Page 88 of The Wolf King

Callum sighs heavily. “No, Princess. You’ve got me wrong. I’m not trying to dispute that he came after you. What I’m saying is he didn’t try to kill you.”

He chews his cheek, his expression troubled.

“He chased you to that clearing, far away from the other Wolves that were out last night. He got his scent on you so they wouldn’t smell you. He took part of your cloak with him, so if they caught your scent, they’d chase after him instead.”

He stares at the forest ahead, his jaw tightening.

“He wasn’t trying to kill you. He was protecting you.” He swallows, hard. “And Blake doesn’t do anything unless it’s within his own interests. So I want to know why.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Callum is quiet as he carries me through the forest.

While he was relaxed and easygoing when he awoke, his expression becomes increasingly strained as we get closer to the castle.

With every step, his jaw tightens, and his arms harden around me. His hold on my thighs gets firmer, his fingers digging into my skin through the material of my dress. A couple of times, I catch his nose wrinkling as if he smells something bad.

I sniff the air and all I can smell is the wet leaves from the forest.

I flush, wondering if the problem is me. I got hot last night as I ran from Blake, and I can’t imagine I smell particularly pleasant.

“What’s the matter?” I ask.

His eyebrows raise and I wonder if he’s surprised I noticed. “I... it’s just...” He shakes his head and gives me a small smile. “It’s just a wolf thing. Don’t worry about it.”

When we reach the grassy expanse that leads back to the castle gate, the morning is quiet. A thin layer of mist coats the loch, and the heather and fern are dull in the grey light.

Ahead, there are a few Wolves making their way back through the castle walls, laughing and joking with one another.

They’re all as naked as Callum.

“Goddess!” I turn my head, only to be confronted with Callum’s hard chest. My pulse beats a little faster, warmth blooming in my lower stomach. His grip on me almost imperceptibly tightens. “You Wolves really have no modesty, do you?”

Callum chuckles. “It’s only natural.”

“Natural, perhaps. But it’s far moreacceptableto wear clothes when in other people’s company.”

“Only because that’s what your society has taught you.”

“So if I started prancing around without my clothes on, you’d be perfectly okay with that?”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “Ifyoustarted prancing around with no clothes on, I think I’d like that very much, Princess.”

“Brute,” I mutter.

I expect Callum to take me back to my room, but instead, he carries me into his chambers.

There’s a fire crackling in the hearth, and in front of it stands the copper tub, filled with steaming water. I glance at it longingly as Callum places me down on his bed, then turns and walks over to his wardrobe. I stare at the ceiling, determined not to look at him.

Then I glance at Callum, even though I know I shouldn’t.

I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed that he’s pulled on a pair of loose-fitting cotton breeches. He’s still topless though, his muscular back on display as he closes the wardrobe doors.

“I didn’t know you wore breeches,” I say.

“The way you were looking at me earlier...” He leans against the wall by the window, his eyes glinting playfully as he shakes his head. “I thought I’d better cover myself up as much as possible. I was feeling very vulnerable.”

I sit up, pulling my knees to my chest as I lean against the headboard. “And yet, you seem to be absent a shirt.”

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