Page 81 of Wolf's Prize

“Aimon will forgive you, Kathryn.” Erin’s forthright green gaze met hers. “But will you forgive yourself if you let them make your choice for you?”

Kathryn stopped pacing. “You are right.” She handed her mug to Erin. “I must go. I have to be at that meeting.”

Erin grinned. “Go. Don’t let those men make your decision for you. And Kathryn,” Erin called after her as she raced from the hall. “Be careful.”

Kathryn nodded and slipped into the corridor. She did not know where the men were convening, but with her wolf senses she could follow Aimon’s trail. The faint mutter of voices from below told her Anne and Gascon were in the kitchen. The flicker of light beneath the library door suggested her father had retired there. That left only Gaharet to sneak past. She was not naïve enough to believe that would be easy.

She did not find him in the corridor or lingering beyond the keep entrance. Cautiously, she followed Aimon’s scent, grateful he had not stopped at the stables to get his horse. She crossed the bailey, passed the darkened store houses and the smithy and approached the keep walls. With all the servants at the celebration in the village, did Gaharet man the gate? For certain someone would guard it.

A guard stepped out of his hut to greet her. Not Gaharet.

“Good evening, Mademoiselle Kathryn. Shall I open the gate for you?”

“Please.” She danced about on her toes, impatient to be gone.

The guard stepped forward, shifted the heavy beam that barred the entrance, and swung the gate open. Kathryn’s gaze darted about.

It cannot be this simple.

She stepped beyond the keep walls and raised her nose, taking in the confusion of scents of the servants, the guards, the farmers and the many people who had entered the keep over the last week. She caught Aimon’s fresh trail, heading toward the forest. She peered into the darkness. Where was Gaharet? He must be around somewhere.

The gate closed behind her with a thud, and she jumped. She stared up at the moon, its usual glow tinged with red. A flutter of unease brushed against her mind, but she would not let anything deter her. Not a red moon. Not Gaharet.

Still no sign of her alpha. Could it be she had chosen an opportune moment? Had he been one of the voices floating up from the kitchen, believing her safe in the hall with Erin?

She should not waste time. Any moment now, he would discover her missing. With a determined stride, she headed for the forest, following Aimon’s scent.

“Going somewhere, Kathryn?”

She froze. Out of the darkness, a tall shape coalesced. Had he been standing there all along, watching her?How did I not catch his scent?

“Gaharet.”

He came to stand before her, towering over her, strength and power rolling off him in waves. It made her want to shrink away and dart back inside the walls, back to the hall to sit by the fire like a dutiful woman should. She straightened her spine and jutted out her chin. Dutiful woman be damned. That description had never fit Kathryn before. She was not going to conform to it now.

“I am going to the meeting. If I do not go, they might…”

She closed her eyes and blocked out Gaharet. Would the likes of Lance, or Godfrey, listen to Aimon? Listen to her? Would they care what she wanted when there was so much at stake?

“Might what, Kathryn?”

Kathryn opened her eyes but did not meet Gaharet’s gaze. Instead, she focused on his family crest, the howling black wolf emblazoned on his surcoat above his heart.

“I know now why I am so precious to the pack. I am the only unmated female, and they are going to squabble over me like a group of street urchins thrown some coin. They do not care what I want. Except for Aimon. And he is so much younger than the others, and…”

She dropped her head and stared at the ground. Gaharet would never let her go.

Gaharet placed his finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Then perhaps it is time you told them what you want.”

“I… Wait. You are not sending me back to the keep?”

Gaharet dropped his hand and stepped out of her path. “No.”

She eyed him warily. “Are you sure? Are you not afraid for my safety?”

“No. Aimon will not let anything happen to you. Nor Aubert and Edmond. Perhaps Godfrey and Lance would protect you, too. As you say, you are our only unmated female.” He gestured to the forest. “They are in the clearing Aimon took you to for training.”

Kathryn hesitated. “What if I do not wish to wed at all? Would the pack still protect me?”

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