Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103548 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Nia laughed out loud. “Don’t be ridiculous, Daze. You put on a super scary show, but that’s all it is. We both know your weak-ass wolf can’t get it up to kill me.” She winked at me. “Let’s not ruin our friendship over this, Daze. I’d hate to have to go through you to get that baby.”
“I can promise you one last thing,” I said, closing the distance. “I won’t harm your brothers after you’re dead.”
Nia rolled her eyes. “Enough already. Give me—”
My wolf burst free and launched at her. I had enough time to hear her bug-eyed scream, before my jaw snapped over her head.
Ripping her off her feet, I shook the bitch like a rag doll and flung her at the wall.
Nia crashed through the closet door and disappeared. I bounded after her and burst in as she fisted the carpet, trying to pull herself up.
My head smashed into her side, cracking three ribs against my skull, and sending her careening into a nest of ballgowns.
“No!” Nia shrieked, flailing to get free. “Stop, p-please! Plllleeeeeaaassee!”
I dragged her out by the ankle. Snapping through blood, muscle, and bone, Nia’s screams reached inhuman levels.
There wasn’t a word for what I felt listening to this psychopath speaking about my child’s life and soul like it was a poker chip to gamble with at the craps table. I transcended rage, blew past incandescent, and reached an all-new undiscovered emotion that unlocked something in my soul that not even her sick little power could touch.
Nia spoke about being my friend. She said she knew nothing about the alpha council’s ultimate goal, but if any of that was true, what was dear old Daddy training her for all those years ago in the woods? Why did he want her to perfect a power no decent father would encourage her to use? Why did she let the alpha council use her and hold her brothers hostage if she could’ve ripped their souls out and killed them any time she wanted? Why did Dagem shove her at me the very first day of school? My own personal shadow.
And why did Nia wait until she was alone in a room with me and Hope to tell me the truth?
Just like a power groupie, she latched on to me like she did the alpha council—sitting back and letting us do the dirty work—so that when the time was right she could step in, throw us from our thrones, and claim them.
“Too bad you messed with the wrong mother, bitch.”
“H-help,” she wheezed as I stalked my prey. “Help!”
I stomped her spine, choking out her cry with a spurt of blood that dribbled down her mouth.
I did tell the bitch I’d been training and fighting nearly every day of my life. Why she thought that meant I was a “weak-ass wolf” is anyone’s guess.
“P-p-p-p—”
Shifting to human form, I grabbed her by the belt and collar, and lifted her over my head. “Argh!” I roared, throwing her at the vanity.
Nia crashed into the mirror and brought it down with her, showering herself and the floor with glass.
The door flew open.
“Daze, we got you some— What the fuck’s going on!” Edric bellowed.
“She’s the shadow. Also, I’m sorry, Nyx, but she killed your brother.” I raised my claws. “Hold her down, please, would you, loves? I’m going to rip her throat out now.”
They didn’t ask any more questions. Dumping the food, Orion, Edric, Paxton, and Nyx each grabbed a limb. Badr grabbed her head. Pulling her spread-eagle across the carpet, the guys held down the broken, bleeding mess that used to be Nia.
I spared a look at Hope, who was sound asleep in her crib, and I erased the distance between us.
“D-d-don’t,” she croaked. “S-sorry— I’m... s-sorry—”
“Who gives a shit? Give your confessions to the lost souls you trapped in hell.” I gave her the same dead-behind-the-eyes smile. “They can’t wait to see you again.”
Raising my claws high, they fell.
Boom!
I blew off my feet, tumbling head over heels.
Hope woke from sleep with a wail, her distress ringing louder in my ears than the actual ringing.
“What was that?” Paxton cried.
“What’s going on?”
Dust and rubble blanketed the air, stealing into my lungs. I made out the clear, beautiful sky above me, but my brain refused to compute it.
A hole? A hole in the ceiling? Did Nia do that? Did she have another power? How could—?
A figure moved through the dust, coming to a standstill beside me. The haze cleared, and my breath stopped.
Beautiful.
That was the only word for him, so it was the word I used.
Long strands of golden spun silk flowed past his neck. Chiseled jaw; full lips; eyes the color of chlorine swimming pools; a strong muscled frame that his armor couldn’t conceal; and long, pointed ears.
“No,” I whispered, eyes widening on his ears.