by Mia Bishop
The offer of an extra weapon to protect them was all she heard. Rowan nodded her head before Luc could refuse the offer. “Thank you, we’d like that.”
A sharp tug on her hand almost knocked her on her ass. Luc snarled. “We would?”
She turned around and pushed him several feet away from the stranger and whispered. “Look, if this person knows a spot where we can cross, then we should go along with him for now.”
“And what if he’s a spy?”
She gave him a dull stare. “Do wolves use spies?”
“As a matter of fact they do. Remember, they had one at the inn. You can’t afford to be gullible in this realm.”
“I am not gullible.”
The stranger cleared his throat. “I hate to break up this lovers’ quarrel but we should get off the main road soon. There are many dangers on this path.”
Rowan spun on her heels. “Lead the way. I’m Rowan, by the way.” She extended her hand to him.
He clasped her hand in a friendly shake. “Pleasure, Rowan. I’m Theron.” His head jerked toward Luc. “And who is your surly companion?”
She giggled and followed after him. “That’s Luc.” She called over her shoulder, “Luc, this is Theron. Theron, Luc. Now that you two are acquainted, can we pick up the pace?”
Luc slung the pack up higher on his shoulder and muttered. “Only if I can roast him for dinner.”
She shot him a look to tell him she’d heard that but kept walking.
Chapter Five
Luc pushed for Rowan to practice with her blades but Theron kept her busy talking. She could sense Luc’s agitation and when Theron suggested they camp for the night Luc snapped, “We are not stopping. Not here and not with you.”
Theron stopped. “What do you mean not with me? You have a problem with me, friend?”
“A problem? Yeah, I’ve got a problem. You come out of nowhere, put us on a detour and now want to drag your feet and camp.” Luc pointed at Rowan. “Red, we aren’t staying here.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Excuse me? It’s getting dark out. I’m tired and you know it’s not safe out there. We are better off in a group.”
“You are putting yourself in danger. I’m telling you this guy isn’t to be trusted.”
“Why?” She glared. “Give me one good reason, Luc.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t explain it, it’s just a feeling.”
“Then we stay. Theron has been nothing but kind to us. Can’t you be the least bit pleasant?”
“No, I can’t be.” He turned his back to her. “If you plan on staying then enjoy yourself. I won’t sit here and wait for the shit to hit the fan. I’ll be out patrolling the woods. Apparently I’m the only one focused on the task at hand.”
“Fine. Go.” Rowan kicked at the dirt, watching him storm off through the trees.
Theron cleared his throat and she winced. His tone was kind but it made her uneasy at the same time. “Sorry to be the cause of a lovers’ quarrel.”
“It’s not that type of a…” She paused and rolled the words over in her head. What could she call it? A relationship? Hardly. She snapped her fingers and looked back up. “We aren’t like that. He’s just helping me.” The minute she said the words they felt wrong on her tongue. The way she had dismissed whatever was between her and Luc, it was more than just him helping her and in her gut she knew it. Even worse, the guilt from those simple words had bile rising in her throat and it burned like acid.
Theron gathered up wood and built a fire as she paced their little clearing. The fire quickly drew her attention with its warmth. He was already laying out his pack for the night. “You know, I don’t think you really need him. You said you are just going to your grandma’s house. No reason to bring someone along who is so disagreeable.”
She shook her head. “No, I need him. He isn’t so bad.”
“Isn’t so bad? He tells you what to do, wants you playing with knives and refuses to let you rest for the night. That isn’t my idea of a good guy.”
“I never said he was a good guy but he’s just trying to help.”
“Help how? What exactly are you out here doing?”
She glanced from side to side for a moment and then leaned in to whisper, “Can you keep a secret?”
Theron grinned and leaned closer. “Of course, my dear.”
“Well, Luc says there is a crazy old wolf in these woods who is out to kill me. So he thinks that if he can train me in time and unlock some hidden memories, then I’ll be able to kill the wolf and then I can go back home.”
“Home? Where is that?”
“St. Louis.” She laughed. “Sorry, I mean I live on the other side of the Arch.”
“I know what St. Louis is. Been there a few times but I prefer life over here. It’s simpler.”
She held out her hands toward the fire. “So do you know this wolf?”
“Yes, I do. Ulric is crazy that’s for sure. You know he has a son? They say the kid is even more ruthless than his dad. Definitely not to be trusted.”
“Luc mentioned the wolf having a son, but he didn’t mention the son being crazy. So what is the son’s name, where is he at?”
Theron shrugged. “Last I heard he was planning something big with Ulric. They were certain that their next plan would bring an end to whatever war they are waging.” He stirred the coals as the flames rose. “Luc found you in St. Louis then?”
“Actually I found him.” Theron raised a brow as she continued, “I didn’t know anything about all of this. I was trying to get my clients into some club he runs. But then I guess he figured out who I was and tracked me down and brought me here.”
“And just who are you, Rowan?”
She smiled big and pulled her red cloak tighter around herself. “Can’t you tell? I’m Little Red Riding Hood.”
He laughed. “Should’ve guessed that one. You do realize that the story doesn’t end well for the girl or her grandmother.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I know. But I have something that the storybook didn’t have.”
“What’s that?”
Glancing over her shoulder toward the dark woods she sighed. “I have Luc. Or…” Her shoulders shrugged as she pulled her knees up to her chest. “At least I had him.”
“You don’t need him. He isn’t helping you. If he wanted to help you, he would have kept you safe on the other side of the Arch, in your home. Instead he brought you here. Have you ever thought that maybe Luc is luring you instead of leading you?”
“What? No.” Her stomach knotted up. No. It wasn’t true. Luc was helping her. He was keeping her safe.
As if he could read her mind, Theron spoke up. “You were safe at home, Rowan. He is playing you.”
“I can’t believe that.”
“Then ask him who he is. Make him tell you the truth.”
She glared. “You sound like you already know something. If you know something, then just tell me. I’m tired of everyone keeping secrets. My whole life has been one big secret.”
He leaned back against his pack and shook his head. “Sorry, it’s not my secret to tell. I’m not even sure if there is a secret. It’s just a feeling in my gut, something eating at me as if something is there. I just can’t recall it.”
“Well, if you remember what it is I’d appreciate a heads-up.” She wished Luc would come back. Theron’s arguments had seemed unreasonable at the beginning but the more he talked, the more she began to doubt what Luc had told her. She rested her head on her knees and watched the flames dance. She doubted everything except how she felt when Luc turned on his charm and how she felt when he kissed her, touched her, held her. All of that felt real but she wanted the truth. Her heart argued that she needed to trust Luc. He would keep her safe, but she’d known all along that he was holding something back. Theron pulled a flute out of his belt and her eyes widened. “You play?”
“Of course. A man’s gotta have a hobby.”
“Will you p
lay for me?”
He nodded and held the flute up to his lips. The tune was low at first. She was transfixed on him and the fire. The louder the flute played the more she was pulled into a daze. She yawned and felt her eyes fluttering shut. “Can’t sleep… Gotta stay awake…” she whispered.
Theron kept playing, she was certain he was watching her but she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. Sleep dragged her under, dreaming of wolves and Luc and Theron with his flute and ax.
* * * * *
Theron’s flute lulled Rowan in and out of sleep. She clung to the image of Luc but as the flute played longer, the image started to wrap and distort. She could hear Theron’s words over and over again in her mind. Luc was hiding something. She didn’t need him. But she did need him, her heart knew that much. What if her heart was wrong? What if it wasn’t her heart at all? Every time she opened her eyes, the flute would get louder, her eyes growing heavier again, but something else made her keep waking up. She expected to see Luc there by the fire, angry as usual but he’d still not come back.
She pulled herself up and yawned, resting her chin on her knees. “What time is it?”
“Almost midnight.” Theron raised the flute to his lips again. “Want me to play for you again? It seemed to help you sleep.”
She held up her hand. “No, thank you. I can’t sleep any longer. You said it’s almost midnight, has Luc been back?”
“No. He doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to check up on you. That’s odd, don’t you think?”
“Odd?”
“Yes, you said he was here to protect you and yet he hasn’t checked on you at all.” Theron smiled. “I really do think you are better off going it alone to your grandmother’s house, Rowan.”
In all the ways that smile should be comforting it wasn’t. Instead it reminded her of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Theron’s voice echoed in her head. He’d all but accused Luc of the same thing. She was losing her mind.
“I… I can’t. I need his help. I can’t find it on my own.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Did you ever figure out what it was you were trying to remember about Ulric’s son and why you had a bad feeling about Luc?”
He nodded. “I did but I don’t think you will like what I have to say.” She glared but he continued, “Honestly, I don’t even think you will believe me.”
“Try me.”
“Okay, I can tell you this much. Ulric’s son carries the pack’s surname.”
“What is their surname?”
“Marrok. Do you know that name?”
She gasped. Luc Marrok. She swallowed past the lump of fear growing in her throat. “That has to be wrong.”
“Why does it have to be wrong?” Theron picked up his flute and played a few notes. His voice grew hypnotic, alluring. “Do you know where the name Marrok came from?” Her mind was growing fuzzy but she still had the capacity to shake her head no. Theron continued, “Marrok was the name of a knight. It is said he was cursed by his lover and made into a werewolf. The name Marrok means werewolf. A man who changes his form into that of a wolf.”
Her voice was barely a whisper. “No.”
“No? Are you sure?”
“No, I mean yes. No.” She shook her head as he played another strand of notes on his flute. “I’m just so confused. I don’t know.”
“You do know. You know he is not to be trusted. It is why you couldn’t give yourself to him fully. You know, deep down, what he really is.”
Her voice quivered, “What is he?”
“Go and find him. Ask him yourself.”
As if in a trance, she stood and headed into the forest.
* * * * *
Luc patrolled the woods, keeping to the perimeter of the small clearing. He couldn’t let this man come between him and Rowan. They had a job to do. She couldn’t fail. Luc growled, “If she fails then I fail.”
He scented the air again to make sure no one was nearby and then leaned against a tree. Nothing more could be done until sunrise. He was sure Rowan was sleeping by now. A snap of a twig brought him to attention. Two yellow eyes stared at him from just beyond the line of brush. Luc straightened. “Took you long enough.” The eyes blinked. “You might as well come out. I can see you, Joffey.”
After several long seconds, a man emerged from the brush, naked and uncaring about his appearance. “You have the girl with you?”
“Yes.” Luc paused and shook his head. “You are powerful enough that you can manifest some clothes when you change back like a civilized human. Is there a reason you insist on being naked?”
“Nothing about me is civilized. I prefer to live natural.” He shrugged and leaned against a nearby tree. “Are you going to hand her over?”
Luc paused, tapping his finger on his chin. “What do you think?”
“I think it’d be the smart thing to do.”
A wicked grin played on his lips. “And do I look like someone who does the smart thing?”
“We both know you will hand her over. Why not drop the charade and save us both the trouble?”
Luc clicked his tongue and chuckled. “I think you’ll have to wait like a good lapdog.”
“And what am I supposed to tell your father?”
“I don’t care what you tell him.” He held up his hand. “Oh wait, tell him to be ready because I’m coming for my rightful place as head of the pack. One way or another.”
“Traitor,” Joffey growled.
Luc laughed. “You have no idea, Joff.”
“You will bring her to the cabin in the woods?”
“Yep.”
“And?”
“And what? What do you want me to say, Joffey? That I’ll hand her over to the Big Bad Wolf and be on my merry way?”
“Yes, so that is your plan then? You are going to lure her deeper before handing her over to your father?”
“Not exactly—” A twig snapped nearby. Luc and the other wolf stiffened. Both scented the air but Luc was the first to spot her. Rowan stood peeking out from a tree. Her hand was covering her mouth and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. “Shit. Red, it’s not what it looks like.” He started to approach her but she stepped back and reached for one of the knives on her belt. “Red, please.”
“Don’t call me that. I have a name.”
“Fine. Rowan, it’s not what it looks like.”
“And what about what it sounded like? I heard you.” She gripped the blade and threw it before he could react, sinking it deep into his biceps. Luc howled in pain and the sound only confirmed what she already feared. The other man snarled and stalked closer.
Luc’s hand shot out to catch the man by the arm. “No. You don’t touch her.”
Joffey chuckled. “The human bitch just stuck you and you still want to play this out? Fine. I’ll let your father know you’ll be bringing her to us soon enough.” The air crackled with the sound of electricity and in a flash of bright light, a gray wolf stood in the exact spot where the man had been. He threw his head back and howled before darting into the brush.
Luc yanked the dagger from his arm. “Rowan, let me explain.”
“No. Tell me the truth, who are you?”
“You know who I am. You met me in St. Louis. You think I’m a jerk most of the time but you also trust me to keep you safe.”
“You were luring me to my death this entire time. You never cared about keeping me safe, or my ending Ulric’s reign of terror in the forest. You are taking me to him, to your…”
She couldn’t say the words but she didn’t have to, he finished her sentence for her, “My father. Yes, Ulric is my father, but no, I am not taking you to him.”
“Liar! I heard what you said.”
He looked upward as if asking the heavens for patience. “I was being sarcastic. Why would I try to train you to fight if I was going to lure you to your death?”
She shook her head. “I heard all of it, Luc. I heard you say you wanted your rightful place as head of the pack no matter what the
cost.”
“When have you ever known me to give a serious answer? Aren’t I always sarcastic? Always a jackass?”
Rowan wiped at the tears that managed to spill down her cheeks. “Maybe you were just hedging your bets, making sure you came out on top either way.”
“Was I hedging my bets when I kissed you? When I tasted you? Or how about when I touched you?”
“Don’t…” She gripped the sides of her head. She couldn’t let him twist things around. “That wasn’t real. It was just you pretending.” He moved closer. Rowan pulled out another knife to keep him at bay. “Stay back, Luc.”
He kept coming. “Or what? You’re going to stab me again?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t even see him move. One minute he was a yard away from her, the next minute, he had her pinned against the tree. His warm body pressed against her and the feel of it made her whimper. Luc gripped her wrists, pinning them above her head. His thumb pressed on her wrist and pain exploded in her hand, causing her to drop the knife. He kept his face close to hers, his green eyes practically glowing in the moonlight. When he spoke, his lips brushed against hers. “Don’t fight me. You like the way I make you feel. You like the way I make your body respond. Nothing that happened between us was fake.”
Her knees felt like jelly. She wanted to give in to the heat pooling between her legs. Damn him for making her feel like this, for making her feel weak. She had to keep her legs squeezed together, willing herself to remain focused. Luc was the enemy. “Get off me, you mangy wolf.” She had to grind out the words through clenched teeth for fear of kissing him instead of threatening him if her lips brushed his one more time.
He shifted on the balls of his feet, as if her words had physically hurt him but he didn’t let her go. “Why are you so convinced I am the bad guy?”
Why, indeed? Couldn’t everything he just said be true? Could he be a wolf and still be helping her? What about what he had told her about Ulric? What if that was true? He had said he wanted the wolf dead so the pack could heal. But Theron was right. If Luc wanted to protect her, he would have kept her in St. Louis. He would have protected her there instead of bringing her to the Black Forest to fight a wolf who had systematically killed every member of her family. She could hear the flute playing in the background. Clinging to the sound as if it would give her strength, she leaned her head back, took a deep breath and then flung her head forward, connecting the top of her head to Luc’s nose.