Page 53 of Wedding for My Werewolf

“What do you know about it?”

“I know what it’s like to run away. To hide,” he said simply, and the understanding in his voice caught her off guard.

“You don’t know why I ran.”

Dark eyes studied her again.

“Because of something you did? Or something you didn’t do?”

“Something I didn’t do.”

“Then clear your name. Don’t live in fear. It’s no way to exist.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware of the biting cold.

“Do you know how to get back?” he asked gruffly.

When she nodded, he turned and disappeared back into the woods without another word. Did he live out here? Was he hiding too?

But he was right. She didn’t want to hide any more. Taking a deep breath, she turned back towards the cabin, following her own tracks until she spotted the smoke coming from the chimney. Time to set things right.

CHAPTER 20

Eric stalked across the wooden floor of the cabin, his wolf’s anxiety making each step more aggressive than necessary. The memory of Robin’s hurt expression played on repeat in his mind.

He paused at the window, scanning the tree line yet again. No sign of her. His fingers curled into fists at his sides. His wolf demanded action—find her, protect her, keep her close. The rational part of his brain knew she needed time to process, but his instincts screamed otherwise.

“Fuck,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. He should have handled the investigation differently. Should have told her what he was doing instead of going behind her back. But the need to keep her safe had overridden everything else.

The cabin felt empty without her. Her scent lingered but it wasn’t enough. Not when his wolf knew she was out there alone, vulnerable. He’d checked the scent trail multiple times, but there was no trace of Thatcher. Apparently his mother and Robin had been successful in driving the man away. Unlike him.

He turned for another lap across the floor and picked up a new scent. He rushed over to the door, opening it just as Garrick arrived in the clearing. The gargoyle’s stone-like features were set in a frown, his usual stoic demeanor tinged with concern.

“Where’s Robin? She didn’t come to work this morning.”

His wolf settled slightly at the familiar presence, though irritation still prickled under his skin. “She needed some time alone. Went for a walk in the woods.”

“Alone?” Garrick’s frown deepened. “With that bounty hunter skulking around?”

“I don’t think he’s still around, but I checked the area before she left.” He scowled at the other male. He didn’t need anyone else questioning his ability to protect her. “No unfamiliar scents.”

Garrick crossed his arms, his shoulders scraping the doorframe. “She’s upset about something.”

“We had a… disagreement.” He fought back a growl at having to explain himself. “I looked into her past without telling her.”

“Ah.” Garrick’s expression shifted to understanding. “She values her privacy.”

“She’s had reason to. It was a stupid thing to do.” He raked a hand through his hair. “She’s fine, Garrick. Just needs space to think.”

The gargoyle nodded slowly. “Tell her not to worry about work today. But I expect her back tomorrow—the library’s getting dusty.”

He studied Garrick’s impassive face, for a moment, weighing his options. His wolf trusted the gargoyle, and after everything that had happened, he needed someone else in their corner.

“She was framed.” The words came out in a low growl. “Her former boss set her up to take the fall for his embezzlement scheme. Made her sign documents, buried the evidence in her name.”

Garrick’s stone features hardened even further. “And the bounty hunter?”

“Working for the bastard who framed her.” His claws threatened to emerge at the thought. “She’s been running ever since she discovered what he’d done.”

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