Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 611(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
“Huh,” Dante said, looking at the other guy as the horses walked. “It really does sound like that drug can weaken pack bonds.”
“Why wasn’t I told?” I asked, peering over Weston’s shoulder to look at the ground. In his strong, tight grip, I didn’t feel any fear I’d fall. Not with him. “Alexander clearly knew about it if he sprinkled it on the ground for the patrol. Why wouldn’t he mention that to me?”
“I wonder if it is strong enough to keep you from bonding them again?” Axe-less said, looking at Weston.
“It has to be somewhat safe if she ate it, right?” Dante said. “Maybe we should test it out when we rest tonight to see what we’re dealing with.”
“Did she actually eat it?” Axe-less asked, his suspicion evident. “Or is she a fine actress? Because I don’t buy just shrugging off a drug like that.”
“She wasn’t acting when she was on it,” Weston replied. “I felt her body relax. It hasn’t felt that way since I met her. Now her relaxation is gone. Something clearly happened, and now it’s over.”
“I’ll take it,” Hadriel called from the back. “If she says it’s safe, I’ll take any of it. These trees are boring the balls off me.” I could just see Hadriel put out his finger to a guy on the horse somewhat beside him. “Don’t bother making a comment, Kurt. I can tell you’re dying to, but we all know you are absolute shit at witty banter.”
Weston stared out to the right. “We’ll take two tabs from the batch in the cart. She will eat one, Hadriel can eat the other.” He turned to me, his voice low. “I want your word that it is safe.”
“What does my word mean to you?”
“More than I’d like it to.”
I rolled my eyes and dropped my cheek to his shoulder again, this time my face turned away. “It’s safe. All of it is. I’ve told you this.”
The traveling dragged on. Where I might’ve thought the landscape would interest me, not having been this far away in, well, too many years, I was disappointed with the lack of variety. Nothing much changed. No animals scurried out of the way and the flora was the same as in my wood. The sun glinted above, playing peek-a-boo behind the leaves and reaching branches. I thoroughly understood why Hadriel was bored to tears. Hours passed as I stared out into the trees.
The feel of Weston’s body continued to give me a strange sort of comforting pleasure and I found myself slipping a hand into his shirt so I could feel the smooth skin and cut muscle. He didn’t seem to mind, his gaze scanning side to side, quiet as we continued on.
Finally, boredom got the better of me.
“Why do a bunch of wolves ride horses?” I asked. “Wouldn’t you cover more ground in wolf form?”
“We have supplies. We’d only be able to go as fast as the horses and donkeys walked, anyway. This way we save our strength in case we need to fight.”
“Most of you. You’re not all on horses.”
“The more powerful among us, those that tend to do the heavy lifting in battle, are on horses.”
An image of him coming out of the trees, flanked by his people, drifted through my mind. They’d all been perfectly in sync, graceful in that way only predators could be—sleek and dangerous. The sun had sparkled off their strong bodies, Weston the most stunning of all.
The bond of this pack was incredibly strong, I could tell that easily. It wasn’t just whatever magic shifters had, either. These people respected their alpha. Trusted him. It felt homey, this pack. Inclusive. The foundation felt solid.
Something else occurred to me, though, forgotten when I’d felt Alexander’s presence lurking.
I leaned back in a rush, only getting so far before he tightened his arm to keep me put. He released it slowly, then, in control.
A thrill of heat arrested me and my stomach fluttered with the implications.
As usual, I ignored it.
“You talk to me about trapping a village, and yet you trap your pack in a bond you control. You trapped those prisoners. You don’t need walls and patrols to keep people caged—you use your magic. How is that any better?”
His gaze was guarded. “If anyone wants to leave, they have but to ask.”
“If anyone wanted to leave the village, they had but to ask.”
“People leaving the village had terms. They weren’t allowed to be gone for too long, and they weren’t allowed to stay away forever. If people request to leave the pack, I sever the bond completely.”
“But you’re in control.”
“Yes. That’s how an alpha’s magic works. The stronger the alpha, the stronger the pack bond.”
“Are you in control of the people?” I lifted my eyebrows at him.
“When I need to be, yes.”
Damn that wave of heat! It was fucking annoying.