Page 6 of Howling Love (Hunter’s Moon Ritual #1)
I was thankful for the insight Thalira had provided me. Without it, her words would have been confusing. I nodded and continued reading without her having to prompt me. “Alpha Haiden Murphy from the Nightstar Flight, located in West Thornfell.”
“Dragon shifters as well, led by a horrible woman who’s extremely selfish. You should have no need to look her way, let alone interact with her.”
Hmm. If Ivan didn’t like her, the woman may actually be decent.
“What do they trade in?”
“Doesn’t matter, but agriculture.”
“Wouldn’t that be important?—”
Velina’s look silenced me. What I thought the Cold Moon needed—what I thought at all—didn’t matter. I moved on. “Alpha Chace Wall of the Blazefur Pride, located in Southwest Thornfell.”
“Lion shifters. Trade in petroleum, namely crude oil products. We have a tenuous relationship with them.”
We didn’t seem to have many allies at all. I wasn’t sure why that surprised me.
“Alpha Kaliyah Greene of the Scarlet Sloth, located in Midwest Thornfell.”
“Bear shifters. Trade in crops, mainly wheat and grains. She’s the host of the conference this year. When you meet her, be respectful.” Velina’s expression told me she would expand no further on the woman.
“Alpha Lacey Harrison of the Bloodrose Sloth, located in the plains of Thornfell.”
“Bear shifters as well. Trade in crops and agriculture,” she said. “We have trade deals with them, but they aren’t allies by any extent.”
“The last one is Alpha Deegan Gentry of the Ironsun Pack, located in the central mountain range of Thornfell.”
Loathing filled Velina’s face. “Wolf shifters, unfortunately, who believe they have moral superiority over everyone because of the way they treat their territory’s citizens.
They trade in minerals and metals, but we will absolutely never have a trade agreement with them.
In fact, if you’re introduced to them, I suggest you don’t even meet his gaze. ”
Because of the way they treat their territory’s citizens. That sounded like they treated them with basic decency.
Velina snapped the book closed. “Will you be able to remember that, or do you need to take the book with you?”
“I can remember.” It was the first scrap of knowledge I’d been given about the outside world in years. I held it tight, a lifeline tugging me past the steel bars that had locked me in for so long.
“You better hope you remember. Both of our lives depend on this.” Velina stood and returned to the front of the plane, leaving me in silence.
I wanted to hate the woman, but I recognized in her another person who was just trying to survive. I wasn’t ready for this, but she was trying to ensure I at least made it through. And for that, I could be thankful.
I looked out the airplane window, something that wasn’t as scary as I’d initially thought it’d be. The landscape thickened with green the further we got from Cold Moon Pack territory, replacing the concrete ashland with fullness and life. It was almost jarring to see so much green after this long.
Trapped in thoughts of what life would be like in a place that was so alive, I froze in panic when someone sat in the seat across from me.
Marek—Alpha Ivan’s enforcer.
The man, who was nearly triple my size, invaded my space as he offered what I’m sure was meant to be a charming smile. To me it looked like he was leering. His gaze ran over my covered body as he leaned forward, placing a hand on my leg.
“Came over to check on our little present. All wrapped up and ready to be hand-delivered to Waylon. Excited?”
My body went cold at the casual objectification, the cruel way he found my future amusing. The way his hand was tightening on my thigh.
“I’m aware of what’s going to happen.” My voice was tight.
He chuckled, moving his hand back and forth and tilting his head in a predatory move.
“I heard that when dragons fuck, they shift—and if their mate isn’t a dragon, they end up splitting them in half.” Nausea filled my stomach as I gripped the armrest, causing him to bark out in laughter before sitting back in his seat.
“Gruesome, right? But I can make you a deal. How about we take a trip to the suite in the back of the plane and I give you a taste of fucking one of our own kind before you’re discarded at the TTC?”
“No, thank you,” I said quietly, trying to hide my revulsion. Unfortunately, my reaction made him angry, and he surged forward, clasping my jaw in a hard hold.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have made it seem like an option. Into the back, now.”
As he tugged me to my feet, I tried to twist away from him, my wolf rising up in defense.
My willing subservience to these people only went so far.
My thoughts raced, and I wanted to scream but instead a panicked sound escaped from the back of my throat, sharp and broken.
The entire jet turned to look back at us.
Marek cursed as Alpha Ivan stood, his jaw clenched. Nothing was said. Nothing had to be said, because immediately, Marek threw my arm back. I stumbled and fell into the chair as the man stormed back to the front of the plane, and I was left breathing heavily, anxiety making my skin go clammy.
The relief that had initially burned through me now curdled in my gut. Needing Alpha Ivan’s protection made the chains around me feel even tighter.