Page 84 of Wolf's Redemption

Edmond nudged his horse forward. “Welcome back, Gaharet. It is good to see you alive.”

A chorus of agreement rumbled through the men.

“Ulrik…” The big man looked uncomfortable, pained even. “We have done you a disservice. We doubted you.Idoubted you. Hell, I wanted to kill you for what I thought you had done.” He lifted his bearded chin. “I was wrong.”

“As was I,” rumbled Aubert.

Ulrik took them all in. Aimon’s relieved smile, Edmond’s and Aubert’s honest and repentant expressions. Lance’s uncomfortable silence.

“We meant for you to think I had killed Gaharet, but I am glad we have this settled.” He gave them a cocky grin. “I would not have wanted to embarrass you both by beating in you in a sword fight.”

Aubert scowled.

Edmond raised an eyebrow, then threw back his head and laughed. “Any time you want to test that theory, you let us know. We will fight you one at a time. I might even give you an advantage and wear a blindfold. That is the only way you would beat either of us.”

Ulrik made a show of considering Edmond’s offer. “Maybe not today.”

Their laughter was strained, but the tension eased somewhat.

“You should all know, I have returned the binding amulet to its rightful owner.” He pursed his lips. That it needed to be said was not in question, and he had long known it to be true, but that did not make his admission any easier. “Gaharet is, and always was, the alpha. It is not a role I want. Nor am I meant to have.” He looked away and rested his chin on top of Rebekah’s head. “I was wrong to challenge Gaharet all those years ago. My only excuse…” The weight of the pack’s expectant stares had him floundering.

Edmond shifted his horse closer and clasped his shoulder. “We know, Ulrik. We forgave you a long time ago.”

They had? When? He searched for any hint that Edmond lied, but all he saw was the truth of it. They had forgiven him? Ulrik’s grip on Rebekah tightened. Perhaps she sensed his torment, for she reached out and placed her hand over his.

“Thank you.” He heaved in a shaky breath, his voice raspier than usual. “All of you.”

Edmond leaned back in his saddle. “The only person who is yet to forgive you, Ulrik, is you. Perhaps now is the time to let go of your regrets. Put aside your old ways.”

Ulrik let Edmond’s words sink in. What was the big chevalier saying? That it was not his lust for revenge on Lothair, nor his challenge to Gaharet that had threatened his place in the pack? Was he the only one still holding himself to account?

Edmond inclined his head at Rebekah. “You have found your mate, yes?”

He glanced down at the women nestled in his arms. He had found his mate, but… “She has not agreed to be mine, and I have yet to tell her everything.”

Wary looks all round.

“She is from…Bretaigne.” He slid a quick glance at Gaharet. “Like Erin, but she speaks little Franceis.”

How much of their conversation did she understand? She was a canny one, his Rebekah, and she had picked up much when he had begun teaching her. Though she busied herself with the bundle of food in her lap, she watched and she listened.

“Two women from Bretaigne?” Edmond’s eyebrows rose. “Two mates.” He shared a glance with his twin. “Perhaps it is time for us to visit Victor of the Ludenwic wolves and see if we can find some more Bretaigne women.”

Ulrik dared not look at Gaharet, lest he reveal more than he should.

“Has anyone heard from Godfrey?” asked Gaharet, turning the conversation away.

“I have. He came to see me.” Lance shifted uneasily in his saddle. “He had something on his mind and was not at all himself when we last met.”

Was this the day he had seen Godfrey riding through the village on the Vautour estate? “What did he have to say?”

Lance shook his head. “He never had the chance to tell me. One of my farmers informed me of a strange woman in the village wearing your surcoat. He reported seeing her in the company of someone looking remarkably similar to you. Wewent to investigate and tracked you through the forest. A storm hit and I lost both your scent and Godfrey in that storm.”

Aubert and Edmond shared a glance.

Gaharet leaned forward in this saddle. “You know something?”

Edmond’s expression darkened. “Perhaps.” Another troubled glance between the twins. “We have been spying on Renaud. There is a new eveque in the village. Eveque Faucher.”

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