What Was Wolf Thinking? Scarlet and Wolf

Chapter 21: I Had A Bad Dream

by Down Iris

%

I do not have any rights to nor make any money from the characters in this story.

%

When Wolf woke up, he was lying on his side. Scarlet was in front of him, curled up with her back to him. His arm clung around her waist. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent, feeling content. That only lasted for a moment, however, as the events of the day before came rushing back.

What was he going to do? He felt helpless. Try as he might, he could think of no good solution to his problem. How was he going to protect Scarlet?

Eventually he smelled Scarlet's tears. He pulled her closer to him. "Scarlet?" She didn't answer. He realized she must still be asleep. He propped himself up behind her. "Scarlet?" he asked nervously. He didn't know why she was crying, but he was worried that it was about him.

"I had a bad dream," she said finally. He was a little relieved, but still worried about her. She wiped the tears away and rolled onto her back. "I remembered something," she whispered. "I think it might have to do with the princess." He tensed, hoping for a solution to his problem. "I remember my grandma mentioning Logan now, but she didn't want me to overhear. I was eavesdropping. And there was another man…"

As Wolf listened to Scarlet's story, his horror grew. This was worse than when she didn't know anything. Jael would never let her get away now. And now the pack would know for sure that Scarlet's grandmother knew about Selene.

"That's what they're looking for, isn't it? I mean—it must have been the princess that they were talking about. I don't know where she was, who was taking care of her…I never saw her. All this time I thought she'd been planning on sending me away, but now…after what you told me about Logan Tanner and Grand-mere and Princess Selene…"

Wolf sat up, curling his knees against his chest, trying to think of a new angle to save her.

"This man had an accent. I think he was from the Eastern Commonwealth. And I'm pretty sure my grandma called his wife 'Madame Linh.' I don't know how common of a name it is, but…I would recognize him if I saw him again. I'm sure I would."

"Don't say that." He covered his ears as if that would help. "I didn't hear that." He cringed. She was just making it worse.

"Wolf?" She pulled his hands down. "This is good, isn't it? They want information, I have information. We'll barter. We'll trade for my grandmother's safety. Isn't that—"

"Don't go," he interrupted frantically. "Don't go looking for your grandmother."

"I have to."

"No, Scarlet, you don't have to." He grasped her hand, almost pleading. "There's nothing you can do for her. If you go, you'll only be putting yourself in danger. Would your grandmother want that?" Scarlet yanked her hand away.

Wolf decided to bring up the idea of running away, hoping he could convince her. "We can run away. We'll disappear in the forest. Go to Africa, or the Commonwealth. We can survive and they'll never find us. I can keep you safe, Scarlet. I can protect you." He was desperate, but she didn't seem to understand.

"What are you talking about? Just last night you said that if I had any information it could help, it could be my grandma's only chance, and now I have information. I thought that's what you wanted."

"Maybe. Maybe, if you had a full name, an address, something specific. But a last name and a country—an enormous country—and a description? Scarlet, if you tell them this, they'll only take you captive, in hopes that you'll be able to identify this man." He needed her to see what fate would await her.

"Good," she said, surprising him. "Then we'll offer to trade me for my grandmother."

Wolf shook his head, knowing that the pack would not release her grandmother, but unable to explain why.

"We'll go together. You can tell them that you have information, but you'll only give it to them on the condition that they let you walk away free, and that you take my grandmother with you. And they can have me."

He shuddered, knowing what would happen to her.

"Wolf, you have to promise me you'll take care of her. We don't know what kind of condition she'll be in. If they've…if she's hurt…you'll have to take care of her."

He saw one last chance to persuade her. "What if she's already dead, Scarlet?"

Her face fell. "Do you think she is? You think they've killed her?"

Watching her face and listening to her trembling voice, Wolf found that he couldn't get out the necessary lie. He'd told her so many other lies, why couldn't he lie when it mattered?

"Say it," Scarlet finally commanded.

"No," he murmured, shoulders sinking. "No, I don't think they've killed her. Not yet." He was mad at himself.

She covered her face with both hands. "Thank the stars. Thank you.

Now he started getting irritated with her. "Don't thank me for telling the truth when it would have been mercy to lie to you," he said harshly.

"Mercy? To tell me she's dead? To break my heart?"

"Making you believe she was dead was the only chance I had to convince you not to go looking for her. We both know that. I should have lied."

"It's not your decision to make. I have to go after her. But you don't have to come with me."

If he didn't go with her, she would have no chance. "Scarlet—"

"No, listen. I appreciate your help. How far you've brought me. But I can go on alone. Just tell me where to go and I'll find it myself."

Panicking now, Wolf thought of another idea. "Maybe I won't," he said. She didn't know where to go, and he didn't have to tell her.

She looked at him with anger, but it soon dissipated. She scooted toward him and cupped his face in her hands. "They'll want this information, won't they?" He didn't respond. "We'll offer me as a trade. You and Grand-mere can go somewhere safe, take care of each other, and when they let me go, I'll come find you. They can't keep me forever." She smiled at him, but he couldn't return it. She didn't know what she was talking about.

Then she kissed him. He instinctively pulled her against him, but when he realized that this would be their last kiss ever, that ruined it for him. He quickly withdrew. "There's no guarantee they'll let you go. When they're done with you, they might kill you. You're sacrificing your life for hers." He hoped that this would finally make her see reason, but it was pointless.

"It's a chance I have to take."

Wolf debated what to do next. Should he tell Scarlet the truth? He realized that even if he told her the truth, she would still want to go after her grandmother. The only option he could see would be to try to convince Jael to let her go, if he downplayed her information. And if the search for Selene really was over, then he'd have a better shot at freeing Scarlet. He would have to keep pretending, and soon she would hate him.

"I know. You'll do what you have to do," he said sadly, and kissed her wrist. "And so will I."

%

The next chapter is the scene in the galley of the Rampion.