Page 3 of Wolves in Love

Anders walked past another group. They stared at him with narrow eyes. Clearly, they didn’t trust him. He shouldn’t blame them, but if they only knew what their heir had been up to…

“Anders. There you are. Have you seen Misti?” Kastner’s eyes were dark, matching the circles beneath them. He had aged a hundred years when he had discovered his son’s body.

Better to lie or tell the truth?

“She is sleeping. She was wounded severely.”

“Trying to save my son, her husband, I bet.” He sighed and shook his lowered head. “She is not a true Wild Shade, unfortunately. She never was claimed by Talon.”

There hadn’t been time. Spies had been prowling around the Wild Shades’ military-like compound, forcing them to march and denying Talon and Misti anything more than a wedding. The claiming was the only part that truly mattered to werewolves.

Anders took exception to his tone, although it still prickled him that Misti had married another. She had also spurned the werewolf her father had engaged her to as well. Anders might have known her carnally, but she would never trust him again.

If I could go back, I’d kill him again.

“Wild Shade or not—”

“This war… I have half a mind to turn Misti over to her father. He can tend to her, keep her in line. Do as he wishes with her.”

Including having her killed. Kastner didn’t utter the words, but they still hung in the air between them.

“And me?” Anders grounded his teeth. “Would you send my father my head?”

“On a spike.” Kastner grinned savagely, looking freakishly wolfish despite wearing his human face.

Anders opened his mouth to reveal his fangs.

Kastner responded in kind.

Did he really mean to send them away, to give up on the mountain? Or did he have another reason for handing them over?

Or could this only be a poor joke? He wished that was the case, but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe it.

Before either of them could attack, if a fight was going to happen, a female voice pierced the unsettling quiet. “Gentlemen.”

Anders reluctantly forced his fangs back into teeth before turning to see Misti. She was staring at the two of them, standing upright and looking well… to those who didn’t know her. But he could see the tightening of her jaw, noticed the throbbing of the vein in her neck, heard her frantic heartbeat.

“You should be sleeping,” he said.

“I’m fine.” She faced the alpha. “Where…” Misti glanced at Anders for only a second. “Where is Talon?”

“My dear, it pains me to say…” Kastner’s nostrils flared. “Talon… he…”

“Where is he?”

“I will take you to him.” Kastner jerked his head, pivoted on his heel, and marched away.

Misti immediately followed, and Anders trail behind her. He didn’t really want to see his handiwork, but he wouldn’t forgive himself if Misti had to see the destruction by herself.

A pyre had been set up, and some of the dead were already burning. A pile of bodies was waiting for their turn. Far from them, almost hidden away, Talon lay beneath a log that shielded him from view. He lay on his back, his paws folded over his chest, eyes still open. He had died in wolf form, so he remained in wolf form.

Misti kneeled beside him and closed his eyes.

“Not many know yet.” Kastner’s voice broke the thick, oppressive silence. “Once they do, they will insist on retribution. We need some time to heal and recover.”

“Will they give that to us?” Misti asked. The bitterness in her voice killed Anders.

“There is no reason to think they will.” Kastner grimaced.

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