Page 39 of The Wolf

He scowled but shrugged. “Makes no difference. He’s just a pup. He deserves protection.”

“That he does.” Her eyes began to burn and she blinked hard to keep her eyes open.

Mills eyed her. “Get some rest, lass. It looks like you’ve been chased by the devil. You’re safe here.”

She chuckled. What a novel idea. Safety.

“Nowhere is safe,” she murmured as her eyes closed.

“Old Mills will keep an eye on you both. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, cuddling her charge closer.

Mills grunted. “Not a problem, lass. We should be at Callmai in no time. The wind is with us.”

* * *

Mills shook her awake.

Scarlet was grabbing for her knifes without thinking.

The old wolf clasped her wrist and squatted down next to her. “No need for that, lass. It’s just me.”

Her heart raced but she exhaled heavily as he released her wrist and stood. Eyes gritty, she thanked Mills and gently set Moses on the ship’s deck. A groan escaped her as a myriad of aches made themselves known. “Feels like I just fell asleep.”

“It’s been about four hours.”

She rolled her neck and examined the Callmai port. Mills had docked his ship in the sleepier side of the harbor while the larger mercenary ships anchored on the other side. “I can’t believe I didn’t feel you dock.”

“You were pretty exhausted.” A pause. “The little one needs care.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here.”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and hefted Moses into her arms. Mills helped her tuck the child beneath her cloak.

“Thank you so much for your help. I’ll get him settled and then I’ll need a ferry back if you’re willing.”

“Anything for you, lass. It will be slower going on our way back unless the winds change.”

She nodded and stepped off the boat, onto the short, wooden dock. “I won’t be long.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, my lady,” Mills replied. “Take care of yourself and the pup. Callmai has been rougher than usual in the last few months. Be careful.”

“Always am.”

She quickly moved past sleepy shanties on the poor side of Callmai, taking pains not to draw any attention from the brothels and ale houses. As she neared the merchant side of the port, more wolves began to appear. This was the part of the city her stepmother owned. It was teeming with Arwen’s agents.

Some of her anxiety washed away as she spotted the Siren’s Song, a pub nestled right by the docks. It was a popular spot of high-class merchants and pirates. But it held a secret known only to a specific group of people.

People who stood against Arwen.

Scarlet rounded the lively pub, keeping to the shadows. She skirted the building and edged down a hidden pair of stairs cut into the rocks that led to the sea. Scarlet entered the small hidden cave at the base, her feet sinking into the knee-high seawater. It was a bloody miracle she’d arrived at low tide.

She plowed through the water, her boots slipping here and there on the stones below until she reached an iron door. Scarlet pulled the key from her corset while juggling Moses and opened the bars. She closed it behind her and began slogging up the stairs.

The air heated and relief filled her as she arrived at the ornate wooden door inlaid with shells and abalone. Scarlet lifted her left arm and knocked the password, chest heaving with the effort to hold Moses and stay upright.

The door swung open, spilling light into the stairwell.

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