Page 43 of The Wild Moon
So, why did I feel pulled to find Shuldar? Why was that suddenly so important to me? Did I think my parents would be found there? Had my parents decided to run away to the lost city? Without telling anyone?
Each question I posed to myself felt wrong. What was at Shuldar was forme? I felt it, not in my mind where my wolf lay or my Soulbond, but somewhere else. Somewhere…deeper.
I had to get there. No matter what.
“I need to find Shuldar,” I repeated.
Aaron nodded. “You have my price. I prefer precious metals, gold, or gemstones.”
“That doesn’t sound shady at all.” I gave him a flat look.
“Coming from the woman rigging an underground fight club,” Aaron said calmly.
I frowned. He had a point. I wasn’t precisely on the up and up either, so it would be a bit hypocritical of me to judge his method of payment now, wouldn’t it? Fine.
“What guarantee do I have that you can lead me there?” I asked.
“You don’t,” Aaron replied, downing a drink I hadn’t even noticed him order. “Just like your father didn’t.”
“Perfect,” I muttered.
“You have my number,” Aaron said, rising from his chair and heading for the door. “Call me when you have the money.”
“Yeah,” I said, watching as he left.
Once he was gone, I sighed. “Now, where the hell am I going to get that kind of money?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Danielle Aria Wetter. You have the absolute worst ideas sometimes.
“And this one takes the cake,” I said, staring up at my objective. The place where I could get the money to pay Aaron to help me find Shuldar. It was the only place I knew housed such a sum of money that I could get my hands on. Unfortunately, it also happened to be thelastplace on earth I ever wanted to visit.
Time to get at it. Clock is ticking, and the Wild Moon is nearing.
I didn’t have to remind myself of that. I could feel it inside me. Both my wolf and my Soulbond were growing more active. Stronger. Trying to take control of me. The longer I denied the Soulbond, the more it pulsed within my mind, whispering good things about Johnathan, urging me to take him as my mate. To accept the truth, that he was good for me. That’s why I was here–
Enough,I snarled mentally, silencing everything.I did not come back for him. I came back for money.
I shivered as my brain went silent and stared up at the line of trees running parallel to the road, blocking the view of what lay beyond. A double row of lamp posts ran up the gravel driveway, flanking the single-lane vehicle entrance. I couldn’t see beyond the trees, but I knew what lay on the other side.
Aldridge Manor.
The sprawling, three-story mansion belonging to Lars Aldridge, Alpha of the Seguin pack, and quite possibly the person I hated most on the planet. Followed closely by his son, who also happened to reside there. And here I was, contemplating not only going up there and revealing that I was back but goinginside.
Shuddering at the idea, I forced myself to look past it. I was doing this for the greater good.
I laughed to myself. Not that it mattered, it was highly unlikely that they would buy my lies anyway. There was just as great a chance that they would believe me as they would toss me back into that windowless cell in the basement.
There’s nowhere else to go, though. Nowhere else I could get that much cash or gold in such a short period. This is my only option.
I wasn’t happy about it, but the Wild Moon was mere days away. The sense of urgency inside me grew by the day. Ihadto find Shuldar. It was imperative.
I just didn’t know why yet.
You’re stalling,I told myself, knowing full well that’s precisely what I was doing. Can you blame me? If I went up the driveway, I was going to have to pretend like I’d come around. That I was considering accepting Johnathan as my mate. I might have tokisshim.
In my mind, I retched at the idea. Gross. I’d hoped I was done kissing guys who used far too much tongue. Ugh. Unfortunately, time was running out, and I had no other options for money. Which meant it was time to get on with it.
