Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
She sits up in her bed. She’s exquisite. Slender and slight, her platinum blonde hair tumbles across her shoulders, which are bare, save for the tiny satin spaghetti straps holding up a cotton cami. Small breasts rise beneath the fabric. She looks a little too thin–like she’s been starved into submission. The dark brown blanket on her bed is a basic rough wool, like a camping blanket, chosen for function over beauty.
Her wide blue eyes stare straight ahead, unfocused. I remember what Billy told me–she’s the new Adalwulf Seeress. Perhaps she’s having a vision.
Is it of me? Does she project these visions to me? Is that why it feels like I’m in two places at once? It feels like I’m right there, in her cold, harsh bedroom, but when I reach for her, my hands close on air.
Aster. I try out the name Billy had given me for her at the wedding. I don’t know whether I actually speak it or say it in my head.
Either way, it pulls her out of her reverie. She jerks in surprise, her soft pink lips part, eyes suddenly focusing right on my face.
My heart pounds. Excitement is pumping through my veins.
Aster. That is her name.
You know me? she says, but her lips don’t move. She projects the words into my head again.
I nod. My fingers move to sign, I saw you–outside the Blackthroat wedding. You got out of a limo with Aiden Adalwulf.
She doesn’t look at my hands but seems to understand my words just the same.
Stay away from me. I don’t hear her voice, but words lay themselves across my mind.
Stay away. She wants me to stay away. Does she know that I intend to hunt down their Moonborn?
The vision slips away. I’m out on a hillside staring at my paws.
No!
I will myself back to her bedroom by imagining it. I need to find out what she means to me. What she knows.
I find myself not in her bedroom but staring into the face of Aiden Adalwulf. He’s on some kind of ridiculous throne. A metaphor? Or does this asshole truly put himself on a stone throne in his dark palace?
He looks down his nose at me with disdain. I watch his lips move as he speaks.
The Tiara of Ix-Chel is coming to the Gem and Mineral Museum in the City on Thursday. I will arrange a special viewing for you to see it up close.
I stare at him, puzzled, but then I realize he’s not looking at me but at Aster.
He’s saying something else–I miss it because I was looking her way, but her lips move to form the words, Yes, Alpha.
The dream or vision vanishes, and I’m in my tiny apartment. It’s dawn. I throw the blankets off and surge to my feet with mad purpose.
The museum. Today is Thursday. The dream must have been guidance from the Moon Goddess. Fate is leading me to the Moonborn. A sense of satisfaction surges through me as I yank on my joggers and shirt for my morning run around Central Park. I can’t shift, but at least I can run off the aggression. This morning, I’ll probably sprint the entire six miles.
I’m going to find the Adalwulf seeress. She’s the key. I know it.
I remind myself of her warning to me the last time I dreamed with her. The war is coming. You must decide which side you’re on.
What if she’s appearing in my dreams to seduce me to pledge fealty to her pack? She’s an Adalwulf, after all. They are a dark, twisted, devious lot.
But isn’t that what I wanted? My entire plan revolves around infiltrating the Adalwulf pack. That’s why I came to the city and worked so hard on my degree and all the credentials that would make me a great candidate for Adalwulf Associates.
Except they didn’t hire me, and now I work for their enemy, Brick Blackthroat. A twist of misgiving moves through me. I haven’t been taken into the Blackthroat pack, but they’re honorable. Brick is an admirable leader who has fought and overcome huge hurdles to hold his pack strong. Betraying them doesn’t feel right.
But I didn’t come to Manhattan to ingratiate myself with the Blackthroats.
I’m here to get in with the Adalwulfs. For revenge. For justice. And because they may still hold someone precious to me. Not Aster although something in me longs to protect her.
No. I’ve been working toward this purpose my entire life. I can’t let a growing loyalty to Brick Blackthroat and his pack thwart my designs. They aren’t my friends. They aren’t my pack. They are just people I work for.
I step outside and hit the pavement running, trying to ignore the knot of misgiving that wars with the unquenchable need to meet the Adalwulf’s new Seeress.
Chapter Three
Aster
The bulletproof limo pulls up in front of the Gem and Mineral Museum. Aiden had a designer send a dress, shoes, and bag up to my tower for the trip, along with a long white rabbit fur coat. While Oma had insisted on our living in austerity to keep our gifts pure, Aiden sees me as a representative of the pack. Today, I represent him and his interests. I have to look good.