Chapter 23 DANE Esther Reed rose from her chair .


    Her smirk was gone .


    Now she was enraged .


    You cant do that ! Its done , I snarled .


    This woman and hernd are part of my pack until our business is finished .


    Now , leave before I kill you .


    As much as the Reeds growled and muttered , they had to do what I said .


    Ifnd was mine , or under my protection , they couldnt set foot on it .


    Same with theirs .


    ording to the pact the Council had forced us to swear , we couldnt spill each others blood except in self defense .


    If wolves from either pack especially the Alphas- trespassed , that was considered threat enough .


    You have three minutes to get off thisnd , I said .


    Fuming , the Broken Forest wolves made for the door .


    Waylon led his wife out .


    But before she left , Esther paused at the door .


    Neither of you is as good or pure as you think you are .


    Youre just as dirty and wicked as you im the Reeds to be .


    Watch yourselves , because one day Ill prove it .


    ***** 2/6 Chapter 23 AURORA The Reeds left , but I couldnt rx .


    I kept staring at Danes blood .


    It spattered the backs of my hands , crimson red .


    The Blue Ridge wolves helped Trajan back to his bed .


    Piper went out , herself , to find the children and Evander and tell them it was safe .


    A shadow fell over me , and I looked up .


    Dane stood there , watching me .


    I couldnt speak .


    I didnt know what to say .


    There were a thousand emotions tumbling through my mind .


    He tied himself to me .


    But he hates me .


    Hes protecting me .


    His former mistress is pregnant with his child .


    Why is he doing this ? Why would he help me ? But the answer to thest one was obvious , of course .


    I had the journal and the ne .


    Only I understood the journal well enough to read its trantion .


    He protected me because he needed me to strengthen his pack , just like I needed him to strengthen mine .


    Nothing more .


    He still stood above me .


    I couldnt handle him hovering , so I Chapter 23 3/6 stood , too .


    The Reeds hadete , but I hadnt changed for the night , and I was d to still be wearing the crisp , ttering suit that made me feel powerful even if I was also barefoot , and nearly a foot shorter than him without my high heels on .


    Thank you , I said .


    For what ? He watched me carefully , but I knew what he wanted me to say .


    For protecting my wolves .


    And me .


    I expected him to gloat , but he just grunted .


    Once I knew who you were , I shouldve foreseen that the Reeds would be a problem .


    It was an oversight on both our parts .


    My jaw could have fallen to the floor .


    Was Dane Montague … admitting a mistake ? Well , if he was , he was saying Id made one , too .


    Maybe he was right .


    I just never knew the Reeds cared so much about keeping control over me .


    Why do they want you back so badly ? Dane asked suddenly .


    Do they know what you have ? What were doing ? They cant , I replied .


    Only my grandmother and I know all the details .


    Trajan knows some , but not everything .


    Weve kept it secret .


    So have 1 , Dane said .


    He walked to the window and looked out 4/6 Chapter 23 at the dark forest .


    Theres something bigger going on here , Aurora .


    The Reeds .


    That dark power that pretended to be those vampires .


    Everyone is after you .


    Why ? I moved to look out the window , as well , but carefully stayed several feet away .


    Im … not sure .


    I tapped my lips with my fingertips , trying to decide whether or not to tell him .


    My grandmother … she thinks Im some kind of chosen one .


    She thinks thats why I can read parts of the journal .


    Dane face was almost always under perfect control , and this moment was no exception .


    Thats why you dont think we have to do the ceremony ? I nodded .


    Dane stood in silence for a moment , then shook his head .


    I want you to stay here , in this house .


    I want someone with you at all times .


    I jerked back .


    No.


    You arent my Alpha or my husband , Dane .


    I dont have to listen to you .


    You do if you want to survive .


    Your life is in my hands .


    Ill investigate the Reed house .


    Ill figure this out .


    You dont know it like I do , I protested .


    I grew up there .


    Ill figure it out .


    Stay here , Aurora .


    Dont make me regret this .


    ***** 5/6 Chapter 23 That night , I dreamed .


    I dreamed I was in the old pack house .


    Even when people lived in it , it was creepy .


    Huge and dusty , with what felt like hundreds of empty , haunted rooms .


    I was in the dungeons a hidden basement underneath the main basement that hardly anyone knew was there .


    I was standing in arge circle of wolves .


    The ones who could take a lycan form had , and they towered over the others .


    They looked like monsters in the jumping , wavering candlelight .


    In the center of the circle , a bleeding rabbit kicked .


    A female lycan in a hooded ck robe walked up to it , took a ck knife , and … In the dream , I covered my eyes as the rabbit screamed .


    I sat up with a scream of my own but mped my hand over my mouth .


    Goddess , it had been so real .


    Like it wasnt a dream , but memory .


    Id been there .


    Id taken part in it .


    a Was I evil ? Was Esther Reed telling the truth when she said I was one of them ? 6/6 Chapter 23 Shaking , I shoved those thoughts aside and threw off my nkets .


    I knew where the pages were , and I didnt have to endanger anyone else to get them .


    Id retrieve them , myself .