Page 4 of Alpha Wolf’s Arranged Bride (Rose Hollow Wolves #1)

Panic floods my blood as I prepare to leave with Jarrod. I know there’s no point trying to take my car—Uncle Azarian will have all the roads covered. My only chance is to run into the forest with my son.

I pack a small bag, instructing Jarrod to do the same. “Wear your sturdiest shoes and your good pants, shirt, and jacket,” I order. “Like we’re going on a really long mountain hike, okay?”

“But where are we going?” Jarrod asks, trying to cover the fear in his voice.

“Up the mountain,” I answer, not wanting to admit that I don’t know. “We’re going to have a little adventure as wolves, okay?”

Jarrod nods, looking down at his pack uncertainly. “How long will we be gone? I don’t really know what to bring.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. “We’re going to stash our supplies, then go a fair distance in our wolf shapes. I’ll come back for the bags when we need them.”

“Okay,” he answers, still looking confused.

I don’t blame him—I am, too.

“Are you ready?” I ask, trying not to sound impatient.

“Sure,” Jarrod answers, putting on his backpack. “This sounds like a fun adventure.”

I hope so.

“Good, let’s go!”

I take his hand as we go out the back door. My little cottage—passed down to me from my mother—is on the edge of the woods, and almost immediately, we’re at the edge of thick scrub. The area is challenging to move through, but at least the climate isn’t too hostile.

We’ll just head south past the mountain. If we get to a human city, we might be able to blend in and hide our scent.

Jarrod hurries ahead, eventually letting go of my hand so he can push up the slope. Even as his breath starts to heave, he keeps going and doesn’t ask for a rest.

Then I hear baying from behind us, and my heart pounds so hard, black waves flow across my vision.

“They’re after us!” I gasp. “We have to move, Jarrod, now!”

“Who’s after us?” he cries. “Do they want to hurt us?”

“Yes,” I answer, throwing my backpack to the ground and gesturing for him to do the same. “I’m so sorry, but it’s your uncle and the pack elders. They want me to marry someone in Rose Hollow, and if I refuse, they’re going to hurt us.”

“What?” he shrieks.

I shake my head, shoving him in front of me. “I thought I could get us away before I had to explain. It doesn’t matter now, just shift. Shift and run!”

Jarrod leaps ahead, shifting into his wolf shape in one quick jump. He darts ahead of me, gaining ground, and I hang back a little to make sure his retreat is covered.

Behind me, the panting of the warrior wolves gets louder as they close in. I can hear their claws ticking against rocks as they pick up speed, and I know they’re moving faster than us.

There’s no hope!

I put on another burst of speed, shoving Jarrod ahead of me. If we can get to the crest of the next hill, maybe we can lose them on the downslope.

We are almost at the rise when a massive wolf leaps out of the bushes ahead of me and crashes into Jarrod. They roll away down the hill, biting and snarling at each other. A scream bursts through my throat as I turn to chase them, not giving a single thought to my own safety.

I hear all the other warriors turn tail to follow, but all I can see is Jarrod tangling with the other wolf as they twist and wrestle with each other. When they roll straight off a rocky outcrop, I hear a terrible howl of pain from the other side.

The shock hits me so hard, I lose my footing and slide through the rocks and gravel, finally coming to a stop on the other side of the rocks. As I lay there, trying to get my breath back, I heard the other wolves surrounding me.

Jarrod screams, and I struggle to my feet. He’s shifted back to his human shape and is being held by two thugs I don’t recognize. One of them glares at me, squeezing Jarrod’s arm and giving him a shake.

Quickly, I shift back to my human shape, holding out my hands.

“Okay, okay!” I shout. “You got us. I’ll stop fighting. You can take us in. Just please, don’t hurt him!”

“I believe your uncle warned you of the consequences if you refused his proposal?” the thug growls.

“He did!” I cry. “But you’ve got us now. There’s no need to follow through with his threat. I’ll do it—I’ll marry the guy!”

The big warrior frowns, shaking his head. “You’re lucky that your uncle told us to take you alive and that he’d decide later what he wanted to do. I should snap his neck right here for your insolence.” He glared down at my son.

“No!” I scream. “Don’t, please! I’ll do anything you say.”

The two guys holding Jarrod chuckle, sharing an amused look. Jarrod has gone completely white, his eyes almost bugging out of his head. I run forward, trying to get to him, but I’m immediately grabbed by the other men.

My heart breaks as I look into my son’s terrified eyes. I tried to avoid this horror, and all I did was make it worse.

I’m so sorry, Jarrod. God, I’m sorry for everything!

The walk down the mountain seems to take a long time, and light begins to trickle into the sky as we reach the town limits. The guys shove us into the back of a van and drive to my uncle’s manor.

“What are we doing here?” I ask warily.

“Azarian wants you under strict guard,” the guy says. “You’re to get ready for the ceremony, with Jarrod, here at the manor. The women are going to help, and we will be waiting outside to take you into town.”

Clinging to Jarrod’s hand, I get out of the van and walk shakily to the house.

My uncle’s housekeeper greets me and takes us upstairs, where a few of the elder women are waiting.

Both of us are bathed and dressed for the occasion, and even though an event like this would usually be a celebration, the mood is tense and almost completely silent.

I stand in front of the mirror in my white dress as the women braid ribbons into my hair, watching Jarrod have his hair combed back. He’s wearing a smart suit and looks incredibly grown up. When he glances over at me, he smiles, even though there’s still fear in his eyes.

“You look pretty, Mom,” he says.

“Thanks, baby,” I say with a trembling smile. “You look really handsome, too.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” he says, coming over to hold my hand. “He’s going to be a nice guy, you’ll see. Everything is going to work out.”

One of the women scoffs loudly, and I shoot her a glare. She shrugs, turning away with a cruel smile.

Fine. Torture me if you want, but Jarrod’s just a kid!

“We’d better go,” Elder Rowan says. “Azarian’s sent a few messages. Apparently, the groom is ready and waiting.”

A cold breath shudders through my chest, making me shiver all over. Jarrod smiles, giving my hand a firm squeeze. I smile back at him, determined to fake it for my son, even though I’m terrified.

If I do this, Jarrod will be safe. Uncle promised me!

The elder women take us outside, where we’re met by the guards. They aren’t local pack members, and I have to wonder where Uncle Azarian is getting his tough guys from.

We’re thrown into the van again and driven into the center of town. I’m shocked to see an ocean of people flooding the square around the fountain.

I guess Uncle needs a few witnesses.

“Come on,” the big guy says. “They’re waiting for you.”

He grabs my arm and pushes me ahead of him. I reach for Jarrod, but the guy shoves my son back.

“He’ll be right behind you,” the tough guy says. “Don’t worry.”

“I do worry,” I shoot back. “Wouldn’t you?”

The guy just gives me a cruel smile and shoves me forward again. I look back over my shoulder once to make sure Jarrod is following behind me, then face front to walk towards the fountain. I can see Uncle Azarian, Elder Gregor, and two others I don’t recognize.

One of them must be my husband.

The crowd parts before me, and music starts to play. A sense of unreality sets into my bones as I realize this is actually happening. Within a few minutes, I’ll be married.

Wife to some unknown, random guy from Rose Hollow. I don’t even really know why this is happening!

One of the guys standing next to Azarian has a familiar look to him. Even with his back to me, a sense of maddening recognition teases at my mind.

Like when you see an actor in a film and you’re sure you’ve seen them before, but can’t remember where.

The sense of familiarity gets stronger as I get closer, and I’m so curious by this point, I’ve forgotten to be scared. He has his back to me, but the broad shoulders and something about the set of his stance make me sure I know him.

As I take the first step onto the low stairs, the sun breaks out above me, warming my skin with glowing rays. The tall guy turns around—and his face goes slack with shock.

I stand on the second stair, unable to take another step towards him. I feel like the entire world has frozen, and there is only me and this man in it… this strange man I somehow recognize.

I can tell from the look on his face that he’s having a similar moment. I let my eyes linger on him, taking in the rich mahogany-brown hair and handsome features.

Where have I seen him before?

Suddenly, he catches my gaze with his, and I’m staring straight into his eyes. Beautiful, glowing amber eyes, like liquid gold lit by flames.

Jarrod’s eyes!

Recognition slams into my solar plexus, stealing my breath and making my knees tremble. I remember his hair as black, and his eyes so dark that they barely passed for brown, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind who is standing before me.

James. The man who ruined my fucking life.