“Preston could sell his findings to the Council, for all we know.” Jabir scratches his beard anxiously when Demi takes another step closer, ready to jab a finger in his face.
Nell sighs. “You might want to sit down, Demitrya. I’ll go get Maurleen’s journal from my office.”
“Hang on,” Axe orders. “Obviously, Demi doesn’t have all the information. But neither do we.”
I swallow deeply, palms gleaming with sweat as Nell slips out of the door. Axe too starts to make for the exit.
Everyone in the room trickles out, quickly making our way up the stairs. My heart pounds as we arrive at the guest suite where Maurleen and Wyatt have taken up. The door is propped slightly open.
Axe grits his teeth, slamming his hand against the wall. The room has been cleared out, bed sheets stripped and smoothed, Sylvie’s crib vacated. A small note has been left on the nightstand, written in the witch’s loopy cursive script.
Take care, Vessa. You’re going to do amazing things.
-M & W
“They’re gone,” I whisper.
Nell bursts through the doorway, out of breath as she clutches her stomach. “Guys . . . the journal.”
Sure enough, in the fireplace, a small inferno crackles, devouring the hardbound diary, turning all our pivotal moments, all her visions of the future to ash.
My gaze falls to the farewell letter in my hand. The only surviving page. In the lower frayed corner, a small drawing catches my eye. A snowflake.
Chapter 31
DOMINIK
Irub my eyes, forced awake by the insufferable panting of my wolf. Reaching for the lighter in my discarded trousers, I spark up a cigarette, hoping to ease the beast’s pleading and the ache rising in my shaft beneath the sheets.
Next to me, my nightcap stirs. A dark-haired Tilaak woman in her early twenties, studying nursing at Hichano University. At least that’s what I could make off the ID badge tucked in the outer pocket of her purse. I usually don’t bother with learning the other trivial details.
I cup her chin, almost allowing her to pull me back under the covers. But my wolf snaps, clamping down on my heart. Crying out for someone else.
She nuzzles against my palm. “Last night was?—”
“A one-time deal,” I answer, pulling away. Her brows wrinkle, face paling at the cold reality check.
Out of my periphery, I catch the reading on the digital clock.Shit.
Of course, I’m late.
As I barge through the doors of the Great Lodge, hundreds of eyes break away from Axe, who stands behind the front podium. I quickly make my way to my empty seat, right next to his mate.Truthfully, I don’t know if I can eat. The room is jittery as Axe continues his speech, going on about Nell’s plans for decorating pack grounds and more boring details about delegating more warriors for patrol, keeping them on standby for the entire weekend.
If it weren’t for the stunning woman at my right, my eyes would’ve glazed over by now. My collar chafes as I admire the black velvet dress, the glossy hair that has been swept away from her contoured face, and the well-endowed chest that rises and falls. A thick silver choker hugs her neck, its web-like chains adorned with dainty teardrop crystals draped over her collarbones.
I shouldn’t be here. I can’t breathe. Can’t think straight. Not when my eager wolf keeps scratching and roaring, begging to cross a bridge I’ve barred him from.
Jabir, seated next to Axe’s empty chair, wrinkles his nose. Everyone at this table picks up on my scent that reeks of my prior engagement. Everyone, save for Vessa, who smells like a godsdamned aphrodisiac.
Focus, I hiss at the subliminal beast.
After a few minutes, I pretend to excuse myself for another drink, making my way along the side wall. My muscles relax as I cast an invisible net out into the room. Most in attendance are exuding the same sense of anticipation. Some are excited that tonight, they are about to witness history being made.
When Axe pauses a moment to collect himself, breaths hitch. Bodies slide to the edge of seats.
“Over the last several weeks, the presence of a human has unsettled this community. Tonight, you all will finally have a chance to meet her. Vessa is, in fact, my mate, and intends to join us indefinitely."
His voice plummets, its tone starkly intimidating. “That being said, if anyone chooses to speak ill of her or wishes tocontest her right to be here, I am fully prepared to handle your objections as I did with Colton Sherwood."
