Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“I agree with Tristan, I feel like we’re jumping to conclusions rather quickly here,” Kingsley said slowly. “Regardless of his motivation, he is in fact opposed to strong shifters within his territory. There is always someone bigger and stronger, as you said, and Austin might very well be that person. In nearly a decade, this alpha has always attacked first and asked questions later.”
“Then let him attack,” Tristan growled.
“You might have one or two who are bigger and stronger,” Kingsley countered, “but they’ll have a whole pack ready to protect their own. I’ve heard they are vicious and effective. People don’t leave that territory with a heavy dose of fear for nothing, and they were invited.”
“We were invited,” Niamh said.
“You were admitted passage with strict rules, including greatly reduced numbers for a meeting of this type.”
“Admitted passage after another original alpha told him about us,” Niamh fired back. “Terence in L.A. arranged this meeting, let’s not forget.”
Terence was the alpha we’d met when I had visited my family for Christmas. He’d found us in his cafe and met us at his offices. He hadn’t been able to join our convocation, but he hadn’t dismissed us, either. He’d connected us to his sister and brother, both generational alphas, whom we hoped to meet in the coming months, and he was doing everything in his power to open lines of communication with other packs of interest. He was helping the best he could, and we were very lucky for the happenstance meeting.
“Terence in L.A. made the connection possible,” Kingsley said. “The connection possible. Austin arranged the meeting, and even though we now have many reputable alphas who agree that the rumors surrounding Austin and Jessie’s convocation are true, a great many people still do not believe it. This alpha might not know the power that’s on his doorstep, but even if he does, hearing about it is very different than what walks through the door. You will be a threat, Austin, and this alpha does not take kindly to threats.”
Tristan opened his mouth, and Broken Sue turned a bit to speak, but Austin held up his hand. The room fell silent, and even Mr. Tom stilled.
“I will be seen as a threat, yes,” Austin said. “So will the mages. Kingsley is right to be concerned. This is an incredibly dangerous situation with an alpha that barely plays by the rules. He talked to me directly on the phone, which is not usual in these situations, even for him. From what I’ve heard, at any rate. He will have no problem burying us in the woods if we step out of line. He made that abundantly clear.”
Austin rubbed his chin with his thumb, troubled.
“But the facts are,” he finally said, “we need him. Him specifically. Terence is not thoroughly admitted into the original alpha network because his family pack is generational. His territory is new, but his roots are not. He had seed money, and he has help. He’s considered ‘privileged’ in those circles and his opinions discounted. And while Kingsley has been invaluable and the alphas we’ve recently met are firmly behind this endeavor, they are not enough to sway the more entrenched generational alphas. Those alphas simply do not want to budge. Not yet. I will need to provide more assurances. In the meantime, I need power. There is no one stronger than Drex of the Stonefang pack. No one. He holds great sway with the up-and-coming alphas, and if he is half as ruthless as everyone says, he’ll help bolster our team. He is a cornerstone. We must try.”
“Like I said, what choice do we have?” Niamh finished her cup of tea. “He’s a good sort. I have a hunch. We just have to keep from making bags of the situation and ending up in an unmarked grave.”
“Sage advice, as always,” Mr. Tom muttered.
“Will you take Jessie?” Kingsley asked.
Everyone glanced at the phone before their gazes turned to me. I didn’t comment, because Austin knew exactly where I stood on this topic. There was no way in hell he could leave me behind to “protect” me. I was co-leader and part of this team, but also, if he died, there would be no protection for me. To defeat Momar, it would take both of us and all our team besides. This only worked if we did it together. All of it, including walking into a highly dangerous situation, outnumbered, to meet a volatile alpha shifter.
“Yes,” he said grudgingly. “It turns out, she’s a lot more stubborn than anyone gives her credit for.”
2
Jessie
Two days later, I stood with Dave and the basajaunak just outside the motel. A few of our vans and SUVs had doors or trunks open, waiting for the last of our luggage to be loaded in.
“We should be going with you,” Dave told me, and the rest of the basajaunak nodded or grunted their agreement. “Something doesn’t feel right about the trees in this wood. The mountain is unsettled, and it doesn’t seem to be regarding that pack. Something is wrong here, Jessie. You shouldn’t go without us.”