The Alpha Force doesn’t move. They answer only to Aiden–Aiden made sure of that.
The Warden grinds his teeth, but there’s nothing he can do. He glares at me, and I keep my face serene.
I’m no longer Aster. There’s nothing left of my old self. I died when I rejected my mate.
I am the Seeress. My pack can kill me, imprison me, torture, and try to use me–it doesn’t matter. They can’t hurt me. Aster is dead.
The Seeress is all that remains.
So when Aiden appears, striding through the ranks of his red-eyed wolves, I feel nothing. Triumph glitters in his eyes.
“Take her to the dungeon,” he says.
Noah
I prowl through the woods around the cabin in my bare feet for an hour, patrolling it like a sentry guard. Trying to cool off, so I can make a plan.
I can’t think about Aster or Liora.
What’s done is done. They both made choices I disagree with.
But I’d known I was asking a lot of Aster to mate me. Asking her to give up her magic. Her visions. The powerful position she holds with the Adalwulfs. She’s basically their alpha female since Aiden is unmated.
And she explained to me the lure of the Moonborn. Their magical connection to nature and all that.
I guess what we had wasn’t enough to sway her to leave it all.
I force the shattering pain back into the cage, stuffing it as far as it will go.
I need to forget about her and think.
We can’t stay here–it’s not safe.
As much as I hate to ask anyone for help, I need to contact Sully, at least to get my phone and rented car back.
I catch the scent of Oriana outside the cabin and stalk back to make sure she’s not exposing herself.
She lifts her hand to her forehead in the sign for hi.
I stop. The cage around my chest rocks with fresh emotion. The enormity of the fact that I have a sister who I am just meeting for the first time hits me.
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.
