Oma stops walking and turns to face the Warden. “The problem is not with the Moonborn females. Odin’s seed is sparse. He’s incapable of siring a child.”
The Warden’s eyes flare. He runs a hand over his bald head, his scent full of dismay. “Who have you told about this?”
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Oma hisses. “No one.”
“Not even Odin?”
“He knows. But no, we do not speak of it.”
The Warden stares off into the trees for a moment, then he snaps his attention back to Oma. “Use the Alpha Rites to choose a Blood Heir. We’ll use all the Moonborn females of a suitable age and genetic makeup. They'll all be bred by Odin and the males you hand select. Ask the Grandmothers to select the next alpha from those conceived. The first-born pup will be the chosen Blood Heir.”
“That kind of magic requires a great sacrifice to the Grandmothers.”
“Then give them what they need! If you can’t make this happen, the Blackthroats will take over our pack, and we will lose everything.”
Oma looks like she ate something sour, but she inclines her head. “Very well.”
The Warden turns and walks away, his robes flapping about his legs, his hands clasped behind his back.
* * *
The vision fades.
I’m engulfed in the deepest sense of warmth and safety. Amber and pine and delicious male fill my nostrils. I draw a deep breath and try to force my eyes to open.
I remember sitting at the kitchen table across from Noah, and then there was blinding pain as a vision filled my head. It was the same one Oma described so many years ago.
Noah, wearing the Adalwulf mantle, standing on the broken stone dais, destroying everything. Fate, this is bad.
I start to tremble again with the significance of it.
Strong arms tighten around me.
Noah.
My eyes finally remember how to open, and I twist to look up at him.
I’m in his arms again, nested on top of his body on the couch. He quiets the visions. Soothes my frayed nerves. I stifle a groan. My stomach is queasy, but I draw in a deep breath to calm it.
Noah kisses my forehead, and something warm and syrupy pools in my chest.
I blink up at him. He’s the enemy. The male who could destroy my pack. And I’m snuggled in his arms, melting over forehead kisses.
I scramble back out of his arms and onto my wobbly legs. How long was I asleep? He must’ve held me the entire time!
It’s crazy how much I want to crawl right back onto him, to drape my body over his and soak up that feeling of safety he gives me.
But he’s not safe. I’d be a fool to believe he was.
He climbs off the couch, his brows down with concern as he watches me square off to him.
“You’re here to take the Moonborn down, aren’t you?” I demand.
He looks at me for a long moment then nods.
“Because they wanted you dead?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “For my mother.”
