Page 83 of The Wolf Queen’s Curse

“Of course not.”

“I’m free to do as I like now, aren’t I? No longer bound to the Pack?”

“Correct.”

“Then I choose to come here.”

“Ann…” Julius says.

“Don’t take that tone with me. You are a year my junior, and this Alpha is two.” She fixes her gaze on me. “And you are little more than a child.”

I sigh. “Ann, you’re clearly upset but—”

“Overreacting? Acting hysterically?”

Now I’m the one fixing her with a look. “I would never say that. We’re concerned that you are here, when Bishop is in the middle of a very dangerous situation.”

“Because I can help, and I am tired of being left behind to do the housekeeping. I have spent most of my life as a servant to the Pack, and I am an Alpha’s granddaughter, same as you. I can do more. I will do more.”

“You’re free to do whatever you like, Ann,” Julius says softly. “You know that, yes? You can take Tabi or leave her with the Pack, and you can reclaim your life.”

“Reclaim what life?” she says, and while her gaze is defiant, her eyes glisten. “Do you know how difficult it was for me to get here? To figure out how to find a train station. To buy a ticket. I had to follow other passengers to see how they did it and even then I made mistakes. The last time I left Trevelyan, I was nine. Nine years old, with my mother, and we went to the village for tea.”

“That was thoughtless of me,” Julius says. “I apologize.”

“I don’t blame you for my situation. Or him. Or her.” She points our way. “When you arrived at Trevelyan, I was already a grown woman working in the kitchen. The only person who understands is my uncle, and he’s promised to help if I want to leave, but he can’t do that right now, and I want to do something now.”

Before anyone can comment, she says, “I can be Cordelia’s lady’s maid.”

“You’re not a maid,” I say softly. “You’re my cousin.”

“Well, then, I’ll be that. Cordelia is a respectable married woman. She shouldn’t travel without a female companion. Yes?” She tries to sound resolute, but I can tell she’s unsure, not knowing the customs beyond the walls of Trevelyan.

“Having a companion would be considered proper,” I say, “and while the Cambrian Pack may not realize that, it would make a reasonable excuse.”

“I can help,” Ann says. “I’m accustomed to werewolves. I can move easily and unobtrusively among them.”

Julius makes a face. “I’m not sure a woman can move unobtrusively among werewolves. You’ll attract attention you don’t want.”

“I know how to handle it. Whatever Silas inflicted on my mother and me, wolves never bothered us. If they expressed interest, I politely refused, and they stopped trying.”

“Because they recognized you were still the Alpha’s niece.”

“And here I will be the Alpha mate’s cousin and companion. Also, we will be far from the only women there. They have whores.” She catches my expression. “Fine, I know you hate that word. They have women. That’s how the Cambrian Pack operates.”

She sees Julius’s and Bishop’s expressions, and a sly smile crosses her face. “You didn’t know that.”

“We have heard rumors,” Bishop says.

“But I know details. About that and more.” At their confusion, she says, “I might never have left Trevelyan, but I still know things beyond its walls. Bishop, you used to send William to check on the Cambrian Pack, assess their movements, even parley with them, yes?”

When Bishop says “Yes,” it’s with a solemnity that tells me William didn’t survive the massacre at Trevelyan. Yet another wolf I can’t even picture. Another reminder that if I am part of this Pack, that can never happen again. No wolf can be anonymous.

“Well, William and I would talk together sometimes,” Ann says. “We’d go out on walks, and if other wolves thought we were doing something else, that was to his advantage. He was a good man, so I was happy to help. I would ask about his travels and about the Cambrian Pack and he told me everything. Including things he thought didn’t interest you.”

“Like the fact that the Cambrians have women living with them,” I say.

“Yes. I suspect they got the idea from the Albion Pack. Women to cook their meals and warm their beds. But, being young, they lean heavily toward the bed part, which means…” Her lips quirk in a humorless smile. “From what William said, I wouldn’t advise eating the meals. I doubt they’ll be up to your standards. We should pack a food hamper.”