Page 94 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

It wasn’t until I stepped into the clearing that I realized what I’d walked in on.

Seraphina and West were pressed against each other, their gazes locked as they drifted closer to each other, about to share a kiss.

Oh.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t predicted this. I just hadn’t anticipated that I’d walk in on it.

My questions could wait a few more minutes.

Fighting a smile, I began to back away carefully, but I stepped on a fallen branch.

It was a small crack. An average wolf might have missed it, but West didn’t. He sprang away from Seraphina, his eyes flying to my exact position.

Seraphina followed the line of his gaze, her cheeks flushing as she met my gaze.

“Eleanor,” she said, her arms wrapped around herself as though she was trying to disappear. “We…I thought you would stay in after yesterday.”

Right. After getting framed for attacking Micah.

I was going to find a way to return that favor if it was the last thing I did, but for now, I had more pressing problems.

Seraphina and West stood stiffly, not looking at themselves, or me, or anything in particular.

Well, this wasn’t awkward at all.

I cleared my throat.

“Uh, I was just…uh…leaving.”

I began to move, but West was faster.

“I…I have patrol duty,” he announced suddenly.

He paused by my side before he left the clearing.

“I’m really sorry about yesterday, Eleanor,” he said.

My eyes dropped to his arm, which was still bandaged from where my claws had gouged into him as he’d held me back from interfering with Alexander’s whipping.

He wasn’t completely healed, but Alexander was already healed from his brutal whipping.

Yet another loose thread that didn’t make sense in this tapestry.

“It’s okay, West.” I shook my head, an apologetic smile on my lips. “I know you were just looking out for me.”

West flashed me a grateful smile, his eyes flickering longingly in Seraphina's direction before he headed out swiftly as if he was being pursued.

I moved toward Seraphina, a smug smile on my lips.

“So…are we going to talk about West?”

Seraphina raised her chin, folding her arms combatively even though her cheeks were aflame with embarrassment.

“Are we going to talk about the change in your scent?” she teased.

Her words reminded me of the reason I’d come looking for her, and my smile dropped.

Seraphina was at my side in seconds.

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