“Anyway,IguessIjust wanted to see him—just once, even if it was when he was already gone.”Hefrowned.“Andnow, of course,Ihave to stay and see about thePackLeadership.I’mnot going to hand over my birthright to that bastard.That?—”
“HarrisMurdoch,”Isaid, supplying the name.
“Right.Idon’t like his attitude, andIdon’t back down from a fight.”Hisfrown deepened.“Besides,I’vealways been aLoneWolfbefore, butIthinkIhave enough management experience thatI’dbe good at running a pack.”
I gave a mirthless laugh.
“You don’t need any business acumen or management experience to lead thePack—not if you do it likeCarterdid.Youjust need a cold heart and a willingness to kill anyone who gets in your way or breaks thePackLaws, that’s all.”
He shot me a wide-eyed look.
“So the rumors are true?UncleCarterreally was that much of a bastard?”
“And then some,”Isaid softly.
Then, hearing the bitterness in my own voice,Itried for a lighter tone.
“I’m glad you’re here.WhetherCarterwould have welcomed you or not, it’s good to knowCarterleft an heir.IthoughtIwas alone in the world after he passed.”
“Well,I’mafraidIcan’t offer you a whole extended family,”Korwynsaid.“Mymom died of breast cancer back whenIwas a kid and my dad passed a few years ago.”Heshrugged, his broad shoulders rolling with the motion.“Soit’s just me.”
“That’s fine,”Isaid.“I’mstill glad you came.Ah—here we are—you can turn in here.”
I gestured to the entrance toWolvertonManorwhich led to a long and twisting road that meandered through thick woods until it finally came to the house itself.Theroad was so narrow that only one car at a time could drive it and there were only a few places along the way for one car to pull over so another could pass.
“Be careful and go slow,”IadvisedKorwyn.“It’sa really twisty road.”
“You’re not kidding.”Hepeered through the windshield as he carefully navigated the twists and turns.“Whyin the world didn’tUncleCarterwiden this some?”
“He liked it this way.”Ishrugged.“Saidit made theManormore defensible.”
“Well, it certainly does that.”Hewas still frowning as he finally came to the end of the road, which opened onto a huge, circular driveway that was paved with smooth river stones in muted colors.
“And this isWolvertonManor,”Isaid, gesturing out the window at the vast building rising above us.Itwas built in the same style as anEnglishLord’shouse—asIsaid,Carterhad done extensive traveling in theUKand all ofEuropebefore coming back to build his home—and wouldn’t have looked out of place in the production of a movie based on aJaneAustennovel.Itwasn’t quite as big asPemberly, but it wasn’t far off.
“Wow…”Korwyn’seyes went wide again as he stared up at it.“Thisishuge.”
“It’s built in theGeorgianstyle,”Isaid automatically.Iremembered having the same awed reaction myself the first timeI’dseenWolverton, but the place held no more mystery for me now.Itwas nothing but a prison—a beautiful and elegant one to be sure, but a prison just the same.
Korwyn parked the car and started to get out, butIput a hand on his arm.
“Korwyn,”Isaid when he looked at me.“Iwant you to know, you’re welcome here as long as you want to stay.You’reCarter’strue heir—you belong in his home.”
His face broke into a genuine smile.
“Thank you,Vivienne.Butyou can call meKorif you want.”
“Kor.”Isaid and nodded.“You’rewelcome here.Thisis your home until you choose to leave it.”
I don’t know whyIsaid those words to him or whyItrusted him to stay with me.Iknew almost nothing about him—he could be dangerous.
But he didn’tfeeldangerous.Andeven the little bit of conversationI’dhad with him had convinced me that he was the exact opposite of my husband.Heseemed genuine and warm in a way that was foreign to me.Also,Iwas all alone in theManornow.Ihad dismissed the servants afterCarterdied—what was the point whenIcould clean up after myself?Ionly had a groundskeeper in once a week to trim the gardens, and a group of maids came monthly to do a thorough tidy of the most used rooms.
Not that any of the rooms were getting much use now thatIwas alone.
I was lonely,Iadmitted to myself.Iliked the idea of having another human being living with me—even if it was only for a little while.TheManorfelt so empty now, withoutCarterand the staff.Iwanted some company.
I swear that’s the only reasonIinvited him to stay—that and the fact thatIfeared what would happen ifHarrisMurdochwon theAlphaChallenge.Inever meant for everything that happened after to come to pass.
