Page 100 of Wolf Touched

“We both know how well that went when Dad tried that with me,” Raffe growled as he tugged me to his side and wrapped his arm around my waist.

Keagan tilted his head back. “King Jovian tried to keep you from your fated mate?”

“In order to marry your daughter.” Raffe’s hold tightened.

The buzz of our connection eased my wolf, preventing me from getting more upset at the memory.

Stephanie cringed. “I’d never agree to that, especially if you found your fated. I wasn’t happy with the arrangement and was relieved when I heard you’d found someone already.”

My wolf settled completely, reading that she hadn’t been interested in my mate in the least. “Then why agree to the betrothal if you didn’t want to?” I asked, needing to understand what had driven her decision.

She bit her lip. “If it was something I had to do in order for the royals to listen to our desires and realize that what we were requesting was actually a need, I would’ve done it. Begrudgingly.”

Adam snarled and shook his fur, forcing us to turn in his direction. Anger radiated from him.

Immediately, Keagan and Ednah tensed.

Stand down.Raffe’s eyes glowed, and power laced his command.

Adam’s fur remained raised, and he growled deeply.

“But I didn’t want to do it in the least. I want to find my fated mate and have what my parents share,” Stephanie added softly, focused on him.

His fur lowered on the nape of his neck like those were the words he’d needed to hear.

What in the hell is going on?Lucy connected.Has everyone lost their damn minds? One minute, the conversation is going well, and the next, it feels like we might attack each other.

I couldn’t argue with her. We did need to get hold of the situation, especially if both Sedona and Stephanie were siding with us. Right now, everyone felt confused. “Look, I get that we don’t trust each other, but we have more reason to distrust than you do. You attacked us not even twelve hours ago.”

“He’s the king’s son.” Keagan pointed at Raffe like no one knew who he meant and said, “He stands to lose everything by turning his back on his father, so forgive me if I don’t trust you all either.”

Raffe gritted his teeth. “I told you—”

“Try to link with him,” I offered. That was the simplest solution to all of this. We could say words all day, but actions and facts were things we couldn’t dispute. “If he’s still part of the pack, you’ll be able to. When you can’t, you’ll see that he’s left it. Then have your priestess test Sedona to confirm we’ve done nothing to her.” We were wasting time—time everyone needed to rest and recover from a pointless attack.

Stephanie snorted. “That’s easy enough to test, especially this close.”

I smiled at her, warming to her even more.

“Fine.” Keagan shut his door, stepping around the hood of the SUV. His eyes glowed as he stared at Raffe. After a few minutes, his jaw went slack. “I can’t feel you.” Surprise became his dominant emotion. “You really did leave thepack.” He glanced at Ednah. “Check Sedona like they said. They could be telling the truth after all.”

Ednah wrung her hands and scanned the area. She seemed hesitant to get closer to us.

“Here,” Sedona said and moved toward her. She held out her hands to her mom.

Taking Sedona’s hands, Ednah closed her eyes, and her determination was easy to read. It slowly changed to confusion, and her eyes opened. “She doesn’t have any magic affecting her.”

“I told you.” Sedona smiled sadly. “I would never lead you into danger.”

Keagan shook his head. “I would’ve never imagined that any of this was possible. Why did the Veiled Circle send us to you if you aren’t with the king? Especially with Aldric knowing his daughter was among you. I thought it was strange when we stumbled upon Josie here.”

Raffe flinched, and my chest constricted. This was official confirmation of Aldric’s actions, and Josie was nearby to hear it.

“Worse, he put the trackers on your vehicles for the Veiled Circle.” Keagan gestured to our three vehicles, which were parked at the edge of the gravel driveway.

“Wait.” Keith scratched the back of his neck. “You’re saying Aldric is part of the Veiled Circle and helped them track us?”

No, that can’t be,Josie linked.They have to be lying.

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