Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“What has become of you?” I question without thinking and his narrowed eyes meet mine.
“If only you hadn’t run away, maybe you would know what this pack has been through.”
“This pack’s survival is why we’re here,” I barely murmur, emotions stirring as the memories come back again.
He seems to contemplate my statement before nearly whispering, “Sacrifices will be made.”
My fists finally clench as my anger gets the better of me. My breathing feels strained and heavy. My voice raises as I growl, “You cannot lead this pack to their death!”
With my anger, he rises, his chair scraping against the floor and nearly falling as he does. “They will go where I lead them. You gave up the right to question me when you left!” He stands at the foot of the table, and I can see the question on his face. I could challenge him for the right to this pack. I could fight him to the death to protect the people I once loved. My eyes narrow and my nostrils flare. I watch Leon and Marcellus both look at me, pleading with me.
A chill runs through my blood as Devin’s warning echoes in my head but I can barely hear it.
I can’t sit back and do nothing. I won’t let my father destroy this pack and so many people I once loved. I’m not a child anymore. I have to do what’s right.
As I realize what must be done, I see my mate, my sweet, innocent mate, shake her head. I see her chest rising and falling as she struggles for her breath. I feel her fear, but I can’t stop the words from leaving my lips. “I challenge you.”
My mate’s loud cry resonates in my ears as my father yells, “Seize him!”
Lena
My body is frozen in disbelief. No. I’ve only just met him. It’s only been days that I’ve had with my true mate. My true mate. I could see it all play out before it happened. The moment I felt Devin’s warning, when I saw the pain in my mate’s eyes as the Betas stared straight at him. It was undeniable and too late to stop it. My thought shocks me and I breathe in the heavy air. It’s only then that I realize I was screaming and that my poor pup is crying in my arms. I quickly hunch over him and hold him tight. I bounce slightly and try to still my trembling body. My mate has just challenged his father.
My heart falls as I slowly close my eyes. The tears tangle with my thick lashes before falling down my face. My heart feels as though it’s stopped beating. My wolf howls in agony.
Although the Betas were given orders, they hesitate, and the room is hushed in apprehension. I can barely breathe. The seers... I thought they were wrong.
“You know what the seers told you.” Jude’s hard words make me open my eyes. “You can back down. You can submit to me, and I will let you live.”
I stare up at Jude, the cords in his neck tightening. What is he talking about? What did the seers tell him? I don’t know if my mate will win. But the thought of him being in any danger causes me physical pain. I couldn’t bear to let him come into danger. Something about being here has stirred a need inside of me. To protect him. To love him. My wretched, shattered heart beats wildly against my rib cage. He must be my mate. My heart twists with an aching need. And now, I may lose him forever. A strangled sob racks through my body, but I keep my lips pressed tight and continue shushing my little one. He’s barely calmed.
“The seer was wrong.” Jude’s father raises his voice. “Victor has shown me the truth.” He leans across the table and sneers. “The seer has been punished.” My blood turns to ice as the air around him turns foul and his eyes flash with madness.
“Father,” one of Jude’s brothers says quietly, interrupting the darkest of moments. “I think you need to see a healer.” I can feel the air grow tight with tension and worry as the Betas at the back of the room shift their weight.
“I don’t need to listen to you! You know nothing.” The Alpha snarls and stomps his way around the large, oak table on the other side of me. We all move at once, except for Jude. I push myself away as quickly as possible, shielding my pup. The chair beneath me falls and my back hits the wall. Jude stands between his father and me. Devin has Grace pinned next to me. His back to her chest. And Vince and Veronica rise slowly and walk backward, not taking their eyes off the aggressive shifter.