Page 58 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
“Like I said, next to nothing. I could sit here and recount the urban legends to you, but I don’t know how much truth is in them. I do know that my parents were very interested in them.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Uncle Azarian has been alpha for a really long time, and my father was on the council as a potential successor. He and Mom did a lot of research into the legends before they died.”
“They were killed in a car crash, weren’t they?” Rex asks, giving me a shrewd look.
I shiver a little, my blood going cold. “You don’t think—”
Rex shrugs. “I’m getting to the stage where I’ll believe anything about your uncle. So, we have enough information to be sure there are spirits, who seem to like sacrifices. It’s got to have something to do with the excavations out of town. Have you heard anything at all about the power involved with these spirits?”
I shake my head. “Only that the power is massive, and few have managed to wield it. A relationship with the spirits can ensure an alpha stays strong and in power for a very long time as well.”
“That might explain why your uncle has stayed strong for so many years and never considered stepping down.”
I shrug. “Maybe. He’s always been a tough ruler, but about four years ago, things got a lot worse.”
“Oh?”
“A woman joined him—Vanessa. She’s not a wolf, but is obviously supernatural in some way. Ever since she started living with him, he’s been cruel, not just arrogant.”
“The woman,” Rex mutters.
“What?”
“Oh, my scouts mentioned there was a woman trailing him. They didn’t know if she was his mate.”
“No,” I shake my head. “Not in the wolf sense, at least. But I think they are a couple.”
“So, why the change?” Rex asks. “Your uncle starts cohabitating with a strange woman, becomes even more violent than before, and then decides to tear up a field outside of town. Why?”
“Maybe he knows how to transfer the power!” I blurt out in sudden realization. “In the past, any alpha that tried a full transfer was killed, and there was significant damage to the pack. Maybe Vanessa knows something, and whatever they are digging up is linked to it!”
“Yes,” Rex agrees, nodding. “I should tell you, these parts really aren’t just urban legends. We have reports in the Wolf’s Shadow archives that prove explosions and earthquakes have happened over the years.”
“Holy shit,” I gasp, covering my mouth in shock. “Are you serious? That’s real?”
“It’s real,” Rex confirms. “We know that it happens, and it’s big, but none of the reports give us any clues about how. I think the biggest mystery at this point is, why doesn’t it work? It seems like someone in power works with the spirits for some time, but when they attempt the full ritual, the area ends up being decimated.”
“It must be what they’re digging up,” I say. “That has to be the key.”
“I agree. We are still working on understanding the runes carved into the thing. It appears to outdate any settlement in the area.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Apparently, our science guy said the same thing,” Rex chuckles.
“At least Jarrod and I are safe here,” I say, relaxing a little.
Then I see the haunted expression still hasn’t left Rex’s eyes.
“Oh no,” I mutter. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
“Yeah. It looks like the marriage treaty was a lie. They just wanted us to take down our defenses and stay out of their way. I have no doubt that the second your uncle has access to power, he’s going to come after Rose Hollow.”
“But Jarrod is safe, right?” I ask, fear making my heart flutter in my chest.
“Warriors from Eccles are moving through the woods,” Rex says, reaching for my hand. “I’m not going to lie to you—there is danger, but I’m on top of it. My guys at WS are watching over us, and all our forces have been alerted.”
