Page 22 of Wolf's Prize

“Gaharet found Aimon on the battleground, grievously wounded and dying. The only way to save him was for Gaharet to turn him into one of his own kind—a werewolf. Werewolves are stronger, they live longer lives and they can heal from injuries a human could not possibly survive.” Anne held up a deep green gown of Kathryn’s. “This is a lovely dress,” she said, with forced gaiety. “It suits your coloring perfectly.”

“So, are some…born this way?” Did that mean any children she had would be like her? Kathryn grimaced at the idea of it. How could she inflict this on her children?

“Most are,” said Anne. “Your aunt and Aimon are two I know of who were not born but turned.”

“And me,” said Kathryn.

“No.” Anne pointed a stern finger at her. “You were not turned.”

“But…”

“You were attacked.” Anne’s firm tone and the pinch of her lips brooked no disagreement. “Gaharet did not make the decision to turn Aimon lightly. The turning process, as I am sure you would remember, can be quite horrific. There are tales of those who went mad because of it and had to be confined. Of others who died, not strong enough to withstand the turning. Never seen it myself. I only heard the warnings passed down through the centuries. Turning someone is not something these wolves do on a whim. Only when taking a mate outside of the pack or, in Aimon’s case, because he would have died had they not done so. Aimon’s turning was as difficult for Gaharet watching on, as for Aimon going through it.”

Anne held out a linen for Kathryn to dry herself on. Kathryn stepped out of the tub and stood in front of the brazier, toweling down her body. She could languish in the scented bath water all night, but she was too tired, too spent, to argue with Anne. If Anne was brave enough to take on a seasoned werewolf like Aimon, threaten to rap him over the knuckles, then Kathryn was no match for her.

“What happened to you, and your aunt, was wrong. Very wrong,” said Anne. “If the pack had known, they would have taken steps. They would have helped you through the process and tracked your attacker down. They would have dealt with him most severely. Killing one of their own, attacking a human and leaving that person to suffer through a turning on their own… It would horrify Gaharet if he knew. He would not stand for such behavior. Nor would have Jacques.”

With the cloth wrapped around her, she sat by the brazier, her hands twisting together in her lap as Anne’s deft hands combed her hair.

“You know a lot about…werewolves, Anne.” There. She had said it. Out loud. Would she ever get comfortable with the word?

“Of course, dear. My family has served the d’Louncrais for centuries. I started my service as a young girl, helping in the kitchen. In this household, it is hard not to learn a lot about your kind.” She sighed. “So many years, so many fond memories.” She sniffed. “I assisted Elise through her turning, and Aimon as well. I was there when Gaharet was born, and his brother, D’Artagnon. All the d’Louncrais, dating back centuries, were born werewolves.”

Kathryn bit into the side of her cheek, frowning at Anne’s words as much as her manner of speech. Anne, it seemed, did not follow any of the rules of social status. Not a whisper of a Monsieur or Ma Dame as she talked.They must do things differently here at the d’Louncrais keep.

“It must have been a d’Louncrais who attacked me, then?”

Anne huffed. “A d’Louncrais would never attack a woman or a child. Dear girl, have you not listened to a word I have said?”

“But… Does that mean…? Are there others?”

“Of course there are. All Gaharet’s men are werewolves.”

Kathryn gasped and spun around to face Anne. “Allof them?”

“Yes, all of them. Ulrik, Lance, Godfrey, Edmond, Aubert and Aimon. And most of their families were, too. God rest their eternal souls.” She made a sign of the cross. “It is such a sorry business with all these lives lost of late. Has had Gaharet terribly worried.” She sighed. “And now he is missing. What will the pack do without their alpha? They need him. For what my opinion is worth, he makes a good alpha.” She turned Kathryn back around and began teasing a tangle from her hair. “Better than his father, and Jacques long had the respect of the pack.”

“This alpha… It is an inherited position, then?”

“Not normally, no. The alpha is always the strongest wolf.”

“And who decides that?”

“They must prove themselves the strongest, fight off those who think they deserve to be alpha.”

Kathryn spun around again and stared up at Anne. “But I thought… You said they would not attack anyone.”

“They do not. Unless someone wants to challenge the alpha for leadership. It is nothing to concern yourself about, child. It only seems frightening because you know so little about your kind.” Anne pursed her lips, shaking her head. “'Tis such a shame. Had your father brought you to the pack the moment of your attack, you would know all this.” She gently turned Kathryn’s shoulders around again. “Keep still, child, so I can finish combing your hair. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. When Jacques died, Gaharet became the alpha. He had all but led the pack for the previous year as it was, with Jacques lost in his grief over Elise’s death. And none saw fit to challenge him.”

A knock on the door interrupted Anne, and a servant entered, setting a plate of food in front of Kathryn. Kathryn screwed up her nose at the chunks of meat, barely cooked, blood oozing out onto the platter. Then she caught the scent and she salivated, her stomach growling out her hunger.

“Not how I like it myself,” said Anne, “but your kind seems to prefer it as fresh as it can get. Eat up. You will need your strength.”

Kathryn, despite her initial aversion, ate every piece on the platter. She contemplated licking the plate but held the inclination in check. Rumors of her uncouth behavior abounded. She did not need to add to them. Although, to a cook who had served a family of werewolves most of her life, maybe nothing would come as a surprise to Anne.

She hid a yawn behind her hand.

“Come now, child.” Anne turned down the covers on the bed. “Best you get a good night’s sleep.”

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