Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
My wolf gave up control and I resumed my human form, straightening up slowly, watching her warily. Her power still throbbed within her, bleeding into the space around us. The others stood rigid, wary, probably ready to defend themselves if she reacted.
Seconds ticked by. Aurelia’s brow had pinched tight and then lowered, her hand tight to her chest. Her head cocked to the side and her eyes found mine. An accusation burned within them, and then slowly the power drifted away, her wolf plunged back into the abyss.
My wolf whined within me, hating that we had to do this to her. There was nothing worse than the feeling of your animal, your power, slipping away until only a void stood in its place . . . except maybe trying to use it without training.
“That was all on you,” I told him angrily. “I don’t want to hear one more lecture about hurting her. You can only hope she hasn’t realized what that was. Otherwise, she’s going to know we kept it from her. More importantly, she’s going to know Granny did. Talk about ripping her life apart little by little. She’s going to think we’re monsters by not going through with freeing her animal. If she knows, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Well then,” she said slowly, her gaze piercing into mine. It looked like she wanted to peel back my forehead and have a look inside. “I guess that’s us done.” She bent and retrieved a tab as Hadriel shifted into his human form. “Maybe I’ll partake.”
She quirked an eyebrow at me as though daring me to argue before slowly slipping it into her mouth.
“I’m in.” Hadriel struck out his hand. “I didn’t feel a damn thing in wolf form except a sort of disconnect from the pack. I’ll tell you, Alpha, I didn’t much like that. It felt like my lifeline was disintegrating and I was left hung out to dry. Even when you managed to hold on, communication through the bond was hindered. Did you feel that? It felt like you were barely holding on.”
“That’s exactly what was happening.” I watched Aurelia, watching me back. “That drug is dangerous to a pack.”
“Only if you get power hungry and people want to break free, hmm?” She handed Hadriel the tab. “You won’t have the same power over people if they take that product. Does the thought of losing control scare you?”
A strange tone had entered her voice, as though she were speaking about something else. It probably had something to do with whatever had happened in that moment when her wolf had come to the surface, teetering on the edge of being pulled out entirely but unable to claw free. The human part of her had been kicked around and managed all of her adult life. She’d been scarred and scared during her childhood. Her life had made her somewhat pliant, willing to accept a harsh reality just to keep living. Her wolf, however, would be brand new. Fresh. There was no telling what sort of creature would emerge, and how that might change Aurelia’s willingness to calmly accept her current situation. Her wolf might’ve said something before being thrust back into the darkness, something that would clue in Aurelia to her situation.
I answered her as though I didn’t suspect any turmoil. “The thought of losing control of the pack does scare me, yes. It should scare everyone. I keep us together. I keep us operating smoothly. Through my bond, we are united, and when we are united, we are stronger. When we are at our strongest, we are at our safest. That bond is important to protect this pack, and jeopardizing it with chemicals jeopardizes us all, including you.”
She huffed, her eyes narrowing. “Jeopardizes me? You’re taking me to my death. How much more could I possibly be jeopardized?”
But a shadow moved behind her eyes. She feared something worse than her predicament with me. I wondered what it was.
I knew better than to ask. She’d shut me down hard and fast and probably never speak of it again. I was learning when I could push, and when I shouldn’t. She might often be pliant, but she could also be stubborn as all hell.
“Is eating going to ruin whatever this drug—excuse me.” Hadriel put his hand on his chest. “This product does to me? I’m starving.”
“No.” Aurelia started away, looping her arm in Hadriel’s and tugging him along with her. “Let’s sit, though. You’re about to get very lazy.”
“I love lazy,” Hadriel replied.
I hung back, hands at my waist, looking at the crate of tabs at my feet. The others were quiet, watching me.
“Thoughts?” I prodded, my mind scattered.
“What, uh . . .” Dante cleared his throat. “What happened there?”
“My wolf pushed when he shouldn’t have and I had to talk him back. He’s grown . . . fond of her. He wants to meet his other half.”