A Wolfish Duke by Nicole Zoltack

Author:Nicole Zoltack [Zoltack, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nicole Zoltack

Chapter

Eighteen

When I am next aware, I am shocked. The wolves could have returned at any moment and finished me off, but they did not.

Lifting my head makes me want to howl. I do not utter a sound, though, not wishing to draw the werewolves’ attention. I do not see them anywhere nearby, but that does not mean that they have no eyes on me. They might wish to see what I do, to see if I succumb to my wounds and die.

But I am not that weak. I am an alpha, and I have far too much to live for, far too many persons whom I love dearly to leave them. Werewolves are strong. Ordinary weapons, like those that humans use to hunt, will hurt us but not kill us, but the bite of another werewolf, their claws and fangs… that can cut us to the quick. One way werewolves can die is from fighting another werewolf.

As I gaze about, trying to orient myself, I realize I do not know how much time has passed. The sunlight is a far way off, and Maxwell has not come to find me, so it remains late. I do not know what I should do or where I should go. The manor… but if I go there and my brothers see me, they will want to go to war, something I do not wish for. Those wolves could have killed me if they wanted to. That they did not suggests they have designs for me, and I do not think I wish to learn them.

My clothes are all stained with my blood, but at least I have started to heal some. As I sit up, I groan and realize I have not healed all that much after all. My period of unconsciousness must not have lasted long after all.

If that is the case, those wolves might still be lingering about, watching me even if I cannot see them. Not wishing to allow them to see just how wounded I am, I force myself to stand and not immediately fall back over. Instead, I place one foot in front of the other and slowly make my way back toward the manor. Walking as a human makes the trek take so much longer, easily since I am walking wounded.

The manor draws ever closer, but still, I feel as if it is too far.

A horse neighs, and I glance over, confused. A rider approaches, and I have to blink and focus hard to discern that it is Selina who rides upon the horse. She approaches and then slides down off her horse.

“Alistair! What on earth happened to you?”

She fusses with me, but I try to stop her.

“You are bleeding! What happened? Your clothes are not torn…”

“I am not as injured as you think.”

“Then what…”

“I was out… hunting…”

I suppose that is not entirely a lie.

“And the animal… got away,” I finish lamely.

“Not before hurting you. Where is your weapon?”

“My weapon?”

She tilts her head to the side. “You went out hunting, at night, with no weapon? No wonder the animal was able to get the better of you.

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