Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Aster’s face is pale and pinched. If I’m picking up uncomfortable vibes, she must be suffering. I pull her along faster, and she follows my lead without hesitation, picking up speed even as we race uphill towards the bluff. It’s a relief to disappear into the woods and leave the clearing behind.
The hike back is long and grueling, with sweat trickling down my back. I can only imagine how hard it must be for Aster. My muscles and lungs scream for a break. As soon as I can, I stoop and lift her into my arms, ignoring her mouth moving in protest as I run. She’s light as a daisy, and it’s a pleasure and privilege to carry my mate to safety.
Finally, we emerge on the road where I hid the rental car.
“What was that place?” I ask Aster after we climb in the car.
Her scent is sour, her voice sad. “That’s the Celestial Cradle. The Hollow within the Hollow, where the rituals take place. They tie the young females to the altar and force them to breed with the chosen males.”
“The Alpha Rite?” I feel sick, imagining my mother going through that.
“Yes. That’s where you were conceived in the Blood Heir Alpha Rite and where I’m to be forever bound to Aiden Adalwulf.”
Chapter Fourteen
Aster
Noah’s eyes flash gold. He normally feels safe to me, but a sense of violence blasts from him, reminding me he’s a dangerous alpha. He’s more of an alpha than Aiden, and I know what Aiden is capable of.
I freeze. We haven’t really discussed what we are to each other. Noah said I was his mate, but I didn’t acknowledge it even though I know it must be true. I haven’t unpacked what that means. We certainly haven’t agreed on what we’re going to do about it.
Now, I suddenly realize I may not have a choice in the matter. Noah may not let me go.
“That’s not going to happen,” he snarls. Again, I feel the blast of violent power, but when I jerk back, he cups my face, showing me a tenderness I never experienced from an alpha male.
I’m still shaken from the hike. I wish I could sag back in my seat and sleep forever.
But I can’t. The scent of Liora’s fear clings to me, along with the older, heavier energy from the ritual site. The visions clawed at me, blinding me, but I held onto Noah and refused to let them in. They weren’t visions so much as memories of the terrible past, all the psychic shock of the females and males sacrificed to the greater good. Ritual rape and murder.
I want to puke.
Touching me seems to subdue his violence. His eyes change back to blue, and he recovers that steadiness that makes me feel safe. He has incredible self-control for an alpha.
“He wants to claim you?”
I shake my head. “Not claim. I must remain a virgin to keep my power. It’s a ritual to bind me as the Seeress, to him as the alpha of the pack. I will share in his alpha power, and it will enable me to receive visions for the highest good of the pack. Seeress is a sacred position.” I repeat to him the words that have been drilled into my head by Oma.
“You want this?” Noah is careful, like he’s holding back all the ferocity of his power to hear my answer.
What if I said yes? Would he let me go?
That’s when I’m sure: I will have a choice. Noah may have kidnapped me, but he respects my will. He’s not a tyrant like Aiden and Odin.
Do I want to be bound to Aiden? The need to retch wells again. “No,” I admit, wondering if the Grandmothers will strike me down for the blasphemy.
I want to be Seeress, but I don’t want to serve Aiden. I don’t want to go back. That’s when I realize that I already made my choice. I made my choice the moment I snuck Noah into sacred Moonborn land.
I’d made the choice without a second of deliberation. Mate first. Over all else.
“Then I won’t let him touch you. None of them. I’ll kill them before I let that happen.”
I believe him, but I feel so weak right now.
“The Alpha Rites are only a week away. Aiden and the Warden will do everything to make sure both rites happen, no matter the cost.”
“I won’t let them have you. And we’ll get Liora and Oriana out. Both of them. Got it?”
“Got it,” I say and make the fist nodding sign yes. And I do sag back and rest while Noah turns on the car and gets us the hell away from Adalwulf land.
Noah is silent on the ride back to the cabin. I’m sure he has a lot to process about seeing his mom. Learning his sister is scheduled to be bred.