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)
I swam among sharks most of my life, constantly strategizing how to meet every challenge and succeed when the odds were against me. But risking love might be the most dangerous and courageous thing I’ve done.
The most beautiful and rewarding challenge yet.
Brick brushes my hair back from my face. “Do you feel loved, Madi Evans?”
I nod. “Incredibly.”
He takes my face in his hands and kisses me deeply. “Me too.”
Dearest readers, I know this seems like the end, but it’s not! Keep reading–there’s one more after-the-movie-credits kind of chapter!
After-Epilogue
Aster
Odin’s suite is the biggest and best in Adalwulf castle, but tonight it’s filled with shadows and smoke from a dying fire. Wolves line the blackened stone walls, most of them closer to Odin’s age than mine. They’re dressed in black, waiting to pay their respects when the alpha passes.
Odin lies on his enormous bed, under a giant window that showcases the endless, starry sky. Between the trickery of the moon and firelight, his satin sheets shimmer red, like he’s bathed in a pool of blood.
Or maybe it’s a vision. I blink, and the effect disappears.
Beside me, Oma’s bowed in her chair, her breath rattling in and out. I lean in and moisten her lips with a damp sponge. The last time I did this, she turned her head, rejecting my attempt at kindness.
Now she doesn’t move. She’s retreated deep inside herself. I’ll never hear her voice again.
Death lurks here. Its presence hovers over us like a poisonous fog, thickening the air.
The heavy oak door swings open and slams into the wall. Wolves jump to attention. Aiden strides into the room. His eyes are liquid mercury, flashing in the dark. He takes in the waiting wolves, and his lip curls. Since Aiden was a pup, Odin allowed wolves in the pack to torture him, in some crazed idea that it would make Aiden stronger.
Now no one dares look him in the eye. He’s become the monster Odin wanted him to be and more.
Aiden spins in a slow circle, taking in the attendants. “Where is my aunt?”
He means Catherine. “Gone,” my voice is a hoarse whisper. “She’s defected to her dead mate’s pack.” She’s free.
A snarl bursts from Aiden’s chest. His wolf is nearly out of control. “Leave us.”
The other wolves run for the door.
I make a move to go, and he points a claw in my direction without looking back at me. “Not you.”
I halt. So this is how it will be. Once Oma and Odin take their last breath, I will ascend as seeress and Aiden as alpha. I’ll be shackled to him and him to me.
Fates have mercy on us all.
The door slams shut, and the four of us are alone.
Aiden paces in front of the bed. I thought Odin was sleeping, but his lids crack, and he watches his son with rheumy red eyes.
“The Blackthroats are made whole. They stand united as one. With a human-wolf alpha pair.” He stops pacing and raises his face to the cloud-covered moon. “Our plans failed.”
“They’re weak,” Odin whispers. The malice in his voice makes my skin crawl. “Crush them.”
“No,” Aiden sneers. “You decimated our forces, so when I faced them tonight, we were equally matched. I was so close.” He squeezes a fist. Blood drips from his palm.
I knew Aiden was dangerous and crazy, but I’ve never seen him like this. His face is the picture of serenity, even while his aura turns so black, it burns. His energy spreads outwards, turning the air to concrete. Choking, I hunch forward. In my mind’s eye, the walls of the room bow inward.
“You failed,” Odin says.
“No. You did. Your reckless scheme was our downfall. You gambled and lost.”
“A true son of mine would’ve won.”
Aiden smiles, and I cringe. His grin has razors in it. “But I am your true son. Your only son. You made sure of that. How many pups of yours did you kill?”
“They were weak.”
My mouth is open, trying to suck in air. This is all too horrible to be borne.
“My mother didn’t think so. Is that why you let her die? So she wouldn’t stand in your way?”
“She was weak. I made you strong.”
“No. I made myself.”
A vision seizes me. A young pup shivering in the snow. Its eyes blink open, bright silver.
“You dare–”
“The balance of power has shifted. You no longer rule.”
Odin’s brows rise. “Mutiny. Treason.”
Aiden strides to the bed, looks down at his father. Odin continues raving, spewing insults, but Aiden doesn’t move. He waits until Odin’s voice weakens and dies, then plants a knee on the bed.
“Your time has come, old wolf. You ruled as a tyrant, but now you will die as weak as a pup in its bed.” As he speaks, he grabs a pillow and smashes it into his father’s face, smothering Odin’s cries.
I choke back a cry. Odin’s limbs flail, but Aiden doesn’t move. He might as well have turned to stone. The moonlight gilds his fine hair, caresses his perfect face, and the taut muscle in his arm as he slowly murders his own father.