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)
“Mine is a wolf.”
I stood. “Then the wolf world hasn’t changed in the time I’ve been gone. You are still rigid and unaccepting of any who don’t meet your strict criteria. My son is unique in all the world. You call him a king and then you won’t negotiate with him. What you want is his strength, his power, and for him to win this war for you, and then I suspect you won’t need a wolf king anymore. You tell me that my husband ruined him. I’m going to tell you the truth. My husband saved you. Not him. When Fenrir came into our lives, I was told by the dark prophet that I could raise him in love or cast him out. One way led to peace and strength. The other to utter destruction.”
Jered nodded. “Yes, and we’re on the path to destruction.”
“Oh, no. If I had left Fenrir to be raised by wolves, he would be an entirely different kind of king. Have you pondered why he hasn’t killed you? He could take his throne by rite of strength. All he has to do is kill every alpha and the wolf world would fall in line.”
“I seriously doubt...” Jered sighed as though giving up the argument. “And then we would lose a generation of strength and leadership.”
“And that is what his father taught him.” I was glad I could make my point. “Trent taught him how to be a real king. You are the one being stubborn. My son has pointed out what it will take to get him to accept the crown. Give it to him or leave them alone. He’ll still be fighting for all of us in the war to come.”
“Even if we win, we have problems. We are fractured,” Jered said, his deep voice tortured.
“I’ve found it’s easier to bend than break.” I felt for the guy, but the wolves had made their bed. It was up to them whether they lay in it or wake the fuck up. I wasn’t putting that on my twenty-one-year-old son. I didn’t care that his DNA pointed to a particular fate. I was here and I would fight for him. “You’re in this position because you cling to old prejudices. If someone like Evan isn’t worthy for the simple fact that she isn’t a wolf, then go and join Lupus Solum because you’re not any better than they are. You believe the same. You just want to pretend you have a place in the modern world. You enjoy its conveniences but not its obligations. You want to keep all the power in the hands of the same wolves who’ve had it for millennia, and that’s where you’ll go wrong with Fenrir. My son won’t allow a kingdom he rules to stay that way. He’ll change things, and in the end you won’t like him for it. You want a weapon you can put a crown on. So go away. That’s not happening to my son.”
“Then maybe we’ll tell the King of all Vampire we’ll stay out of this war. Or perhaps we should look for new leadership,” Jered warned.
“Then be prepared to die or live as demonic pets. You don’t have any leverage in this, Alpha. You can fight beside the king or let the demons in.”
“I’ve heard that rumor. It’s ridiculous,” Jered scoffed.
“Are you willing to bet your existence on it?” It was time to move along. “Stay away from my son and from Evan. If you want to talk, you talk to me or his dad or the king. And let everyone know that if they come after Evangeline again, I will be the one who hunts them down and ends them. Do I make myself clear?”
Jered stood, squaring off with me. “As crystal, Ms. Owens.” He nodded to someone behind me. “Evening, Wilcox.”
I turned, and sure enough Trent was there, and I wondered how long he’d used those exquisite senses of his to listen in. He didn’t move to join me, merely stood there letting me know he had my back. He nodded the alpha’s way and put a hand on Fen’s shoulder when he got close. Evan and Fen joined Trent, showing everyone they were together. They were a family.
The son in my womb would get that no matter what happened with Gray. He would have Trent to guide him through life, and it wouldn’t matter that they didn’t share any DNA. “You have the chance to change things. You can let our world remain broken or you can offer to bend. It’s your choice.”
“That’s naïve of you, Owens,” Jered said with a frown. “I didn’t expect that from you.”
“You’ll find I can be very surprising from time to time. Do you know who’s naïve? Those kids over there. They think they should be able to love each other without reservation, without some old dude who has no idea what their lives are like interfering. You’re clinging to the old world. He’s the new, and yes, he’s naïve enough to think the world should be fair, should be without hate and prejudice.”