Page 85 of Wolf's Prize

“Nor his betrayal,” said Edmond. “It has cost us too many and too much.”

“Unless one of us has something to confess, it leaves us at an impasse,” said Lance. “I am not convinced it is one of us.”

“But what of Renaud’s knowledge of us?” Edmond pinned Lance with a hard stare. “It had to come from someone.”

“We all have retainers on our estates. Anyone could have overheard something. It has happened before. We were lucky, and Jacques was able to contain it. Maybe our luck ran out.”

Godfrey eyed Lance dubiously. Aubert and Edmond shared a glance. Knowledge of them, yes, Aimon could believe that getting out. But knowledge of the amulets… And there was still the wolf responsible for Elise’s death and Kathryn’s turning.

“We will meet again in a sennight. Perhaps one of us will know more by then.”

“Not here.” Now the pack knew of Kathryn, Aimon did not want them anywhere near her.

“The crossroads at Langeais,” suggested Godfrey. “It is out in the open. No chance for an ambush to be laid there.”

“Very well. In a sennight. Stay safe.” Lance turned to them. “Congratulations to the pair of you.” He smiled. “Perhaps this is a sign of better things to come for us.”

Edmond and Aubert stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder, offering him their best wishes.

“You have your hands full with that one.” Edmond chuckled, giving Kathryn a wink.

Pink stained her cheeks, but she did not look away. Instead, she raised an eyebrow at Edmond and lifted her chin. Edmond threw back his head and laughed. Aimon grinned. He did, indeed, have his hands full with her. And he could not be more pleased.

Godfrey studied them from across the clearing, his brow wrinkled in a frown. Aimon’s smile slipped. Godfrey opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, bending to retrieve his sword. He buckled it about his waist, then the older chevalier met Aimon’s gaze. With a brief nod, and a last glance at the others in the clearing, he turned on his heel and strode into the forest toward his horse. Aimon watched him leave. Never before had Aimon seen the softly spoken chevalier quite so agitated as he had tonight.

“Stay safe, Aimon.” Edmond and his twin moved toward their horses and mounted up. “And protect her. She is the future of our pack.”

“I will.”

“Welcome to the Langeais Wolves, Kathryn. You can count on us to look out for you.”

Aubert nodded his agreement with a hint of a smile on his lips. The twins turned their horses and rode off into the gloom of the forest.

Lance untied his horse’s reins. This may be the only chance Aimon had to confront him about his lies, but… Aimon tightened his arm around Kathryn.

“Something bothering you, Aimon?” Lance glanced around the clearing. “Something you found you did not wish to share in front of the others?”

Aimon opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. If Lance had betrayed them… Could he take Lance on? Could he win against the older, more experienced wolf if it came to that? With a subtle step forward, he placed his body between Kathryn and Lance.

Lance raised his chin at the move. “I will never replace Gaharet, Aimon, but I am here for you. Trust me as Gaharet did.”

Kathryn gazed up at him, her eyes full of confidence in him. He had to get to the truth. “Why did you lie about being at the clearing where Lothair captured Ulrik?”

Lance gave him a rueful smile. “You really did go to the clearing like you said?”

“Of course I did. I found it as everyone had said. Everyone except you.”

Lance moved away from his horse and away from Aimon. He rubbed his chin as he paced about. “The truth?” He glanced at Aimon.

How fast could Lance shift? Faster than he could, but his armor would slow Lance down. As it would him. “The truth.”

Lance stopped pacing and looked down at the ground. “I am a little embarrassed by the truth.”

Aimon waited, his muscles tense and his wolf hovering close.

Lance’s gaze flicked to Kathryn. “I am ashamed to say I was with a woman. No one special. I lost track of time and I missed the rendezvous.” He looked off into the darkened forest. “When I saw the score of mounted men returning to Langeais with Ulrik, I knew something serious had happened. Then Gaharet did not return.” His defeat hung thick in the air. “Gaharet was my friend. I have known him since he was a child. I let him down that night, Aimon. What if I had been there? Could I have prevented what happened? Or at least stood by his side?” Lance turned to face him, anguish written in the tight lines around his eyes and the pinching of his lips. “Ishouldhave been there. Instead, I was wasting time with some woman whose name I cannot even remember.”

The truth of Gaharet’s survival lodged in Aimon’s throat. He wanted to trust Lance. Believe his grief was real. He opened his mouth to ease the man’s guilt. The breeze shifted and a familiar scent tickled his nostrils.

---