Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Excuse me.” Jackson read a 911 text from Thane to meet outside right now. Why hadn’t the guy just walked across the restaurant? More than eager to escape the table of females, Jackson stood and stepped away, striding outside to meet his friend, who was waiting in the snow. “Yeah, Thane. What’s up? And take your time,” he muttered.
Thane brushed snow off his shoulders. “I thought I should tell you first. Philip Nightsom was attacked leaving the meeting earlier. I just got word from contacts we have in his pack.”
“Ah, shit.” Jackson glanced back at the table, his gaze lingering on the back of Emily’s head. “How bad? Is he dead?”
“No. He made it back to his territory, but a couple of our sources there say it’s bad. I don’t know how bad yet.”
Shit. What now? “Damn it. All right, thanks.”
Raya stepped outside, wrapping a scarf around her neck. “I paid the bill.”
Thane zipped up his jacket. “Thanks. I’ll head back to the office to keep an ear on things, Jackson.”
Jackson wiped snow off his chin. “Call me with any news.”
“No problem.” Thane slipped an arm over Raya’s shoulders. “I’ll escort you to your car.”
Jackson walked back inside and returned to the table, surprised Emily’s pack hadn’t contacted her. “Hey, Em. Where’s your phone?”
She blinked and looked around, quickly standing. “Oh, crap. I must’ve left it in the truck. Why?”
He placed cash on the table. “Ladies, you’ll have to excuse us.”
Xandra glanced at the money. “Are we meeting tomorrow?”
“I’ll give you a call.” He didn’t mean a word of it.
“What’s going on?” Emily pressed as he guided her toward the door with a hand at the small of her back.
He waited until they’d walked outside into the blasting snowstorm to speak. “I don’t know all the details yet, but your father was attacked on the way back from our meeting.”
“What?” Her face drained of color. She bolted toward the truck, yanking open the front door. Her phone sat on the passenger seat. “Oh no. I missed five calls.” She clutched the phone tightly, her breath coming quicker as she scrolled through the missed calls, fingers trembling as she tapped the screen.
She quickly dialed Nadia, who answered immediately. “I just heard,” Emily said rapidly.
“Hi.” Nadia’s voice came through clearly on speaker, sharp with worry. “Philip was attacked. He said it was by Ravencall wolves, but he got away. It’s not good, Emily. The doctor said one of the wounds almost reached his heart.”
Emily drew in a deep breath, steadying herself as snowflakes swirled through the air, clinging to her hair and jacket. “He can heal since he’s an Alpha.”
“I know, but Victor’s making noises, and I don’t know what to do.” Nadia’s voice wavered with panic.
Emily glanced at Jackson, who kept his gaze steady on her. “It’s okay. Just hang in there. I’ll be home in a few hours.”
“No, you won’t,” Jackson interrupted, his gaze shifting toward the swirling snowstorm. The wind howled against the truck, rattling the side mirrors. Snow fell thick and fast, already blanketing the road in icy layers. Visibility had shrunk to mere feet. “I can’t fly in this, Emily. Driving is too dangerous, as well.”
Emily shuddered as she looked around at the storm, her breath fogging the air. Snowflakes spun wildly through gusts of wind, clinging to the windshield like frozen lace. “Nadia, just hold it together until I get back. As soon as I can fly out, I’ll be there. Trust me.”
“Okay. Just keep your phone on. I’ll call if anything changes,” Nadia said.
Emily steeled her shoulders. “Can he talk?”
“Yes, but the doctor sedated him so his body could heal. He’s stable right now.” Tears trembled in Nadia’s voice.
“We’ll handle this, I promise. Just sit tight.” Emily ended the call and leaned against the side of the truck, snowflakes melting on her cheeks.
“He’ll be okay.” Jackson stepped closer to brush snow from Emily’s brow. Her skin felt chilled beneath his fingers, but her eyes stayed distant. He opened the truck door. “Get in.”
She slid into the seat without a word. Jackson crossed around the front, then started the engine and steered onto the snow-covered road. The tires cracked the ice as he pulled away from the restaurant.
His phone buzzed and Jackson hit the button on the dash. “Thane?”
“Yeah. Just got off the phone. Sources on the ground say Ravencall wolves attacked Philip.”
“I just heard the same thing. Emily’s at my house tonight. I now want double patrols around the perimeter at all times.”
“You got it. You want me personally on-site instead of in the office?” Thane asked.
Jackson’s grip tightened on the wheel. It was impressive how well Thane knew him, down to predicting his next move. He’d planned to let his friend have a night off, but apparently the Ravencalls were making a move. Now. “Yeah. I want you covering her.”