Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I released him, and he grabbed his wife’s hand and disappeared down the nearest hallway.
Evan’s eyes were wide as she moved close to Fen. “Remind me not to piss off your mom.”
Fen grinned. “Nah, you can make her mad all you like. Those eyes won’t ever be for you.”
I’ve been told when I’m really angry my eyes change, become all kinds of predatory. I’m never looking in a mirror at the time. I should try because I think it would be pretty cool.
“Hunter, I’m not here to fight.” Even Jered seemed to respond to whatever the hell was in my eyes in that moment. “I promise I haven’t lied. I truly am here to pick up the new members of our pack.”
“You’re the alpha.” It didn’t make sense for him to come all this way. “You don’t run these errands yourself. Unless they mean something to you.”
Jered glanced at his guard and nodded. The massive were took a big step back, obviously obeying some silent command. “All members of the packs mean something. They have to because we’ve suffered such massive losses over the last twelve years. But no, I didn’t merely come here to personally pick them up. I heard a rumor you were here. I wanted to talk to you, to see if you can be more reasonable than your son.”
“I would say no,” Fen said under his breath. He picked up Evan’s drink and brought the straw to his mouth.
“Definitely.” Evan seemed to relax, sitting back down, and the knife was no longer on display.
Fen took a drink and then coughed. “Baby, that’s terrible.”
Evan’s eyes rolled. “I don’t have a wolf metabolism. I have to eat healthy.”
They were chill, and that let me know the possibility of violence had ratcheted down. I wanted to tell this Jered person to fuck off, but in this case I had to think about the bigger picture. In this case, I had to consider my place as the Nex Apparatus, and that meant opening a dialogue with the head of a group who could be our allies. I’d been told Donovan was planning on meeting with some of the European packs as soon as possible. I could at least tell him what I learned about the American wolves. Beyond they were kind of dicks. “I got a hot minute.”
I settled on the bench beside Evan, leaving the other side of the table to the alpha.
He gracefully slid on the bench, though it was almost too small for him. “I appreciate the time, Mrs…Ms. Owens.”
Smart man. “That’s my name.”
One thing I could tell the king was that the alpha was politic and had obviously done a study on me. Most people immediately assumed I took my husband’s last name.
“I represent the largest pack in North America,” he explained as he took his hat off and placed it on the table. “I’m sure your husband and Sasha Federov have already put a bunch of reports in front of the king, but it’s going to be all numbers to him. I need you to hear me. Over the last twelve years Myrddin’s army has taken out sixty-two percent of all wolves on the North American continent.”
That was a kick in my gut. I hadn’t read those reports yet. I’d been more concerned about seeing my family, the loss of those precious years, and there was nothing wrong with that. It was utterly normal for me to need to see my husbands and son. But I had to face the new reality. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you well protected now?”
“The majority of the remaining wolves are concentrated in Colorado. I estimate there are still nine hundred wolves in hiding around the country. They worry our compound is ripe for an attack,” Jered explained. “But as Billy has seen, there is some safety in numbers. We’ve survived the last couple of years because we’ve left Myrddin alone and he’s been satisfied with it, but we can only protect wolves who live in our compound. He considers us properly caged.”
The last was said on a low growl that let me know even the thought angered the wolf.
“And you believe that the royals’ return will change all of that.” It was a common theme lately.
“Of course it will. Unless Donovan no longer wants the throne. There’s little chance of that, since he’s already reached out to the Scottish wolves. Myrddin will hear of that, you know. He has his spies as well. I believe there are spies even here in this nest.”
I was sure there were, and one of them had probably killed Alvis. “I’m sure I’ll be tasked with finding them. What does this have to do with my son? I assume this is about Fenrir since my husband is a perfectly reasonable man. He would have done anything he could to help you.”