Page 20 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
Felix’s voice rose, deep and commanding. “I offer my knowledge, my loyalty, and my blood.”
She wondered if she breathed out hard enough, would her spirit escape her? Escape this? Float away on the breeze?
“I offer my knowledge, my loyalty, and…and my blood.”
“In return,” Felix said, “we offer you our name, our protection, and our bond. Rise, Rosalia Reinhardt of the Iron Walkers. You are one of us now.”
Her heart thudded a dull rhythm in her chest. There had been a moment there where she existed between beings, still a member of the Green Mountain Pack and yet married to an Iron Walker, and therefore had a claim to the void between them.
A moment where she was justRosalia.
It had been nice. For a few seconds, at least.
Rick was no longer standing to the side when she rose, accepting Felix’s hand. She spied him stalking towards the otherhigh-ranking Iron Walker males, people melting away from him as if he radiated poison.
She ignored the painful tug at her heart, the sting of embarrassment. Instead, she thanked Felix and turned to give Eva a hug. The little girl was utterly jubilant, telling her she looked like a princess, a forest fairy, a wolf maiden from one of her stories.
“And which stories are those?” Rosalia asked, kneeling down.
“Tales of the Alpine Wolves,” Eva said, “Papa reads it to me before bed sometimes.”
“I should like very much to read those stories too, if you’d let me?”
Eva grinned. “Of course! I think you’ll like one calledThe Wolf and The Moon. That one’s myfavorite. It’s about a moon goddess who falls in love with a rogue alpha!”
Rosalia smiled. “Then I shall read that one first.”
Daisy, Cassie, and Lola appeared, pulling her towards the pack, embracing her as their new sister.
The following few hours passed in a blur of introductions and congratulations and thanks. She met all the pack children, her heart warming to see them so carefree and happy. She talked to the women, blushed at their compliments, and marveled at their ease, their community. It soothed something within her, something sharp and spiked, calming it down until she found herself truly laughing.
Rick hadn’t come over to talk to her once.
She didn’t mind.
There would be time for that…later.
The sun was beginning to set by the time Rosalia excused herself to fetch a glass of elderflower cordial from the refreshments table. The children were calming, their racing games relaxing into happy, chattering circles, watched over by the alphas of the pack. The women talked and laughed, and Rosalia felt a pang in her chest for Katie.
Her father hadn’t allowed Katie to come. He had told her not to be sentimental and that she needed to think tactically. Needed to make inroads with the females of her new pack.
As she sipped her cordial, partially obscured by the shadow of a pine, her eyes tracked over the crowd.
While most were happy and celebrating, her new husband was ensconced with some of his friends, fire and shadow warring over his face.
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
“Enjoying your wedding, my dear?” her father’s voice came from over her shoulder.
She didn’t react. Didn’t jump. Didn’t even turn. But a ripple of goosebumps spread over her shoulders and down her arms, her senses narrowing to his stalking figure behind her.
“It’s beautiful, Father. Everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Is that so?” her father sneered, stepping forwards. “Of course, it’s not over yet.” She glanced up at him, her throat seizing. “There is what comes after.”
Hastily, she looked down at the ground, mortification creeping up her neck. “I know what happens next, Father.”
He hummed, hands behind his back, fingers tapping. “I expect you to make him happy.”
