Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Aubrey’s face goes soft again. The way she looks at me makes me want to drop to my knees and thank fate and the Moon Goddess for giving me such a female.
“To Aubrey–the woman who turned my life on its head. Who made me change and grow and learn to love. I am so grateful you stomped into my life and kicked me in the head.”
Aubrey’s mom’s eyes widen but everyone laughs.
“To Aubrey,” Madi carols.
“To Aubrey,” our guests chorus back.
Aubrey clinks her glass with mine, sips, and sets it down. Then her arms twine around my neck, and she’s kissing me like it’s our last moment on Earth.
Our guests cheer.
I wrap my arms around her, careful not to squeeze too hard this time, and I kiss her breath away, the way I intend to kiss her every day for the rest of her life.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Noah
I open the door to the Silver Arts Gallery and step inside.
When the boss invites you to the grand opening of his mate’s new art center, you go.
Even if you haven’t been invited to join his pack.
There’s art everywhere I look. Everything from photography to sculpture to oil paintings. Giant paper flowers cover an entire wall, and the statues carved from ebony wood displayed on slender plinths.
I spy Billy with his human mate holding hands, standing in front of a large floral mural for photographs. A tiny dog stands beside Billy, wearing a tuxedo bib and bow tie. The dog is so completely at odds with Billy’s personality that I stare, trying to reconcile it. Then his mate stoops to pick up the little dog, and it becomes clear. Billy, like any good wolf, would do anything for his mate. Including parent a ridiculous little dog if she wanted one.
Cute.
In the center of the space in front of the mural, caterers have turned several tables into one long epic cheese board.
Madi and Blackthroat join Billy. Another surprising match–the alpha of one of the largest packs in the country with a human. She is a remarkable human, though. Brilliant, generous, and friendly. I don’t know what happened exactly between them, but I believe Blackthroat nearly went moon mad trying to deny the match.
It had something to do with the Adalwulf pack and a job offer because Blackthroat called me in to lipread a video of Madi talking to Aiden Adalwulf, their alpha.
Madi sees me and waves me over.
I sign “hello” as I approach.
Madi introduces me to Aubrey, her best friend and Billy’s mate.
“Aubrey is the artist of this beautiful mural,” Madi speaks and signs at the same time, which takes the mastery of not just someone who can sign but an interpreter.
“It’s beautiful,” I say out loud to Aubrey. “Is the gallery for your work?”
Aubrey laughs and shakes her head. “No. I curated, though. Our next theme will be social justice art–creating change through art, that kind of thing.”
I nod.
“The top floors are artist spaces, and the bottom is a gallery.”
“Congratulations. It’s a bold project,” I say.
Aubrey smiles, then her gaze slides to Billy, who tucks her against his side. He’s changed drastically in the past few months since he mated. He’s no less powerful, but the feral, aggressive edge is gone. He has a more quiet leadership style now.
Blackthroat shakes my hand. “Good to see you here, Noah.”
“I’m honored to be included.”
He doesn’t release my hand for a moment, scrutinizing my face. Maybe he thinks I’m hinting to be let in the pack.
I’m not. I prefer being a lone wolf, but I suspect that’s not acceptable to an alpha like Blackthroat.
I approached finding a job on Wall Street like a human would. I graduated from Harvard with an MBA and applied for jobs in Manhattan. I did apply at both companies owned by wolf packs, thinking my scent might give me an in during an interview.
I also knew it could backfire, if the wolves here were like my birth pack and considered me “defective.” I didn’t approach either pack about membership since I didn’t know how they’d treat me or where I’d land with a job. If I didn’t get a job with either company, I’d just as soon not be affiliated with any pack.
That was my first mistake.
The HR rep at Moon Co was human, so my scent didn’t come into play, but I guess I nailed the interview because I got the job. At the time, I’d loved knowing I was hired based on merit alone.
Then I met the CEO, Brick Blackthroat. He scented me in a meeting and called me to his office afterward. I found myself pinned to a wall by my throat until I swore I wasn’t an Adalwulf spy.
Then he demanded to know why I hadn’t approached him, as alpha of his territory, to join the pack. There’s no lying to an alpha, but telling the truth was my second mistake. He didn’t like me admitting I played both sides for a job.