Page 70 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Bride

The welded flowers.

Jane must have taken them apart piece by piece. I crouch beside them, examining them closer. They’ve been arranged in almost a perfect line. It looks like a trail leading deeper into the woods. She’s trying to guide us.

“Over here!” I bark out as loud as I can. “Got her!”

They arrive quickly, and I point to the scattered flowers. “Jane’s been here. She’s left us a trail.”

“Damn, she’s smart,” Gael says, crouching beside me. “She’s trying to lead us to her.”

“This must be recent,” Jack observes, glancing around. “These are fresh.”

“Yeah,” I agree, tension knotting my shoulders. “And it means she’s still close by. Nothing has had a chance to kick them up.”

We start tracking the path, moving cautiously but with purpose. The metal flowers are more sporadic now, a few scattered here and there, but they form a clear direction. I try to keep my breathing steady, but every step feels like it’s dragging me closer to a possible confrontation with the rogues.

Sonya falls into step beside me, glancing over her shoulder to Gwen and Richard before she whispers, “Tell me the truth. Do you think she’s in immediate danger?”

“The rogues were tracking your caravan,” I explain. “If she jumped out and they saw her, they would have followed her.”

“Shit,” she murmurs, her expression grim. “I knew it was a mistake to let her go.”

“No sense in dwelling on it now,” I say, keeping my voice low. “The important thing is, we find her.”

The trail of welded flowers has led us to a small, secluded clearing. My heart races as I peer through the dense foliage and see the rogue wolves gathered in their makeshift camp. The sight sends a surge of adrenaline through me. These rogues are dangerous, and Lionel, their leader, stands at the center of the group, barking orders with authority.

“Everyone, hold position,” Rafe whispers, his voice low and tense. “We need to approach carefully.”

Jack, Gael, and I crouch behind the thick tree trunks while Richard, Gwen, and Sonya move to the opposite side. I have no idea what use these three will be in a fight, but I guess we’re about to find out. Here’s hoping familial ties are strong enough to give them a fighting spirit.

Lionel is pacing back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back. He’s wearing a stupidly expensive suit, which is absurd considering he’s currently in the middle of a goddamn forest, but that tells me everything I need to know about the guy. He may be a shifter, but that gold watch on his arm tells me he shares at least one thing in common with humans. Greed.

“That’s the leader,” I explain to Jane’s family. “Lionel. He’s the one who ambushed us last time. He’s a fucking psychopath.”

“What’s the plan?” Richard asks, his gaze fixed on Lionel.

“We need to strike now,” I whisper to all of them. “Prepare to shift.”

Everyone nods in agreement. I glance over at Richard and Gwen, who are already shifting into their wolf forms. Their bodies elongate and transform with a series of pops and cracks, their clothes shredding as they become their new, larger selves. Gwen is a large, brown-furred wolf with a white underbelly while Richard is a sleeker, darker gray wolf.

At the sound of bones shifting, the rogue wolves finally notice something is amiss, and their heads snap in our direction. Lionel looks toward us, and when his eyes lock onto mine, a smirk curls across his lips. He strides over, stomping into the earth with far more force than necessary. He’s trying to intimidate me, I realize. Too bad for him it won’t fucking work.

“I knew you’d come,” Lionel sneers, keeping his arms behind his back. “You pack animals are just as predictable as you are foolish.”

I crouch low, my muscles tensing as I prepare to shift. “What’s your plan, Lionel?” I demand, my voice tight with anger. “Why are you doing this?”

Lionel chuckles darkly, and he shakes his head as if the answer is so obvious. “I’m disrupting the packs in this region to weaken them. Once they’re vulnerable, I’ll claim their land for development. Imagine it—luxurious resorts, commercial centers all built on land that was once theirs. I’m doing the world a favor. We need less wilderness and more civilization. Don’t you agree, Reiner?”

I clench my jaw, feeling the rage simmering beneath my skin. “You’re a monster,” I growl. “You’re willing to hurt innocent people just to make a profit? You’re no better than the humans.”

“I’m not a monster,” Lionel replies, his voice calm. “I’m a visionary. And I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.”

“You’ve killed people,” I snarl. “You’ve destroyed families. How can you live with yourself?”

“I’ve done what’s necessary,” he replies with a lazy shrug. “And if you get in my way, I’ll do the same to you.”

“And what about Jane? Was she in your way?”

“Oh, the pretty little thing you’re looking for?” Lionel asks, his voice laced with amusement. “No, no. She’s a treat just for me. We all deserve something scrumptious once in a while, don’t we?”

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