nora

nderbilt's black metal card. The satellite phone felt heavy

's voice came through the line, deep and un

ords made my inner wolf shrink back.

ora Ca

like a physical weight. Then, the voice came again, a subtle shift in its

se aside. "Mr. Vanderbilt, I'm aware our familie

to vibrate right through my bones. "'Execute'? An interesti

Slate Pack regret its existence. In return, you wi

my mind. Jaxon, trying the mind-link again. I didn't bloc

head. "Nora, baby, don't be angry. Open the door, p

ocus entirely on t

air asked, his percep

ut some trash,"

ey's soft, cloying voice joined his. "Jax, is Nora still no

oice, high and demanding

dd

ened, full of doting affection. "Finn

n the phone, my knu

h my haze, sharp and concerned. "Are yo

e white-hot rage back down. This wa

t." I sat up straighter.

e Pack is bidding on the Blackwood Creek development project, are they not

My first we

oke again, quiet and final. "Eleano

in and steady, flooded back i

athetic, pleading presence in my

. "Jaxon," I projected, my mental voice trembling. "I heard... I heard the child call

ir. Not the contract. Let him

silent with his panic. He

back. "Nora, you misunderstood! It's not like

the

o the door and s

is face a mess of gu

nd gave him a fragil