Page 60 of Ruthless Wolf

"The pack? The Blood Borns?" Fena asks.

"Yes. If the High Ridge wolves know there's a pack here, they’re going to attack you all. It's going to be a bloodbath."

"The Blood Born Pack should be the least of your worries," Fena says. "You need to get out of here before they get to the cabin. You know what Adeline's brothers will do to the two of you."

Luke turns his head and faces me. The look in his eyes provides the answer before I can even ask the question. He doesn't want to leave.

He's worried for the Blood Born pack.

"I'm sorry, Adeline, but I can't leave this pack to the High Ridge wolves. I can’t watch innocent wolves die again." He kisses the back of my hand as he caresses my cheek with his knuckles. "You need to leave without me. I'll come and join you, I promise. We'll have that future but right now, I have to warn them that the High Ridge wolves are on their way."

I bite my lower lip and embrace him, much to his surprise. "I know. You've got a kind heart and that's why I love you so much. But I'm not going to leave here. I'm coming with you. We'll warn them together and then leave."

"But Adeline, this is a pack who wants your family dead. They’re going to know you're not one of us," Luke says, his voice tense.

But I don't care. The most important thing is that we'll be warning a pack together. For years, I lived in the dark, oblivious of my family murdering entire packs and destroying people's lives.

But not this time. I'm not sitting back and letting them kill the Blood Born wolves. This is my choice and not even their probable hostility will dissuade me.

"We’re doing this together, Luke, and you're not talking me out of it this time."

"Actually, Luke, maybe the Blood Born pack won't be a problem," Fena chips in.

"Why do you say so?" he asks, frowning.

"If Adeline warns them, then Arthur and the rest are going to see her as a friend. They’re going to appreciate the warning."

"Are you sure, Fena?” Luke shifts his weight, clearly uncomfortable with all of this. “I don't want anything to happen to Adeline."

Fena beams. "I'm sure. Now, hurry and leave this place. Go to Arthur and tell him the High Ridge wolves are coming."

Luke takes Fena's hand in his and squeezes it gently. "Thank you for everything."

"Go!" Fena slaps his arm, jolting him in the direction of the door.

However, before we walk out of the cabin, she says one last thing.

"Adeline?"

I wheel around. "Yes?"

"Your brother is a good guy." Her smile is sad. "If you ever get the chance, tell him he doesn't have to obey your family's rules. He's got a good heart and a chance to start afresh."

* * *

“So, are you going to tell me why Fena said that about my brother?"

The sun is out and so are we. I don't know how long we've been walking in the woods, crouching low to avoid chattering High Ridge wolves and dashing into opposite directions whenever we find one approaching us, but I know we've moving in circles and the Blood Born pack isn't anywhere in sight.

"Wait," Luke mutters, sinking behind a cluster of bushes as a wolf appears on a small bridge passing over a stream and sniffs the air.

I hide with him, watching the wolf come closer and closer. If the wolf doesn't see us, surely the pounding in my chest will alert him. Fear ripples through me as I recognize the wolf as Kevin, one of Lawrence's friends. He’s as crazy as my brother, but not in the Damian way. He'll be more than gleeful at the prospect of killing Luke, then promptly hurl me back to Lawrence.

A few seconds pass. It feels like an hour. Then Kevin turns around and goes back the way he came. It's only then that I let out the breath I've been holding.

"Let's go."

We walk out of the area. Luke stays ahead of me, his watchful gaze scanning the area and trying to pick out sounds of the enemy wolves. I can tell by the way his head slightly angles one way then the other as his nostrils flare every few seconds.

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