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)
Jackson held his stare for a moment longer. The kid might make a decent Enforcer. “I’ll see you when you arrive.”
The fight was over, and the adrenaline had drained from Jackson’s veins, leaving behind a bone-deep ache that settled into every muscle. Snowflakes clung to his skin, melting in rivulets that traced down his chest. The metallic tang of blood still clung to the air, sharp against the crisp winter wind. He turned in sync with Seth and Erik, their movements silent and purposeful as they walked past the dying fire and into the swirling snow beyond the camp.
He shifted into wolf form through the air, needing to heal himself. He could repair all injuries better in wolf form—except when silver was involved. Snow whipped sideways across their path, blurring the outlines of distant trees. The wind howled and tried to kill him, shooting through his fur to his bones. His paws tore through the ice on the ground, and he ignored the shadows all around them. They’d killed the enemy, and they were the most dangerous animals in the forest.
The transition brought a brief surge of warmth, fur shielding them from the worst of the weather as they ran through the snow-laden woods. Branches scraped their sides, and ice cracked beneath their paws as they sped toward the hidden stone building tucked deep within the forest.
Frost clung to the building’s rough-hewn walls, its heavy wooden door half-buried in snowdrifts. The trucks parked out front sat coated in a thick layer of snow, their windshields frosted over. Jackson shifted back into his human form, breath steaming as he tugged open his truck door. Reaching inside, he grabbed a worn, long-sleeved T-shirt with frayed cuffs and pulled it on. The jeans he found were torn at the knees, but they would do. He quickly laced up his boots, fingers stiff from the cold, then glanced back toward Seth and Erik as they dressed beside their vehicles.
“You guys good?” Jackson asked, adjusting his shirt as the wind bit through the fabric.
“Yeah,” Seth growled, wiping blood from the gash above his brow. The wound still dripped a slow streak of red down his skin. “I think we made an impression killing the Alpha and his Enforcers.”
“Me, too.” Erik pulled on his coat. His breath fogged in the air as he fastened the buttons. “Rumors will spread far and wide. Maybe the Ghostwind Pack will back off. They’re outnumbered.”
“They know it, too,” Jackson agreed.
Seth glanced sideways at him. “You sure about bringing more pack members in?”
“I am. We need to expand, and having people who know the spice trade could turn profitable fast. Plus, the numbers will help with defense,” Jackson said.
Erik gave a curt nod. “Tell Emily I hope Philip recovers soon. I need to get back to my mate. Also, I want my boots back at some point.” He climbed into his truck without waiting for a response.
“He’s always been particular about his footwear,” Seth said as he stepped toward his vehicle. Ice crackled beneath his boots as he paused and looked back at Jackson. “Cousin.”
“Cousin,” Jackson returned, shaking his head.
Seth grinned and then slid into his truck.
Jackson climbed into his, the seat stiff and cold under him as he started the engine. Heat slowly seeped from the vents, but it was enough to thaw his hands. He glanced at his phone. No signal. Even now, years after their ancestors had built the stone building, the place cut them off from the world. Cell phones didn’t work in the vicinity and probably never would.
Snow thickened against the windshield as he backed up and eased onto the narrow road, leaving the site behind him.
He drove for several miles, the snow pelting the vehicle, as the wipers scraped across the glass. The phone on the dashboard lit up, catching his attention. Five missed calls. A chill that had nothing to do with the weather trickled down his spine. Both Raya and Thane had called. He tapped the screen and dialed Thane first. Straight to voicemail. Damn it.
He hit the button to call Raya. The line barely rang before she answered. “Jackson,” she said, her voice rushed and tight.
“What’s going on?” He gripped the steering wheel.
“Thane is out looking for her now, but apparently, Emily took one of your trucks and headed out into this storm.”
Jackson’s pulse pounded at his temples. “What the fuck?”
“My guess is that her father took a turn for the worse? She just left while Thane was out patrolling,” Raya said quickly. “He shifted to wolf form to track her in case she needed help and asked me to keep trying to get ahold of you.”
Jackson exhaled, the frost of his breath mingling with the warmth inside the cab. “Thanks for telling me,” he said. “Stay put. It’s too dangerous in this blizzard. No scouts.” He calculated the route between the territories via vehicle. “When did she leave?”