The Blackthroat king has a new weakness. She will destroy everything he desires.
-The Adalwulf Seeress
Aster
I gaze out the window at the crystalline lake. The Adalwulf mansion sits nestled at the foot of a mountain, in the crook of an old-growth pine forest. To most, this beautiful behemoth of a building is a historic wonder set in an evergreen paradise.
To me, it’s a prison.
Behind me, Oma sits bent in her chair, her eyes fixed on the crackling fire.
“Snow’s coming tonight,” she croaks.
Great. Snow is just what this giant, echo-y mansion needs. By this time tomorrow morning, this whole place will turn into a setting for
The Shining.
Naw, Stephen King would think this place is too creepy. If I listen closely, I can hear the furious howls of the Adalwulf ancestors echoing off the mountains. Even someone not prone to visions would pick up on the creepy vibe.
I sense my soon-to-be Alpha’s approach before I hear his thundering footfalls on the ancient wood floors. Not even the priceless rugs can dampen Aiden’s stomps. The Adalwulf prince can move as soundlessly as a wolf when he wants to. He doesn’t want to today.
Something’s pissed him off.
Oma tilts her head, and I rise and open the door before Aiden can batter it down. “Welcome, Aiden.” I greet him with my eyes fixed on the floor. I’ve learned not to look the dominant wolf in the eye. I know the consequences of standing up to an alpha.
Whether or not my second cousin will be as cruel an alpha as my uncle remains to be seen.
Aiden sweeps by me without acknowledging my presence and heads to the window to overlook the lake, surveying the territory that will soon be his.
“He’s plotting something,” Aiden mutters to the glass, “I know he is.”
I don’t have to ask who Aiden is talking about. Brick Blackthroat is his nemesis. Our family, the Adalwulfs, struck a blow to the Blackthroat family business years ago. But Brick has defied the odds and built back everything they lost. And more.
I’d admire it if thinking well of a Blackthroat wasn’t treason here.
“How is my grandnephew?” Oma asks.
Aiden turns. “Father is doing well this morning.”
We can all hear the lie in his voice. But we don’t comment on it. When Odin dies, Aiden will lose his father, and we will lose our alpha. The driving force behind our pack.
“I need a vision,” Aiden says.
Oma cackles, showing her sharp incisors. “If only, great-grandnephew. Visions don’t come at my beck and call.”
“Insight, then.” Aiden paces in front of the window.
“I have seen nothing, but perhaps Aster can help you,” Oma says. Throwing me to the wolves as I knew she would. “She’s been having visions of the Blackthroat pack.”
Aiden turns the full force of his silver gaze on me. “Is this true?”
I swallow and take my place in the center of the carpet, head bowed. Aiden’s alpha presence is a power that thickens the air, making it hard for me to breathe.
“Yes, Aiden,” I murmur. “I’ve had a few dreams. A few blurred images and impressions. Not much.”
“Tell me.” His voice echoes with power. The command hooks into my belly, and the vision vomits forth.
“I’ve seen the Blackthroat alpha. He’s standing tall and proud, a captain at the helm of his ship.” I swallow, waiting for Aiden to start raging. Odin doesn’t believe in the phrase “don’t shoot the messenger.” The alpha wouldn’t hurt Oma, but I often wind up confined to my room with nothing but bread and water for weeks as punishment for the visions not showing me what Odin wanted to see.
Aiden is calmer than his father. Colder. He’s a patient hunter, standing perfectly still until his prey feels safe coming near. But once your guard is down, he rips out your throat.
“His pack is crumbling around him. Even his second in command stands to oppose him.”
“Do you know why?” Aiden sounds smug. He knows something.
I screw my eyes shut. Washed-out images appear in my mind’s eye, too fuzzy for me to see any details. I sense the powerful energy surrounding Brick Blackthroat and the top wolves in his pack. “There’s a change coming to his inner circle.” I tilt my head. There’s a light in the corner of my vision, a bright glow. It pulses, growing stronger. “A newcomer.” My voice takes on a new urgency. “Someone unexpected. Someone who will upset the balance of the pack-forever.”
My head buzzes as I let the images fade.
Oma sits back in her cozy armchair, a satisfied smile on her wrinkled face. “It’s as I foretold. The Blackthroat has a weakness. A female.”
“A mate?” Aiden’s eyes flash brighter.
“I believe so,” Oma says.
“Anything else you can tell me?”
“She’s not from the Blackthroat pack,” I offer.
“Are you sure?” Aiden snaps.
I touch my head where a throbbing pain has blossomed, filling my eye socket. “I’m sure.”
“Trust her visions. Aster’s strong.” Oma gives me a rare compliment. “She is ready to replace me as pack Seeress when the time comes.”
I grit my teeth. The walls of the room tilt this way and that. I blink a few times to reorient myself.
“I know he’s planning something,” Aiden rants. “They stole the acreage next to our land. The seller refused to deal with me, and now the Blackthroats have it. They’ll be able to camp right on our borders if they want to.” Aiden clenches his fists, looking like he’s about to burst out of his skin and into wolf form any second. His voice drops to a lower register. “I need to know his weakness,” he growls. “Now.”
“We will tell you more as soon as we know it,” Oma says.
“See that you do. Thank you.” Aiden turns, nodding to include me in his thanks.
I bow my head, the picture of a submissive wolf. Better to hide my defiance or find subtle ways to express it. For years, I’ve pretended to be obedient, quietly riding under the radar.
Now Oma is shining a spotlight on my gifts. What will life in the pack be like when she and Odin die, and Aiden and I take our new positions in the pack?
The floor under my feet feels uneven. I pushed too hard. As soon as Aiden’s powerful presence recedes, I slump into a chair.
“Breathe, child. You extended too far.”
“He gave me a command.” I lean forward and let my head drop between my knees.
“He’ll learn to temper his power, just as you will learn to control yours.”
I give the smallest nod I can without jarring my head. It still hurts.
Oma’s right, I need to learn to control my power. Not so I can serve as Seeress, though I don’t know how I’m going to wriggle out of that duty. I need to control my visions, so I can continue to hide the truth of what I’ve seen. Every time I dream of the Blackthroats, a man’s face comes into view clearly.
I don’t know if he’s one of the Blackthroats. He might well be the one I spoke of-someone close to the inner circle but not part of the pack. Soon to upset the balance.
And his fate is entwined with mine. The more I see him, the more I’m sure. This man, my sworn enemy, is my destiny.
I have to guard that information at all costs. If Oma or Aiden find out, they’ll tell Odin. And my life-and that of my future mate-will be over.
Brick
The second I enter the concert venue that’s the site of the pack meeting, my wolf raises his head. He’s been sulking about leaving our mate behind, but the thick scent of a building full of shifters gets his attention.
All of my top wolves wait in the green room behind the stage. Everyone but Billy. I shake Jake’s hand and let Vance clap me on the back. I nod to Sully, who lurks in the shadows as usual. Every once in a while, he touches his coiled earpiece, communicating with his security team.
Behind me, Eagle and Nickel confer on how best to introduce me to the audience full of my pack. The two of them met me at my private gym, where I showered off Madi’s scent and changed into freshly dry-cleaned clothes. My wolf hates that we don’t smell like our mate, but this is how it has to be.
This is for the best.
“It’s time,” Eagle says. In the dim light of the backstage room, his eyes gleam with an eerie light. He blinks, and his wolf recedes.
Everyone’s on edge. My top wolves study me, searching for any sign of moon madness. For any sign that I’ve changed since claiming my mate.
My wolf whines, wanting to return to Madi’s side.
Soon, I tell him.
She’s safe.
We had two whole days of pleasure. Now I have to attend to business.
Nickel heads out, and the room falls silent. The audience is full of shifters and only shifters. Almost two thousand of my pack gathered to see if I am fit to lead them.
They need me to be the alpha I was born to be. I have to forget her.
My whole pack’s existence depends on it.
Nickel leans into the microphone. “Allow me to introduce…your alpha.”
I stride onto the stage. The place is packed. There are some rows of chairs in the front of the room and in the balconies, but most of the room is standing room only. We’re probably a little over capacity. Nickel must have bribed the fire marshall.
There’s a small platform with a microphone on a tripod. No podium, nothing for me to hide behind. Communication is ninety percent body language, and they need to see my posture and my hands.
We’re not politicians, my father used to sneer.
We’re not humans in a democracy. We rule on the strength and power of our wolves.
I stare into the sea of glittering eyes. This place is packed with predators, and at the first sign of weakness, they’ll tear me apart. The truth is, I am still in a weakened state from wrestling with my wolf during my moon madness, but I’m not going to show that to anyone-not even my inner circle.
The alpha must be strong, or the pack’s enemies will destroy us.
I won’t let that happen.
“Welcome. It’s good to see you all here today. I understand you have some concerns, and this meeting was called to allay them. In a moment, we’ll address your questions, and the mutiny some of you are plotting. But first, I understand there are rumors that I’m moon mad.” I spread my arms. “Take a good look,” I challenge. “I’ll wait.” I let silence fall over the place.
A few of the laser bright eyes wink out, one pair at a time. A sign that I’ve calmed at least a few of them.
“The next wolf who accuses me of moon madness will answer to me personally.”
I signal my top wolves, and they walk out and line the stage behind me. Guarding my back as well as watching the crowd. This is the show of strength my pack requires.
“I am your alpha.”
More of the gleaming pairs of eyes dull. Every wolf in the front row bows their heads or raises their chins to show their necks.
I seek out the pockets of resistance, looking for the heads of families that Nickel and Eagle spoke to. Most of them followed my dad, preferring his brutish leadership. I’ve won them over with hard work, honesty, loyalty, and Moon Co’s meteoric rise. It’s time for them to return the favor.
I glare at the top detractors until they also angle their heads, giving me a clear view of their jugulars.
“We are pack.”
“We are pack.” The unified response thunders through the vast room, shaking the walls.
“By now, most of you have heard of the Adalwulf spy. I’m pleased to report we have rooted him out. He’s being held in a secure location at the moment. My cousin, Sullivan Blackthroat, can confirm that. We have him and his team to thank for doing the work of uncovering the spy and securing Moon Co against any further attacks.” I wave for him to step forward. My father never gave credit to any of his top wolves, in case they sought support among the pack ranks and turned on him. But a stronger alpha acknowledges that he can’t lead a giant pack alone.
I wait for the smattering of applause to die down.
“And our flagship company, Moon Co, has completed an acquisition that will add billions to our bottom line. Nicholas Cavendish, Jacob Jordan, and many of you have worked on the deal. Victory to you and the entire pack.”
This time the applause is more hearty. It helps that Jake plays to the crowd and takes a bow while Vance sweeps his hands up, encouraging everyone to raise the roof. I lean into the levity, thanking them both. They high five, and the mood of the room gets more relaxed. There are several stoic, stony faces sprinkled in the crowd but not as many as before.
“I’d keep listing the pack’s wins, but we’d be here all day. It’s time for some questions.” I motion to Eagle, who takes a handheld mic down to the floor. He heads straight for an older, distinguished-looking wolf named Lowell Hunt. Lowell used to be one of my father’s top wolves.
No softball questions for me.
“Is it true you lost control in front of the Adalwulfs?” Lowell frowns at me under bristling salt-and-pepper brows. I stare back until he averts his gaze.
“It is.” I’m not my father. I acknowledge my weaknesses instead of browbeating the questioner. “It was a moment of tension, and my wolf and I felt it required a show of strength.” Truth. “It was the wrong move, and it won’t happen again.” Truth again. Now that Madi bears my mark, my wolf will be satisfied. I won’t have to fight him constantly. He’ll allow me to remain in control as long as Madi is safe.
“What about rumors that you have a mate?”
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