Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“It’s sweet of you to worry, but we have this under control.”
Miranda arched a brow. “You have captured the culprits?”
“We have.” Shaya leaned forward, as if about to confide something interesting and important. “It turns out, though, that the shifters who attacked us didn’t actually have a personal problem with us. In fact, someone put a hit out on us. Can you believe that?”
Miranda stilled. “Really?”
“The hit has been canceled now, which is no doubt because anyone who attempted to attack us didn’t live to tell the tale.”
Alarm briefly flickered through Miranda, prickling Ally’s skin, as the Alpha female asked Shaya, “Do you have any idea who is behind the hit?”
“We do. The shifters we captured knew enough to point us in the right direction. Turns out it’s a scorned woman.”
“A . . . scorned woman?” Miranda’s alarm became full-blown panic; it smothered Ally like tropical humidity.
“A Seer,” elaborated Shaya. “She doesn’t like that Marcus mated our Roni. She’s jealous.” Ally noticed that Miranda’s enforcers stiffened and suddenly looked very uneasy.
“I see.” Miranda licked her lips nervously. “I’m guessing, then, that you have a name?”
“Yes. It’s only a matter of time before we find her, don’t you worry.”
“That’s good.” With a brittle smile, Miranda stood. “Well, I should be going.”
Shaya also rose to her feet. “So soon?”
“I have a busy afternoon ahead.” Miranda turned to leave . . . and almost crashed into Eli. What she hadn’t realized was that Eli and the Mercury enforcers had subtly moved to gather behind her and her own enforcers, intending to obstruct their path to the exit.
“You’re not going anywhere just yet, Miss Whitney,” Eli told her. “Or should I say . . . Miss Moore?”
Marcus tilted his head. “You wouldn’t be related to Kerrie Moore, would you?”
“Who?” Miranda sounded appropriately confused.
“She’s the Seer we’re looking for,” explained Shaya, her smile now gone. When Miranda turned back to face her, Shaya added, “But you already know that, don’t you?”
“We always thought it was likely that a family member was giving her sanctuary,” rumbled Nick. “I have to admit, I hadn’t suspected that it might be you.”
“You have this all wrong,” Miranda claimed. “I wish I could help—”
“That’s good,” said Roni. “That’s very, very good. Because you can help, can’t you? Where is she?”
“I do not know any Kerrie M—”
“Cut the shit,” spat Eli. “We know she’s your cousin. We know you used to visit her at her pack.”
Miranda sighed heavily. “That much is true,” she finally admitted. “But I have no idea where you can find my cousin.”
Still curved protectively around his mate, Derren told Miranda, “When you lie, you purse your lips.” The bitch’s mouth then set into a hard slash as she glared daggers at him.
Nick advanced on Miranda, growling. “Tell us where Kerrie is.”
Swallowing hard, she lifted her chin. Despite looking like a cornered animal and being the target of an entire pack’s anger, Miranda still maintained a haughty, antagonistic edge. “I’ll want something in exchange.”
Nick laughed at her nerve, but there was nothing pleasant about the sound. “This isn’t a negotiation. You will tell us where Kerrie is.” His voice hardened. “All this time you knew what was happening, you knew your cousin was responsible for the hit and the subsequent attacks. But you didn’t warn us. You didn’t aid us. By siding with your cousin and protecting her, you’re against us.” She didn’t speak, just returned his stare defiantly.
“How many males in your pack are eager to take over your position as Alpha, Miranda?” Derren asked, playing his fingers across Ally’s collarbone.
“I’ll bet there are plenty,” added Eli. “Hell, I’ll bet even your enforcers here think themselves capable of it. They’d relish the opportunity to fight the other males for the position. And let’s face it, you haven’t been a great Alpha, have you?”
Miranda gasped, flushing. “How dare you!”
“You cast out every strong female, not wanting any threats to your throne,” began Derren. “Any male who claimed a dominant female as his mate was forced to leave for the same reason. Those who were cast out often took their extended families with them. All of that not only meant your numbers dwindled, but that the males had to either seek sexual contact outside the pack or fall into your arms. You basically treat that pack as a stable of stallions for yourself.”
“How many times did you lead on one of the males, let him believe you might make him your Alpha male, only to then cast him aside?” asked Eli. “I’m guessing it was pretty often.”
Nick spoke then. “Considering you haven’t been much good as an Alpha female, I don’t think your pack would care all that much if you suddenly . . . disappeared.”
“Do not think to threaten me,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “Your submissive mate isn’t a match for me.” Shaya actually snorted at that, not looking at all offended.