WolfeBite (De Wolfe Pack Generations #10)

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

“T alan?”

Talan had been bent over an old spear that had been dragged out of the armory by Zander. In fact, Dayne and Zander were in the old armory, which was full of de Cottingham relics from the past, grumbling and complaining because they’d not been included in the meeting going on in the solar with the king and queen and Earl of Carlisle. It seemed that only the senior knights were permitted in that gathering, and given the three junior knights didn’t have that kind of seniority, they had been relegated to managing the castle.

Just like always.

No excitement in their lives.

Talan had been thinking the same thing, only with him, it was a little different. He had woman troubles these days. He’d walked away from Catherine after their most recent spat and hadn’t spoken to her since, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t on his mind every moment of every day. He couldn’t remember why he was so opposed to marriage right now because whatever the reason was seemed foolish. He loved her. He would always love her. He wanted her to be the mother of his children, but he was asking her to wait until he was damn good and ready. She was ready, but he wasn’t.

Was that fair to her?

There were probably a hundred men in England who would be ready at that very moment to marry Catherine. Maybe he was one of them, but the more she pushed, the more stubborn he became. Now, it was simply his stubbornness against hers, and he was determined to win. Or at least he had been until he woke up this morning and realized he wasn’t willing to fight with her any longer. If she wanted him to speak with Leonidas, then he would. After the man was done with the king and queen. That had been his decision, in fact, before that soft voice he knew so well suddenly rang out in the armory.

Catherine was standing in the doorway.

“Zander and Dayne are nearby,” he said quietly. “Be cautious of what you say.”

She smiled timidly. “They are outside breaking spears in half and declaring their anger at Leo,” she said. “Why are they so angry?”

Talan came over to the door where she stood and stuck his head out. As Catherine had told him, Zander and Dayne were violently breaking up old spears and grumbling. Shaking his head at their antics, he returned to his work.

“Edward arrived not long ago with the Earl of Carlisle and Stephen of Pembury,” he said. “He had business with Leo and Kenneth, I suppose, and the younger knights were not invited to partake of the conclave, so they are offended.”

“I heard they had come,” Catherine said. “In fact, I’ve just come from the kitchen to ensure we have a proper meal for them tonight.”

“Do we?”

“We do,” she said. “And are you angry?”

“For what?”

“For the same thing that has angered Zander and Dayne?”

He paused and thought about that. “Probably,” he said. He went back to work. “Why are you here? Do you require something?”

Catherine came inside the door, watching him work over the tip of an old spear to break it free from the brittle staff it was attached to.

“I do not require anything,” she said quietly. “But I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day. I was mean and nasty and I am very sorry for it. I do not want to fight with you, Talan. Please forgive me.”

He stood up from the spear and looked at her. “There is nothing to forgive,” he said. “I know I can be stubborn and difficult. I know I am not the easiest person to speak with sometimes. Whatever happened, I’m sure I drove you to it, so I think I need your forgiveness, too.”

Her timid smile turned genuine and she rushed him, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. He responded, for a brief moment, before kissing her soundly and then pushing her away so there was a safe distance between them.

“Stay there,” he cautioned. “The last thing we need is Zander or Dayne coming in here and seeing us in an amorous embrace. I do not want rumors reaching Leo’s ears before I’ve had a chance to speak with him.”

“You can do it when you are ready,” Catherine said. “I should not have pushed you so hard when you were only trying to do what was right. I understand everything now.”

“Understand what?”

“That I must let you keep your pride.”

He shrugged. “Pride is one thing,” he said. “Self-respect is another. And if I lost you, I would lose all that and more. I do not want to lose you, Catie.”

She shook her head. “You will not,” she said. “I will wait for you, Talan. When you are ready to speak with Leo, I am ready to be your wife.”

He cocked his head. “Why the change of heart?”

She averted her gaze. “I am not sure,” she said. “But I think it has everything to do with what is important in life. Is it important that I be married? Or is it more important that I be married to you? I think it’s more important that I am married to you, so I will wait. For as long as it takes, I will wait.”

He smiled faintly. “If you mean that, then I am very glad,” he said. “Because I have been thinking that I am simply being stubborn. Of course I want us to be married, Catie. I’m sorry if I implied otherwise. I cannot imagine my life without you.”

In spite of his telling her that she needed to remain a respectful distance away, she rushed to him and grasped his hand, joyfully. “Nor I, you,” she said. “All is forgiven?”

“All is forgiven.”

“Good,” she said, kissing him quickly before darting away. “Then I shall see you at sup.”

“You will.”

She flashed him a toothy smile as she turned for the door, but he stopped her before she could leave.

“Catie?”

She paused, looking at him. “Aye?”

“You may be Lady de Shera sooner than you think.”

Her grin broadened, but she didn’t push him. She was going to have to learn not to. Just because she didn’t get what she wanted, when she wanted it, didn’t mean she wasn’t going to get it at all.

She had to have a little faith.

With a giggle, she fled the armory, leaving Talan feeling better than he had in days.

Everything was going to be all right.