Page 39 of Wolf's Keep

Suck it up, Erin. You’ve come this far.

Keeping low, she raced across the bridge and out onto open ground.

Please don’t let me stumble. Please don’t let me fall. Please don’t let him see me.

Erin reached the tree line and plunged into the forest. The trees greeted her, enveloping her in their darkened green-brown foliage. She skidded to a halt, the safety of the moonlit keep behind her beckoning her to turn back, the forest’s gloom menacing. And empty. No sign of Gaharet anywhere.

Beneath the canopy of interlocking limbs, darkness reigned, patches of filtered moonlight the only reprieve. Scanning her surroundings, heart beating a little faster, she chose a path and moved forward, hesitant but determined. She flinched as a branch unseen scratched her face, pulling at her hair, but she plowed on. Her shoelace caught on the bark of a rotting log, and she stumbled. Cursing in a violent whisper, she wrenched it free. Dappled light from the moon making it easier to see, Erin chose a path and increased her pace.

Still no sign of Gaharet. Had he changed direction once he’d entered the forest? Worse still, did she still head in a straight line? She stopped. What if she got lost? Not implausible. A tremble started at her knees and worked its way through her body. She swiveled her head, her gaze darting about, searching. Every direction looked identical.Whathadshe been thinking? Urged on by Anne, in the safety of the keep, with its warming brazier and soft bed, her plan had seemed brilliant, inspired. Not so much now.

She took a few more steps and paused again, indecision paralyzing her. How could Gaharet have vanished so fast? She hadn’t beenthatfar behind him. Maybe she should turn back and chalk this up to a bad idea and an overestimation of her own abilities.

Face it, Erin, you’re not Bear Grylls. You weren’t even a girl scout.

An unnatural and sudden silence descended over the forest. The sounds of buzzing night insects cut off, scurrying rodents stilled, and an owl ceased its hooting. A deep knot coiled in her stomach. She searched her surroundings, looking for a cause. Nothing. There could be several reasons for the unnatural silence. Things she should be afraid of. Things like wild pigs, armed bandits and wolves.

Her heart pounded, a bass drum, rhythmic and loud. Thump, thump, thump. She slipped her hand to the hilt of the dagger, drawing it out, keeping her focus on the trees, her gaze darting left, then right, then left again. This had been a reallystupididea. Time to admit she was no tracker, forget about following Gaharet through the forest and return herself to where she should’ve been. Tucked up in bed, sleeping.

Her restless eyes widened, fixing on a spot, a shadow. A head turned toward her, ears pricked forward. Her fingers tightened on the dagger and she raised it before her. The animal stalked its way through the trees, moving closer. Her breath hitched. A wolf, black, big-boned and muscled, the breeze ruffling its fur, halted not five feet away. Oh, dear God. What had she done?

Stupid, stupid, stupid idea.

She should never have left the safety of the keep. Her hands shook so hard she almost lost her grip on the dagger. Seconds ticked by—her breath sharp and shallow, sweat trickling down her back. She faced off with the wolf. It had teeth,largeteeth. It could eat her. And it was big, really big. She hadn’t known wolves could be this size. Obviously, they could. The proof stood right in front of her.

“Shoo!” She waved the dagger at it. As if that would scare it away. Dear God, she hoped it wasn’t hungry.

The wolf tilted its head sideways, ears pricked forward but it made no move toward her. It didn’t growl, snarl or bare its canines. It merely stood there, watching her and waiting. Erin stared at it, afraid to take her eyes off it, her weapon raised. Should she strike it first? Or would that antagonize it, force it into attacking her? She inched away. The wolf followed. Okay, now what?

The wolf stalked forward. The urge to void her bladder was almost overwhelming. Erin stood her ground. Running would only put her back to the wolf. It moved to the left, circling around her. Its dark eyes, shadows dancing in their depths, never left her face. Following its movements, Erin turned her body in a tight circle, keeping them face to face.

She looked closer. Was that…? A gold chain hung around its neck, almost buried in the black fur. A collar? Someone’s pet? A cross breed? A bit hound, a bit wolf? Hope filled her. Gaharet’spet? Could this be the wolf she’d spotted one night within the walls of the keep? She was willing to believe almost anything right now.

It sniffed the air, tilting its big head in her direction. Did she smell tasty? Edible? It most likely could smell her fear, sense her vulnerability. With shaking hands, she waited for the moment it launched itself at her.

It never came.

With a shake of its head, the big black wolf turned and trotted off. With a moan, Erin sank to her knees. She’d almost peed her pants.

“You are way out of your depth here, Erin.” Her voice shook, but the threat of the wolf returning got her to her feet. “Time to leave before it comes back to eat you. With friends.”

With the dagger clutched in her white-knuckled hand and keeping an apprehensive eye on the forest behind her, she beat a hasty retreat. After minutes of frantic, stumbling steps, Erin stopped. Shit. She hadn’t gone that deep into the forest. The edge of the trees should be visible by now, the bailey’s outer wall within sight. Was she going in the wrong direction? She didn’t think so. Bloody hell, she hoped not. She wanted to sob, sink back to her knees, scream her frustration and fear, but she didn’t dare. She continued on, stopped again, her breathing harsh and shallow. Was she lost? In a forest containing at least one wolf?

Don’t panic, don’t panic. That’ll only make things worse.

What she wouldn’t give to spot Gaharet, naked or otherwise, wandering through the trees. She’d brave his anger, his suspicion, anything to see his familiar face right now.

“Going for a midnight stroll, or making a break for it?”

She screamed and spun around, weapon raised, and came face to face with a fully clothed Gaharet. Unwanted tears pricked her eyes. He was here. She wouldn’t die tonight. She was safe. Everything would be okay now. The dagger slipped from her nerveless fingers, and she resisted the impulse to throw herself at him and hug him. Barely. She took in deep, calming breaths.

“Thank God you’re here. There are wolves in this forest. Did you know that? I had a close encounter with a huge black one. I thought—” She brushed the back of her hand over her eyes, wiping away unshed tears. “It scared the hell out of me.”

In two steps, he’d pulled her against his chest and wrapped her in his arms. “You are safe, Erin. I will let nothing harm you. I will protect you.” His words were a soft murmur against her forehead as his hand stroked her head. She melted into him, succumbing to his protective embrace.

God, he feels so good.

Warm, strong, and with her face pressed against his chest, his musky scent surrounded her. Safe. She could stay like this forever.

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