When the men returned to Wolf’s Peak about an hour later, Annabelle and I hadn’t moved, though we had been given cups of tea by Daisy. I could tell their news wasn’t good by the solemn look on their faces.
“Nothing?” I asked.
Adam shook his head. “It was a long shot. By the time we got out there, the wolf was long gone. We tracked the scent to the road where we found wolf teeth. He must have shifted back and taken a carriage into town. We’re going to go into town tomorrow and speak to the police.”
“The police?”
“Like us, they keep a record of wolf attacks. We want to see if they may know something. Sometimes their information doesn’t always get to us.”
“Better than nothing,” I sighed.
Jasper came into the library. “Nothing new?”
“Nothing,” Stephen said.
Jasper ran his fingers through his hair. “All right. Until this is resolved, I’m reinstating curfew. No going out after dark with the exception of the full moon. Don’t go anywhere alone.”
“Do you think that’s all necessary?” Adam asked.
“I’m not taking any chances. I’ve lost too many people to Seth. I’d rather we stay safe than be sorry.”
I never went out on my own anyway, so this wasn’t going to be the same type of inconvenience to me as it was to the men.
“We’ll hold a meeting tomorrow,” Jasper said. “Talk over our next steps. I’ll send a message to the elders and have them question some of Jasper’s men, see if they can find out anything about who this new wolf might be.”
“Do you need me there?” I asked.
“Why don’t we hold it in the morning, before you leave,” Jasper said. “That way you don’t need to come back.”
That seemed to be the best course of action. With the late hour and everyone’s exhaustion, we decided to retire to bed.
“Do you mind if I take a bath?” I asked Adam. All of my muscles were sore from hitting the ground so forcefully and having the wolf put his full weight on me.
“Go ahead,” he told me. I turned on the tap for the bathtub and watched it fill with steaming water. I was beginning to get used to having hot water come through the pipes instead of being boiled on the stove. I was going to miss it when I returned home.
As the water ran, Adam slipped into the bathroom. “Since you’re injured, I thought you might like some help getting undressed.”
I rolled my eyes. “You just want to see me naked.”
“Can a man not do a good deed?” He reached and unknotted the tie of my dressing gown, pushing it off my shoulders and hanging it on the hook behind the door. Gently, he unbuttoned the few buttons on the chest of my nightgown, then lifted it from the hem and pulled it over my head while holding onto my waist with one hand to steady me. Gently, he leaned down and planted a soft kiss on each of the places the wolf had dug his claws into my skin.
I soaked in the bathtub for a while, my muscles beginning to relax. When I thought I might fall asleep, I pulled myself out, careful not to get my cast wet, and put my nightgown back on. I hobbled back into the bedroom where Adam was sitting on the bed, reading a book by candlelight.
“Feeling better?”
“A bit. It’s been a long few days.”
“Exhausting,” he agreed, leaning over to kiss me. He set his book down and we both rested our heads on the pillows, lying on our sides so we were facing each other.
“Just a few short months and we’ll be married,” he said, taking my hand and running his thumb over my engagement ring.
“It can’t come fast enough,” I sighed. “Actually, it can. I still have so much to do.”
“I thought Annabelle was helping you plan?”
“She is, but things have been so chaotic we haven’t done anything besides plan the layout of the ballroom. I still have to find a florist, get the girls’ measurements for their dresses…”
“All right, all right,” Adam said, leaning down to kiss me again. “Save the stress for tomorrow. Tonight, try to get some sleep.”
He blew out the candle and I scooted over so I was nestled in his arms. The flickering light of the fire lulled me off to sleep. I had no hope of sleeping well, however. Once my eyes were closed, I was plagued by nightmares.
In my dream, I was sitting outside in the garden of Wolf’s Peak with Adam. I was happy; the sun was bright and warm and the birds were singing. Then things changed… clouds brewed overhead and the wind began to blow. Adam got up from the bench, and I begged him not to leave.
“I have to,” he said. “I’ll be right back, I promise.”
He didn’t see it coming. I did, but my scream was lost in the screams of the wind. From the forest, a brown and black wolf leapt from the trees and jumped on top of Adam, tearing at his neck. Jowls covered in blood, he turned his attention toward me. I was still screaming, tears streaming down my face as he drew closer.
As the wind whipped around me, my view changed. I was no longer at Wolf’s Peak but inside the carriage as the wolves tried to get at us. I was trying to pull one of the doors shut when a wolf shoved his way through, snapping at my heels. A brown and black wolf with yellow eyes.
I screamed again.
“Hazel, Hazel!”
My eyes flew open and I was back in my bedroom at Wolf’s Peak, breath heaving as my heart raced.
“Are you all right?” Adam asked me. “You were screaming.”
“Adam,” I said through my gasps, “I have seen that wolf before.”
Chapter Eighteen
Adam spent some time calming me down, promising we would pass on my epiphany to the council the next morning. Safe in his arms, I fell asleep until we were woken to a knock on the door. Adam answered it while I covered my head and grumbled.
“We’re meeting in a half hour,” Jasper said. “I’m having Daisy bring you up some breakfast.”
While we waited for Daisy to arrive, I forced myself out of bed and rummaged through my trunk for a gown. Adam helped button me up, his hands lingering warm against my skin.
“Those claw marks look better,” he remarked.
“I’m lucky I was wearing a coat, or they could have been much worse,” I said.
A second knock on the door announced the arrival of Daisy, and as I sat to twist up my hair, Adam brought in a tray with eggs, bacon, crumpets, and tea. We always ate like kings at Wolf’s Peak.
He set the tray on the table by the window, and I came to join him a few moments later.
“What will this meeting be like?” I asked him.
“They’ll probably ask you a few more questions about the attack. It’s important that you tell them what you told me last night. They need to know that one of Seth’s men escaped.”
I nodded. “Should be easy enough.”‘
We finished our meal and set our tray by the door as we made our way to the library. The library seemed to be Jasper’s preferred meeting place, and I didn’t mind at all. It was one of the few rooms at Wolf’s Peak that put me at ease despite how intimidating it looked.
Adam kept an arm around me as we made our way downstairs. I wondered if I’d see Dr. Brighton at all today; I could ask him about using something to help me walk. He had been busy all day yesterday.
Stephen and Annabelle had spent the night at Wolf’s Peak as well, so they and Jasper were already in the library when we got there. Instead of the cozy alcove we were at the large table in the center of the room again, with Jasper at the head of the table just like last time. I sat across from Annabelle, and once the other three men arrived, we could begin.
“First off, Jasper, we’d like to congratulate you on the birth of your little boy,” Lester said.
“Thank you,” said Jasper, “but I’m afraid we’re here to discuss some more unsettling news. Hazel was attacked by a wolf last night in the backyard.”
The men all murmured amongst themselves.
“One of Seth’s?” asked Peter.
“We don’t know that
for sure,” Jasper said.
“Actually—” Adam interrupted, his eyes flickering toward me.
I explained to the men my nightmare last night, and how it had helped me connect that the wolf who had attacked me had also been at the ambush on our way home from Ashford Castle.
“That can’t be right,” Jasper said with a frown. “Christine said there were six men plus the driver. The driver was killed right after Christine was delivered, I killed another one of the men, and another was killed in the fray. The elders captured five including Seth.”
“So, that’s seven altogether?” Adam said.
“But we counted eight that day,” I said.
Jasper rubbed his temple. “Are you sure?”
“I mean, it was utter chaos that day, but I’m fairly positive.”
“Eight is what I counted as well,” said Annabelle.
“I sent a letter to the elders already today, but I’ll send them another,” Jasper said. “If Seth still has a man on the loose, he could continue to do real damage. We need to find him as soon as possible.”
The men agreed to do searches in groups of three each night, sweeping the woods for the rogue wolf. It would be easier when Conor returned the next night.
After the meeting, I went upstairs to bid Christine goodbye. She was relaxing in bed, her little bundle asleep in her arms. With a smile she handed him over to me as I sat down beside her.
“You all must have had quite a night last night,” she said.
“Why do you say that?” I asked nervously, recalling Jasper’s plea to keep his wife in the dark.
“I was up feeding Lowell when I heard you all go to bed. It was late.”
“We lost track of time.” It was a reasonable excuse, but also a vague enough one that it wouldn’t conflict with whatever excuses everyone else came up with.
“No surprise there,” she said with a smile. “I know how the men get when they’re together.”
I wanted desperately to change the subject. “You’re a mum now. How do you feel?”
“Exhausted.” She grinned at me. “But also, I still can’t believe it. He doesn’t seem real.”
“He really is perfect.”
“Do you think?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“I’m just glad he waited to come until after everything died down,” she said with a sigh, and I swallowed. I couldn’t be the one who told the secret, but it made me feel guilty knowing that I was hiding something from her.
Lowell began to stir, and I took that as a cue to hand him back to his mother.
“He’ll probably need to eat soon,” she said, glancing at the clock. “I’d better drink some water.”
“I’m going to head home now, but I’ll come visit, all right?” I told her.
“I would love that. I doubt I’ll be getting out much for the first month or so,” she said.
I left her to cuddle her son and crossed the hall to my room. Most of my things were still in my trunk, so I tossed in last night’s nightgown and my hairbrush before latching it. Adam stepped in just as I was finishing.
“Are you ready?” he asked me.
“I suppose. It will be strange going back home after all of this.”
“You’ll have to live under your mother’s rules again,” he said with a smile.
“God, don’t remind me,” I groaned.
Adam loaded up my things and we waved goodbye to the duke as we climbed into the carriage. I could have fallen asleep on Adam’s arm after all the chaos from the last several days. I stifled a yawn.
“Hazel,” Adam said, and I sat up straight to look at him. “With one of Seth’s men being on the loose, we’re going to have to be very careful.”
“I know, curfew, don’t go anywhere alone…”
“I don’t think you’ll be in much danger away from Wolf’s Peak, but I still want you to be on your guard, all right?” he asked me. “Don’t go outside without your family or me.”
“You know,” I said, taking his arm, “you’ll be my family soon enough.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do,” I sighed. “I won’t leave the house without someone else.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s just until this menace is caught. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”
“Something else, you mean?”
His face darkened. “Something irreparable.”
Our carriage came to a stop outside my house. He helped me down and together we walked inside. I realized that I hadn’t asked about something to help with my walking since I hadn’t seen Dr. Brighton.
“Hazel, you’re home!” my mother exclaimed. “The duchess, is she all right? Why didn’t you tell me she had been taken?”
“We didn’t want to worry you,” I told her, when in reality I had completely forgotten that I hadn’t told her. “But she’s back, safe and sound, and she had her baby! He’s just adorable!”
My mum squinted her eyes at Adam. “Don’t get any ideas.”
His face turned scarlet.
“Really, Mum?” Harry asked, passing through the entryway. “You remember they’re adults, right?”
“That still doesn’t mean they can be improper,” she said.
“I have to go get Hazel’s things,” Adam said, pointing out the door. He made a hasty exit and took his time returning.
“Well, I’m glad you’re such a good support for the duchess,” my mother said, and I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. She was just happy that I was spending time with someone of a higher station.
“She’s a good friend,” I told her.
Adam returned with the trunk and offered to take it upstairs. I followed him up, lagging behind as I pulled myself up the steps. After setting down the trunk, he turned to me.
“Just a few months,” he said with a sigh.
“A few months, and I’m all yours,” I told him. “Forever and ever. Do you think you can handle that?”
“I know I can,” he said. “Every day with you is better than the one before, and every day without you is the worst hell I’ve ever known.”
I couldn’t stand on my tiptoes, so I pulled his head down so his lips could meet mine. I knew that it would be a while before we were alone together again, and I savored the moment as long as I could.
The next few weeks I was scarcely able to think about anything but the wedding. We spent time each day going over the guest list, seating charts, colors, flowers, and food. I had never realized how much work went into planning a wedding, how many intricate little details there were to consider. Luckily, Annabelle had planned quite a few weddings in her day, so she knew what she was doing.
“No, no,” my mum said, moving the tiny squares of paper around. “We can’t seat Aunt Edna next to Uncle Mortimer. They can’t stand each other.”
“But they’re married,” I said.
“Put Cousin Eddy between them.”
I sighed as she made the adjustment. “This would be a lot easier if everyone in the family didn’t hate at least one other person in our family.”
“Well, my dear, that’s not the way families work.”
“Does Adam have family coming?” Annabelle asked.
“His mum’s family is from Ireland. A few of them will be making the trip,” I said. Adam didn’t have much family in Weylyn. His father’s family had all but died out, and his mother hadn’t had family locally.
“Where are they staying?”
“Adam’s house. That’s another thing I have to take care of,” I said, rubbing my head. “I need to get their RSVPs so that I know who’s coming so I can tell the staff so they can be ready.”
“How many responses do we have so far?”
“Less than half. Probably closer to a quarter.”
“It’s still early,” my mum said. “We only sent them out a month ago.”
“Bridesmaids dresses, where are we at on that?” Annabelle asked, looking at her list.
“Christine’
s measurements were the last ones I needed, and I got them when I visited the other day. She may still need it adjusted once it arrives, but better that it’s too big than too small. I let them know to leave you extra room in the stomach area, but the dresses are cut so that it shouldn’t be a problem. We should get the gowns in about four weeks.”
“And your gown?”
“That should arrive any day now.”
She looked up from her list. “Are you excited?” she asked.
“So excited.”
“A flower girl. Do we have an update on that?”
“Finally,” I said with a nod. “Lisbeth’s brother has a little girl that we can borrow. She’s a little older than Daniel.”
“That should be perfect.”
Wedding planning had made my head spin so much that I nearly forgot about the wolf that was still on the loose. Updates were few and far between; the men hadn’t heard much. Perhaps the strangest news we did receive was that Seth’s men in captivity claimed they had no idea who we were talking about. The elders had even offered to give them a reduced sentence if they revealed who the eighth man was, but none of them were talking.
The days ticked by, and soon a month had passed since Christine had given birth. I’d visited her once a week, sometimes more if I wasn’t too busy. Most of my spare time was spent thinking about the wedding. I’d hardly even been able to spend time with Adam. He had visited for dinner a few times, and we’d spent a few evenings with my family, but he was busy trying to find out what he could about the wolf that had attacked me. And the wolf wasn’t making it easier; there had been no sightings of him since that night.
At least, not until that month had passed. The night had been normal; I’d done a bit of sewing, relaxed in the bath, and put on my dressing gown. Admittedly, I’d gone to bed late because I had been distracted by my wedding gift for Adam, a charcoal sketch of him as a wolf. When I realized that it was past midnight, I brushed out my hair and blew out the candle. I hadn’t noticed anything strange at the time.
Sometime after I’d fallen asleep, I woke up to the sound of my bedroom door opening. It took me a moment to realize what was happening; at first I thought it was morning and my mother was coming to wake me up, but the room was still dark. I rubbed at my eyes, trying to force myself to see though the darkness. Had I imagined it?
The Wolf's Betrothed (The Wolf's Peak Saga Book 5) Page 14
