Page 66 of Cursed Wolf

“You’re out of luck, my friend. I just gave my last room to a young chap. He’s waiting for his four companions to join him, so if they don’t turn up, there might be a chance to share the space. There are two large beds in the room, and with so many here tonight, room sharing is common.”

Ragnar stares at the man as if he wants to reach over the bar and deck him.

“This chap, did he mention the names of his companions?”

“He mentioned something quickly, but it was difficult to hear properly in this place. Rooster something.”

I blink at the man, who’s distracted by someone at the bar waving him down.

“Do you mean Ragnar?” I shout to be heard over the raucous crowd behind us, but he doesn’t hear me, so I twist my head toward Ragnar. “A trap from Martell?”

“Whoever it is, we’re going to find out, then beat the shit out of them, if that’s the case.”

I turn back to the bartender, who’s handing beer to a man two seats down. “Room,” I call out to him. “What room is the chap in?”

He glances over. “Twenty-two. Top floor.” Then he’s gone back to serving his customers.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

We leave the tavern behind and march upstairs, ready to deal with whatever the fuck is going on now.

Ragnar

I’m in a shitty mood. The entire trip, Narah’s been on my mind—every word exchanged, every regret of how I could have handled the situation better, how her stubbornness drove me crazy.

The cold chill of the dark corridors clings to me as I climb to the second floor with Stone at my back until we reach the door with twenty-two painted in white on the wood.

I strike my knuckles on the door, and a raspy voice answers.

“Open.”

Narrowing my gaze, every inch of me tenses, ready for fuck knows what. I don’t hesitate to push the door open but stay in the doorway. When I see what I’m dealing with, my stomach drops, and I can’t find my words.

“What the fuck!”

“Well, nice to see you, too,” Narah says, her chin high. Wearing a black hooded cloak, she peels a fake beard off her jaw.

I don’t have to step into the room to smell the stench of mud. I see it on her coat and boots, well aware she’d done it on purpose to mask her Omega scent.

“Why am I not surprised?” I walk into the room, Stone at my back.

“Though it is a pleasant surprise.”

“See, at least someone is happy to see me.”

I cut Stone a glare, which gains me a shrug. Of course, he’d take her side.

“What about Harmony?”

“My sisters are looking after her.” Narah shoulders off her coat and kicks off her boots. “They’ve started a cub club.”

“Wait! A what club? What does that have to do with Harmony?”

“Jae and Kaira are moving in with one of the new mothers in the pack, who will help them look after Harmony. Meira is setting up a mother’s meeting once a day for them to get together and help each other out, with my sisters taking an active role in caring for the little ones.” She pushes her hair off her face. “I’m going to miss Harmony, and this was a hard decision, but I made what I felt was the right one. Harmony has a team of loving people looking after her, while Martell’s army outmatches you. Growing up, my little girl will need her four fathers. So, I’m doing my part.” Finally, she takes a breath.

“What happens if things go bad for us? Would it be better for Harmony to have one parent as opposed to none?”

“Calm the hell down, Ragnar.” Frowning, her shoulders curl forward. “Stop using fear to push your point. I get it, but I don’t agree. Besides, I’m exhausted from a long trip and don’t need your cranky ass right now.”

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