Page 95 of The Wolf

Chesh nodded, then pulled Brine back through the throng and out into the freedom of the salty sea air and cobbled streets. “The rumors were right, she’s here,” he said, speaking in an undertone even though against the wind whittling past his ears Brine could hardly hear him. There was a pub on the other side of the city, hidden close to the docks but out of sight of them, which Brine had always personally preferred frequenting in the past, but he hadn’t visited the establishment for months due to his new position as pack alpha taking up so much time.Thiswas where Scarlet was rumored to have been living. Brine had wanted to visit the pub the moment he heard the rumor, but Pyre had pointed out that Brine’s presence would likely scare her away.

So Brine had left the investigation up to Chesh.

“You don’t have long,” Chesh urged as they reached the docks. “I spooked her on purpose. She’s headed to the ship now.”

Brine growled beneath his breath and barreled headlong toward the leftmost dock. It had taken all of their wits and planning to organize the ship’s routes to lure Scarlet out—for her to view it as therightship for her to board should she ever need to escape. Brine hadn’t thought it would work, but Chesh and Pyre and even Damien had been sure. Brine had never been so grateful to have such clever—and dangerous—friends.

Tripping over his feet in his haste to leap over the wooden boards of the jetty, Brine skittered onto the ship and just barely avoided crashing into two sailors holding a heavy crate between them on his way to his berth on the floor below deck. The sailors grinned at him.

“You’ll get there just before her,” one of them said, angling his head back to imply Scarlet was right behind him.

“Thanks,” Brine mouthed, doubling his skittish pace until he was crashing through the door of the private berth he always used when traveling. He waited in the dark, behind the safety of a support column, out of breath and with his heart racing painfully.

Get yourself under control.

When he had a moment to think, Brine realized he felt every inch a pathetic excuse for a man.Waiting in the dark for a girl?he sighed, hating himself.Just what have I become? She’s fleeing so she doesn’t have to see me. Who am I to impose my wishes on her?

But then the door opened, a beam of light temporarily blinding Brine’s eyes, and then she was there. All guilty thoughts evaporated from Brine’s mind.

Scarlet was here, in front of him.

She looked more beautiful than Brine could bear. Even when she closed the door, locking it behind her before sagging heavily against it, looking as if she might cry, Brine could hardly tear his eyes away from her round belly and the glow of her skin. Pregnancy suited Scarlet. It brought her to life in ways Brine’s grandmother had sought so desperately to stamp out. It made him realize that the Scarlet he had been dealing with this past year had been a marionette, being pulled against her will on strings she couldn’t control.

Now, finally free of those strings, Scarlet could be real again.

In every line of her face, Brine could see the little girl who had once saved his life simply by being his friend.

Then, though Brine hadn’t moved an inch, Scarlet straightened and stilled. She scanned the room with sharp eyes, and pulled a blade from the pocket of her dress.

“Come out,” she commanded, setting fire to the oil inside a nearby lantern as she spoke. “Come out into the light. Now.”

Brine was helpless to obey.

FORTY-NINE

SCARLET

Brine had found her.

Scarlet didn’t even need to wait for him to step out into the light for her to know he had. The entire berthsmelledof him; she didn’t need a wolf shifter’s keen nose to realize that. Brine’s earthy, masculine scent—enveloped her senses and made her feel, for one stark moment, that they were both back in their cottage and pretending to be together. Then reality came pounding down upon Scarlet’s head. This was clearly Brine’s ship or, at least, a ship belonging to the Dark Court.

This had all been a trap.

Fight.

“Stay right where you are,” Scarlet said, heart thundering in her throat when Brine slowly, carefully, stepped out from behind a support column and made his way toward her. Dutifully, he did as he was told, maintaining a respectful distance away, dimly lit by lantern light.

It hurt to see Brine, even now. Especially now. His handsome face was twisted with longing that Scarlet wished wasn’t there. He was happy to see her, that was obvious, but how could she trust that? How could she trust anything about this man? Everything between the two of them had been built on lies. They hadn’t been true to each other since they were children.

Scarlet’s hand scrabbled behind her to unlock the door. She had wanted Brine to reveal himself so they could talk things out once and for all, so that she could tell him in no uncertain terms that she wanted nothing to do with him, but now Scarlet knew she didn’t have it in her.

Despite his gruff manners, he would say something too lovely to resist, and Scarlet would fall for it, and that would be the end. For the sake of her child and of herself, she needed to remain free of him. He was Alpha. Alpha was to be obeyed and she’d be subject to no one’s authority unless she so chose it.

Brine inhaled deeply and shuddered. “Your scent… there aren’t words.” He made as if to take another step towards but gritted his teeth and stayed still. Brine surprised Scarlet by pulling something out from behind his back that Scarlet recognized. Her red cloak.

She jerked back against the door and shudder ran through her at the sight of it—she thought she’d never see it again. Why would he bring that here?

With trouble, she pulled her face into a sneer. “I’m never wearing that slave collar again,” she said, when Brine proffered it to her. “Get it from my sight.”

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