Truths Collide (WolfGirl 2)

Chapter 16: Knighthunter

(Scarlet James)

"You sure you want to do this?" Tristan asks for the hundredth time as we drive past the gates of his old training grounds. I glance at him and raise my eyebrows.

"Yes, but I'm starting to feel as though you don't want me to," I point out.

"It's not that," he says, softly, "I'm just a little scared."

"Scared?" I question. He has my full attention now.

"Yeah," he replies, parking the black SUV in front of the Royal's home. Then he turns to look at me, "Come back to me, okay?"

I frown, "Tristan, I'm going to training. They're not going to try to kill me in there."

He just shrugs before getting out of the car. He's been supportive of my decision, but I know he has his reservations too. What those are, are still a mystery to me. But I get out of the car too as my bags are taken out of the car by a butler. Tristan comes around and slips his hand into mine.

I take in everything around me as we walk in through the front doors of the Royal Manor. I've been to the grounds surrounding it countless times, growing up, but never inside the Royal's home. It's as glamorous as I imagined it to be. Everything is state of the art. Only the best for the original shifter families.

"Tristan!" a cheerful, deep voice greets him. We turn to see a man, just a few years older than Tristan, approach us. He's in a black suit that matches his hair and his shoes are so shiny they could probably serve as a mirror if he looked down. He smiles as he walks up to us. There's no denying this man is handsome. In a split second, I already know who he is. Tristan lets go of my hand to meet him halfway and the two hug it out.

"I heard you were coming by!" the man pats Tristan on the back before they return to me.

"I'm glad you're here too, and not on a mission," Tristan says to him before looking at me, "Scarlet, meet the Beta Warrior, Josh Hunter."

The Prince rolls his eyes and holds out his hand for me, "That's just Josh to you. You're Tristan's mate for crying out loud, you're family."

I raise my eyebrows, shaking the Prince's hand. Josh Hunter is known to be the fiercest fighter in the supernatural world. He's charming, but deadly. I see why Tristan and he are friends.

"It's an honor to finally meet you," I reply genuinely as we let go.

He grins at me, shaking his head, "No, the honor is ours. We've been pretty excited to meet the girl Tristan's been crying over."

"We?" I ask as Tristan glares at Josh, saying, "If you weren't my prince, I'd kill you right now for lying."

Josh ignores him and answers me, "The rest of the Warriors. Tristan's kind of like the unofficial eleventh member. He's kept us from you for a long time now."

I look at Tristan impressed. I knew he was close with the Warriors, I didn't know he was almost one of them. He can never truly be one of them because to be a Warrior, one has to be born a Royal. But getting as close as Tristan has to them, is definitely something to be proud of.

"Scarlet's joining the Academy," Tristan tells him, "you all have six months to get tired of her. Then you can send her back to me."

Josh laughs, "Tristan, if you want you can stay here for six months until her training is complete."

I didn't know that was an option, but Tristan shakes his head, "I figured I'd go on a mission. I mean might as well. I know she doesn't want any special treatment."