Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“Kieran, I don’t—”
I gasp when I look up and see the full moon in the sky. There’s no time to lose. Lucan will be fixing to take the crown as soon as he can. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on the dais now.
“I have to go.” I kiss her lips, step back, and let my raging wolf come.
He charges up from the darkness, angry and snarling and ready for vengeance.
My body swells, muscles tearing, ligaments popping, bones cracking like dry twigs. With a tearing pop, I explode into my wolf.
I sink down into the darkness, watching through his eyes, experiencing the world with all the new sounds and intense smells rushing in. I feel his anger, his rage at being denied his right to be the alpha of the pack.
But when he turns and looks at his mate, I feel nothing but love.
He’s in awe as he steps up to her, head lowered, grumbling affectionately.
“Hello,” Calista whispers as she sinks her hands into his thick fur. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
We have to go now, I say, urging him on. We can meet her again later. Go get our crown.
My wolf takes one last long look at our mate and then turns and charges into the forest with nothing but revenge on his mind.
Chapter Eleven
Kieran
Whispers and gasps of shock grow through my pack like a wave as my wolf bounds through the crowd on the way to the dais.
It seems like half the kingdom is here, although my wolf’s eyes are solely focused on one man. Lucan is on the dais in a purple cloak, ready to be crowned. He’s on his knees in front of the high priest who’s saying the final blessing, his loud voice carrying across the courtyard in the old ceremonial tone.
It’s moments away now. Calista, bless her heart, got me here in time.
The high priest picks up the crown and presents it to the crowd.
My wolf’s eyes fixate on the crown as he sprints forward with all his might.
It’s my father’s crown.
It’s my crown.
But once it lands on Lucan’s head, he’ll be the king and the title will be lost to me and my future pups forever.
I picture it in my mind, all floating away… the dream of being Wolf King, of taking care of my people, and most sacredly, of seeing Calista as our queen. I want that more than anything.
More and more, the crowd is turning my way, watching as their prince returns, shocked that I’m not dead as Lucan most certainly told them. But the murmur of the crowd has not yet reached the dais. The ceremony is proceeding… and it’s almost over.
Tell them you’re back, I tell my wolf. As loudly as you can.
He skids to a stop, throws his head back, and lets out a deep, primal howl. It comes booming out from the deepest part of my wolf’s chest, carrying the full weight of alpha authority and dominance. It rolls across the courtyard like thunder, freezing every shifter in attendance.
Everything stops.
Everyone goes silent.
The high priest stares at me in shock.
Lucan turns his head and sneers when he sees me.
Go! Now!
The crowd parts as my wolf sprints toward the dais.
I hear the words of shock as I run.
“The prince—”
“He’s alive—”
“Back from the dead—”
“It’s really him—”
I shift at the edge of the dais, morphing into my human form at full sprint. The change rips through me fast and violent. I land on the stairs and race up them with my chest heaving, eyes locked on Lucan.
He leaps to his feet and takes a step back. His face is a kaleidoscope of expressions, cycling rapidly through shock, fury, disbelief, and something that might be fear before it settles into the cold, composed mask I know so well.
“Cousin,” he says coolly. “I wasn’t expecting to see you at my coronation.”
“Step off the dais, Lucan.”
“No one orders me around in my kingdom.”
“You know whose rightful kingdom it is. You know what my father wanted.”
“Your father is dead. He no longer gets a say in the matter.”
He turns to the high priest. “Crown me.”
“Don’t,” I say, stepping forward.
The high priest hesitates, looking from Lucan to me and back again.
I turn to my pack. “I am the rightful heir to the great Wolf King Axton,” I bellow out to the sea of shifters. “I was betrayed by my own blood. Left for dead in the river by this usurper. Even now, he tries to steal the crown from me, from us.”
The pack erupts into angry murmuring. Some call my name. Some shout in anger at Lucan. Some continue to stare at me as if I’m a ghost.
I see the fire in their eyes. Their wolves know and they know it in their hearts—I’m the true alpha.
Lucan must also feel the shift in the air because he nods to his goons.