Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129268 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
“So you’re the vampire who aligned with the werewolves?” Vampire Prick Number One speaks over Alec to Veronica. “I didn’t realize wolves even mated vampires.”
Vince appears calm and easygoing on the outside, like he always does, but I know inwardly he’s fuming. He looks to his mate with a smirk and rubs her back. She leans into his embrace before engaging with the vampire who spoke. “It’s rare. I got lucky, I guess,” she tells him. One of the two snorts at her response and her calm smile turns to ice.
“She’s going to fuck them up. I can feel it.” Vince smiles at his mate like everything’s fine while his irate voice echoes in my head.
“Did you tell her what’s going on?”
“Can’t. They would hear. But she’ll pick it up fast.”
“Devin, your guns are in the trunk. Marcus and Theo, I brought guns for you too.” Alec pops his trunk with a click of his key fob and the vampires and I head to the car trailing behind him. I have no fucking clue what guns he’s talking about, but I’m happy to accept whatever gifts he’s decided to lend me. Adrenaline courses through me, every muscle tense as I round the car on high alert. I grin at the sight, not at all disappointed.
There are three semiautomatic pistols and an assault rifle.
“Fuck yeah.” Vince’s voice booms with excitement. “The rifle’s mine, right, Alpha?”
I see Alec nod from the corner of my eye as he hands two of the pistols to Marcus and Theo, then stuffs the third into a holster at his hip.
“I don’t think so, Vince.” I pull the strap over my body and secure the weapon.
“Careful. It’s all silver,” Alec says.
“Silver?” Theo looks to Alec for confirmation while examining the bullets.
“I took the liberty of preloading everything.” He meets the vampires’ curious expressions and adds, “Aim to wound, but if you have to, killing is acceptable.” The vampires exchange a glance, then nod and mutter that they understand, seemingly content with the orders.
“What’s the plan?” I speak aloud, waiting for more direction and any information Alec can give me.
“Friends will be on the left,” he says and turns to face the vampires. “That’s where the exit is, correct?”
“No, the exit is on the right side. They’re coming through there,” one of them replies although neither look at him. The vampires are still examining the bullets rather than giving us their full attention. Friends on the left.
“Ah, got it.” He looks me in the eyes and there’s a beat that’s serious and prolonged before he tells me, The Authority will get them from the right.”
“Vince, you got that?” I start a silent dialogue with him.
“Yeah, stay to the left. Is it just the vamps we’re ambushing?”
“No idea. You sure you want to bring Veronica in on this?”
“They fucked with her coven. There’s no way she’s not getting in on the action.”
“You have to keep her safe.” I know he already knows, but I can’t help giving the command regardless. My mate is human, but even if Grace wasn’t as vulnerable as she is, even if she was a vampire like Veronica, I still wouldn’t want her here.
“I told her to stay with me. She’ll listen.” I hope Vince’s right.
“You expect them to be waiting for us?” Marcus asks Alec.
“Absolutely.” He doesn’t hesitate to answer. “If they’re still monitoring the blood banks, they know we’re onto them. If they planted a spy in the system, they know. I think it’s fair to assume they know we’re coming for them. They may already know we’re here now.”
“So we’re walking into an ambush?” I question as though I have no idea what Alec is really orchestrating.
“We’re going to ambush the ambush.” His silver eyes flicker with anger, but he keeps it contained and flashes a wide smile, radiating a false sense of trust and calm.
My blood heats as I draw in a single deep breath. There won’t be time for hesitation. Masses have been slaughtered in seconds. We’ll be in and it will be over in minutes at most.
Gripping the handle of the gun, I nod. “After you,” I say and motion for Alec to lead the way, the two vampires following close behind him.
I’m locked and loaded and ready to get this shit over and done with so I can get back to Grace. My pulse races as we stalk down the grass that surrounds the gravel road. Each step quiet and in line with that of the others. I’d be quieter in wolf form, nearly silent as the vampires are now, but that would render my gun useless. And surely Alec gave it to me for a specific purpose.
Veronica hisses to reprimand her mate as Vince steps on a twig, breaking it and disrupting the quiet trail to our target. I doubt the vampires can hear us this far out, but it’s best to keep perfect form until we’re there.