Page 58 of Wolf's Prize

Aimon huffed out a breath. “My aim is not to take anything away from you, Kathryn. I am trying to give it back to you. Why do you think I am training you so hard?” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Unfortunately, your discovery could not have come at a more inopportune time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Things…” He tilted his head back, released a heavy sigh. “Archeveque Renaud and Comte Lothair know of our existence and have formed an alliance against us.”

Kathryn recoiled.L’enfer.When she had stood before him in the hall of Langeais Keep, had Comte Lothair known then?

“Does he…? Does the comte know about me?”

Aimon shook his head. “Wedid not know about you, Kathryn, so it is unlikely. That your existence was unknown is, perhaps, the only reason they spared you.”

“Spared? Whatever do you—? Oh.” All those lives lost Anne had spoken of. “What happened?”

Aimon stared off into the forest. “One of our own betrayed us. Sold our secrets to Archeveque Renaud. And Renaud used that information to trap and murder our kind. His scheming has forced Gaharet to lie to the pack, to let them think he is dead, when in truth he is alive and well and in hiding. You are not safe. None of us are, but you are in danger more than most.”

“Because I am untrained?”

He inclined his head. “Partly.”

Kathryn remained silent, waiting for him to explain.

“When I became a werewolf, after the battle of Montsoreau, there were over one hundred werewolves in the pack, including children. Not so long ago, Renaud and this…thistraitorstarted targeting us. Seasoned female werewolves, born werewolves, trapped and killed, one by one. Then the children, the weak and the elderly. But he did not stop there. Hardened, battle tested chevaliers in their prime fell victim until only seven of us remained. And one of those seven has betrayed us.”

Kathryn did the sums. Gaharet, Aimon, Lance, Godfrey, Ulrik, Edmond and Aubert. Seven. “I am the only female?”

“If not for Gaharet’s betrothed’s recent turning, you would have been. Like me, a mortal wound made it necessary for her to be turned. Can you now understand why I cannot let you go beyond the keep walls alone? Gaharet will not want Erin out of his sight either. It will be hard for you both, but it is the best way to keep you safe, to keep you alive.”

Aimon moved his horse in close.

“I know how frustrating it is to be confined, Kathryn. I had three long months of it, and I hated every damn day. But there will come a time, God willing, where there will be no need for such measures, and you will be free to do whatever you choose.”

She considered him for a moment. “And I could take a run in the forest on my own? Go for a ride on my own?”

“Yes, if that is what you wish. You could swim in the pond in naught but your chemise if it takes your fancy.”

She gaped at him. Had one of their servants gossiped? Had someone spied onherin the millpond?

“How did you know about that?”

“There have been rumors.” Mirth and something else, something heated, danced in his eyes.

Her stomach fluttered. “You do not think my behavior uncouth? You would not stop me?”

He gave her an incredulous look. “You? In the stream? In naught but your chemise? Wet?” His irises darkened, and he shifted in his saddle. “L’enferno. I would not stop you. I wouldjoinyou.” He bit his bottom lip between his teeth and released it. “In naught but my skin.”

Air whooshed from Kathryn’s lungs, and her thighs clenched against Josephine.

Aimon broke the moment, turning his horse away, guiding it toward a faint trail leading into the forest. “Until then, until I can ensure your safety, I will endeavor to give you as much freedom as I can. Like today. Although we do have some business to attend to as well.”

“Business?”

“I am taking you to meet the pack alpha.”

“Gaharet?”

“Yes, Gaharet is our alpha. It is time you swore your allegiance to him, to the pack.”

Kathryn’s skin prickled, and her hands tightened on the reins. “I have to swear allegiance?”

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