Page 16 of Wolf's Prize

“One of our own attacked KathrynandElise?” Aimon slumped in his seat, the enormity of Farren’s words sinking in.

Farren spun around. “You did not know?”

Aimon shook his head, the implications of Farren’s words rendering him speechless.

“I thought the d’Louncrais invented the story about bandits to hide the truth.”

Gaharet must know of this. Aimon would see he knew the truth about his mother’s death, but he did not relish being the bearer of such news. Aimon raked his hands through his hair. It would have consequences far beyond Gaharet’s pain, but that would be for Gaharet to determine.

“I am glad you told me this, Farren. And I will take this to the pack, but right now it is important I know all about Kathryn. How is she coping? How did you train her? Without the help of the d’Louncrais? She clearly has the ability to hide her true nature. Did your sister explain it to you?”

“Train her?” Farren looked puzzled as he resumed his seat. “What do you mean?”

“Like Kathryn and Elise, I was not born a wolf, but turned.”

Farren's eyes widened and understanding flashed across his face. “The Battle of Montsoreau?”

Aimon nodded. “Yes. I would have died if not for Gaharet. The first few months after my turning I spent here, with Gaharet, learning to call on my wolf, and to banish it at will. Gaharet insisted I master it before he would allow me to leave this keep. It is not something that comes naturally to those of us who are turned.”

Farren shrugged his shoulders. “Kathryn never calls on it. She has suppressed it.”

Aimon sucked in a breath. “Farren, no, that is not possible.”

“I beg your pardon, Aimon, but it is, and she has.”

Aimon shook his head. “No, it is not. Her wolf is irrevocably entwined with her psyche. One body, one identity, two forms.” He counted off on his fingers as he spoke. “It cannot be subdued, not entirely. She should not even try.”

Aimon remembered too well his own turning. The agony, the fear, the night terrors, and, once complete, the lack of control he had over his ability to change. Every time he experienced any strong emotion, the urge to shift would consume him. It had taken him months to manage some form of mastery over it.

“You are wrong, Aimon. Itispossible. Kathryn has managed well so far. She needs no training. She is content.”

Aimon gaped at him. Kathryn’s appearance in the forest—stripping off her head-veil and shoes, the fear in her eyes when she pulled away from him—told Aimon Kathryn wasnotcontent. She had not found peace with her wolf. Instead, she feared it. Farren himself said she believed herself to be a monster. With the Beauchenes’ new circumstances, her problems with her wolf would only increase. Aimon tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. How could he make Farren understand?

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “What did you plan to do when she wed?”

“We had hoped to find someone we could trust to keep her secret, someone of Kathryn’s choosing, but…” Farren sighed. “Lothair’s decision to grant us this estate will force us to act sooner than we had hoped.”

Aimon reared back. For all his love for his daughter, Farren had no inkling of the turmoil in Kathryn’s mind, no concept of the internal struggle she must face daily. For her to have lasted this long, to retain her sanity while repressing what her body and mind longed for with every fiber of her being, astounded him. Her strength of mind must be phenomenal. Could it be the reason she had survived the turning at such a young age?

It might also explain the rumors regarding her behavior. Her wolf would always push for release, and Kathryn would need to appease it in any way she could. Aimon had no desire to repress that side of himself, but if he did, he would surely fail. That Kathryn had not, with no training at all, was staggering.What a remarkable woman.And given her expression as she raced away from him, a frightened one. One in desperate need of help.

“She may manage her wolf now, within the safe company of those who love her, but she will struggle if those circumstances change. Your move here could affect her. Emotions, strong emotions, can trigger it. Because she has repressed it, I suspect she will find it more difficult to cope than if she had not. Emotions such as stress, anger, excitement, fear…desire. Especially desire. Those urges aremuchstronger in our kind for both maleandfemale.”

And do I not know that now.

Being made aware Kathryn had no control or understanding of her wolf, Aimon’s shame at his behavior burned within him, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. He should have controlled himself, leashed his wolf the moment he scented Kathryn’s innocence. In future, he would take more care.

He forced himself to relax. Kathryn needed his help, but he needed her father in agreement. “Her secret is safe with me, but she needs training.”

“No.” Farren gave an abrupt shake of his head, his lips pursed.

“Farren, her life is in danger. She must have command over her wolf. I came here because I scented her at Langeais Keep. But that does not mean the others will not come. Perhaps the one who attacked her will be one of them. He will only need to set foot in this keep and he will know what she is. I knew for certain when I encountered her in the forest.”

Farren inhaled a sharp breath. “That is what upset her, is it not? You told her what you are.”

“What? No.” Aimon stared at Farren. “Wait. Are you telling me she does not know about us? Does not even know her aunt was one of us? That she thinks she is the only one, save for her attacker?”

“Of course I did not tell her. We do not need the d’Louncrais, or any of your kind. She is my daughter. She belongs with me.Ican take care of her.”

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