Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
But I have to do this. For Madi. For us.
I meet my older sister’s gaze. She nods slowly.
“I'm sure.”
Eagle blows out a breath. “We’ll stand with you, Alpha.” He can’t see Ruby, but he can hear when the slightest whimper escapes her–her wolf whining for her mate.
“Not you,” I face him and grip his tense shoulders. “I appreciate your loyalty, but you need to go with your mate.”
He heaves a breath as I dismiss him then heads to my sister’s side. As soon as I step on stage, she plans to leave with a handful of our strongest wolves. They’ll go to protect April and Auggie because when the Adalwulfs hear of what I’ve done today, there’ll be a target on the pups’ back.
“Thank you,” Ruby mouths to me.
“Love you,” I murmur back.
“Sod this,” Nickel mutters. He’s stepped to the corner near Billy, where he’s trying to get a signal on his phone. “I’m calling reinforcements.”
“Do it,” I say, even though if anyone comes from his family’s estate in England, it’ll be too late for me. “Send them to the Berkshires. They’ll need more numbers there.” I sent my mother to wait in the manse along with my niece and nephew and some of the youngest and most vulnerable of our pack. The jet stands ready to fly them to a safe, undisclosed location if–when–things get really bad.
Billy’s planted himself in the shadows. His body is so tense it vibrates, as if his wolf is ready to leap out and squash anyone who would challenge me.
As I approach him, he turns, his eyes blazing blue.
“Go. Keep my mate safe.”
His nostrils flare. “No. I should be at your side.”
“You are. You are my right paw, always. But I need you to protect her.”
For a second he holds my gaze. Then his eyes drop, and he angles his head slightly, acquiescing.
I clasp his arm and pull him in for a hug. “Brother.”
He fists my shirt in his hand for a second then pushes me away. He walks to the door and punches it open. Daylight floods in, blinding me, and Billy steps into the blaze. He’s gone by the time the door slams shut.
My wolf relaxes. Billy will stand against an army of Adalwulfs. He’ll beg, borrow, steal, call in favors from other packs, make deals with vampires–do anything to keep his word and keep my mate safe. He nearly caused me to lose her, yes. But only out of his love and loyalty to me. He thought he was protecting me from her. Now that she’s my mate, he’ll do anything to protect her, too.
I trust Madi with him.
“It’s time.” Nickel pockets his phone, his own eyes bright blue. “I’ve done all I can, but I don’t…” he trails off, shaking his head. He’s avoiding my gaze, his face set as if he’s staring down the barrel of a gun.
“That’s all you can do. I thank you for it.” I pat his shoulder as I pass. “You can go fly with Ruby and Eagle to the manse.”
He falls into step behind me. “Might as well stay here and manage things. Someone’s got to.”
I head towards the stage, and Jake and Vance flank my right and left side.
“You’re not sending us away,” Jake mutters.
“Not when the fun’s about to start.” Vance cracks his neck and bares his fangs in a grimace of a smile.
If things get out of control and the pack overwhelms me, any one standing with me will die too. Maybe not the tenth attack, or the hundreth, but the thousandth. But ordering them to safety would be an insult to their honor.
“Let’s do this.”
I stride on to the stage, and the thick heat and scent of shifters hits me. It smells like pack. Like home.
My father was careful doing the dance of leadership. It’s not an easy one. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, following in his footsteps.
“Can you forgive me?” I asked my mother this morning.
“Of course. And I forgive him.” She spoke of my father with a sad smile on her face. I wanted her to come to this Town Hall.
“No, Brick. In the eyes of the pack, I’m still the enemy.” As much as I hate that she still suffers the sins of my father, sins I also committed against her, she’s right.
“I’ll be with you in spirit,” she said, careful to grip my hand and only my hand, so her scent clings to a spot that I can easily scrub clean.
Even now, I feel her touch on my fingers. I clench my fist and step to the center of the stage.
The sea of shifters moves, a living, breathing thing, spilling into the corridors, washing against the walls. Their voices swell until they all notice I’m waiting and fall silent.
I don’t have a microphone. I don’t need it. Other than a few coughs and shuffling feet, the place is quiet. All eyes are on me. “Welcome, everyone. It’s a great honor to stand before you as your Alpha today.