Page 32 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

“Are you okay with that?” I ask him.

“I’ll use whatever force necessary to defend Ash.”

I look at my brother. He’s unbothered.

“You alphas are speaking of war as if it’s a party where there will be a few unruly wolves we’ll have to throw into cages until they sober up. That isn’t okay,” I say.

“Cages can’t hold back the fire,” Blade says.

“My point exactly.”

Sören cuts into his steak. “We’re merely saying what could happen but are hoping it won’t come to that.”

“Why are we not searching for them?” Maren asks.

“Ash is scheduled to leave the territory in the morning,” Sören says. “We give them until then.”

“Please, Sören, go look for them,” Maren begs.

Sören is immune to her pleas.

I can’t eat a single bite. I’m worried sick about those two idiots, even though I don’t like either of them. “I really wish the Fireborns had left already.”

“Runa,” my mother scolds. “Don’t be rude to our guests.”

I spread my arms. “It’s not like Ash is here to hear us.”

They stare. I shouldn’t have called him Ash. I should have said the Fireborn Alpha. Or Ash Fireborn. Ash sounds too familiar. Intimate. Luckily for me, everyone will think my rudeness comes from the impending full moon and the heat.

And that’s not too far from the truth either, since I’m irritated by my need to nest during the fire moon. Being around the Fireborn Alpha during the fire moon will do that. I don’t want to make a nest, but if I enter my heat, I’ll go through hell without one.

Also, I don’t like that I worry about Ash Fireborn. I don’t like it at all.

Chapter 12

Runa

Maren and I stand at the window like a pair of widows expecting husbands who will never return from war. Beside herself with grief because she thinks Ash killed Sven, Maren can’t stop crying.

I tried to tell her that Ash wouldn’t kill Sven outright or make him disappear because he wants peace, or he wouldn’t have come here. The other Regulator’s death is already a problem the Fireborns have to deal with.

In addition, Ash is forcing marriage on himself and my sister so our people will have a chance at survival. He won’t want to compromise that.

But even I’m not convinced. I can’t guarantee Sven’s survival since he might get stupid and try to kill Ash, in which case, Ash will snap him like a twig.

“Sven is transitioning into a Fireborn Regulator,” I tell my sister. “The Fireborn Alpha won’t lose control over his element while he’s among us. That will provoke Sören, who will fight back with his element, and that could mean disaster. They know the devastation they could cause. We have to trust those two will do the right thing.”

Maren bites her lip. “Why can’t they send out a search party tonight instead of tomorrow?”

“Because it’s too cold.”

“It’s not that cold yet.”

I touch her elbow. “Let’s get some rest.”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Go see Mom. She’ll give you something to sleep.”