Page 71 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
This is the stone! We’re right in the middle of the fucking stone, and the thing is as hot as an oiled frying pan!
“Look, I get you have some kind of vendetta against me,” I say, trying to sound calm and reasonable. “But you don’t need Mrs. Florence or the kids. Just let them go, and I’ll cooperate.”
Vanessa laughs, and Azarian shakes his head, chuckling.
“We need the kids, I’m afraid,” Vanessa says. “I could toss you out of the circle if you like?”
“No!” I yell, clinging to Jarrod’s hand. “I’m not leaving!”
“Suit yourself,” Vanessa giggles. “I must prepare, my love,” she says, kissing Azarian on the cheek before walking away.
“What are you doing?” I ask, trying to divert him in any way possible. “Explain this to me, please?”
“This is the ancient ritual of the Old Gods,” Azarian says. “It’s a secret guarded by every generation of our pack. Many years ago, it was sealed, and each new alpha had to take an oath to protect it and never attempt to take the power for himself.”
“Did you take the oath?” I ask.
“Of course I did,” Azarian answers. “I just lied through my teeth. My entire rise to power was in pursuit of this. I knew I could find a way to control it as no one else had.”
“You don’t know what you’re doing!” I blurt. “You’ll be killed.”
“I don’t think so,” he replies, pointing at Vanessa. “I have a secret weapon none of the other alphas had. I have Vanessa.”
She turns and waves, smiling sweetly as if we’re at a church picnic, not baking alive on an ancient stone circle marked with evil runes.
“She’s a dark arts practitioner, and she’s very powerful,” he says. “And damn sexy, too.”
“Thanks,” Vanessa giggles, continuing to walk around the circle, touching the runes in a sequence.
“What do you get out of this?” I yell at her. “How do you know he won’t hurt you, too?”
“Oh, I don’t think he will,” Vanessa says. “Besides, when I make the transfer, I take on a considerable amount of magic, and I’ll be extremely powerful. That’s the key—I can’t take the power because I’m not a wolf, but I can share it. So long as Azarian is alive, both of us will be fed by the ancient source.”
“Uncle, listen to me,” I implore him. “You don’t know what you’re doing. The reports from the past say that the area was leveled for miles. Eccles was damaged more than once. There’s no way you can contain it!”
Azarian waves a hand at me, sighing. “I honestly thought you were smarter than this,” he says. “What a disappointment. Do you really think I’d be doing this if I wasn’t assured of my success?”
I look around at the other kids, Jarrod, and me, right in the center of the stone circle.
“You’re going to sacrifice us,” I choke out, my voice almost trapped in my tight throat.
“Correct. As well as a magic practitioner to guide the energy and work the runes, we need the blood of shifters. Children are essential, I’m afraid.”
“So why did you bother with the treaty?” I ask in despair. “Why send us away if you needed us here?”
“I neededallof you!” he yells. “The treaty got Rose Hollow to take their defenses down. They just sat there like sitting ducks while we advanced. The idiots from Wolf’s Shadow attacking at the same time were just utterly glorious. Couldn’t have planned it better myself.”
“You knew!”
“Yes, my dear. I’ve known all along. Vanessa has telepathic abilities. So go on, tell me that Rex will come for you. That he and all the warriors of Rose Hollow, as well as his Shadows, are on their way to rescue you and the little pup.”
“You’re going to sacrifice them,” I say, hope draining out of me. “The little trick with the advance guard was just a warm-up. You’re waiting for them to get here.”
“Yes, Scarlett,” he says, leaning down to take hold of my chin. “Innocent blood here, right in the center of the stone. Then every other inch must be covered in the hot blood of over a hundred warriors. And you, my dear, brought them straight to me.”
Something inside me dies right then. All our fighting and pain were orchestrated—we never had a chance. Azarian was a step ahead of us the whole time.
“My dad will come!” Jarrod shouts, standing up and glaring at Azarian. “I always knew you were a bad person, and I know you think you’re really clever, but my dad is smarter, and he’s going to beat you!”
