Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Insulting my family really isn’t wise. Unless, of course, you’re trying to goad me into challenging you. I guess dueling with you could be fun.” Ally’s wolf seriously loved that idea.
Miranda laughed. “I’m an Alpha. You’re a Beta.”
“Do you have a point?”
“I can easily take you,” sneered Miranda.
“You could if you were a born alpha. But you’re not. I’d wipe the floor with you, and we both know it.”
Miranda’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
“I don’t make threats. They’re boring. I’m stating a fact. If you wish to challenge my belief, feel free to do so.” Ally felt Derren tense beside her, and she understood that he wouldn’t want her fighting with anyone whether he believed she could take them or not. Even though his unnecessary protectiveness annoyed her, it was nice to have someone who cared so much.
“You’d love that, wouldn’t you? You’d love it if I challenged you here and now. Because then I’d have made an enemy of my closest neighbor.” She shook her finger. “I’m not falling for that.”
“Nice way to save face.”
Roni nodded at Ally. “It is, isn’t it?”
Casting a withering glance at Ally, Miranda turned her attention to Derren. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you? You’ve sentenced your entire pack to death. Once the Holts’ enemies realize their foster pup is here, they’ll come for her. They’ll use her against them—and if that means fighting their way through all of you to reach her, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”
And Ally would bet that Miranda would take delight in ensuring those enemies became aware of her whereabouts. But there was something Miranda hadn’t considered. Ally smiled at her. “You won’t tell.”
One overplucked brow slid up. “I won’t? And why is that?”
Ally shrugged as she said simply, “Because you’ll die if you do. I have a mate and a pack that will avenge anything done to me. Of course . . . that’s assuming my family doesn’t beat them to it.”
Eyes flaring, Miranda made a derisive sound. “You think I’m scared of the Holts?”
“Yes, I do. And you should be. Because Cain would do everything he could to get to you first.” That comment put a tint of fear in Miranda’s eyes, just as Ally had expected. “If you think your pack could protect you from him, you’re wrong. He wouldn’t attack your wolves, because it would be you he wanted. You wouldn’t even know he was there until his hand wrapped around your throat and snapped your neck.”
Face flushed with rage, Miranda shot to her feet and glanced at her enforcers over her shoulder. “I think it’s time we left.”
“I think it’s long past the time you should have left,” said Roni, earning her a smile from her mate.
Spine straight, Miranda spoke to Nick and Shaya. “If you wish to have her as part of your pack, that’s your business and I shall respect it. But I still believe you’re making a grave mistake.” Then she and her enforcers marched out while Zander, Roni, and Marcus acted as escorts.
Eli scratched the back of his head. “Well . . . I didn’t see that coming.”
“Do you truly think she won’t tell anyone where you are?” Shaya asked Ally.
“I think Miranda loves her throne, and she won’t do anything to risk losing it,” replied Ally.
“That’s a good point,” conceded Eli.
Standing, Ally turned to Derren. “Come on, we’ve got Beta stuff to do.”
“Actually,” began Nick, “we were all thinking of going on a pack run. You game?”
Derren nodded, rolling his shoulders back to shake away his tension. “My wolf could do with a run.”
“My dad will stay here and keep a look out for intruders,” said Shaya. Stone was refusing to leave until all the danger to the pack was over. “If he sees anyone, he’ll shoot once to signal.”
As a thought occurred to her, Ally told Derren, “I doubt it’s a good idea if I shift.”
“Why?” he asked as he curled his arms loosely around her.
“Your wolf’s even more possessive than you. I’m not sure he’d be rational seeing my wolf around the other males of the pack.”
Derren sighed as he realized she could have a point. Rubbing his nose against hers, he coaxed, “At least come with us.” If she stayed behind, he’d remain with her.
She thought about it for a moment. “All right. I’ll carry Willow around so she can come along too.”
After walking deep into their territory, the pack—with the exception of Ally and Willow, who wouldn’t be able to shift until puberty—shifted into their wolf forms. Holding Willow in her arms, Ally kept pace with the wolves as they loped around, both playful and watchful. Her mate stayed close to her, repeatedly rubbing against her or licking her hand. His power, strength, and level of dominance were evident in his stature and the vibes he exuded.