Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Wick shifted and walked back over to Justice. He didn’t stop until he was in his arms. Touching their foreheads together, Justice held the back of Wick’s neck, rubbing his thick thumb over his mark. “I’ve never been prouder in my life.”
Justice held Wick while Mikel’s enforcers rounded up the rebel pack to get them isolated and in restraints so they couldn’t shift and take off.
“We still have to get rid of the headquarters or else they’ll just find some more shifters to buy and corrupt. I’m sorry you had to lose so many, Justice.” Wick tried to comfort him and he appreciated it. “My soldiers will get it done for you.”
Justice watched the shifters cower and whimper as they were herded in a single file line to the far eastern section of the land where Mikel kept his isolation rooms. It was devastating for Justice and his wolf to have to discipline them so harshly, but it was for the best.
The field was just about clear and more of Mikel’s pack were being let back out of their homes. The lead car’s driver side door opened and a man dressed in a classic black suit – Justice wondered if it was some type of uniform – nodded respectfully at Wick and opened the rear passenger door.
The driver stood tall and bellowed in a dramatic English accent. “The Lord High! Belleron Liatos.”
“He always did love to make a grand entrance,” Wick murmured, chuckling lightly.
“That he has,” Henry agreed, quickly helping Wick back into his clothes now that the women and some of the older pups were back out.
Justice couldn’t take his eyes off the theatrical arrival. All he saw was a shiny, silver-tipped black shoe touch the ground right before the Lord High emerged. He commanded attention; there was no doubt about it. He had strong features, sharp cheeks, a Roman nose and eyes the color of slate. He was pale, but not as light as most vampires. His hair was what made many of the girls sigh with amazement… and appreciation. A waist-length, full, jet-black mane with a stark silver streak along the right side.
He moved like he walked on water. Smooth and flowing with one hand tucked in his pocket and the other swinging coolly at his side. His hair blew behind him with the breeze one second, only to fall perfectly into place the next.
As if it’d been rehearsed a million times, all the doors to the remaining vehicles opened and the vampires – each dressed impeccably despite having just flown transatlantic – got out and fell in seamless rows behind the ninety-nine-year-old vampire they called… Belleron.
As he approached, Wick’s smile got brighter and so did his friend’s. Sparkling white teeth that caught the flickers of the torches the closer he got. The others stopped a few feet from them but Belleron didn’t until he was cradled tightly in Wick’s arms.
He pulled back, looking deeply into Wick’s eyes. “I knew your beast would be incomparable, your majesty,” he said in a tranquil voice, void of any accent.
“Brown nosing so soon.” Wick beamed.
Belleron carefully touched Wick’s cheek on the side opposite of that which held Justice’s mark. Wick grabbed him and pulled him back to him, rubbing him comfortingly on his back. Justice remembered that Wick’s best friend was the only one he’d confided in about the mysterious being inside him. He was Wick’s second and most trusted. Justice had no reason to be jealous of him. The man had years to have put the moves on Wick. So the warning growl that pierced the air had Justice just as confused as the others.
Everyone turned to face him since it was his true mate in the arms of another. Justice heard Mac call out to Alek but it was too late. His brother barged past him and yanked the longhaired vampire out of Wick’s arms. Captain Ramon moved to intercede but Belleron waved him off, staring Alek in his eyes.
“What the heck is he doing?” Justice asked Mac.
“Hell if I know,” Mac answered.
Alek was so close he could have flicked his tongue out and brushed the vampire’s cheek as he inhaled him everywhere. Shit, they were all intrigued by their new guests but Alek was taking it to a whole other level. Justice stepped forward, but it was too late. Without any kind of introduction or courting, his brother licked Belleron’s neck, just above his collarbone, then sank his canines in deep.
“Fuck!” Mac yelled as they raced to pull Alek off.
Belleron had a vise grip on Alek’s broad shoulders. A furious hiss could be heard through the vampire’s fangs, like he was angry, but his head was tilted, baring his throat… taking the claiming.
“Let him go!” Justice hollered, pushing enough energy at his brother to break his mate-craze.
Alek stumbled back until he bumped into Justice. He looked so disordered and ashamed that it broke Justice’s heart. “Alek, inside, now.”