Read Online Snow Wolf: Wolves of Willow Bend (Book 9) by Heather Long - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heather Long
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being used as a launching point, they have already signed the writs of their destruction.” If they weren’t, the other Alphas might change their mind.
“I care not for their fate any more now than I did then.” Diesel had other things on his mind. Another someone, more specifically. “I will vote to the majority.” If it changed the sway of things, then he would let it happen.
“And if they are split?” came the dry response.
“Then kill them so I don’t have to have this discussion again.”
They locked gazes, and Julian didn’t disguise his disapproval. He shook his head and took a long drink. “We shall see what we shall see.”
Done with the conversation, Diesel stood. Julian didn’t leave his chair. “You will be returning alone.”
“That is up to her, isn’t it?”
“No, cousin . It is not. For now, you may inform Mason she is to be my liaison, so she stays.” A bold move, but he wasn’t finished. Meeting the Enforcer’s stare, he smiled. “If he doesn’t go for that, you can tell him she is my hostage—by way of the old laws.”
“Do you really want to pick this fight with him over the potential that she is your mate?” So, Julian knew.
“If he hadn’t wanted it, he would never have sent her. Grinder will be your escort—and he will show you out. Safe travels.”
“And good luck to you,” Julian said, not turning when Diesel strode out. “You’re going to need it.”
Chapter 5
H er escort guided her through a hallway decked out in fresh, green growth. The scents surprised her and—though he set a sedate pace—she almost hated to make him stop. “Is this…mint?” Touching two fingers to the plant, she spared a look at the healer.
“Yes,” he said, a smile on his face and in his voice. “We had to get creative down here for the long months. It’s taken a few years, but we have a lot of growth these days. This is the herbal route, mostly for teas and tinctures. We also have the vegetable path and the fruit orchard.”
“You grow them all underground?” Would the surprises stop coming?
“We have to. Can’t grow them above this time of year, and we have rotating lights which provide different radiances of UV as well as sunlight. The plants provide us with nutrition and medicine…”
“…and oxygen.” Holy crap. She would kill to see the schematics and how they’d handled the construction. Her brothers might be the builders, but she loved designing. Her phone went off, and she jerked in surprise. Did they really get signal this deep? Pulling it out of her pocket, she frowned at the alarm. She’d barely remembered setting it.
“Yes, and oxygen. Our engineers refer to it as a natural carbon dioxide scrubbing system. They remove the excess and produce oxygen for us. We have six areas in the underground compound, though we do plan on future expansion. Each area also acts as fertile ground for the crops and vegetables we need. Meat we can store all year, and do…but fresh fruits and vegetables? Herbs? Growing them gives us the best of both.”
Delighted, she tried to identify the other herbs as they resumed their path. “Do you mind if I ask you an awkward question?”
The wolf grinned. “Well, you have to ask it now, because awkward questions are usually dirty or funny or both.”
Amused by his very direct and gentle response, she couldn’t help her answering grin. “Why are you called Chowder?” What parent did that to their child?
His bark of laughter erased any possible sting. Curling his fingers, he beckoned her to follow him along the path—which turned out to be cobblestones. Frankly if she didn’t know she was underground, she’d be tempted to look upward for the sky. Curious, she glanced toward the ceiling and found it to be mostly rock, with the same kind of lights set within them alongside nozzles for what must be water pipes.
Huh. If they run the piping through all of it, they can regulate temperature using running water… They passed
“I care not for their fate any more now than I did then.” Diesel had other things on his mind. Another someone, more specifically. “I will vote to the majority.” If it changed the sway of things, then he would let it happen.
“And if they are split?” came the dry response.
“Then kill them so I don’t have to have this discussion again.”
They locked gazes, and Julian didn’t disguise his disapproval. He shook his head and took a long drink. “We shall see what we shall see.”
Done with the conversation, Diesel stood. Julian didn’t leave his chair. “You will be returning alone.”
“That is up to her, isn’t it?”
“No, cousin . It is not. For now, you may inform Mason she is to be my liaison, so she stays.” A bold move, but he wasn’t finished. Meeting the Enforcer’s stare, he smiled. “If he doesn’t go for that, you can tell him she is my hostage—by way of the old laws.”
“Do you really want to pick this fight with him over the potential that she is your mate?” So, Julian knew.
“If he hadn’t wanted it, he would never have sent her. Grinder will be your escort—and he will show you out. Safe travels.”
“And good luck to you,” Julian said, not turning when Diesel strode out. “You’re going to need it.”
Chapter 5
H er escort guided her through a hallway decked out in fresh, green growth. The scents surprised her and—though he set a sedate pace—she almost hated to make him stop. “Is this…mint?” Touching two fingers to the plant, she spared a look at the healer.
“Yes,” he said, a smile on his face and in his voice. “We had to get creative down here for the long months. It’s taken a few years, but we have a lot of growth these days. This is the herbal route, mostly for teas and tinctures. We also have the vegetable path and the fruit orchard.”
“You grow them all underground?” Would the surprises stop coming?
“We have to. Can’t grow them above this time of year, and we have rotating lights which provide different radiances of UV as well as sunlight. The plants provide us with nutrition and medicine…”
“…and oxygen.” Holy crap. She would kill to see the schematics and how they’d handled the construction. Her brothers might be the builders, but she loved designing. Her phone went off, and she jerked in surprise. Did they really get signal this deep? Pulling it out of her pocket, she frowned at the alarm. She’d barely remembered setting it.
“Yes, and oxygen. Our engineers refer to it as a natural carbon dioxide scrubbing system. They remove the excess and produce oxygen for us. We have six areas in the underground compound, though we do plan on future expansion. Each area also acts as fertile ground for the crops and vegetables we need. Meat we can store all year, and do…but fresh fruits and vegetables? Herbs? Growing them gives us the best of both.”
Delighted, she tried to identify the other herbs as they resumed their path. “Do you mind if I ask you an awkward question?”
The wolf grinned. “Well, you have to ask it now, because awkward questions are usually dirty or funny or both.”
Amused by his very direct and gentle response, she couldn’t help her answering grin. “Why are you called Chowder?” What parent did that to their child?
His bark of laughter erased any possible sting. Curling his fingers, he beckoned her to follow him along the path—which turned out to be cobblestones. Frankly if she didn’t know she was underground, she’d be tempted to look upward for the sky. Curious, she glanced toward the ceiling and found it to be mostly rock, with the same kind of lights set within them alongside nozzles for what must be water pipes.
Huh. If they run the piping through all of it, they can regulate temperature using running water… They passed
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