Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Call me Helena,” she said. “I’m sure an impressive wolf like you is attached?”
He gurgled something.
“Mom,” Caidrik warned, standing. “Stop it. Right now.”
Helena’s eyes widened. “Stop what? I’m single, you know.”
Somehow, Solomon straightened so tightly he looked taller.
Caidrik pivoted to partially face him. “What’s up, Solomon?”
“Oh. Yes.” Solomon looked down at the book. “Nadia, Luca is waiting for you to undertake the next trial with him. You’ll need a jacket and gloves.” He glanced at Caidrik. “I’ll take you to your next challenge. You only have a few to go.”
Caidrik stiffened. “I’m following Nadia on hers.”
“No. Yours is set up, and nobody can interfere with Luca’s path.” Solomon’s lips pressed together in a fine line.
Irritation clacked through Caidrik. “Bulwark killed Isaac and nearly murdered Nadia at the same time during Isaac’s challenge. I don’t trust her safety to anybody but myself.”
“Isn’t that sweet?” Helena whispered, standing.
He cut her a harsh look. “I love you, Mom, but I am going to have to kill Bulwark. You shouldn’t be here when I do.” Bulwark hadn’t given him a choice.
Helena paled.
Solomon held the book to his chest, once again wearing a three-piece suit, this one a darker green. “I have the perimeter of Luca’s trial area covered by pack soldiers on patrol. Nobody will interfere, and Nadia will be safe. You should worry about your own challenge. This one is much tougher than the last one.”
A knock sounded on the door and Taryn walked inside without waiting for an invitation. “Sorry I’m late.” She moved into the living room. “Helena. Hello.” She hustled across the room to hug Caidrik’s mother. “I didn’t know you were heading here.”
Helena hugged her back. “Yes, well, with the boys fighting, I thought I should intervene.”
Caidrik stared at them. “I take it you two know each other?”
Taryn chuckled. “We’ve crossed paths a few times. Most wandering packs meet up once in a while.” She slipped an arm around Helena’s back. “It’s nice to see you together.” She winked. “I’m running for the Alpha female position, Helena.”
Helena started and then looked from Taryn to Nadia and then to Caidrik. “I didn’t know that was an option.”
Solomon nodded somberly. “Yes, the rules are laid out in the grimoire.” He held the tome out as if it were infinitely precious.
Caidrik had enough. “Why are you here, Taryn?”
Helena snapped her jaw tight. “Be polite, Caidrik.”
He felt like he was six years old again, caught fighting with his brother. “That was polite,” he growled.
Taryn sighed. “He is cranky, isn’t he? I’m here because I requested to join you for today’s trial.” She smiled at Solomon. “Apparently it’s a good one.”
Nadia stood. “You joined him on last night’s trial.”
“There’s no limit,” Solomon said helpfully. “After you join Caidrik in a trial, you can request to participate in the rest of his, if you like.” He glanced from one female to the other. “If you both request, I’m not sure what to do.” Then he tapped the book. “I’m sure there’s an answer in here.”
Helena brushed a strand of hair away from her classic face. “Could I go on a challenge with him?”
“No,” Caidrik said just as Solomon shook his head.
The younger male softened the denial with a smile. “I’m sorry, but only the challengers to be his mate are allowed to join in for a trial. I assume the thought behind that was for the female to see what kind of male or leader she was getting.” He shrugged. “It’s all archaic, I agree. The next Alpha will hopefully change the laws.”
Caidrik had every intention of doing so.
“Well,” Helena said, “I should go.” She adjusted her coat. “I met a lovely woman named Ruth while I was scouting town. She invited me to play Mah Jong this afternoon.”
“They don’t play for money,” Caidrik said quickly.
Helena’s face fell. “Oh. Well. Still.” She brightened. “I do enjoy a good game.” She half-hugged Taryn, patted Nadia’s arm, then stepped close to Caidrik and kissed his cheek. She smelled of honeysuckle and something exotic. “It’s good to see you. Please try to find a way where both of my sons live.” Then she turned and swept out the door.
The house felt quieter the moment she left.
Nadia stared at him. “Wow.”
“Yeah,” he said. “That pretty much covers it.”
Chapter 18
Nadia stomped her feet against the packed snow. Her boots thudded in short bursts as she tried to force warmth back into her toes. It wasn’t working. The cold clung to her in a way that felt much deeper than before she’d been stabbed with silver. Being dumped into the river had hurt her more than it should’ve. The silver threaded through her blood, slow and stubborn, and the healers said it would take a while to burn out completely.
She believed them because her body didn’t feel right. Not yet.
Her sleep had been a mess ever since Bulwark had tried to kill her, but she wouldn’t share that sad fact with anybody. She’d awakened before dawn that morning, convinced she was still underwater. In the dream, she’d been sinking. The river had closed over her head again, black and heavy, and no matter how hard she kicked, she couldn’t reach the surface. She’d come awake, sitting straight up in bed and wishing Caidrik had climbed through the window to hold her.