Page 6 of Winning the Wolf

Snorting, I got to my feet and paced, not quite sure what to reply. Maybe our anger had been misdirected. Maybe it hadn’t. He hadn’t bothered to sit down and explain to us, as adults, what had happened that day, despite several requests to do so.

“You’ve ignored and condemned us since Nyla started rebelling. We tried to get you to talk to us, even sent letters.”

He was on his feet in a second, coming closer and stopping just before me. “Letters? I didn’t get any letters, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t get them, our father promised to give them to you,” I said, clenching my hands and bending my head back to look up at him. “We poured our fucking hearts out, asking the questions my dad wouldn’t answer.”

His forehead creased as his chest rose and fell. “Your father told me to stay away from you. He threatened my life.”

“He what?” My stomach dropped, churning and gurgling.

What was he talking about? My father had been best friends with his dad, he would never do such a thing. He might have been a stubborn bastard, all caught up in the rules of the pack, but he wouldn’t dare to threaten the alpha’s son.

“When I came to tell him what happened, he refused to believe me, even asking my dad to investigate.” Killick’s cheeks turned red as he clenched his hands into fists. “Which he did.”

“You’re joking.”

The statement was like a breath that flew the words away. Our father had insinuated that Killick hadn’t done enough, but we’d never known that the alpha had agreed and carried out an investigation.

“You don’t know as much as you think you do,” Killick said, his eyes flashing with anger, “so don’t assume that everything your father said was true.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, shivering as the damp air ran over my arms.

I wasn’t quite sure why I was apologising. For so long, we’d felt that same anger towards Killick, and yet, knowing that he hadn’t received our letters changed everything. My father had been angry for so long, we hardly knew him anymore. Hence, why we hadn’t worried too much when we’d been told he’d gone missing in America. We had just figured that he’d gone on his own little adventure. He’d done it in the past.

Coming closer, Killick licked his lips. His eyes danced with a mix of emotion as he watched me, his hand reaching out and capturing mine where I was nervously fiddling with a strand of my hair.

“We all suffered because of your brother’s choice,” he almost whispered, “but we have to concentrate on your sister now. We might not have much love for each other anymore…” He swallowed as his gaze dipped to my lips. “…but we need to work together to find her.”

“Do you hate us?”

My voice squeaked as his touch burnt my hand. Something pulsed between us, enticing as I waited for his reply. Waited a little too hard.

“No, Larissa.” Lowering his head, he stared into my eyes, almost mesmerised. “I don’t.”

Our lips were a breath apart, aching to touch, begging to press together.

“Killick?”

The shout from above made us jump apart, the adrenaline sending my heart into a rhythmic beat. Shit, we’d almost kissed.

Flustered, I looked around, not quite sure what I expected to see.

“Down here!” Killick bellowed, cupping his hands around his mouth to magnify his voice.

The sound of shuffling was followed by a flicker of light illuminating the pit. Two heads appeared above, shadowy and indistinguishable because of the light blinding me.

“Oh, look!” one of them said, “the alpha-heir can’t get up.”

“Don’t be a bastard.” Killick’s voice was light-hearted. “Help us out.”

A rope appeared, dangling next to me. I stepped back, waiting for Killick to go first. He frowned and raised one hand to gesture at our only mode of escape. “Go on.”

Bowing my head, I shook it. The alpha-heir was way above my rank, meaning he should go first in all things. I had to respect the pack rules, even if I was desperate to get out of the closed confinement.

Coming closer, Killick gripped my hands and forced them around the rope. “I’m ordering you to go first.”

His authoritative tone sent a thrill down my spine as his fingers gripped my waist and hoisted me, making it impossible for me to refuse him. My legs wrapped around the rope and I pulled myself up, my whole being trembling when his hand grazed my arse.

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