Then, without another word, he shifted into a full blown wolf about the size of a bear and ran off through the woods. Lola couldn’t help being amazed at the transformation but she quickly forced the emotion off her face. She didn’t want to give Russel’s brothers the impression that she was impressed by them in any way.

Once Ray was gone, the other three just…lounged. There was no other word for it. Roland found a thin birch tree, sat down with his back against it, and promptly started sleeping. Rutger just plopped right onto the ground and sat cross-legged, fiddling with the dirt and grass like a toddler. Reid found a good-sized boulder and sat on top of it.

“Why are they doing nothing now?” Lola asked, curious despite herself.

Russel looked much better now but his clothes were torn and shredded in several spots. Blood soaked a lot of areas on them too. Once he realized they weren’t going to be attacked again, he visibly seemed to relax. His eyes fluttered a little and Lola could tell he was exhausted. She was too, if she was being honest. Having her body filled with so much terror, fear, and adrenaline made her feel lethargic.

“Russel?” she asked, starting to get afraid now. Why wasn’t he saying anything?

He looked down at her, blinking slowly. The fatigue looked like it was taking its toll on him.

“Sorry,” he said. “I’m…just…sorry.”

She didn’t say anything at first to his apology. It was so out of context, she wasn’t even sure what to do with it. What the hell did he have to be sorry about other than the lie? Was that what he meant?

“I don’t care about that anymore,” she said. “I don’t care that you lied. I don’t even care that your father sent you to kill me. It’s okay? I’m not mad anymore.”

She actually was still a bit pissed off about that but she let it go for the moment. He looked so sad, she couldn’t help but want to console him. Whatever he just did with his brothers, it was clear to her it wasn’t a good thing. It may have stopped them from killing the both of them but there was a catch to it. And she had no idea what that was. The biggest question she harbored now was why? Why did he refuse to tell her exactly what was going on?

“I’m glad for that at least,” he said, smiling down at her. “But while I am still sorry about that, I wasn’t referring to the lie.”

“Then what do you mean? Talk to me, Russel,” she demanded, starting to get angry all over again because he was leaving her in the dark.

“You need to shut your fucking mouth, human,” Rutger growled from his spot on the ground. He looked up at her. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”

“It’s wolf business. So keep yourself out of it,” Roland grumbled. He didn’t bother to open his eyes.

“It does concern her,” Russel snapped. He gently took Lola by the shoulders and walked her away from them to where they could speak in relative privacy. He took in a breath as if to steady himself. When he was ready, he spoke. “I issued what’s known as the Blood Challenge to my father. If he accepts, which he pretty much has to or he will end up looking weak, the two of us fight one on one until only one of us is left alive. If my father survives, he retains his rulership over the kingdom. If I kill him, the rulership of Oclan goes to me. It is the only way me or my brothers will ever get the throne.”

His storm-blue eyes bored into hers and she felt yet another wash of cold fear ripple through her but not for herself. For Russel.

“It’s also the only way to save your life now.”