Page 8 of The Wolf King

Why is this prisoner—thiswolf—provoking this wildness inside me? “So, what? You actually think you’re going to escape?”

“Aye.”

“If you’re so certain, why on earth would you tell me? That’s not very smart, is it?”

“What are you going to do, Princess? Tell yourbetrothed?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think so. Because that would mean telling him you came down here. And I don’t think you’ll want him to know about that, will you?”

My blood turns cold and the alpha smiles wickedly.

“Nowyouhave a choice, Princess. Bring the lad to me so I can fix his arm, then you can make him a sling. Or leave him here to suffer.”

“That’s... that’s why you want him to come to you?”

“His shoulder is dislocated.” He points at the whimpering form on the ground. His hand is close enough that I feel a waft of air at the movement. “Look at how his arm is jutting out at that angle. If I don’t fix pop it back into the joint, he’ll lose use of it until he can see a healer up north. And that’ll slow me down. Bring him to me so I can fix it. And be quick about it.”

He speaks like a man who is used to people doing as he tells them. Yet he is in no position to be barking orders at me.

“You were going to kill him,” I say.

“And you stopped me. And now I’m going to save him. But only if you do as I say.”

I furrow my brow. “If this is a trick to... to try and get the key from me or something, you should know that it’s silver, and there are armed guards outside anyway.”

“Aye, I figured as much. It’s no trick. And I don’t need you to get me out of thekennels.”

He says the word with the same distaste as I did earlier.

I look into his eyes, almost evergreen in the darkness. Again, I feel that strange tug on my soul. And for some strange reason I believe him.

I sigh and, as if sensing my submission to his will, he inclines his head. “Bring the lad to me.”

I take a deep breath, then I crouch down. “Ryan,” I say softly. “You need to get up so we can help you.”

He groans. “I don’t want to.”

“You have a choice,” I tell him. “But if you choose not to get up, you’ll likely die.”

“I wish I’d never come here.” He glares over my shoulder.

“Aye, I wish you hadn’t too,” says the alpha darkly. “But here you are. So stop acting like an insolent pup and do as you’re told.”

Ryan’s sharp jaw sets, and he looks as if he’s about to throw a temper tantrum. But then he sits and I see the alpha is right. His shoulder is swollen, and his arm is out of place. It must hurt.

I help him up, and he drags his feet across the dirty floor as I lead him across the cell.

“Good lass,” says the alpha.

Something heats inside me. Who does he think he is, speaking to me like that? He is a prisoner, someone from the wolf clans no less, and I’m daughter of the king. I glare at him but he has already turned his attention to Ryan.

He turns the boy around, then pulls him backwards into the bars, hooking a large arm across his chest. He grabs his good shoulder to hold him steady. Ryan whimpers, his breathing growing rapid, as the alpha takes hold of his other forearm and runs his hand down it.

The alpha’s eyes flick to mine. “Why do the guards think you’re here?”

“I...” I force myself to meet his gaze, even though I feel suddenly warm. “I told them I was from the brothel.”

He smirks and my cheeks flame. “That should work.”

He makes a sudden movement.

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