The Broken Wolf
Chapter 105

“I’m aware you have both taken a vow of secrecy,” Seth growls out at the two men in the front seat as we pull away from the restaurant. “But I want to be clear. If any of this should escape this car, I will rip your throats out myself. There will be no trial.”

“Of course, sir,” the older gentleman replies calmly, never flinching.

Albert looks over his shoulder at us and swallows hard. “Yes, Prince Seth.”

“Tell me what’s going on with your wolf,” he says, speaking more kindly to me than he had the two men, but concern is evident on his face.

“I don’t really know,” I say to him, growing more nervous about it since he seems so concerned. “She said she was tired and curled up in the meadow and went to sleep. I haven’t dreamed of the meadow since then, and I’ve only heard her a handful of times.”

“But you have heard her? You’re sure?” he says, holding my hand in his.

I nod at him. “Yes. I’m sure.”

“Alright. Keep me updated,” he says, bringing my hand up to place a k**s on it. “Don’t tell anyone though. If anyone knows your wolf isn’t around, it could make you a target.”

“Do you think she’s OK?” I whisper, really starting to worry.

“Probably,” he says, though he doesn’t sound convinced. “You shifted at an older age than most, so it’s expected that things may happen differently for you. It’s good that you’ve heard her, even just a few times. When you go to sleep tonight, try to think of the meadow. Maybe you’ll be able to get yourself there and you can check.”

I nod, looking down nervously. She had looked so tired after the shift that I haven’t thought much of it. Now that I think of it, though, I’m surprised that she hasn’t spoken up a few times, especially when we met with the therapist. Maybe she’s still resting. Hopefully.

“Hey,” he says, releasing my hand and gently placing his finger under my chin, tilting my head up to him. “It’s going to be alright. Even if something has happened, I’ve got you. Wolf or not, you’re mine.”

I nod, unable to say anything for fear of that the tears I’m holding back will escape. I take a deep breath and sniffle, trying to hold myself together. I note that Seth hasn’t pulled any work out, so maybe we aren’t too far from the B***d Moon Pack.

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know your name,” I say to the gentleman that’s been driving us.

Seth chuckles, running his fingers across the back of my hand. “She’s talking to you, Gus.”

“Princess, you can’t call me Sir,” he says, a look of shock on his face.

“Ummm… I’m the Princess. I think I can, if I want to,” I tell him, eliciting a laugh from both Seth and Albert.

“I’m Gus, Ma’am. I’ve been the head of Prince Seth’s security since he was a boy,” he says, looking slightly less uncomfortable, but clearly he takes his job very seriously.

I smile at the knowledge that my mate has had the same person helping to protect him most of his life. “It’s nice to meet you, Gus.”

He just nods, not saying anything else. It’s odd to have people around us, and pretending like they aren’t.

“Seth,” I say, pulling his attention from whatever he was looking at out the window. “Why didn’t you have guards with you while we were at my pack?”

“Oh, we did,” he says. “but they were instructed to stay back.”

That’s confusing. Was there no chance of danger there? “But why?”

“Molly, you ran away and hid in a garden when your brother told you that your mate was waiting. I don’t think anyone at all considered you to be a danger to me,” he tells me with a smile. “They were around, and stayed back. Until we crossed into the Rogue Land. We knew there was no chance Benjamin would let them in. I assume that any time we go now Albert will be the only one he allows in.”

“I think it’s about time that the treaty is revised. It doesn’t meet the needs of anyone anymore,” I say, turning to look at the trees we pass by.

“You’re probably the only person who can convince him of that,” I hear Seth say as we continue our drive in silence.

“Hey, Love,” I hear Seth say gently and feel his hand on my leg, gently shaking it. “We’ll be there soon.”

I crack my eyes open and look around, realizing that I’m still in the car. I yawn and stretch a little, looking over at Seth who is smiling at me.

“Are you OK, Love?” he asks me, a look of concern on his face. “You slept in today and fell asleep a bit ago.”

I try to smile at him reassuringly. “I’m fine. I’ve just been a little tired today.”

He nods, seeming to be content with that answer. I reach in my purse and pull out a mirror to check my make-up and fix my lipstick.

Seth chuckles a little from next to me. “You look perfect, Molly,” he tells me, but I can’t help but be nervous.

“It’s my first time at another pack as a princess,” I whisper. “What if they don’t like me?”

“They will, Molly,” he says, and gently squeezes my thigh. “I have to meet with both Alphas and their Betas tomorrow and the next day they’ll take part in the challenge if they can’t reach an agreement. We’ll leave the next day, maybe that night if the challenge doesn’t take long.”

“I thought we had to oversee the pack merge,” I say, more of a question than a statement.

“Generally, we would. But people are going to have questions about you and we don’t want to give them time to come up with more. We’ll be in and out as quickly as possible.”

“How am I supposed to answer their questions?” I ask.

Seth sighs. “Answer them however feels best for you. Just do not tell them there was magic involved and don’t give them any hints that we’ll be taking the throne soon.”

I nod to him, understanding that I need to keep some things quiet for now.

“I think I’ll just try to avoid answering,” I tell him and he nods sadly to me, knowing that this is going to be difficult.

The car turns down a small dirt path and into the woods, going up a hill. We travel up this path for a few miles when we begin to see a few houses, and finally come upon a large pack house. It’s larger than I expected for the population Audrey had told me, but if the previous Alpha was as questionable as he sounds, he probably splurged on himself.

The car stops right out front and Gus turns off the engine, turning back to look at Seth. “You ready, Sir?”

“Just a moment,” he says to him, and turns to me, taking my hand. “Just a few days, and a few vague explanations about your parentage and then we’ll be home, alright?”

“Alright. I love you,” I tell him with a smile. “You can make things right with them.”

“I love you,” he says, leaning over to k**s my forehead. “Let’s get this over with.”

Gus and Albert both exit the car at his instruction and open the doors for us. Albert looks at me and smiles, holding his fist out for me. “You’ve got this, Molls.”

I reach forward and bump fists with him and smile. “Thanks, friend.”

Seth walks around the car and upon seeing our interaction, he smiles at us and holds his hand out to me. I take it gratefully and let him lead me to the stairs to the house where a man with dark hair in short, tight waves dressed in a suit stands. A step behind him is a beautiful, blonde woman, a little taller than me, wearing a very form-fitting white dress- an odd choice, but whatever. A step behind her, on the opposing side of the Alpha is a tall woman with straight brown hair, and she is absolutely stunning. She’s nearly as tall as the Alpha, clearly very fit. No wonder he fell in love with her. She’s standing next to, and holding the hand of, an older man. He looks like he’s probably the age of my dad. That’s her mate?

“Welcome, Prince Seth. Princess Molly,” the young Alpha says, bowing to us as the rest follow.

I can feel Seth’s anxiety and maybe anger. It’s hard to be sure exactly, but he’s definitely feeling something and it’s intense.

“Thank you for hosting us,” I say in return, trying to help Seth out. “You must be Alpha Stephen.”

“I am,” he tells me. “This is my wife, Daphne, and Seth is quite familiar with my sister, Lydia.”

“PRINCE Seth,” I correct him with a forced smile, not letting him disrespect my mate. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

“Yes, thank you for hosting us,” Seth joins in, gently placing his hand on the small of my back. “If you could please show us to our room. We’ve had a long drive and I have some work to attend to.”

“Of course,” the older man speaks up. “I’ve heard stories of Molly Bardulf, but no one has ever mentioned your beautiful eyes before.”

I shrug. “You should probably speak with better people, then.”