Brotherhood

Chapter 16

Opening her eyes to a glaring light shining down on her, Amy squinted, reaching out for the warmth of Geric's fur. But her fingers didn't brush against fur. It brushed against skin.

Her eyes widened in shock, fully expecting to find a naked man lying next to her, but Geric had pants on, just no shirt. He looked so peaceful in his sleep, the worry lines that sometimes folded into his forehead completely wiped away. For a moment, she wished that they could lie there forever, not having to worry about the stresses of life. Not having to worry about the uprising the wolves were planning. Not having to worry about getting killed the second she stepped out of the tent. So she'd stay here just a bit longer nestled up against Geric's warmth.

His eyes fluttered open as if sensing her gaze on him. He sat up quickly, glancing wildly around the tent that sheltered them. "I'm sorry," he breathed. "I was supposed to be keeping watch. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's okay," Amy whispered as she placed a hand on the side of his face. "We're both alive. Nothing happened to us."

He nodded, letting out a sigh of relief before trapping her hand against his face. "We'll have to find a way to escape soon. The other wolves still think that you're my prisoner, but I don't dare leave you alone for a second. One of the other wolves down there, Favian, has been battling for Alpha status but he got overruled this time. He's probably the only one who will defy me right now."

"Which one is Favian?"

"He's the one who tried to attack you last night."

Amy shuddered as she remembered Favian's cold-hearted eyes and the way he looked at her as if she were his prey. "If they'll obey you, then why don't you call off the attack? Surely they'd listen."

But Geric just shook his head. "They've all been riled up for years with talk of staging an uprising. Favian just came along and made the idea become a possibility. It will happen whether or not I want it to."

She bit her lip as her thoughts that she had been contemplating last night churned over and over in her mind. "Geric, I've been thinking..." Amy turned her head to gaze up at him, her stomach tying in a knot as she looked back into his beautiful, soulful eyes. "The throne is rightfully mine, but it is also rightfully yours. We could unify ourselves with the wolves. Perhaps prevent this uprising from happening. If they want you as their king, then they will have you as their king with me ruling by your side."

Geric shook his head, his eyes wide. "I can't. Your father has made it quite clear that no such thing will happen. I wouldn't even get past the front gates without getting shot down."

"If he doesn't accept you to be the next king, then my father will be killed. My whole family will be killed. The wolves will kill everyone. Please. If you love me then you will try. If you want to preserve Colmar and myself, then you must try." She grasped both of his hands and kissed each one of them. "I love you, Geric. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, no matter how short it might be. I only hope that you want the same."

"Of course I do," he whispered as he tangled his fingers through her hair. "I'll do whatever it takes to be with you. But the wolves won't let us get very far. Just leave that part to me."

He made a move as to stand up, but Amy held him down before drawing him into a kiss. Her heart erupted with a million emotions as they kissed, each moment feeling like their last. As soon as they would step outside this tent, their futures would become uncertain. They may not have a future at all, but they may have a long and prosperous one too. But she had to try. They had to try. Together.