Page 15 of Alpha Wolf’s Arranged Bride (Rose Hollow Wolves #1)

The tension refuses to drain out of my body, and my mind is alight with burning suspicion. Anxiety gnaws at my stomach, a growing feeling of doom as I think about Eccles and the threat they pose to Rose Hollow.

If I knew Scarlett was true to me, then I could handle anything. With all these secrets between us, I feel lost in a storm, all my senses confused, and I don’t know where to turn.

I manage to settle my breathing and relax a little, but I know sleep won’t come easy tonight, and it’s not just because of stress and worry.

She’s so beautiful when she’s angry. My God, her green eyes glow with the intensity of a hailstorm in early summer when she lets her temper fly.

Even though I only spent one night with her, the impression she left on me hasn’t faded over the years. I can still feel her skin sliding under my fingers like satin, taste her on my tongue, and feel her warm body wrapped around mine.

Having her scent rising around me while these memories flow through my mind makes the pressure inside almost unbearable. I want to reach over and grab her, press my lips to hers, and erase all our doubts and confusion with the passion that ignited between us then—and still burns between us now.

I know she can feel it. More than once, I’ve caught the scent of her and known she’s aroused… I would never dare touch her if she were unwilling, but I know she still has feelings for me. Holding back from her is the worst torture I’ve ever known.

Thoughts of Scarlett lull me into a dull stupor, and I fall into a light sleep. My dreams are full of her—the sweet taste of her on my tongue, her warm skin against mine, her scent engulfing my senses, making me forget the world and all the pain in it.

Almost mad with lust, I reach out for her, only to flip over and wake suddenly. It only takes me a second to realize I’m alone.

Where is she?

A floorboard creaks in the hall, and I slip out of bed to sneak over to the door and peer out towards the landing. I see Scarlett walking slowly towards the stairs, looking around furtively.

I want her to think I’m asleep. Then I can see where she’s going.

I wait until I hear her feet on the stairs before I follow her. I tilt my head down the hallway to make sure Jarrod is still peacefully asleep, then follow Scarlett towards the back door.

She stops several times, listening and sniffing the air. I pause in the shadows every time, knowing that my scent is hanging around the house enough that she most likely won’t realize I’m following her.

So long as I stay still, she won’t see me…

When she goes to the big glass doors to the garden and peers out, I start to worry that she isn’t listening for intruders but looking for a specific scent.

Is her lover coming here? Would she really meet Jarrod’s father in my backyard?

Thinking of Jarrod makes my heart do a painful flip. I feel so connected to the boy, as if I’ve always known him. It’s not something I can explain, but I know I’d protect him with my life.

Is his father some deadbeat who took off and never cared for him? I’d beat the shit out of him if I ever got my hands on him. Who could abandon an innocent child?

Scarlett watches the garden for a while before slowly pushing open the door and walking out. She doesn’t seem to have a purpose, just wanders slowly around the yard, looking at the ground.

I lean forward so I can catch the scent of the night air. It’s warm and lush with the aroma of flowers and blooming trees. I can’t detect another wolf nearby.

But surely, that’s why she’s out here. To meet with her lover.

Standing in the doorway, I struggle with my emotions, desperate to run to her but not daring to move. Part of me believes utterly that if I wait here long enough, her secret tryst will reveal itself. But deep in my heart, there’s a place that refuses to accept that.

What can I possibly say to her after what I did? It would be the height of arrogance to assume she still harbors feelings for me.

Scarlett doesn’t look up or scan the area again.

She just takes long, slow strides, looking at the ground as if she’s thinking about where to put her feet.

With the very faint moonlight illuminating only her pale nightgown and leaving the rest of her in shadow, she almost looks like a restless spirit.

Maybe that’s exactly what she is.

I have to wonder how she ended up here with me if her heart belongs to another, but I also know the alliance was too important to both packs for her to refuse. I get the feeling she isn’t here by choice, and knowing her uncle, it wouldn’t surprise me if threats were involved.

How can I keep her safe when she won’t tell me anything? If she’s in danger, I should know… unless she’s counting on her lover to come and save her?

The idea breaks me. Instead of the anger and jealousy I expect to feel, the emotion that takes over my heart is defeat.

I had my chance, and I threw it away. I could have told her she’s the most important thing in the world to me and handled the situation better. Instead, I just left her.

Watching Scarlett for a while longer, I’m eventually convinced that she isn’t out here waiting for someone. She paces slowly back and forth, a pensive look on her face, and doesn’t scan the area again. I’m tempted to go back to bed and pretend this never happened, but I realize I can’t.

So, I go back to bed and try to smooth things over tomorrow—all this mistrust will still be simmering under my skin. I can lay off all the official stuff with Eccles—if Scarlett knew anything, I would have found out years ago.

There’s only one thing I really care about.

My breath shudders through my chest as I think about saying the words aloud. I can’t go another day without knowing the truth.

Who is Jarrod’s father?

When I step out into the yard, Scarlet has her back to me. I walk quickly across the grass, my feet almost silent. I reach out to touch Scarlett on the shoulder, but at the last second, she swings around and sees me right behind her.

Her face tightens with fear, and the blood drains from her face.

“It’s okay,” I say softly. “It’s me.”

“And who are you?” she asks, her voice trembling. “James Drent? Rex Stanton? Some other name? I don’t even know you.”

“You do know me, Scarlett,” I say, reaching out for her hand.

She shakes her head and takes a step back.

“You know I like peppercorn sauce, and my steak medium-rare. You know I love potatoes, but I hate sweet potatoes. You know I like my coffee with too much cream, and my tea black.” She sniffs a little.

“How do I know you weren’t pretending? How do I know anything? ”

She looks so lost and forlorn. I step closer, desperate to hold her.

“I could have been,” I admit. “But I wasn’t. I wanted you to know the real me. I swear, I wasn’t lying. In those quiet moments between us, you really had me.”

She wipes her face, shaking her head.

“Scarlett, I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sorry for everything, but especially for this. I know you’re hurting, and I’m the cause of it, but there is something I need to know.”

“I told you,” she says. “I don’t know what Eccles is doing.”

“No,” I reply, taking another step closer to her. “That’s not it. I need to know about the other man.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide. “What other man?”

“Come on, I know you’ve been with someone since the last time I saw you. I just need to know, this is absolutely killing me, and I—”

“Rex, how fucking dare you?” she snaps. “After what you did—and the secrets you’re still hiding—you think you can throw something like this at me?”

“Like I said, I’m sorry,” I say, reaching out for her hand. “But I’m trying to be honest here. I can’t go another day worrying about this. I think we really could have peace between us if I just knew this one thing.”

“Rex,” she chuckles, shaking her head. “You really are a stupid fucking fool, you know that?”

“Why?” I bark. “Because I care about you, and who you’ve been with? I don’t know what you’re—”

“Rex!” she shouts, shoving me in the chest. “There has never been anyone else! Only you, always you. Will you get that through your thick head!”

Even though she yells at me as she pushes me away, I can see the pain in her eyes. Her voice cracks, and she almost chokes on the words. As much as I want to yell back, I can’t. Seeing her so vulnerable has taken all the fury out of me.

This just doesn’t make sense, though. If I’m the only one, then who is Jarrod’s father?

Scarlett raises her hands again, and I think she wants to push me away, but instead, she grabs my shoulders and looks up into my eyes. My arms go around her like a reflex, and I pull her against my chest.

Emotions I can’t identify throb through me. My lust is there, the passion I have for this woman that I know will never die. In the melting pot with it are fear, confusion, suspicion… but also a fierce desire to protect her.

“Rex,” she mumbles, her lips inches from mine. “I’m sorry.”

I don’t know what she’s apologizing for, and I don’t care. The only thing that feels real to me is her warm weight in my arms and the throb of her heartbeat against my chest.

Oh, dear God, help me. I’m a weak man.

I bend my head down and touch my lips to hers. I wait for her to protest, push me away, and yell at me some more, but she doesn’t. Instead, her hands tighten on my shoulders, and she pulls our bodies even closer together as she deepens the kiss.

All my fears are still swirling in my mind, but they feel very far away now. Having Scarlett in my arms feels like an absolution I don’t deserve, but one I prayed for every day.

When Scarlett wraps her arms around my waist and thrusts her body against mine, every last fear and doubt is completely blown away. Even if it goes against all my training, all my common sense, I just don’t care anymore.

The only thing I really want in this world is Scarlett. If she wants me, too, then no force on this planet can tear us apart.