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I shake my head. "I'm not sure, okay? Just a guess. But my family was rattled at that time and they kept talking about this High Wolf."
Luke rubs the back of my hand with his thumb as he faces me. This part of the woods is open and any wolf, whether Blood Born or High Ridge, can walk in on us.
"Adeline, ask any Blood Born wolf and they'll tell you the High Wolf is the best thing that happened to them. He's been hiding them in the woods for years and preparing them for battle against the High Ridge wolves. I don't think a wolf like that would kill your mother."
I take a deep breath. "Okay, maybe it's not him. I was just surprised to hear his name after such a long time."
Luke puts his hand around my shoulders and we begin to walk again. There's no point trying to doubt the saintliness of this High Wolf. After all, he's the head of this pack I'm about to warn, a pack that has become a family to Luke.
And Luke's family is mine, too.
Chapter21
Luke
The wolves of the Blood Born pack are sitting in a circle, listening to their leader, Arthur, talk to them when we arrive.
Arthur sees us first before the others. He breaks into a warm grin and ushers us to come forward as he says to his wolves, "Well, Luke is here, and I think with a friend."
I can almost note Adeline's hesitation to walk forward when I turn to look at her. Her eyes glimmer with fear and she grips my wrist a little roughly.
"It's okay." I pry her fingers just as they start to dig into my flesh. "They won't bite."
"Sorry," Adeline chuckles nervously.
Two wolves move aside so we can step into the circle. Arthur pulls me into a hug, kissing my forehead like I’m his child.
"Good to have you back, Luke."
It breaks my heart seeing him happy. For a moment, I don't want to wipe the excitement off his face, or his wolves' faces. They wear smiles, grins, and glints in their brightened eyes. Arthur must have been telling them something exciting when we got here.
"I was just telling the pack about the High Wolf. He's on his way." Arthur's smile is the brightest I have ever seen.
And so are the High Ridge wolves.
"That's great, Arthur," I respond, hoping I don't sound somber.
Arthur glances at Adeline for the first time. Seems he was more thrilled to break the news to me than inquire who Adeline is. "Oh, hello," Arthur greets her. "Who’s your friend, Luke?"
This is the moment that I've been waiting for but not in the way Arthur is waiting for the High Wolf's arrival. My heartbeat increases and I think about lying to them about Adeline. Will they welcome her with open hands?
"I'm Adeline," she replies before I can talk.
Arthur moves towards her. His nose flares once and I know he’s already caught her scent. "You're not one of us. You're certainly not from here."
Adeline looks at me and I tell her with my eyes not to say a word. I've got this under control.
I lean in to whisper to the leader. "Can we talk somewhere else, Arthur?"
Arthur doesn't move an inch. The smile on his face slowly melts away. "Why? Whatever you have to say, say it in front of everyone. That's why we’re a pack. We don't keep secrets."
I take a quick look at everyone. Some of the wolves are eager to hear what I have to say, their position leaning forward to hear me properly. Some of them don't wear an expression, their faces as bland as the atmosphere that has replaced the one of anticipation. But I know what's coming next when I tell them who Adeline is. The air is going to turn hostile and Adeline's life will be threatened.
So, I press her body closer to mine and answer, "She's a High Ridge wolf."
Instantly, every wolf in the pack jumps to their feet, claws shooting out in the blink of an eye. Growls rumble in their throats and their eyes gleam with raw malice. Even Arthur takes a step back, though his expression is more shock than anger.
"You brought the enemy into our pack?" he demands.
