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 didn’t know that.”
“Neither did the biologists until a volunteer correctly reported what she observed. She saw what the biologists overlooked because they were men who imposed their own world view on the facts, and she was a thirteen-year old girl.”
I chuckle.
“I thought you’d like that story.” Catherine heads closer to the surf and stops to shade her eyes and look out to sea. I do the same.
“Wolf shifters aren’t that different,” Catherine says. “The men think they lead, but they’re nothing without a mate. They are meant to be part of an alpha pair.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
She turns to face me. “You are an alpha, just like my son. Equal to him, in fact.”
My throat is tight, so I swallow a few times. “He told me I’m weak.”
“Strength isn’t always about muscles and speed. Fangs and claws. You are his mate, Madi. That means you are destined to lead the pack. At his side. As Brick’s equal.”
I pause because in the distance, there’s the sound of a helicopter. I turn east, shading my eyes against the bright morning sun. A dark shape appears, flying low over the sea. A helicopter.
My heart leaps. Is it Brick on his way back?
Another black helicopter appears beside the first. Then another. And three more behind them.
Are all Brick’s top wolves coming back with him? In their own helicopters?
Catherine sucks in a breath, her cheeks gone pale.
Something’s wrong.
A few hundred feet away on the beach, the guard on patrol is shouting into his walkie-talkie before holstering it with a curse. “Signal’s down. They’re blocking it.” He whirls and runs towards us, gripping his automatic weapon in both hands. “Get off the beach! We’re under attack!”
More black helicopters appear, blotting out the sun. There’s a dozen of them in a precise triangle formation, like they’re part of a military exercise.
Catherine grabs my arm. “Run!”
I dash along beside her, tripping in the sand. Only Catherine’s death grip on my biceps keeps me from face planting. We hurtle back towards the main buildings, the guard covering our backs.
“What’s happening?” I pant.
“Adalwulfs.” Her voice is grim.
I glance back. The helicopters are almost to the beach. “Wh–”
“No time. We need to get inside.” She pulls me along. We race up the dune.
We’re almost to the patio when there’s a rat-tat-tat sound. I duck automatically, racing to hunker down behind the patio table. Beyond the dune, the guard is making a stand, aiming his Ak-47 at the helicopters.
There’s a whistling sound and the beach explodes. Sand flies into the air. A buzzing sound fills my ears, and the stench of smoke and mortar stings my eyes and nose.
The sand rains back down. There’s no sign of the guard with the gun.
“This way!” Ariadne is there, her eyes glowing amber. “There’s a safe room!”
Catherine hauls me up and pushes me across the pavers to the door. “Quickly.” She’s breathless, or maybe that’s the ringing in my ears.
The sound of gunfire and the blast of heavy artillery shakes the house. Will they fire on us?
My whole body is shaking. I race with her through the sitting rooms, dodging around the beautiful furniture. I bump into a pedestal holding a blue and white vase, and the whole thing crashes to the floor. Glass shatters. Catherine and Ariadne don’t pause. “This way.” Ariadne leads us through a kitchen, into the pantry, where she moves a one pound can of Manzano tomatoes and opens a hidden panel to reveal a keypad. “Stand back.” We do, and the whole shelf swings out. Behind it is another keypad and a steel door. She presses in the code. The door opens with a hissing sound. There’s a narrow room with a bed. No windows. Just looking at it makes me claustrophobic.
Ariadne makes an urgent motion for me to enter with her.
“Get inside,” Catherine orders when I hesitate. “You’ll be safe.”
“What about you?”
She shakes her head. “They’re not here for me.”
I stand my ground. “Tell me what’s happening.”
Catherine’s pupils are constricted to tiny dots. As strong as she was on the beach, she looks frail, like a hearty wind could blow her away. “I didn’t know. I swear it on my mate’s grave.”
“I’m not blaming you.” I grip her shoulders. “I know you didn’t betray us. But I need to know what’s going on.”
“It’s stupid. This has Odin’s pawprints all over it. He’s gone mad. Those helicopters have the mark of his personal guard. This is his last stand, and if I know him, he won’t hold back. He’ll throw every wolf he has at our defenses until they break.”
Another blast shakes the house. Cans rattle on their shelves, and Catherine shudders as if she’s been hit.
“Get in the safe room!” Ariadne yells. “I am shutting the door!”
“Please.” Catherine adds. “You must be safe. My son will never forgive me if you’re not.”