Page 67 of Wolf's Redemption

Seriously, Bek. You’re scared of the dark and a few trees?

She’d dealt with some of the worst people in London. Served them beer. She’d lived the life of a biker’s girlfriend. The only wolf out here was Ulrik. Bek plunged into the forest. Filtered moonlight shining the way, she strode down the path with purpose. She wasn’t going to let a forest at night deter her.

She emerged from the trees to stand on the edge of the pond, the water a silvery sheen broken only by the gentle splash of the waterfall. A rush of images—her on her knees before Ulrik, Ulrik behind her pounding into her, Ulrik devouring her breasts,—brought a flush of heat to her body. But no Ulrik.

With her hands on her hips, she surveyed her surroundings. If he’d gone for a random run in the forest, she’d have no hope of finding him. She had to believe he’d stay close. Bek eyed the opposite bank. A faint path disappeared away from the pond. Only this afternoon, she and Ulrik had emerged from there to be confronted by a red and a white wolf—Kathryn and Aimon—standing on the spot she stood now. On patrol, Ulrik would likely traverse the pond and follow that path for a way, ensuring no one else was finding their way toward them. Wouldn’t he?

She glanced back over her shoulder, down the path she’d come.What if I get lost?

She snorted. The pond wasn’t that big. She could keep it in her sight and follow it around, no problem. And if she still didn’t find him? She huffed out a breath, the air condensing into a smoky vapor. Then she’d admit defeat and head back to the cottage. She’d sit by the damn door and wait for him if she had to. Gaharet would be pissed at her for leaving. He could just deal. Her lips set in a stubborn line, Bek set off around the pond.

* * * *

Ulrik paused, the cool earth damp beneath his paws and the breeze ruffling his fur. He had meant only to circle the hut and clear his thoughts, but his roiling emotions were too much, and too big to contain. With a glare at the flickering light and muted voices streaming out from beneath the door, he stretched himself out into a run. His normal pursuits when such emotions bested him—indulging in his two favorite pastimes—were not an option. A run through the forest, scouting out the area as he went, was his only choice to ease his mind.

He avoided the pond. Memories of Rebekah’s sassy mouth wrapped around his cock taunted him as he ran.L’enfer, he had never had a woman leave him as satiated and yet have him in such turmoil as Rebekah. Never had he wanted to lie basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking and hold a woman close and talk, discovering every little detail about her. Never before had he thought of any intimate relations he had had with a woman aslovemaking. It had always been sex—healthy, simple, lustful fucking.

Bold and demanding in ways he had never seen in a woman, Rebekah had matched him passion for passion, as he had known she would, and he wanted more.Merde,he wanted everything she could give. Listening to her talk—hearing her tell of this man, thisloverwho had betrayed her, allowed her to suffer the punishment forhiscrime—Ulrik had wanted to wrap her in his arms and vow to her she would never face such a thing again. Make promises to her that he would protect her from the pain and anguish that had shimmered in her eyes.

He shook his big, furry head. She would never accept such things from a man like him. She had made that clearer than the stars on a moonless night. Ulrik huffed, his warm breath fogging in the cool night air. He may not have paid for his actions ashis family had, but they were not without consequences. They were his penance, no less than he deserved, and he would bear them as stoically as he could. Already he had been blessed with forgiveness from Gaharet, something only days ago he had believed nigh on impossible. He should content himself with that.

His ears pricked at a sound in the distance.Voices. He halted, raised his nose to the air and sniffed. Men. And horses, too. He sniffed again and caught the unmistakable scent of steel, the stench of unwashed bodies and the lingering foul miasma of Langeais Keep. He bared his teeth. Keep guards. On the d’Louncrais estate. Their presence would be no accident.

Ulrik spun on his heel and raced back to the cottage. He charged into the clearing, shifted and burst into the cottage with naught a care for his nakedness.

“We need to move. Now. The keep guards are here.”

Gaharet exploded to his feet and Erin sprung up from her prone position on the cot, the cloth on her forehead dropping into her lap.

Ulrik took in the room. “Where is Rebekah?”

Gaharet’s eyes widened. “Merde.”

Ulrik snarled, his wolf pushing forth and his hackles rising. “How long has she been gone?”

Erin clasped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, shit. This is my fault. I thought she’d be fine. Ulrik was out there, and I didn’t expect the keep guards to turn up. She hasn’t been gone long, I swear.”

Gaharet turned to his mate, his expression stormy. “Erin?”

Erin tucked her hands beneath her arms, her expression contrite in the face of her mate’s thunderous expression. “I’m not really sick, okay? I distracted you so she could leave.” She turned to Ulrik, her eyes full of concern. “She just wanted to find you and talk to you.” Her gaze flicked between them. “I’m sorry.I really am. I didn’t think there’d be any harm. I was just trying to help her patch things up with Ulrik. She can’t have gone far.”

Gaharet’s nostrils flared, and his lips thinned. “We will talk about this later, Erin. Ulrik, go find her. We will wait for you.”

Ulrik gritted his teeth and held his temper. His alpha’s mate was pregnant. They should not linger here. Not with the keep guard close by. It was too great a risk. Rebekah was wily and stubborn. She may have gotten further than any of them would expect.

“No. I will find her. Gaharet, take your mate and find somewhere safe.”

Gaharet hesitated, then nodded. “We will go to my keep. With Aimon and Kathryn there, we will have the benefit of greater numbers.”

Ulrik frowned.Aimon and Kathryn? At the d’Louncrais keep?When, how had that happened?

“Yes. Aimon and Kathryn now reside at the d’Louncrais keep. Much has changed, my friend, since Renaud entrapped you.” Gaharet slid his hauberk over his head. “I will explain it all once we are all safe. Go. Find Rebekah. Bring her to my keep.” He buckled his sword to his side, and Erin helped him lace his leather vambraces to his arms. “We will await you there and make plans for our next move. If Lothair has sent the guard here, anywhere on my estate will not be safe for long.”

Gaharet wrapped Erin in a cloak, securing it at her throat. “Stay safe, Ulrik.”

Ulrik swept out of the door and shifted. Nose to the ground, he picked up Rebekah’s scent. It called him in two directions. One skirting the clearing inside the tree line. The other heading for the pond. The path to the pond beckoned him. He did a quick loop around the hut, just to be certain, then set off at a run. The guards were coming from the opposite direction. If luck waswith him, he would find her quickly and they would be long gone before the keep guard discovered the cottage or Rebekah.

As he reached the pond, it took him only a moment to realize luck was not with him, and neither was Rebekah. With ever-increasing frustration and dread, he followed her scent to where she had paced on the bank. He tracked where she had rounded the pond and taken the path deeper into the forest, before backtracking and climbing the rocky ledge to stand above the waterfall. She had changed direction again, crossing the creek and attempting to skirt the pond. He paused where a fallen tree had diverted her from her path. There she had taken a wrong turn. Ulrik’s blood froze. Toward the keep guard.

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