But then I see Brick, in the center of the fight. His huge wolf is twisting and turning, fighting to bite his opponent or pin him. His fur is matted, dripping. He’s still standing strong, but there’s a slowness to his movements. A delay. And a dullness to his eyes I don’t like.
He’s killed so many, and has so many more to kill. He won’t stop until the bodies are piled to the ceiling.
So much death. So much waste.
“Stop it,” I’m whispering. “Stop it.”
Enough.
I step up to the microphone. “Listen up.” The mic screeches, and a bunch of wolves howl.
Behind me, Nickel, Jake, and Vance shove wolves off the stage. Billy’s at my back, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
On the floor in front of me, Brick pins his opponent, but the other wolf is biting into the top of his leg, coming dangerously close to reaching his jugular. A few wolves on the sidelines push forward, snapping at him. Another second, and the circle will break, and Brick will be underneath a pile of desperate wolves.
I have to stop this. Now.
“No,” I snap. “Stop this, right now.” I sound like a mother scolding a room of unruly toddlers.
A few wolves turn, nudging each other until most of the crowd faces the stage. “Human,” they mutter. Some of them lick their fangs.
A part of me wants to cower and hide. On the floor at my feet, Brick’s opponent has latched onto his neck and is pulling him down. Someone has to save him.
That someone is me.
You are his mate, Madi. That means you are destined to lead the pack at his side. As Brick’s equal.
“Any wolf who challenges the alpha has to answer to me,” I shout.
That gets their attention. The whole room turns as one, focusing on me. Their eyes narrow, taking me in as if I’m their enemy.
On the floor, Brick’s opponent looks up at me. Brick uses the distraction to jerk out of its hold. He stares up at me. A jolt runs through his body.
A distinguished looking man with silver touching his temples calls, “Who are you?”
Rule number two: act like you belong. “I’m Madison Evans. And I’m Brick Blackthroat’s mate.” I tug my collar aside, showing the mark Brick gave me.
“A human,” the man sneers. “What are you going to do? You are too weak to fight.”
I feel Billy hovering at my side, ready to leap to defend me if necessary.
“Come closer and say that to my face.” I keep my voice completely even. Totally cool. I’ve stared down a conference room full of Wall Street bros. I can do this.
I allow a small smile to play around my lips as if I know something they don’t. My eyes water looking into the older wolf’s fierce gaze, but I force myself to keep staring.
After a moment he blinks and looks away.
“Good,” Billy murmurs.
A ripple goes around the room, but it’s not enough. I feel the weight of all eyes on me. One wrong move, and they’ll attack.
“Madi,” Brick rasps. He’s shifted into human form. He’s naked, muscles gleaming with sweat and swiped with blood. There are claw marks on his chest, his giant thighs.
I ignore him and point to the wolf in the circle with Brick. “Are you challenging my mate?”
The wolf shakes off droplets of blood and shifts into a powerful looking young man.
“I am,” he says in a gravely tone. He looks like a prize fighter. Brick is taller and a little bigger, but Brick’s been fighting for hours. There’s fatigue in the slump of his shoulders.
“You challenge my mate, you have to deal with me first.”
Billy tenses beside me.
“No,” Brick rasps, but the young man is already stepping forward towards the stage. He sees easy prey.
“What are you going to do, human?”
“I’m so glad you asked.” I pull my weapon out of my pocket.
Rule number three: Always be prepared.
I put the small, white whistle to my lips and blow. Hard.
The whistle makes no sound, at least not at a pitch I can hear. But the room erupts. Those in wolf form yelp, tails tucking. Human and wolf alike freeze, their spines contorting with the agony.
The young fighter throws his hands over his ears.
I blow on the whistle again, and he doubles over. “Agh,” he cries. “Make it stop.”
I wait for the high-pitched whines and whimpers to die away. I hold up the dog whistle.
“Had enough?” When the fighter doesn’t answer fast enough, I put the whistle up to my lips. “I could do this all day.”
“No,” the fighter shouts, along with the rest of the room. The wolves are hunched, staring at me with fear.
“That’s what I thought.” I drop my hand and the entire room lets out a sigh. “Now shut up and listen.” I channel my inner schoolmarm-like my mom does in front of a pack of entitled rich kids-and lecture them. “I was told the Blackthroat pack was the strongest around. But now I’m here to meet you and what do I see? Chaos.
“Odin tried to kill me in Sweden. He failed. Because your leader, Brick Blackthroat is strong. He has the strength of his pack and his friends. They stood together, and they defeated their enemies. Because our enemies are nothing when we bond together.
“But today you tried to break that bond. You tried to destroy it. Shame on you!” I glare down at each waiting challenger until they avert their eyes. “You are better than this.”
I step forward, spreading my hands. “We need everyone in this pack. Not just to beat the Adalwulfs. But to defeat the fear that drives you apart.”
I lace my fingers together. “If we stand together, we are unstoppable. No one can break us apart. Not the Adalwulfs. Not anything. Am I right?”
No response.
I raise the whistle and waggle it like a magic wand. “I asked, am I right?”
“Yes,” the room thunders.
I use the whistle to point to the fighter.
“Yes,” he shudders and bows his head.
I search for the older wolf and point the whistle at him. Unbelievably, he’s smiling. “Yes, luna.” He drops his gaze.
A shiver runs down my spine, followed by a rush of heat. I sway on my feet, light-headed.
Brick leaps onto the stage. He approaches me, his eyes fiery. His gaze charges me up, energy flowing through me from the base of my spine and shooting out the top of my head. I’ve never felt anything like it. The power rolls from my toes to burst from my lips. “
Alpha.”
Brick seizes my arms, drawing me close. “Mate.”
The whole room shudders.
Brick turns me to face the room. “This is my mate. She is strong and worthy. She stands ready to defeat all challengers.”
The wave of energy rushes over the room. Men in human form straighten, heaving deep sighs. Wolves drop to their haunches. Some are wagging their tails.
The power washes back over me, filling me until it feels like bright light is bursting out of my eyes. For a moment, I see the pack as one, unified whole, a beautiful circle blossoming with power and joy. Love and connection. The vision intensifies until I want to weep.
The light fades. The heat in my head dissipates.
I’m glad Brick is holding me up. Billy and Nickel close on either side of us, Jake and Vance behind. We form a united front, with Brick and I at the center.
“She stands with us. And we stand with her. She is pack.”
I hold very still, focusing on breathing and staying upright.
“And if we can’t accept a human?” someone yells from the middle of the throng.
“Then get out,” Billy snarls. “Don’t let the door hit you on the tail.”
There’s a tense silence, then the older wolf in front of the stage barks a laugh. “I never thought I’d see the day a human would defeat a shifter with nothing but a whistle.” He raises his arms high, and starts a slow golf clap. He’s joined by the younger fighter, and more and more wolves, until applause breaks out all over the room, and the last of the hopeless desperation disappears.
Brick
“I honor the dead who fought for pack and glory.” I know I’m speaking through numb lips, but I can’t hear my own words. My head is splitting from Madi’s whistle. It was like a machete hacking between my ears. I’d take a thousand cuts from a knife rather than endure it again. “Pay your respects. Leave the bodies. We will burn the place at nightfall.”
Explaining away this much death to the Newark police and coroners would be an impossibility. We’ll have to be sure all the bodies are incinerated.
I turn from the stage and lock gazes with Madi.
Quiet rings between my ears. A muffled silence despite all the noise around me.
It’s not from Madi’s dog whistle.
I’m in the eye of the hurricane. The stillness of the conjuncture of me and my destined mate. If I’d thought she was magnificent before, that was a superficial admiration. What I feel for her now goes beyond bone and blood. Straight into the cosmos where Madison Evans has belonged in my arms since the beginning of all time and will continue to hold my heart for the billions of years after my death.
“Madi,” I croak through dry lips. She’s glowing, serene, still holding her tiny weapon of mass eardrum rupture.
“Could’ve warned me,” Billy mutters, glaring at the dog whistle.
“And ruin the surprise?” She pretends to raise it to her lips, and someone whimpers like a little puppy. She pockets it, and every wolf in the building relaxes.
Wolves move all around us. My team barks orders to the pack. Someone sets off the fire sprinklers without the alarm, sending the blood spilling over the stage in streams.
Her hands flutter as she brings them to my bare chest. Her gaze is shocked. Worried. I’m covered in blood. It’s running in rivulets down my skin now because of the sprinklers.
I advance, backing her into the wings of the stage until she hits a wall. “My beautiful mate.” I crowd against her.
My fingers hover near her cheek. I’m almost afraid to touch her-she’s too precious, and I’m covered in blood. Water soaks her hair, making her dark locks stick to her temples. I nudge them back with the barest of a touch.
“Madi. Madison.” Now I cradle her face. “My mate.”
She smiles perhaps the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen on her. Open, trusting, guileless.
I lean forward and stroke my lips across hers, my tongue delving deep into her mouth upon arrival.
Her arms twine around my neck, and she returns the kiss, her own tongue tangling with mine. There’s something different about her. Something more whole, more integrated, more beautiful.
There’s none of the guardedness she sometimes carries. Nothing tentative about the way she pulls my head down to kiss her more deeply.
“You chose me,” she whispers in awe when I ease back to look at her face.
Now I can hear perfectly. My ears are trained only to her.
Tears jump into her eyes. “You could’ve died today.
Again.”
“I’m no leader to the pack without my mate. And you’re my mate.”
One of the tears streaks down her face as she nods in agreement. “I’m your mate.”
I tip my head toward the stage. “You were fucking magnificent out there.” My hands drop to her waist and close possessively, desire overtaking my reverence.
I need my mate. It feels like years since I last touched her. Last held her. Last claimed her.
“Bath first,” she murmurs, as if sensing my need.
Right. I can’t be pawing my mate when I’m covered in blood.
As if he divined my dilemma, Nickel appears behind us and clears his throat. “The team can handle the rest. Let’s get you two to the Berkshires in the chopper.”
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