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)
But the moment we leave the forest and head for the door to the Tower, I feel sick again. All the weakness I felt when I was being starved and imprisoned enters my limbs. I swallow down my bile and the sense that something dreadful is waiting for me and take the lead with Noah at my side.
There are two enforcers guarding the door. Before Noah can rush them, I stride forward.
“Halt,” one guard says.
“Let us pass,” I say in an imperious tone. “We’re under attack. These are the acolytes meant for the Alpha Rites and must be protected at all costs.”
The younger guard looks to the older, but neither knows what to do. I’m hoping they don’t recognize me, or if they do, they haven’t been told that I’m missing.
The frightened girl in Liora’s arms lets out a sob, and that convinces the enforcers. They open the heavy wooden door and stand aside for us to file inside.
“Our guard is to come with us,” I signal Noah to follow us. “The Warden’s orders.”
Oriana’s wolf bares her teeth at the guards as she enters, but we make it safely inside. The dark depths close around me, and for a moment, I’m ungrounded, suspended in a black void, not knowing where I am or who I’m with.
Then I blink, and I’m watching Noah look for the secret door that leads to the tunnel.
“What are we doing back here?” the girl sniffles. Liora signs something to her while saying, “All will be well, child.
I go to help Noah open the door. It creaks a little, and I wince, hoping the guards don’t hear.
“Let us sing to the moon to guide us,” Liora says, and as one, the girls in wolf form throw back their heads and howl. The sound bounces off the stone walls, filling the space with an eerie melancholy. It’s beautiful.
Noah and I open the door, and Liora gives another signal. The wolves all fall silent.
“And now let us meditate in peace and rest,” Liora says loudly, for the guard’s benefit. I never knew she was so crafty. I must be staring at her, wide-eyed, because she winks at me.
Despite the hammering of my heart against my ribs, the corners of my lips curve up.
Then Noah takes my hand, and we descend into the tunnel, leading the wolves together.
But something’s wrong. The minute the darkness closes around me, I’m back, floating in that void. It’s not a vision–I don’t have those anymore. But it’s disorienting.
I squeeze Noah’s hand and breath in his grounding scent. I can do this.
But the pressure clamping me is back and rising. There are voices whispering in my ears.
I push through, making myself put one foot in front of the other, but it’s like I’m being dragged out of my body. The whispers are getting louder.
When Noah and I get to the end of the tunnel, there’s a knot of enforcers waiting for us.
Aiden and the Warden found the tunnel. But of course, they did. After my disappearance, they would’ve gone over every inch of the place and, once they found it, posted guards at what they’d consider a vulnerable point. In my fear, I forget.
The only thing that saves us is the element of surprise. The enforcers aren’t facing the tunnel entrance–they’re not expecting anyone to emerge from it. As soon as Noah and I step out, we see them and bolt, the young wolves on our heels.
I can smell the forest ahead, the end of Adalwulf land, and it smells like freedom.
But with a shout, the enforcers realize what’s happening and give chase. The young wolves scatter.
Liora is struggling with the most frightened acolyte. With a shriek, the little one rips her hand from Liora and runs back into the tunnel, the way we came.
Liora goes to chase her, and I shout her name. She can’t save the girl, and if she stays, she’ll be caught and killed, like Moira. The Warden won’t tolerate this sort of insubordination.
We have to get out.
“Stop,” the enforcers cry. Three of them chase after the acolytes. Two of them run towards us.
One of the enforcers blows a whistle, calling in more reinforcements. Halfway through the blast, the white and grey wolf that’s Oriana leaps onto him, snarling. She’s not a huge wolf, but she’s big enough and heavy enough to knock the man back a step. He snarls back, grabbing at her.
Then Noah is there, thrusting his arm towards the man’s throat. His fingernails must have turned to sharp wolf claws because blood spurts and the man falls back. Oriana leaps clear, blood staining her fur.
“Run,” Noah orders, pointing, and she turns and flees towards the border. With luck, the others will follow her.
The other two enforcers turn on Noah. He faces off with one, but when another tries to leap up behind, I lose it.