Slater's Enchanting Mate, Iron Wolves MC 4 by Elle Boon Page B

years.
    “You lie. I can smell the Mikosay on you. In you. You are Mikosay.”
    Tired of being forced to breathe in the scent of the woman, she pushed away. “I am not. I grew up in the Cascades. I will give you names and numbers.” She’d kill the old bitch where she lay if she thought to harm anyone from her pack. Cammie and her child were her pack, along with her husband Keanu.
    “Either you are a really good liar, or you tell the truth.” The old woman fell back against the pillows. “Besides, I told you that little bitch had bright red hair. There is no way that and this woman could be the same.”
    “We will find another way then. She clearly has some of the family blood, we can still use her,” Bianca said.
    “Yes, we will try, but if not, you will be my replacement.” The woman smiled, the grim pull of her lips did nothing to soothe LeeLee.
    “Are you needing a blood donation?” Yeah, she knew it was so much more sinister than that.
    The woman tossed back the covers. “You’re just as stupid as she was.” She barked out a laugh.
    That was when LeeLee knew she was looking at Greta, the old crone had somehow lived and was younger than the eighty plus years she’d been twenty years ago. Taking a closer look, LeeLee would guess the woman to be around sixty, give or take a few, not closer to a hundred as she should be since twenty years had passed. What had the woman traded? When had she birthed a child and who was Bianca’s father?
    “Do you need help dressing mother?”
    “I think I can do that by myself. Besides it’s almost midnight. You need to get our girl to the hall for the ceremony. I’ll meet you there.”
    When Bianca didn’t automatically do as she was told, Greta picked up a glass from the side table, launching it across the room without moving a muscle. “I am not dead yet, and you’d be best to remember that, child.”
    Shivers stole down LeeLee’s spine.
    “I love the smell of fear.” Greta moved around the bed, her body not as stooped as the crone’s had been. “You will make a wonderful surprise for our pack tonight. Go on. I’ll meet you there, Bianca. And don’t disappointment me,” her voice held a subtle warning.
    They opened the door to find Bar, along with two other shifters, standing there. “Looks like Alaric has received a reprieve this year,” she sneered at a blond man who looked similar to the one who’d been speaking in front of the crowd earlier.
    “Pretty sure he wasn’t worried.” The blond man spoke without looking at Bianca as they passed.
    Bianca shoved at his chest, grunting when he didn’t move. “One day you will bow down to me.”
    One side of his lips quirked up. “I’m to escort you to the hall.”
    Claws dug into her forearm, causing her to cry out.
    “Oh, for pity’s sake.” Bianca loosened her hold. “Move it or I’ll toss you to the wolves.”
    “Where is Mitch?” Bar asked.
    Bianca shrugged. “I told him to watch over our other prisoner. I’m sure he’ll meet us at the hall.”
    They went down the back hall, familiar with these walkways, she ran her hand along the walls. Once they hit the outside, small lights lit a pathway through the field. Her feet stopped moving. The last time she’d made the trek it had been after seeing her mother kill herself, yet she’d ran to her aid. She still woke from sleep feeling the blood of her pack coating her body. The reality of who these people were hitting her. Greta had to have always plotted to kill them. But why did she need a ceremony and blood?
    “Bar, if she won’t move, carry her.” Bianca tossed over her shoulder.
    Not wanting the beast’s hands on her, she began moving on wooden legs. The closer she got to the hall, the more she could remember the metallic scent, the sticky feel of blood coating her.
    “ I am with you and we are not alone, LeeLee. Focus on me and my love. Stay strong.” Slater’s deep voice grounded her.
    She could do this. No, she would do this. She