Page 86 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

Blade stares.

“Better comb my hair and clean up my face so I don’t look like a total loser when she walks in here.”

“She wouldn’t leave her sister behind.”

No. No. No way. “Her sister was supposed to come with us.”

“Time was of the essence.”

“Are you telling me we left her behind?”

“No, she decided to stay. I tried to persuade her to come. She wouldn’t.”

“For fuck’s sake, Blade. If she won’t leave without her sister, then you take both of them. Take the horse, the donkey, and the pet gerbil. I don’t care who or what; everyone is coming with us as long as Runa comes. My friend, they’ll question her about the incident, and she’ll have to answer without protection. If her father finds out she snuck us out, he’ll consider it a betrayal and let the humans do whatever they want with her.”

“Not sure about that. I have a feeling her brother attacked you when he found out what you did with her. And you did fuck her, didn’t you?”

“Our enemies promised me a bride. I am taking Runa Stormcrest as my bride.”

The woman presses a hand over my chest. “He’s getting hotter,” she says, sounding weary. “The fire kindles.”

I tug against the restraints until something tears.

“Knock him out,” Blade urges.

A needle pricks my neck. My fire travels up my veins to fight the new intrusion, but the dark alchemy is too strong and begins to freeze the blood in my veins.

“You airheaded wolf,” I hear the healer say as I sink into darkness. “We all know what this male is capable of when someone hurts his family. What do you think he’ll do for his moon?”

Chapter 36

Runa

In the tunnels, on the way to the castle, I get lost.

When I finally find my way back, it’s hours later and night has fallen. At the top of the steps near my room, I peek out the window.

Thousands of soldiers in a triangle formation stand guard outside our castle gates. They hold their rifles the way mothers hold their babies, close to their chests.

Wardens walk around the castle. They wear red daggers strapped to their white-and-deep-green uniforms.

I imagine the Peacebroker and Sven are downstairs speaking with my dad. Or maybe Sören managed a speedy recovery, and he’s with them. I doubt it. My brother’s injuries will take a week or more to recover from.

I knock softly on our bedroom door before coming in.

Maren lies in bed with her face turned toward the moon, a tray of snacks and a bottle of wine next to her. Her puffy eyes tell me what I already know: She’s devastated. There’s no going back to Sven, not when he offended the fundamental part of who she is as a person. As a wolf.

“Where have you been?” she asks softly.

“I went to check on Sören and Ash.”

“That was hours ago.”

“I lost track of time.”

Maren pats the bed, wanting me to join her pity party, but I need a shower to remove the evidence of treason first.

She turns her head toward me. “Good Moon, Runa, you look like you fell down a chimney.”