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)
The dark shape of the tower casts a shadow over the wooden bathhouse and standing stones our ancestors built around the mountain stream and waterfall. Tingles spread over my body as we approach the sacred ground. The scent of crocuses and daffodils and precious herbs rises in a rich perfume all around us. I swear I can sense the magic. If I still had my gifts, I bet I would receive a vision.
The moon illuminates the many guards thronged around the bathhouse. Their dark shapes are still, perfectly alert. Noah pulls me behind an ancient oak, and I press close to him. I'm not sure what to do. We need to sneak into the bathhouse, to the waterfall beyond, but there are so many guards. Too many for me to distract or for Noah to take out. The only reason they’re not pouncing on us is because they can’t catch our scent.
What are we going to do?
There’s a whistling sound, and a pop like an exploding rocket. The sound makes my wolf cringe and strain to burst out of my skin. I bite back a scream, tasting rust as my fangs graze my tongue. Only Noah holding me tight keeps me from startling and running away.
Far behind us, on the mountain, the red sparks fill the sky and fall with a crackling sound.
Fireworks.
My brain has gone numb. By the bathhouse, the guards in front of us are on their feet signaling to each other. Shouting. Half of them go running off towards the noise. It’s back the way we came.
Noah releases me, signaling. It takes me a few times for me to understand what’s happening. More fireworks crack and pop in the sky, bathing our faces with red and yellow.
This is the distraction Sully promised us.
It worked. It distracted the guards–for now. But some of those wolves will run straight to Aiden and the Warden, and they’ll send every enforcer swarming the borders, cutting off our exit. We have to go now.
Stay here. Noah makes a downward motion with two “y” hands palm down. This time, he’s the one who rises and charges the guards. He streaks like a shadow, lightning fast and silent, taking out the three wolves waiting before they register that they’re under attack. He pounces so savagely, so quickly, it’s over in seconds. Three wolves lie at his feet on the ground.
Energy surges through me–adrenaline so pure and overwhelming, I break into a run. I streak towards him, and we both burst into the bathhouse. Noah hesitates, but I’ve been here before, so I lead him through the wooden structure to the clearing beyond. This is where the plan gets fuzzy. There’s no way to signal Liora without all the girls seeing us. If they haven’t been drugged one of them could scream and call for help.
There are candles everywhere and bowls of incense. The smell of pungent herbs is so strong it stings my nose. I breathe through my mouth and search through the smoke. Fireworks still blast in the distance. Water trickles. Ahead of me is the silver plate of the freezing cold pool. There’s a group of figures huddled near the waterfall. A bunch of acolytes dressed in skimpy white shifts.
“Liora?” I call, when one of the figures breaks and runs towards me. I recognize her narrow face a second before her face splits into a snarl.
Vera.
Chapter Twenty
Aster
Vera flies at me, her fangs elongating in her rat-like face.
I return her snarl, bracing for her attack, when a white shape flies out of the darkness and slams into Vera, knocking her to the ground a few feet from me.
It’s Liora, wearing her white ritual shift. She straddles Vera, pinning the younger wolf and rearing back, raising both hands over her head. She’s holding a large rock. Without hesitation, she slams it onto Vera’s head, and the downed wolf goes limp. She bludgeons her a second time. Then a third.
By the time I find my voice, Liora is on her feet. “I knew you’d come,” she says to me then signals to the acolytes. Two of them cringe back, looking cold in their wet garments. Liora must have sent them into the water to be “purified” already.
“Girls,” Liora signs and speaks in a calm voice. “It’s time.”
What?
One acolyte breaks from the pack. “Seeress?” Oriana says to me.
Pain lances my chest, and I flinch. “Just Aster. We’re here to help.”
Oriana freezes as Noah approaches us.
“This is your brother,” I say. Liora is busy herding the frightened young woman forward.
“We’re getting them all out. Now.” Liora’s eyes flash bright as she gives us the order. She squares off with Noah, a determined set to her shoulders.
Noah looks like he wants to protest, but he backs down. I don’t know how we’re going to sneak back to safety with six young women in bright white garments, but Liora isn’t going to take no for an answer.