The Scarred Prince (The Wolf's Pet Book One) by Aubrey Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

can’t back it up with action. I’m an excellent messenger and scout.”
    “You’re doing a bad job of it.”
    “How’s that?”
    “You’re tied up here, aren’t you? They might even kill you. That’s not very good scouting, is it?”
    I tried to speak boldly to him, but all my courage had left me. It was another moment before I realized why.
    He lifted his eyes to me and smiled. It wasn’t the look of his that made me tremble inside. No, it was his scent. He smelled like fir, like autumn, like smoke and leather and wolf, all mixed into one. But there was one thing missing.
    There was no scent of fear.
    I swallowed.
    “Left-handed and the daughter in a twin pair. You got the raw end of the deal, didn’t you?”
    I narrowed my eyes.
    “If we could talk for a second—”
    “What’s your name, Princess?”
    “I’m not a princess,” I said. “We don’t do caste systems here.”
    “You don’t?”
    “No. I’m the alpha’s daughter, that’s all.”
    His teeth flashed in the flickering light.
    “Alpha’s daughter. Not the alpha’s son?”
    I paused. The way he spoke gave the words an extra meaning.
    “What do you know about that?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
    “I know lots of things about your pack,” the man said. “I know you have a twin.”
    “I know nothing about your pack,” I said, trying to change the subject.
    “Really?”
    His voice was loud, filling the storage cabin, and I involuntarily glanced to the door. I worried that someone would hear and come running.
    “Princess, tsk, tsk. You don’t want anyone to know you’re here?” His eyes taunted me.
    “That’s not… I’m not…”
    “Sneaking away like this to see me? What would your daddy think?”
    “I’m not sneaking away,” I said, frowning. “I just wanted to talk with you. To see if we can avoid going to war.”
    “I think I liked it better when you just wanted to talk with me.”
    He leered at me. I bit my lip. I wouldn’t get sucked into his game.
    “I want to talk about strategies—”
    “You know what I would do to a girl like you?” he interrupted.
    I crossed my arms and stared at him. From under his black robes, his lips curved into a thin smile.
    “I can imagine,” I said.
    “No, you can’t.”
    I breathed in, but there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room. I turned to put another log on the fire, keeping my knife securely in my left hand. Without his gaze on mine, I could breathe more easily. Of course, this wouldn’t be easy. But I hadn’t counted on my physical reaction to the prisoner.
    He scared me, to be sure. I stayed out of his range. Even though his feet were bound along with his wrists, I couldn’t help but be wary.
    “I’ll tell you what I would do to you, Princess,” he said. “But first, tell me your name.”
    “Kinaya,” I said quickly. “But I don’t want—”
    “Kinaya.” He repeated my name, rolled it around on his tongue. I exhaled a breath.
    “Kinaya, Kinaya. A true shifter name.”
    “What’s yours?”
    “Alekk.” He paused, scrutinizing my face. “That doesn’t mean anything to you, does it?”
    I shook my head.
    “That’s interesting. You know absolutely nothing about our pack.”
    “We’re not interested in fighting with you,” I said.
    “Kinaya.”
    Alekk said my name and looked at me, saying nothing else. I didn’t know what he was trying to get at.
    “Never mind names. I’m trying to talk with you,” I said, exasperated.
    “And here we are. Talking. With my wrists and ankles bound tight. Is this how you treat your prisoners?”
    I frowned. I didn’t like his wrists being cut by the ropes. But I couldn’t loosen them. That was asking for trouble.
    “I’m sorry your wrists hurt,” I said lamely. “But I can’t untie you.”
    “No. That would be unwise.” His eyes flickered the reflection of the fire. It was getting warmer in the storage cabin. I stood next to the flames, not wanting to get any closer to him. I licked my lips. This