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)
Fresh sorrow wells around something else–a protectiveness. She’s family. My pack. A female wolf I would defend with my life even though I know nothing about her.
Thank you for rescuing us, she signs. She appears one part afraid, one part in wonder. Like I’m some knight in shining armor who swooped in to change her fate.
I suppose I am.
You’re my sister, I sign. I would not let them harm you.
She runs to me, shocking me with a tight hug. Her scent is familiar and grounding. Like my wolf recognizes we’re related. That she’s safe. My arms band around her, and I hug her back.
She pulls away, looking awkward. Will you come inside? My–our–mother made French fries for everyone.
French toast? I sign back with a faint smile. The signs are similar and easily confused.
Oriana blushes and corrects the sign.
The last thing I want to do is come inside and eat, but I do need to get us the fuck out of here. It’s time to stop wallowing and take some action.
I nod and follow her in. Ignoring the females at the table, I go to my computer and send a message to Sully with the location of the cabin. Then I message Nan, letting her know I got Liora and Oriana out, and I’d like to send them to her in Kentucky.
Hell, maybe I’ll go too.
I need to be as far away from Aster and everything that reminds me of her as I can.
My heart will never heal. I don’t care about that. I don’t need anyone.
But I do know that staying in New York may drive me to madness.
Aster
The dungeon is a lot like the Tower, except for the stink of suffering. Old blood, rotting bones. Odin kept his dissidents down here, letting them starve to death if he didn’t torture them first.
It’s built under the throne room, which is fitting. All Aiden’s power and authority comes from suffering and an abuse of power. Wicked to the core.
My cell is mostly clean, other than a large bloodstain by the door. It’s a solid room with no windows, built of sturdy grey stone.
None of the Alpha Force harmed me. They also haven’t given me food or water, but I’m fine with that. They can beat me, starve me, and I will welcome the pain gladly. It won’t hurt as much as betraying my beautiful mate.
The visions haven’t descended. Not yet. As soon as the door clanged behind me, I welcomed them, welcomed the void, the obliteration of myself, but the Grandmothers were silent.
Not that I want them to talk to me. I’m pissed at them. I used to think they were wise, all-knowing ones, but maybe that’s not true. Maybe they’re just vengeful spirits playing puppet master and cackling when they make us dance.
Fuck that.
There is a ghost hovering in the cell with me. A shifter in wolf form, scratching at the door, whimpering to get out. In life, the poor creature was tortured–I can tell because the ghost wolf has no eyes. I extend my hand and let the transparent apparition sniff me. Warm energy flows out of my hand into the spirit, a little light and love that will help ease the ghost’s suffering. The ghost wolf settles on the floor at my feet.
I don’t often see ghosts or spirits. I wonder if that’s a new dimension to my Sight. I don’t know why it’s back, or why it came back right when I was about to escape with my love.
But I supposed it’s Fate. I had to make a choice to free Noah or watch him be killed.
I made my choice. I’d make it again.
I only hope one day he understands.
The ghost wolf at my feet sighs. He’s a giant, twice as big as my wolf. Larger than Noah’s, too–possibly the biggest wolf I’ve ever seen. Certainly the biggest ghost wolf I’ve ever seen. He must have had a strong will and a lot of life energy to cling to this realm so strongly. And also unfinished business. I wonder who he was, but don’t say anything to him. Talking to him will pull him more to this realm, and I want him to continue his transition to the beyond if his soul so chooses.
But if I had to name him… Hugh? He looks like a Hugh.
The giant wolf's ears prick up, and he hauls himself to his feet. He doesn’t bare his teeth or growl but stands between me and the door facing it.
A second later, footsteps ring out on the flagstones in the hall. I strain to hear, but there’s no rustling of other prisoners, no moaning. I must be in an isolated area. Aiden doesn’t want me close to other prisoners. He thinks I’m more powerful than I am.
Or maybe I’m the one who’s confused. I was trained to be Seeress all my life. I walk beyond the veil. I am powerful; maybe it’s time I acted like it.