Page 40 of The Red Moon

“The rumors of my father are true. He can turn at will. My brother, too.”

Clément throws his head back, pursing his mouth to one side. “Of course, they can.”

“You’ve hated my father for decades, Clément. It’s no secret.”

“Hate is strong word,” he responds curtly.

I can’t hide my smirk. “You leaked our plan to hunt in Los Angeles to the Russian government, and they saw it fit to charge us an expensive tax for … imports.”

“I did no such—wait, import tax?” he interrupts himself and leans forward. “Was Vlad angry?”

“Livid,” I say. “Our stateside revenue was cut by a third.”

Clément shakes his fist in the air triumphantly and rights himself to the same imposing head of the table, adjusting the collar of his suffocating white shirt. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. So, what’s your plan, Nikolai?”

I take a deep breath. “We stop my father. I take control of the Vostik pack as it was always intended.”

He peers curiously. “And my end of the deal for helping you reclaim your birthright?”

“Like I said before. I will train your pack. Teach them how to control not only the wolf inside of them, but the full moon we’ve been reliant on for a century.”

Clément licks his lips and gives an approving grin.

“I will teach your army how to shift at will.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

NATALIE

Nik and Clément spend what feels like the next hour talking over their plans for not only an attack on the Vostik compound, but how their packs will work together moving forward. A unity among the wolves that choose to follow their combined leadership rather than being forced into the dictatorship Vlad Vostik threatened and killed to achieve. I stay quiet mostly, nodding along, but Nikolai makes it a point to ask for my input on his family’s property and any patterns I might’ve noticed during my confinement. It’s a sweet gesture, especially when I know he has every inch of his home committed to memory. He doesn’t need my help. He’s doing it to save me from feeling like I’m nothing more than some painting hooked to the wall watching the men talk, and although it might seem small to him, to me, it means everything.

After Clément downs the final sips of his wine, he stands from the chair, using the table for balance. “You’re not your father, Nikolai Vostik. And to think, I almost had you hung by your claws.”

Nik shakes his head with a smirk. “I’m glad we could come to a more reasonable solution.”

He scratches his balding head and suppresses a yawn. “You stay here while we train, yes? You and your friends?” Clément motions to Nik first, then me.

Nik stands and extends his palm in the alpha’s direction. “That would be appreciated. Thank you for your generosity.”

Clément shakes his hand without question. “Excellent. Jade will show you to your rooms and we will meet in dining hall at sunrise. If I’m going to channel my wolf, I’d rather not do so on an empty stomach.” He laughs and pats his round belly for emphasis.

I’m sorry what? Did I miss something? Jade, as in Nik’s former betrothed, is going to lead us to our rooms? From the way she was glaring at me, it seems like she’d rather lead me off a cliff. From the moment I walked into this council room, it felt like I was being watched. Sniffed out. My hair might’ve hidden the bite mark on my neck courtesy of Nik, but somehow, she knew it was there. The disgusted glare she pinned me with made that much obvious.

He opens the doors leading back and whistles a tune so sharp, I have to cover my ears. Jade appears at the threshold, the strict lines of her face somehow tighter than before. “Take our guests to the rooms in the west wing. They will be staying a while.”

Her stunning green eyes find mine. They’re glowing now, practically beaming with the idea of refusal.

“You mustn’t be a poor host, Jade,” he says, his voice low.

A deep snarl rattles from her chest. She doesn’t bother looking at her father. No, she continues to stare daggers at me.

“Jade!” Clément shouts in a monstrous pitch. “Enough.”

Nik moves to stand in front of me but I stop him and take a step forward. I had to deal with bullies my entire life. More recently, a three-hundred-pound bully that can transform into an even bigger monster at will. If she thinks I’m going to cower from her after the things I’ve seen, the nightmares I’ve had to outrun, she’s sorely mistaken.

I straighten my posture at Nik’s side and grab his hand, intertwining our fingers until our combined heat fills the room. It’s petty, sure, but the were-bitch had it coming. Part of me hopes she feels it. Despises the newfound temperature taking hold. And when her snarls turn from a warning to a clear threat, I know for a fact she does. Her mouth parts, and sharp fangs hang off her pouty lower lip. Well, shit. I can’t do that yet. However⁠—

Drawing a deep, furious breath, I stretch my fingers and watch as claws pierce through the skin below each cuticle. It hurts, sure, but I ignore the pain and let the claws grow to a long and lethal shape. Ten. Ten black nails total, all of them pointed and ready to slice through her fucking throat if she plans on following through with that wordless threat.