The Wolf's Pursuit by Rachel van Dyken Read Free Book Online Page B

happy. It was the only way to convince himself he
was. If he stopped jesting and making a fool of everyone around
him, then the silence would kill him. He was convinced that if he
even spent one day without finding humor, even if it meant hurting
others, then grief would destroy him. He had come close today. So
dangerously close while he was in his carriage.
    He could not. No, he would not allow himself
that same weakness again. She was dead. It was his fault. He would
burn in Hell, and he needed to pay for his sins by living through
certain torture every day without her. By breathing when air was
suddenly missing.
    Shrugging, he gave her a seductive smile, the
kind where he purposefully drew his lips across his teeth as his
eyes boldly scanned her body and then in a husky voice he said, "My
lady, was that a challenge?"
    Dominique took a step between them "Do not
encourage him, my dear, truly. I do not wish to see him talk you
out of your gown."
    "I am a married woman. I am in love! I would
never! Hunter is my friend!" Her words came out at a rapid
speed.
    "My dear." Dominique chuckled. "I do love
you, and I trust you, but Hunter is…" He glared at Hunter then
looked softly back at his wife. "The very devil possesses that man,
for I've never seen so many married woman fall at his feet. He
truly is the best kind of hunter."
    "But what does one do…" Hunter asked as he
rose from his seat, "when the hunter is also the Wolf?" With a wink
in their direction, he walked toward the doors. "I assume I'm in
the red room. I'll just see to my things."
    Hunter walked briskly out of the room and
toward the stairs, but Samuel stopped him in his tracks. A grim
expression passed across the old butler's face before he held the
platter in the air in front of Hunter, nearly taking off his nose
in the process. "Your grace, this message was delivered for
you."
    "I feel at home already." Hunter grinned and
slapped the butler on the back quite forcefully, making the man
stumble a bit on his feet before rolling his eyes and turning
away.
    There was no seal on the letter. Curious, he
opened it. A grin spread across his face so widely, he was sure he
would be sore in the morning. A simple letter should not affect him
so, but there it was, irritatingly making him want to smirk and pat
himself on the back.
    It read, I'll be wearing a red cape. Try
not to make a complete fool out of yourself. —Red
    Yes, tonight was going to be a lovely night
indeed. He decided to pen her something back.
    "I will be wearing nothing at all. —The
Wolf"
    Laughing aloud, he scribbled quickly on the
bottom of the note and passed it on to the butler. With great
gusto, he gave a deep bow to the silly man and whistled on his way
to his rooms. Maybe, just maybe it wouldn't be such a horrible
mission after all.
     
    ****
     
    "Who is that from, dear?" Rosalind asked as
Gwen stuffed the correspondence into her pocket. "Why are you so
flushed? Are you feeling ill? Is this about tonight?"
    Gwen gritted her teeth. Ever since her
sister's marriage, she had turned into something of a stand-in
mother. Not that Gwen minded, but in times like these, she truly
valued her privacy. "Nothing to be alarmed about. Merely an old
friend wishing to inform me of his dress so we may match
tonight."
    "His?" Rosalind repeated. "Gwen, do you have
a tender for a young gentleman?"
    "He isn't young, he's old and quite flighty.
In fact, I'm sure he's just one drink away from dying. Do not
trouble yourself with such things." Gwen gave her sister a cheeky
grin before dashing up the stairs to ready herself for the
ball.
    Once she was inside the safety of her room,
she pulled the letter out and bit back a curse. How was she to deal
with this man every day of the Season? If anything, it made her
resolve to finish up the mission that much more implacable. She
needed to be finished with Hunter. It was hard enough that his face
plagued her thoughts, his scorching kiss still made her dizzy.
    Taking a calming