Page 38 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
What waswrongwith her? One look from Rick and suddenly she was spiraling. It was ridiculous.
And yet…there had been so muchheatin his eyes. Unrestrained, bold,powerful. It made her legs weak and her breath quicken.
What would he have done if Dane hadn’t interrupted? Because for a brief, fleeting second, she had wondered if he might…
The door slammed open, and she jumped, whirling around, her glass clutched to her chest.
When she saw who it was, the blood drained from her face, heat freezing over into icy dread.
“Rosalia,” her father said, scowling at her, “what on earth are you doing, jumping out of your skin like that?”
“I’m so sorry, Father,” she said automatically, straightening her spine and bowing her head, snapping straight back into the model of a perfect, obedient daughter.
Her teeth ground together, fists shaking as she clenched them by her sides.
She had forgotten what it was like. What her father’s presence did to her.
He grunted. “I arrived just to see you fleeing your pack. Yourhusband. What sort of hostess runs away from her own gathering?”
She swallowed. “I didn’t realize you were coming. You never replied to the invit—”
“Why would I need to reply?” her father scoffed. “I’m not some common, bottom-feeding mongrel. Of course, I came. I needed to check in on you and our alliance.”
Her fingernails bit into her palms, painful and sharp. “Of course. I’ll make sure a room is prepared for you.”
“Don’t bother,” he said, “I’ve booked in at one of Accardi’s hotels. My men and I will be staying there for the weekend.”
Rosalia’s head whipped up. “You brought others?”
Her father raised an eyebrow. “Did you expect me to come to another pack’s territory alone? Honestly, Rosalia, what has happened to your good senses? Two months away from home, and you seem to have forgotteneverythingI taught you.”
She breathed out. At least if her father had brought others, that might mean Katie had also come. Her friend was one of the first people she’d invited, desperate to see her again, but she hadn’t heard anything, and Katie had made no mention of the party in her most recent letter.
“Is Katie…?”
“No,” her father said, his voice clipped, “we won’t be staying long. And as I’ve told you, you need to focus on building bridges with the females of the Iron Walkers.”
Rosalia swallowed her disappointment, careful to keep her face blank. “Of course, Father.”
He walked closer towards her, circling her with almost predatory intent. She kept her eyes trained on the ground, folding her hands in front of her so that he would not see them tremble.
“It seems Reinhardt is treating you well,” her father mused. “I’m glad you seem in good health.”
‘Thank you, father,’ she said, glancing up at him in surprise.
He hummed. “All the better to ensure you fall pregnant. It’s a shame you’re not already with child, but I suppose it has only been two months. It’s the only way I can see around Reinhardt’s ridiculous nanny ploy.”
She looked back down at the floor. Of course.
“How are things in the Iron Walkers?” her father asked, inspecting a grazing board with a wrinkled nose. “Word is Felix may have himself a spot of trouble with those Black Claws.”
“I…haven’t heard anything,” Rosalia said carefully. After all, she hadn’t, not really. Just the odd half-conversation between Rick and the other Iron Walkers. Nothing definitive. Nothing that wasn’t already common knowledge.
Her father looked at her, and she fought not to squirm under his scrutiny. An awful habit she’d never fully been able to shake.
“And what does Rick make of it all?” her father asked, his voice deceptively light. His politician’s tone.
Rosalia swallowed. “I imagine he just wants to keep his pack safe, father.Ourpack, I mean.”
