reason to be. I visit Daniel’s home regularly now. He likes to check up on me, like being questioned by the pack alpha will somehow make my wolf show up that much quicker. I’m already on my feet before she hangs up. “I’ll see you later. Thanks for the adjustment.”
“You’ll be all healed up by nightfall.” I raise a hand in thanks before stepping out onto the sidewalk and turning in the direction of the alpha’s home, which is more of a mansion. At least, it is compared to where I live.
Years ago, before the uprising, this area was populated by humans. The town was founded by the owner of a mining company, who built a mansion at the top of a hill while his managers built large homes in its shadow. Beyond that sat the more modest homes of the workers, plus the shops and schools and everything else a thriving town required running down the center of the grid of streets. Then they were wiped out by vampires.
Once they were all dead—the workers and managers and teachers and even the company owner, whose money couldn’t save him—our pack cleared out the bodies and the rubble, then moved in. The alpha lives in that house on the hill with his family, while I grew up in the next-biggest. I haven’t lived there since my parents had no choice but to send me away once I came of age but was unable to shift.
Not much has changed since those early days, except for the addition of power lines. Otherwise, women in Victorian dresses could just as easily step out from the dry goods store as the jeans-wearing wolves chatting as I walk past. Even after so many years, there are still more homes than we need, and two of the old schools have sat abandoned all this time. That’s how many people were wiped out almost all at once. It’s hard to imagine losing my entire pack that way, even if almost all of them hate me.
The guards don’t blink an eye when I arrive after climbing the hill, only sneering as they let me pass. What harm could I pose? Sasha’s tea leaves me caring a lot less than I normally would.
I know the way to Daniel’s office by heart after half a dozen of these meetings. He’s getting desperate, which makes two of us. I come to the end of the carpeted hallway with its wood-paneled walls and gilt-framed paintings, wondering, as always, if there’s a rule about how over-the-top the alpha’s home needs to be. I’ve barely knocked on the heavy door to the study before Daniel’s deep voice booms out. “Enter.”
He’s sitting behind his desk, leaning over a map spread out in front of him. His strikingly handsome, chiseled face is lined with worry, making him look older. “Come in, Liliana. Your parents will be here soon.”
Goosebumps pebble my skin. “Is there a problem? Have I—”
He waves an impatient hand. “No, no. I’ve summoned the council, and they should arrive shortly.” The beta and his mate are council members, along with several other elders from the pack. “I checked on the training session earlier and heard you took a beating. I suppose that means we’re no closer than before to bringing your wolf out?”
He makes it sound like a group activity. “No, we aren’t, but I’m… trying.”
“With your talent for healing, you’d be useful on the battlefront.”
“Alpha?” Maybe it’s the tea, but I’m confused. “I thought I’d be assigned to the nursery once I was older. I like the thought of teaching and healing the younger children.”
“Yes, but there might be more important uses for a healer on the horizon. It won’t do any good for you to be one of them if your wolf hasn’t yet shown itself.” His disdain makes me want to shrivel up into the floorboards.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, but the sound is drowned out by the arrival of the council. I scurry out of the way and press myself against the wall near the door, watching them enter. My father is first, followed by my mother. She’s an older version of Emma, with her chocolate-brown hair opposite my own—and she must smell me in the air because she turns after taking a few steps into the room.
“Lili.” A brief smile flashes over her lips but disappears so fast, I’d think I imagined it. My father only grunts and lifts his chin. I know they didn’t stop caring about me, but it’s not easy having the pack freak for a daughter.