Of course, he would doubt me after what I told him when we parted.
I nod.
His eyes shine. He turns back to Aiden. “Let her go, and you’ll never see us again.”
“I am the chosen Alpha,” Aiden snarls at me. “I am Odin’s son.” He has to save face in front of the pack.
I face him, speaking more softly. “He tried to make you as cruel as him, but you get to choose.” The crowd’s murmurs die away until there’s silence in the Cradle. I say to all of them, “We all get to choose. If you choose cruelty, then life will not be kind to you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can choose to make this pack better.”
No one makes a sound. Noah’s moved to my side, still holding my hand. Supporting me, as he always does. I can feel the power of the tiara pulsing around us. It feels like a prowling animal, ready to strike.
Please let them listen to me. Please allow my mate to live.
“The Adalwulfs will reign now and for all time, with me as their Alpha.” Aiden fixes his eyes on Noah. “Fate has delivered me a solution. Once I sacrifice the true Alpha, then I will be next in line.”
NO! Power surges through me in a rushing tide. It’s white hot and so intense, my eyes water and my teeth ache. A vision rises up in me, straight from the Grandmothers. A Seeing of our pack’s future if Aiden leads us where he wants to go.
Show them, the Grandmothers whisper. They’re all talking at once, their voices adding to the vision, making it unstoppable.
I’m caught in the psychic tsunami, but Noah’s arms around me keep my feet on the ground. The mark on my shoulder spreads warmth through me, helping me find which way is up and which way is down.
Deliver the vision, child. Now!
My own eyes flash bright when I snarl at Aiden, “You wanted a vision? I’ll give it to you.” I touch my free hand to the tiara, feeling the burn. “Take it. Take it all.”
I push the vision towards Aiden and the entire pack. Images of violence and war, our pack lands ravaged, mothers crying over slain pups, red-eyed wolves everywhere. Aiden commanding an army of red-eyed enforcers, his own eyes glowing black like a demon’s. New York City in flames.
Aiden stiffens and jerks, his eyes fixed on the unseen. It’s like lightning struck. Not from the moon, or the sky, but from my own mind, intensified by the tiara. Wolf after wolf convulses, their minds’ eyes filled with the horrible images. The entire pack jerks in unconscious movements, the way I do when in the grip of vision.
I howl, letting the power rush through me. I hold the vision, and Noah holds me, and our Alpha Bond sends power pulsing through the entire pack in a surge so strong it sends Aiden and the Warden to their knees.
My teeth grind together. The only thing keeping me upright is Noah’s strong body at my back. I sag into him, letting him hold me.
I got you, he speaks into my mind. His voice is warm and gentle, a relief after the vision scoured my insides. I feel like I just gave birth.
I did it. I let my vision into the world.
It’s done.
It’s just begun, child.
The wind whips around the Cradle. Pups cry and grown wolves moan.
The only sound is a clacking sound overhead.
The wind whipping around us is from the blades of a black helicopter, descending upon us.
“That’s our ride,” Noah says.
That does it. I go limp, letting him lift me in his arms. I’ve got no more energy. I’m done.
Something descends from the belly of the chopper, falling through the air in what feels like slow motion.
It’s a long rope ladder. At the top, a slight figure clambers down a few rungs and waves. “Hi, friends!” she calls. She balances with one hand and foot on the ladder, completely at ease. “Looks like you’re having a great creepy ritual and all, but it’s time to skedaddle. Hang on and we’ll pull you up!”
The chopper dips lower until the ladder drags on the ground near the dais.
“Hang on,” Noah orders. His muscles flex as he leaps down and rushes towards the chopper.
