“Who did it?” I ask faintly. I know who left those marks on his skin. Goddess. Derek wouldn’t have. Surely he’s not that cruel—
Derek tugs his sleeve down. “I ran into your pet wolf in town. He lost his shit and attacked me! Completely unprovoked.”
I shake my head. “Bullshit.” I don’t believe a word he says. Gunnar would never do something like that. That’s not who he is. There’s no time to get into this, but oh, I want to. “I’m going to find him. He’ll tell me exactly what went down and I swear, Derek, if you were in any way responsible, that’s it.”
“You’re full of it, Lo. You’d really choose some guy you barely know over me when we’ve known each other for ages?”
“I know him—”
“Oh, please! I’m calling it, here and now. You lied to our faces this whole time, didn’t you?”
“Shut the hell up,” Rodney snaps. “Arlo wouldn’t—”
“What did that wolf promise you, Lo? Huh? That’s the only way I could see you ever letting one of those monsters touch you again!”
“He’s not a monster!” I snap, my hands in fists so I don’t start whaling on this git. “What did you do? He wouldn’t have attacked you without reason.”
Derek sneers. “I didn’t have to do anything but taunt him a little. He got up in my face, and I used my magic to defend myself. Then he lost his shit and attacked me!”
Imogen’s mouth falls open. “You used magic? Were there humans around?”
“Yes, but I put up a look-away ward, so—”
“You fucking idiot, Derek!” Rodney snaps.
Derek folds his arms. “Go ahead and blame me. I did what anyone would have done.”
“There’s bound to be witnesses,” I say, more to myself so I can keep calm. “The Council will see the truth, and you’ll be out of a job.”
“You’ll be the ones who see the truth! We can’t live in peace with those monsters.” Derek looks at me in disgust, then turns away and slams the car door once he’s inside.
“What a prick!” Imogen turns to me and squeezes my shoulders. “Don’t listen to him. It’s obvious how you two feel about each other.”
I wet my lips, uncomfortably aware that Derek was right.
“Are we going?” Behind us, Mum and Dad make their way across the lawn. “Come on, the sooner we go, the sooner we can celebrate the wedding!”
Will there even be a wedding? Even if we rescue Gunnar, I don’t know if he’ll want to be with me at all. My family and friends deserve the truth.
I force myself to look up at them. “There’s something I need to tell you but I want you to remember this: It may have started as a lie, but if it ends, then it’s ending with the truth.”
Their concerned looks make my stomach churn.Here goes…
“I lied to you. All of you.”
Nan frowns. “What in Freya’s name—”
“Gunnar and I aren’t engaged. Not really.”
Mum and Dad share a bewildered look. Mum laughs. “What are you saying? Of course you are!”
“No, we’re not!” Sighing, I run a shaky hand through my hair. “Nan, you know I needed that flower to make my potion. Ithought the only way you would give it to me was if you trusted a wolf shifter, so…” The guilt claws into me, making it difficult to continue when I realize just how bad this really sounds.
Nan takes a step back. “So you lied to us about your relationship with Gunnar?” Tears dampen her eyes. “All of it was a lie?”
Mum shakes her head. “No. No, that can’t be true. My goddess, the way you acted with each other! I haven’t seen you so happy in years!”
“And what did Gunnar get out of all of this, then?” Dad asks. He’s the only one who doesn’t appear upset, more curious than anything.
