Big Bad Boss: Marked (Werewolves of Wall Street Book 3)

Prologue

The Blackthroat king has a new weakness. She will destroy everything he desires.

–The Adalwulf Seeress

Aster

I gaze out the window at the crystalline lake. The Adalwulf mansion sits nestled at the foot of a mountain, in the crook of an old-growth pine forest. To most, this beautiful behemoth of a building is a historic wonder set in an evergreen paradise.

To me, it’s a prison.

Behind me, Oma sits bent in her chair, her eyes fixed on the crackling fire.

“Snow’s coming tonight,” she croaks.

Great. Snow is just what this giant, echo-y mansion needs. By this time tomorrow morning, this whole place will turn into a setting for The Shining.

Naw, Stephen King would think this place is too creepy. If I listen closely, I can hear the furious howls of the Adalwulf ancestors echoing off the mountains. Even someone not prone to visions would pick up on the creepy vibe.

I sense my soon-to-be Alpha’s approach before I hear his thundering footfalls on the ancient wood floors. Not even the priceless rugs can dampen Aiden’s stomps. The Adalwulf prince can move as soundlessly as a wolf when he wants to. He doesn’t want to today.

Something’s pissed him off.

Oma tilts her head, and I rise and open the door before Aiden can batter it down. “Welcome, Aiden.” I greet him with my eyes fixed on the floor. I”ve learned not to look the dominant wolf in the eye. I know the consequences of standing up to an alpha.

Whether or not my second cousin will be as cruel an alpha as my uncle remains to be seen.

Aiden sweeps by me without acknowledging my presence and heads to the window to overlook the lake, surveying the territory that will soon be his.

“He’s plotting something,” Aiden mutters to the glass, “I know he is.”

I don’t have to ask who Aiden is talking about. Brick Blackthroat is his nemesis. Our family, the Adalwulfs, struck a blow to the Blackthroat family business years ago. But Brick has defied the odds and built back everything they lost. And more.

I’d admire it if thinking well of a Blackthroat wasn’t treason here.

“How is my grandnephew?” Oma asks.

Aiden turns. “Father is doing well this morning.”

We can all hear the lie in his voice. But we don’t comment on it. When Odin dies, Aiden will lose his father, and we will lose our alpha. The driving force behind our pack.

“I need a vision,” Aiden says.

Oma cackles, showing her sharp incisors. “If only, great-grandnephew. Visions don’t come at my beck and call.”

“Insight, then.” Aiden paces in front of the window.

“I have seen nothing, but perhaps Aster can help you,” Oma says. Throwing me to the wolves as I knew she would. “She’s been having visions of the Blackthroat pack.”

Aiden turns the full force of his silver gaze on me. “Is this true?”

I swallow and take my place in the center of the carpet, head bowed. Aiden’s alpha presence is a power that thickens the air, making it hard for me to breathe.

“Yes, Aiden,” I murmur. “I’ve had a few dreams. A few blurred images and impressions. Not much.”

“Tell me.” His voice echoes with power. The command hooks into my belly, and the vision vomits forth.

“I’ve seen the Blackthroat alpha. He’s standing tall and proud, a captain at the helm of his ship.” I swallow, waiting for Aiden to start raging. Odin doesn’t believe in the phrase “don’t shoot the messenger.” The alpha wouldn’t hurt Oma, but I often wind up confined to my room with nothing but bread and water for weeks as punishment for the visions not showing me what Odin wanted to see.

Aiden is calmer than his father. Colder. He’s a patient hunter, standing perfectly still until his prey feels safe coming near. But once your guard is down, he rips out your throat.

“His pack is crumbling around him. Even his second in command stands to oppose him.”

“Do you know why?” Aiden sounds smug. He knows something.

I screw my eyes shut. Washed-out images appear in my mind’s eye, too fuzzy for me to see any details. I sense the powerful energy surrounding Brick Blackthroat and the top wolves in his pack. “There’s a change coming to his inner circle.” I tilt my head. There’s a light in the corner of my vision, a bright glow. It pulses, growing stronger. “A newcomer.” My voice takes on a new urgency. “Someone unexpected. Someone who will upset the balance of the pack–forever.”

My head buzzes as I let the images fade.

Oma sits back in her cozy armchair, a satisfied smile on her wrinkled face. “It’s as I foretold. The Blackthroat has a weakness. A female.”

“A mate?” Aiden’s eyes flash brighter.

“I believe so,” Oma says.

“Anything else you can tell me?”

“She’s not from the Blackthroat pack,” I offer.

“Are you sure?” Aiden snaps.

I touch my head where a throbbing pain has blossomed, filling my eye socket. “I’m sure.”

“Trust her visions. Aster’s strong.” Oma gives me a rare compliment. “She is ready to replace me as pack Seeress when the time comes.”

I grit my teeth. The walls of the room tilt this way and that. I blink a few times to reorient myself.

“I know he”s planning something,” Aiden rants. “They stole the acreage next to our land. The seller refused to deal with me, and now the Blackthroats have it. They’ll be able to camp right on our borders if they want to.” Aiden clenches his fists, looking like he’s about to burst out of his skin and into wolf form any second. His voice drops to a lower register. “I need to know his weakness,” he growls. “Now.”

“We will tell you more as soon as we know it,” Oma says.

“See that you do. Thank you.” Aiden turns, nodding to include me in his thanks.

I bow my head, the picture of a submissive wolf. Better to hide my defiance or find subtle ways to express it. For years, I’ve pretended to be obedient, quietly riding under the radar.

Now Oma is shining a spotlight on my gifts. What will life in the pack be like when she and Odin die, and Aiden and I take our new positions in the pack?

The floor under my feet feels uneven. I pushed too hard. As soon as Aiden’s powerful presence recedes, I slump into a chair.

“Breathe, child. You extended too far.”

“He gave me a command.” I lean forward and let my head drop between my knees.

“He’ll learn to temper his power, just as you will learn to control yours.”

I give the smallest nod I can without jarring my head. It still hurts.

Oma’s right, I need to learn to control my power. Not so I can serve as Seeress, though I don’t know how I’m going to wriggle out of that duty. I need to control my visions, so I can continue to hide the truth of what I’ve seen. Every time I dream of the Blackthroats, a man’s face comes into view clearly.

I don’t know if he’s one of the Blackthroats. He might well be the one I spoke of–someone close to the inner circle but not part of the pack. Soon to upset the balance.

And his fate is entwined with mine. The more I see him, the more I’m sure. This man, my sworn enemy, is my destiny.

I have to guard that information at all costs. If Oma or Aiden find out, they’ll tell Odin. And my life–and that of my future mate–will be over.