Page 53 of The Wolf

“Yes. You see Red is my personal helper in all things.”

“How fortuitous for you.”

Arwen chuckled. “You have been gone for a long time. I’m surprised you don’t recognize her.”

Waring bells rang in his head. “Whatever do you mean?”

“It seems you forgot your closest childhood friend.”

His blood ran cold and then hot as Red lifted her head and met his gaze square on, her blue eyes burning into his.

“Let me introduce you to Lady Scarlet of Betraz.”

The room wavered around him. It all made perfect sense.

Why he was drawn to her. Why she seemed familiar.

Red was Scarlet, his young childhood friend.

Arwen had known they were close when he was young—had known she was one of the only bright spots in his life before he ran away.

The sweet little girl he remembered was nowhere to be found in Red’s expressionless face.

His gut churned. Had Arwen been grooming Scarlet this whole time as Red just to use her against Brine in the eventuality—the inevitability—that he would return? Was she truly that coldly calculating?

Brine could not doubt it, but he couldn’t face it being true either.

“Your information is more than interesting,” Arwen said, still patting Red’s—Scarlet’s—hair. Scarlet remained expressionless and silent, even though Brine couldn’t tear his eyes from her. He couldn’t help it. “But you must know we cannot just welcome you back. You need to complete a trial to be accepted into the pack.”

Brine had expected this. With difficulty, he dragged his attention from Scarlet, which was difficult given how enticing she smelled, and nodded his consent.

An ugly grin spread across Arwen’s face, and he knew he would not like what she said next.

“If you are successful,” she said, emphasizing theif, “then at the end of the celebrations you must choose a bride. Then and there. This is not for discussion. As my grandson, you are thereby my only remaining blood relative from my firstborn capable of fathering a child. I will not be without an heir to my enterprise again.”

ThisBrine hadn’t expected. Every hair on his body stood on end. The woman had an agenda.

Well, she always has an agenda,but what’s her play this time?

He couldn’t work it out.

He locked eyes with Scarlet, even though there was nothing in her gaze for him, and he nodded again. “Of course. I accept.”

“Begone then. The preparations will be made.”

Summarily dismissed, Brine turned tail and stalked through the reception hall. As he reached the edge of the room he found cause to glance back over his shoulder, and caught the mangled red wolf in the crowd staring covetously—dangerously—at Scarlet. The shifter was scratching at his hands in his effort to keep them to himself.

Brine’s hackled rose and he smothered a growl.

Was Scarlet the maiden Damien helped? How long has this pathetic wretch of a wolf been bothering Scarlet? What has he managed to do to her so far?

A horrible shudder rattled Brine’s body as he forced himself to leave the hall. He had no idea who Scarlet really was, and whose side she was on, but regardless of her uncertain character, Brine still felt an overwhelming possessiveness, and protectiveness, over her. The mere thought of another wolf digging his claws into her was too much bear.

Calm down. You’re letting yourself be sucked in again.

He pushed the thought from his head to focus on what the next few days would have in store for him. Before his trial, he was determined to work out who the devil Red, or Scarlet, truly was.

Now there wasn’t much time.

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