Chapter 32

Alaric stepped silently into the kitchen. After his discussion with his mother, he had walked deep into the forest before stripping off his clothes and shifting. He had run for a few hours, not thinking, just working off the restless energy within him.

Now, he stared quietly at Elowyn. She was standing at the sink with her back to him, scrubbing potatoes while Brenna chopped vegetables and chattered away to her. Her body stiffened but she did not turn when he stepped behind them and cleared his throat.

“Leave us,” he said to Brenna who bowed and left the kitchen quickly.

“Hello, girl.”

“Hello, my lord.” Elowyn continued to scrub the potatoes.

“How are you?”

“Very well, thank you. And you? I imagine you are looking forward to having your friends visit.”

“Elowyn,” he said, “will you not turn and look at me?”

She shook her head. “No, my lord. Please do not make me. I have humiliated myself enough for one day.”

Her hair was in a high