Page 164 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

“I’m scared,” she said.

“I know.”

“If you say no one will touch me, I’m going to believe you, and that feels stupid.”

“No one will touch you.”

She laughed once, but it broke before it became humor. “Great. Excellent. Very stupid of me, then.”

I turned my hand around hers. “Believing me is not stupid.”

“Bold statement from a man who didn’t tell me about the bonus murder wolves until this morning.”

“I deserved that.”

“Yes.”

She leaned her shoulder lightly against my arm, the uninjured side, and the wolf inside me went silent with the need to protect what had been given.

“I believe you anyway,” she said.

The words should have steadied me. Instead, they became another thing I could not fail.

A knock came at the door. Lucien entered, followed by Sava. Both had changed clothes. Sava wore dark field gear, her hair braided tight. Lucien carried a black jacket and a small pouch.

“It’s time,” Sava said.

Cassie’s fingers tightened once around mine. Then she let go. The loss of her hand felt like the first step of the hunt.

Sava crossed to her, checked the bandage, then placed the small pouch into Cassie’s palm. “Salt tablets, pain dose, and a whistle.”

Cassie looked at the whistle. “Is this because screaming ruins the ambiance?”

“It is because if you need me, you use it.”

“If wolves are chasing me, I feel like everyone will know I need you.”

“Use it anyway.”

Cassie nodded and tucked the pouch into her pocket.

Lucien held up the jacket. “For the walk down. You will leave it at the south gate.”

Cassie took it. “Thank you.”

He inclined his head. “You are welcome.”

Ronan entered last. He looked at Cassie first, then at me. No anger now. Only the hard, cold focus of an Alpha walking into a night with too many ways to lose.

“The council is assembled,” he said. “Evelyn is on the east terrace under guard. Malrec is with the witnesses. The challenge wolves have been searched and scented.”

“Silver?” I asked.

“None found.”

“That does not mean none carried.”

“I know.”