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)
“Long day?” Devin questions.
“You have no idea. Please tell me I don’t need to torture or kill any other members of the Authority.”
Devin chuckles and I find myself smirking along with him. “Not that I know of. We just wanted to give you a little heads up.”
Alec’s brow cocks as he sighs. “What are you going to do this time Devin?” This time I chuckle along with Devin.
“We have to retaliate. We’re going today to take down Shadow’s pack.”
“Take down?” Alec finally straightens in his seat.
Devin cracks his neck before answering. “We’re going to kill Shadow, that’s long overdue. Anyone who surrenders we plan to leave behind.”
Alec nods his head slowly while resting his elbows on the desk, clasps his hands, and his thumbs rub back and forth against one another before his eyes find Devin’s. “How many do you think?” Devin doesn’t answer, he simply looks at me expectantly.
“There were four women, including Shadow’s mate. I doubt they’ll fight.” Alec nods his head again. “They were not in their right minds, high from the looks of it, the entire time I was there.”
“We don’t want any backlash from the Authority.” Devin’s words come out harder than I expect.
“No need to worry. I can’t imagine anyone would object. As you said, it’s long overdue.” Devin nods his head and starts to respond, but a knock at the door stops him.
Just as Alec lifts his head to answer the knock, the door parts and a small blonde human walks in. Curiosity causes me to glance between her and Alec. She holds onto her fingertips and nervously pinches them as she walks with uncertainty toward Alec. Her eyes don’t roam the room; she doesn’t bother with us at all. Alec clears his throat and looks pointedly at us, as if alerting her of our presence. She stops a foot away from the desk and parts her lips before looking over her shoulder at us. Her mouth closes and her eyes linger on the floor.
“Bella?” At Alec’s soft call, her eyes raise to his and glimmer with hope. A small smile makes her cheeks rise, but it holds a hint of sadness.
“I—” She stutters and watches her fingers as she nervously plays with them again. Finally, her shoulders square and she meets Alec’s gaze. “I was wondering if you’d like any tea.”
“I’m fine. Thank you. Devin? Jude?” Alec doesn’t look at us as he asks. Concern is written on his face as he continues to stare at the beautiful woman. There’s obviously something there, but it’s a delicate matter. I shake my head and keep my nose out of it. That’s none of my fucking business.
Devin rests his left elbow on the arm of his chair and leans so he can take his chin in his hand and watch the scene while shaking his head at Alec’s offer. “No, thank you.”
Bella, as Alec called her, nods slightly before turning to face us for the first time. Her eyes catch sight of me, and she instantly brightens, as though whatever was plaguing her has vanished. “You’re Jude!” Goosebumps flow down my arms and I still at her words. Who the hell is she? I scent the air again and confirm that she’s human. As I glance at Devin, whose expression indicates he’s unaware of who she is as well, she asks me, “How’s your mate? She will do great things for your pack.”
“What kind of things?” Devin asks as I stare down the cute, little blonde. She has an innocence about her that’s undeniable. But she also radiates happiness with her bright brown eyes and wide smile. Her teeth are perfect, and her pale skin only adds to her beauty.
“Not your pack…Jude’s pack.” The crease on my forehead deepens at her words. She’s confused. Or delusional.
“Devin is the Alpha of my pack.” I speak clearly and confidently. I have no desire to challenge him, and I don’t want there to be any question about that.
“Oh, you haven’t seen your brothers yet, have you?” She tilts her head while speaking to me as though she pities me. There’s an otherworldly absence to her in this moment. Something that gives me chills. I don’t need her pity, but what the fuck does she know about my brothers? My heart beats chaotically, remembering what the seers told my father long ago. The seers envisioned one of us, either myself or my brothers, killing our father. Hearing this little woman talk about his pack as if it’s my own, it churns a sickness in my stomach.
But I shut that shit down; seers are liars.
Before I have a chance to ask, she answers my question, “Don’t worry, they’re fine. Well, they have their hands full with their mate at the moment.” She turns toward Alec and smiles.
“Their mate?” I can’t help but question. “One mate…for both of them?”