Page 86 of Wolf's Prize

Godfrey.

Aimon shut his mouth. He would not be telling anyone Gaharet was alive. Not tonight.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Aimon waited in the clearing until he could no longer sense Lance and Godfrey and he was alone with Kathryn.

He wrapped her in his embrace and nuzzled at her neck. “Mate,” he whispered against her skin.

She pressed herself against him and murmured her agreement. His cock stirred. He would like nothing more than to take her here in the clearing. Again. Bury himself in her welcoming heat. Imprint himself on her in a way no other man ever would. He pulled away from her.

She growled her discontent, her arousal spiking the air.

“We should get back to the keep. Gaharet will be anxious for news.” He dropped a kiss on her nose. “You promised me, Kathryn, you would stay in the keep.”

“I know, but—”

“Seeing you entering the clearing almost made my heart stop.”

She poked a finger at his chest. “And I was supposed to sit at the keep while you fought the others for me? Wondering if you would return injured? Or at all? Knowing you faced them alone, and I had not told you I loved you?”

He wrapped her in his embrace and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Say it again.”

She frowned. “I do not—”

“Tell me you love me.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “I love you, Aimon Proulx.”

He planted a kiss on her lips. “I love you, Kathryn Beauchene. And I plan to tell you often for the rest of our lives.” He released her and took her hand in his. “Come. Your father will be frantic if he has discovered you missing.” He led her through the moonlit forest toward the keep. “Tell me, howdidyou sneak past Gaharet? That is quite the feat.”

“I tried, but he caught me at the gate.”

Aimon halted. “And he let you come?”

“I thought he would turn me back, maybe lock me in the training room. Instead, he told me where to find you.”

Aimon scowled. Gaharet had sent his mate into danger? After vowing to protect her? He started walking again. He would have words with Gaharet about this, alpha or no.

“Do you think he knew how the others would react? That they would let me choose?”

Aimon considered her words. “Perhaps. There is a reason Gaharet is the alpha. He is strong and fair, but he is also shrewd.” They cleared the forest and made their way up the hill to the keep. “It may be, as you say, he had some sense your presence would be needed.” He squeezed her hand. “I thought for a moment you would not choose me. That the pull from your maker might have influenced your choice.”

She tugged on his hand and pulled him up short, not two steps from the keep gate. She cradled his cheek in her palm, and he leaned into her gentle touch. “Nothing I felt for any of them would ever change what I feel for you.”

“Ma belle renarde.”

He dragged her to him and kissed her, a tangle of tongues and teeth and passion. Lifting her against him, her legs wrapped around his waist, he pressed her against the keep wall, grinding his ready and willing cock against the vee of her thighs.

A clearing of a throat brought him to his senses. Kathryn growled as he attempted to slide her from his body. Her hands gripped his hair and tried to pull his mouth back to hers.

“We have company,” he whispered against her lips.

She stiffened. With an embarrassed huff, she unclenched her thighs from around his waist, dropped to her feet, and straightened her dress.

“Pardon me, Monsieur Aimon. There is a messenger here to see you,” said the gate guard. “An urgent dispatch from Comte Lothair.”

Lothair wanted a report already?Merde.

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