Page 47 of Wolf's Redemption

“He was protecting his mate, Rebekah. That is all.” Ulrik turned to head around the pond. Come.”

“Okay.” She did not move. “But why are we now following them?”

“Because this is the way we need to go.” He held out his hand to her. “Come, Rebekah. All will be well. My lord is not far.”

She huffed and slipped her hand in his. “I’ve trusted you this far.”

His heart warmed at her words. With her small hand in his, he led her along the old trail, overgrown from lack of use. They had often come here as boys—him, Gaharet and D’Artagnon. The old farmer who once lived here had been deaf, and the pond was the perfect secluded spot to bring young she-wolves.

The trees parted and he emerged into a clearing, skirting two grazing horses. Nestled in the center, the cottage wore its years of abandonment well. With the inhabitants long gone, most had forgotten this part of the d’Louncrais estate, making it the ideal place to hide from Lothair and his keep guard.

In front of the cottage stood Gaharet, Erin, Aimon and a woman with vibrant red hair. Memory teased at him, of a little girl with the same red hair as Gaharet’s mother, skipping through the keep. Kathryn. Gaharet’s cousin. Aimon had mated Kathryn Beauchene.

Erin’s scent tickled his nose, drawing his attention. It had changed since he last saw her. Now the subtle musky scent of she-wolf surrounded her and…something else. It carried a fullness, as though… He met Gaharet’s gaze and saw the truth of it there. Erin was pregnant.

“Ulrik. Good to see you alive and free.” Gaharet’s gaze slid to Rebekah. “And who is this woman you have brought with you?”

“Rebekah, this is my lord, Sir Gaharet d’Louncrais, and his wife, Lady Erin.” He spoke in the language of Bretaigne so Rebekah could easily understand. She did a wobbly little curtsy. “This is Sir Aimon and, if I am not mistaken, Lady Kathryn Beauchene.”

Rebekah curtsied again, narrowing her eyes at Aimon and Kathryn, destroying any hope he had she would miss the similarities between them and the two wolves at the pond.

“Rebekah helped me escape Lothair. I could not leave her there. Not when she found herself in similar circumstances to Erin.”

Gaharet quirked an eyebrow, and Erin’s mouth dropped open.

“Indeed,” said Gaharet. “An interesting state of affairs. Another woman from the future.” He cast a glance at his mate. “Welcome, Rebekah. You have our gratitude for assisting Ulrik. Know that you are safe here with us.”

Gaharet stepped forward, reaching for Rebekah’s hand. Ulrik’s wolf roared to the surface and he lunged between them, blocking her body with his. His canines filled his mouth and he pared back his lips to snarl at his alpha.

Lord help him.

He was challenging his alpha. Again. Yet he could not bring himself to back down, no matter the consequences.

“What the hell, Ulrik?” Rebekah jerked her hand from his. “You made me walk all this way to find this man, and now you have a problem with him?” She skirted around him, smiled at Gaharet and offered her hand. “My Lord—”

Ulrik grasped her around the waist and swiftly deposited her behind him. With a monumental effort, he forced his canines to retract, turned to face her and growled at her. It was all he could manage. Words were beyond him.

Hands on her hips, she glared up at him, not an ounce of fear in her eyes. “What is your problem? You said your lord could help me get home. He’s not going to be so keen to do that if you piss him off by going all alpha male on his… Oh!”

Ulrik tensed. Her eyes widened, the light of understanding sparking in their depths. Her gaze slid past him to Aimon andKathryn and the racing of her heartbeat pounded loud in his ears.

She raked her gaze over him and took a step back. “Your allergic reaction to my tongue ring. Mysilvertongue ring. And the silver shackles. Your inhuman strength when…” Her breath hitched. “When you killed that sleazy guard.” Her eyes narrowed in on him. “You tracked me in that pitch-black dungeon and found me so fast in that village. You hear things I can’t, and stand so still like…” Her face paled. “Like a predator stalking its prey.”

Ulrik remained still, his gaze locked on hers. Would she react as Erin had? With curiosity? Or would she fear him now?

She dropped her gaze to his boots. “No, no, no. It can’t be. I’ve readwaytoo many shifter romances.”

She inhaled deeply and lifted her head. Liquid brown eyes searched his.

“That time you went hunting for food, and I heard a wolf howl…” Her gaze darted past him. “And those two wolves by the pond, the red one and the white one…” She licked her lips, her gaze shifting and settling at his throat. “Those scars didn’t come from a knife or a hound, did they? Tell me I’m wrong.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Tell me…”

He reached for her, and she stepped back.

“Are you? Oh, God.” She covered her face with her hands. “If I’m wrong, you’re all going to think I’m a loon.” She clasped her hands together against her chin as though praying. “Do you… Are you…” Her gaze darted past him to the others. “Are they…” She threw her hands in the air. “Oh, hell. I’m just going to say it. Are you a werewolf?”

Behind him, Gaharet chuckled. “She’s even bolder than you are, Erin.”

“Yeah, and she figured it out much faster than I did,” said Erin.

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