sexual infidelities

There are certain types of betrayals that come from those you least expect. And even in a pack of wolves things still worked that way. The dispute over the clan's leadership was an issue unresolved by the Council of Ancients who expected Philip Morgan to assume the mantle. Even if he wasn't the rightful heir or the firstborn, Richard Morgan's choice of life on the high seas in command of a ship posed problems.

All Rick expected from life was to be the master of his destiny.

Living with Katherine...

Ah, that had left bad memories in his memory with her wife's betrayals. It wasn't just the betrayal issue. His wife's hidden romance with Valerius had gotten him more trouble than he'd expected. A dangerous enemy that was always lurking.

Katherine's death at the hands of mercenaries…

Rick still blamed himself for not noticing her behaviour. He had silently accepted the pregnancy, even though he knew the child was not his son. Revolted, he had decided to keep up appearances. But Katherine didn't quite agree with his decision.

Her death during the attack on Scarlet Castle brought back bitter memories of what could have been a happy marriage. His dreams were buried. He enjoyed the company of beautiful women, but he never got caught up in the web of emotions. He was a typical practical man. Rational and who never acted out of emotion.

Only suddenly… It was as if the emotions had returned. Without previous warning.

The memories of that night were still so vivid. Just close your eyes... That morning what appeared on the horizon...

Sighing, he stretched out carefully under the cosy warmth of the covers and with the girl still in his arms. a wolf? There was a wolf among them and that probably by decision of the Council had been kept away so he wouldn't find her. The conviction of it alone made him burn with fury against the ancient traditions.

He imagined the reaction of the people of the castle when they saw him arriving accompanied. He was always careful to avoid the dream of mothers who wanted an excellent suitor for their daughters' marriage.

What had changed?

He looked at the young woman who was sleeping soundly next to him, remembering the night before. He felt himself advancing on unfamiliar minefields of emotions. Again after years.

"Cassie?" called Bass.

The hand slowly stroked the red hair and unbound it without the damn hairstyles he hated.

There was Gaia.

The ship for years was all he wanted out of life. At the helm of the fluyt, he was an absolute master of his destiny. Knew what to do. He made the necessary decisions. Was the typical man who liked to give orders and keep control of everything. The organization was critical when leading a crew of over a hundred men to prevent onboard riots.

-My pretty...

His voice came low in her ears. There was something wrong, wasn't there?

Sharing blood with the girl... Dammit! Had she lied about her age? He noticed the delicate features regretfully. Didn't share blood between a pair of wolves when a female was so young.

It was a different noise that broke the characteristic silence of the forest that caught his attention. As soon as dawn came, he intended to return to the castle. That meant having an excellent excuse for missing the ball.

-What the hell...?

The sound of his mount's neigh...

There was something wrong with Snap...

After months on the high seas, the opportunity to exercise and enjoy the company of his favourite pet had been irresistible.

Slowly he got up, still looking worriedly at the girl. She should have woken up. Deep sleep… Young wolves transitioning… he sighed with resignation, knowing that switching power at first was difficult for some. The dejected way of her sleeping...

Her bite mark was visible on her pale, delicate skin.

How much of her blood had he tasted? In no way was it the reason she was still asleep. And in the morning that was slowly arriving, another detail began to draw his attention. That smell...

He could have sworn in amazement that it was tear dust. And it was absurd. Tear powder was only used against sorcerers to inhibit their powers and render them defenceless.

I had by no means expected to find a small nymph lost in the forest. Those forests were avoided by humans. Those magical woods housed guardians, ancient creatures that guarded the boundaries of the wolves' lands.

Another detail caught his attention. A wife? It meant taking responsibility for the clan and the pack.

And problems with the little brother.

His relationship with Philip ...

Richard avoided thinking about it too much. Four children of a family. And he and Philip never got along. The issue of illegal trafficking in Chabone had only widened an impassable chasm between them. There was also the ambush that had left him injured... Rick also avoided thinking about it after the authorities chose to suspend the investigation.

It didn't matter.

He and Philip... The troubled relationship between brothers... All because of a leadership that Rick had never questioned before.

-You don't even care about the damn traditions. Richard- Philip complained.

He knew his brother better than anyone. The low-key life and habits... Rick always avoided taking the form of a wolf with the pack... Katie's death had been a blessing from heaven for him who yearned to take Rick's place and take the lead.

Philip had the support of the majority of the Council of Ancients for this. The old ways... Richard had left it all behind, embittered by Katie's betrayal. To learn that his wife at the time slept with another man... Philip had rejoiced in celebration. Revenge had the sweet pleasure.

Years of childhood and youth when he had been passed over for being the youngest son and not the firstborn... He was the kind of smart man. Had made sure to provide people to look after the future Lady Morgan's life, waiting for the right moment to strike. And the Lady of Fortune... It was incredible. An argument and a terrible fight... It was well known to everyone in the castle that the couple did not live well. Separate bedrooms and the connecting door are always locked. There was no shortage of comments in the hallways.

And just then...

As the New Year's dances began... Valerius had appeared. The secret affair had assuaged much of Philip's pride and rancour, but nothing had been as glorious as discovering the pregnancy. A woman talked about everything in the privacy of a bed. And while she wasn't all that attractive, Katherine's chambermaid excelled at telling interesting stories.

-Truth! The communication door... Just the other day I asked my lady about the key. I needed to have the lord's room cleaned. Gaia was about to return to Garrone. The key is gone. I swear to you, Phil. My dear... My lord doesn't do the honours of my lady's bed...

Philip refrained from smiling and showing how the words pleased him.

He stretched out on the bed, taking little interest in his mistress who was beginning to get ready for the day's work. it was barely dawn yet.

-But you must be wrong, Debby. My sister-in-law... They said that Katie was sick. And after the fainting... - Phillip commented with all the naturalness of a banal subject. - My brother will be elated when he finds out about his wife's pregnancy.

Debby started to comb her mussed hair and shook her head.

-Well, my lady should have looked for the healer in the city. It was easier... Getting rid of the child... I swear to you, my love.- The girl spoke with adoring eyes to her lover.- There is no way to be his son. My lord doesn't even visit my lady after the discussion.

Phil managed a relaxed smile and whistled.

-Why, a banal discussion, no doubt, my dear. my brother was always kind of jealous. He certainly didn't relish the idea of ​​knowing that his wife was walking every afternoon alone without a chaperone around. These roads... There are dangerous bandits that...

Debby smiled and blinked confidently.

-Yes. Milady was very well accompanied. Lord Valerius is a gentleman. I overheard the conversation that afternoon. My lady planned to leave the castle with her lover. She was tired of living among savages as she said so much. She was disgusted at being forced to live away from Muir where she was raised. If you want to know my opinion, it was well done... Her father may even be one of the advisors, but still... One of ours and being raised among humans... What did you expect to happen?

Philip stared at his lover with forced surprise, his face showing what was a mask of emotions.

-Rick will not accept a bastard as a son. Nor create it. Even if Katie was furious as a husband or jealous of his lack of attention...

Debby braided her hair, taking the petticoats.

-It was that young lady... My lord... Oh, forget it, Phil They used to say that my lord had Mayra as a lover. That maid... I saw the eyes well... It wasn't Mayra who held my lord's attention. The girl has turned away from the castle despite it all being an inconsequential flirtation. Their coexistence has always been disastrous if you ask me. They looked like anything but a couple...Just friendship doesn't keep a marriage. Sex can be good, but more is needed. My lord never loved my lady. They were just friends. Marriage was required by the Council.

Philip scratched his chin thoughtfully.

Everyone knew that, yet the couple kept up appearances in front of the entire castle. It gave the impression of peaceful coexistence. Women. Well, they were all the same. And Katie had always been a vindictive child. Rick had been very lucky that the key to the communication room had been lost. Or he would have lost his clothes. Katie had spent a small amount on fabric, jewellery, and other frivolities to prove her husband. Even knowing that the Gaia needed repairs after a disastrous approach that had left damage to the ship's timbers.

-Well then... If Katie is really pregnant...

- The son is certainly not my lord's, Phil. And when my lord finds out... Poor lady. Poor thing. She hopes to be able to leave before the ship arrives in our domains.

Philip cleared his throat, pretending to be dismissive.

That would be very difficult. Very unlikely after he had generously as a good brother managed to send word to Rick that he had better go back. Katie's ailments... It was so easy to give reasons for gossip... Discreetly everyone started to comment... The castle residents didn't even see the couple together anymore. Rick spent most of his time aboard the Gaia. He had begun to avoid meals with his family and became increasingly isolated. An unexpected pregnancy in this situation...with the couple already so far apart... It was no reason for reconciliation at all.

Bad-tempered. Angry and little patience. Rick was always nervous and didn't talk much. The couple's official separation was their guarantee of achieving the leadership of the wolves. And then, with some coaxing, Muir's good graces for accepting his nomination as future alpha. His plans were perfect. Everything had been calculated down to the smallest detail.

Rick knew the rancour his brother harboured against him. He knew how much Phil's ambition went beyond the family's interests and needs. He was the self-centred type. Getting back to the occasion ahead of schedule… He wanted to know what else had come as a surprise. The news that his wife was pregnant by another man or the betrayals of a brother who pretended to be a good friend.

Suddenly he began to receive congratulations on the arrival of the heir. Naturally intended to demand clarification from his wife about the unexpected pregnancy, as he was not the father. Everything had happened surprisingly.

The carriage accident. Katie had lost the child so young.

He had been blamed. Their coexistence was unsustainable. The child's father when he learned of what had happened... It had brought great losses to the Scarlet Castle. The mercenary troops attacked the castle. And during Valerius' daring rescue attempt that sought to take Katie out of the wolves' domain... Just at that moment he...