THE RISE OF THE WOLF KING

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

The Name Beneath Her Name

Anna Carmen.

The name had been written in careful black ink across the servant ledger.

I stood in my father’s former study with the book open beneath my hands, staring at the entry as if it contained a secret deliberately kept from me.

Anna Carmen Baptiste. Age twenty. Luna Creek. Kitchen servant. Arrived fourteen days before the Alpha’s coronation.

Carmen had told me about Luna Creek, her family, and the life she hoped to build at Dios del Sol.

She had neglected to mention that Carmen was not her first name.

Carlos leaned across the desk.

“Anna Carmen,” he read. “Perhaps she does not like Anna.”

“Why would anyone not like Anna?”

“Perhaps because people react like this when they discover it.”

“I am not reacting.”

“You dragged me out of breakfast and ordered the housekeeper to bring you every servant ledger written in the past month.”

“I was curious.”

“You frightened the poor woman.”

“She frightens everyone else.”

“That does not mean she enjoys being frightened.”

I traced Anna’s name with one finger.

It suited her.

Carmen was soft and warm, the name everyone knew. It belonged to the woman carrying trays through the courtyard and laughing beneath the live oak.

Anna felt deeper.

Stronger.

It was a name that did not bow.

“Anna,” I said aloud.

Carlos groaned. “Leave the woman alone.”

“She is my mate.”

“She also has knives readily available in the kitchen.”

“She would never stab me.”

“Not yet.”

I closed the ledger.

“You are in an unusually disagreeable mood.”

“I woke alone because Lucía refused to speak to me.”

“Why?”

“I do not know. Every time I ask, she begins crying. When I try to comfort her, she becomes angry. When I leave her alone, she cries harder.”

I hid my smile.

Carlos pointed at me. “Do not.”

“I said nothing.”

“You know something.”

“I know many things.”

“You can barely read a map.”

“I can read a map.”

“You became lost during our first patrol.”

“I was ten.”

“You cried.”

“I did not cry.”

“You threatened the trees.”

“They all looked the same.”

Carlos folded his arms. “What do you know about Lucía?”

“Ask your mate.”

“I have.”

“Ask better.”

His eyes narrowed.

Before he could question me further, a knock sounded at the study door.

“Enter.”

Maggie stepped inside.

My sister had changed from her coronation gown into black riding trousers, boots, and a loose cream shirt. Her curls had been tied away from her face, and a dagger rested against her thigh.

She took one look at the servant ledger and sighed.

“You are investigating your mate?”

“I am learning about her.”

“By reading documents she did not give you?”

“The ledger belongs to the pack.”

“And every person in this house belongs to the pack. Will you inspect our private correspondence next?”

“If necessary.”

Maggie came around the desk and closed the book.

“You have been Alpha for one day.”

“Yes.”

“You have already ordered the kitchens to excuse Carmen from half her duties, assigned two warriors outside the servants’ quarters, and threatened to remove a councilman’s tongue.”

“He insulted her.”

“He said the pack would need time to adjust.”

“He said it while staring at her skin.”

Maggie’s expression hardened.

She had been beside Mother when Councilman Valdés offered his opinion that morning. He had spoken carefully, wrapping his prejudice in concerns about tradition and alliances.

I had spoken less carefully.

“He deserved worse,” Maggie admitted. “But if you punish every person who struggles with the Goddess’s choice, you will spend your reign ruling through fear.”

“They should fear harming her.”

“Yes. But Anna—”

My head lifted. “You knew?”

Maggie glanced at the ledger.

“Of course I knew.”

“How?”

“I asked her.”

“When?”

“Last night.”

“And she told you?”

“She likes me.”

“She likes me.”

“She barely knows you.”

“She barely knows you.”

“Yes, but I am charming.”

“You are exhausting.”

“That too.”

Carlos looked between us. “Why does she go by Carmen?”

“Her grandmother’s name,” Maggie explained. “She was raised near her grandmother and has been called Carmen since she was little.”

“Then Carmen is her name,” Carlos said.

“Anna is also her name,” I argued.

Maggie studied me. “Why do you care?”

I did not have an answer that would make sense to either of them.

Perhaps I liked possessing something of her that Tomás did not.

The stable boy knew Carmen.

He knew the frightened young woman who had gotten lost in the pack house. He knew where she sat near the creek and what made her laugh. He had walked beside her before I even knew she existed.

But Anna felt untouched by him.

Anna could belong to me.

The possessiveness of the thought should have troubled me.

Instead, it settled warmly inside my chest.

“Where is she?” I asked.

Maggie’s face changed.

Carlos noticed too.

“What?” he asked.

“Carmen went to the stables.”

My wolf surged forward.

“To speak with Tomás,” she added quickly. “She told Enrique she would.”

“I did not agree that they could meet in the stables.”

“You agreed she could speak with him alone.”

“I said I would consider not following her.”

Maggie moved between me and the door.

“No.”

“Maggie.”

“She trusted you.”

“I am not going to interrupt.”

“You are absolutely going to interrupt.”

“I only want to ensure he behaves appropriately.”

“She is ending their courtship, Enrique. Give her enough respect to do it herself.”

Carlos joined me at the door.

Maggie looked at him. “Do not encourage him.”

“I am his Beta.”

“Your duty is to control him.”

Carlos considered that. “I have never controlled him before.”

“Then today would be an excellent time to begin.”

I moved Maggie aside, kissed her cheek before she could protest, and left the study.

Carlos followed.

“You should remain here,” I told him.

“And miss this?”

“There is nothing to miss.”

“We are going to spy on your mate while she crushes the heart of an innocent stable boy.”

“We are not spying.”

“What would you call it?”

“Supervising.”

Carlos smiled. “I knew becoming Beta would be enjoyable.”

The stables stood beyond the western wall of the pack house, near the training grounds and the southern pasture. They were built from dark timber and limestone, with a sloping roof that provided shade from the Texas heat. The morning sun had already warmed the packed earth. Horses moved restlessly inside their stalls while grooms carried water, repaired tack, and swept fresh hay across the floor.

Anna stood beneath the shade of the far entrance.

Tomás faced her.

I stopped before they noticed us and pulled Carlos behind a wagon.

He looked at me.

“This is spying.”

“Be quiet.”

“You ordered me to accompany you.”

“I am reconsidering.”

“You cannot send me away now. I am emotionally invested.”

I ignored him and focused on Anna.

Her hands were folded against her apron. Tomás stood several feet away, his shoulders rigid and his face pale.

Even from a distance, I could hear them clearly.

“I never meant to embarrass you,” Anna said.

“You didn’t.”

“I should have told you before the celebration.”

“Told me what? That you had an Alpha mate you had never met?”

“No. But I should have been clearer that I did not know what I wanted.”

Tomás looked toward the open pasture.

“You seemed to know when I asked if I could court you.”

“I believed I did.”

“Until he looked at you.”

Pain entered his voice.

My jealousy eased for the first time.

He was not challenging me.

He was heartbroken.

Anna stepped toward him. “Tomás—”

He retreated.

She stopped immediately.

“I know this is not your fault,” he said. “I know what a fated bond means. I felt it between you before he ever crossed the courtyard.”

“I am sorry.”

“Do you love him?”

My wolf waited for her answer.

“I do not know him.”

“That is not what I asked.”

She looked down.

“No. Not yet.”

The final word struck me harder than the rest.

Not yet.

Hope rushed through the bond, warm and foolish.

Tomás noticed the answer too.

He gave a quiet, bitter laugh. “But you will.”

“I think so.”

“And there is nothing I can do.”

Anna’s voice softened. “You deserve someone who chooses you without hesitation.”

“I chose you.”

“I know.”

“And you would have chosen me if he had not appeared.”

“I do not know.”

“You do.”

Tomás stepped closer.

My wolf bristled.

Anna did not retreat.

“We had only known each other for two weeks,” she reminded him.

“That was enough for me.”

He reached for her hand.

I was out from behind the wagon before his fingers touched her.

Carlos muttered a curse and hurried after me.

Tomás saw us approaching.

Fear entered his scent.

He dropped Anna’s hand.

“Alpha.”

Anna spun around.

Her shock became anger so quickly that the bond burned between us.

“Enrique.”

“Anna.”

She froze.

Tomás looked at her. “Anna?”

Carlos stopped beside me. “Oh, this is already worse than I imagined.”

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “What did you call me?”

“Your name.”

“My name is Carmen.”

“Your first name is Anna.”

“How do you know that?”

“I read the servant ledger.”

“You investigated me?”

“I reviewed information belonging to my pack.”

“You investigated me.”

Carlos stepped backward.

Tomás wisely did the same.

I lowered my voice. “I wanted to know more about you.”

“You could have asked.”

“I did ask. You told me your name was Carmen.”

“Because that is what I like to be called.”

“I prefer Anna.”

She stared at me.

I expected an argument.

Instead, something uncertain flickered beneath her anger.

“Why?”

Because Tomás called her Carmen.

Because everyone called her Carmen.

Because Anna sounded like a name meant to be whispered against her skin when the rest of the world could not hear us.

I could not say any of that with Tomás standing beside her.

“It suits you.”

“That does not answer my question.”

“It is the answer I have.”

Her frustration moved through the bond, mixed with a warmth she clearly did not want me to feel.

She liked the way I said it.

I smiled.

“Do not look so pleased with yourself,” she warned.

“Anna.”

Her lips parted.

The sound of her name affected her. I knew it did.

My wolf knew too.

Tomás cleared his throat.

Every pleasant thought disappeared.

I turned toward him.

“Were you touching my mate?”

“No, Alpha.”

“You were reaching for her.”

“I was saying goodbye.”

“With your hands?”

Carlos moved to my side, his expression becoming dangerously serious.

“What else would he use?” he asked.

I looked at him.

Carlos shrugged. “It sounded more threatening in my head.”

Anna pressed her lips together.

She was trying not to laugh.

Tomás was not.

“I meant no disrespect,” he said.

“You courted the Alpha’s mate,” Carlos replied.

“I courted her before she knew she was his mate.”

“You continued meeting her afterward.”

“She came to me.”

Carlos tilted his head. “Are you blaming her?”

“No.”

“It sounded as though you were.”

“I would never blame Carmen.”

“Anna,” I corrected.

She glared at me. “My name is Carmen.”

“To him.”

“To everyone.”

“Not to me.”

Tomás looked between us as if uncertain which one of us posed the greater danger.

He chose me.

That was sensible.

“Alpha, I understand the bond,” he said. “I will not interfere.”

“You were holding her hand.”

“I said goodbye.”

“You already said that.”

“Because that is what happened.”

His voice gained a small edge.

Carlos noticed.

So did my wolf.

“You should be careful with your tone,” Carlos said.

Tomás straightened. “I have done nothing wrong.”

Anna stepped between us. “He has not.”

I looked down at her.

The top of her head barely reached my shoulder, but she stood in front of Tomás as though she intended to protect him from us.

I did not enjoy it.

“Move, Anna.”

“No.”

It was the first time anyone had directly refused an order from me since the coronation.

Several stable hands had stopped working.

They watched from the stalls with wide eyes.

My power stirred instinctively.

Anna felt it.

She raised her chin.

“No,” she repeated.

The entire stable became silent.

I could have commanded her.

One word spoken with enough Alpha power would have forced her out of my path. Every wolf present knew it.

Anna knew it too.

But if I used my power against her now, I would prove every fear she carried into Dios del Sol.

I exhaled slowly.

“I will not hurt him.”

“Then why are you and Carlos surrounding him?”

“We are standing.”

“You are threateningly standing.”

Carlos nodded. “That is one of our greatest skills.”

I gave him a look.

He became solemn again.

Tomás moved from behind Anna.

“With respect, Alpha, I do not need her to protect me.”

“Good.”

“Enrique,” Anna warned.

“I said I would not hurt him.”

My gaze remained on Tomás.

“But he should understand what happens if he forgets that you are my mate.”

Tomás’s jaw tightened. “I will not forget.”

“See that you don’t.”

A horse screamed from inside the stable.

The stall door flew open.

A black mare burst into the aisle with a torn lead rope whipping behind her. One of the younger grooms stumbled out of her path. The mare reared, iron-shod hooves striking the air above him.

Tomás moved first.

He shoved the boy aside.

One hoof caught him in the shoulder and threw him against a wooden post.

Anna screamed.

I lunged for the mare’s bridle.

The animal twisted violently, nearly tearing my arm from its socket. Carlos grabbed the dangling rope and wrapped it around his forearm. Together, we dragged the mare’s head down before she could rear again.

“Open the pasture gate!” Tomás shouted from the ground.

A stable hand obeyed.

The mare fought us every step. Her fear filled the stable, sharp and wild. I pressed my wolf’s dominance into my voice.

“Easy.”

She shuddered.

Carlos loosened the rope.

I guided her through the gate, and she bolted into the pasture.

When I turned around, Anna was kneeling beside Tomás.

Her hands moved over his shoulder.

Jealousy returned before common sense.

Carlos saw my expression.

“He was kicked by a horse,” he whispered.

“I can see that.”

“Try to remember it before you kill him for receiving medical attention.”

Tomás pushed himself upright.

“I am fine.”

“You are bleeding,” Anna said.

A jagged piece of wood had torn through the back of his shirt. Blood ran along his arm.

“Doña Isolde should examine it,” I said.

Tomás looked at me with surprise.

“I can finish my work first.”

“That was not a suggestion.”

He lowered his head. “Yes, Alpha.”

Anna helped him stand.

I watched her hand close around his uninjured arm.

Carlos sighed.

“Do not,” he warned quietly.

“I have said nothing.”

“Your face has.”

Tomás tested his injured shoulder. “The mare has been restless since last night. Too many drums and unfamiliar scents.”

“You should have secured the latch,” I said.

“I did.”

I inspected the stall door.

The iron hook had not broken. It hung loose against the wood.

Someone had lifted it.

My gaze moved through the stable.

The workers quickly returned to their duties.

“Who opened this stall?”

No one answered.

The new pack bond trembled with unease.

Someone was hiding something from me.

I could feel it.

Tomás came closer. “Alpha, the fault is mine. The animals are my responsibility.”

“You cannot prevent someone from opening a gate behind your back.”

“Then I should have watched more carefully.”

Carlos inspected the latch. “It was deliberate.”

Anna rose.

Her eyes moved toward the silent workers.

“Who would do that?”

“The better question,” I said, “is why.”

I looked at Tomás.

Then at Anna.

The answer settled coldly inside me.

Tomás had openly courted the Black servant chosen to become Luna. He had treated her with kindness before knowing the Goddess had tied her to an Alpha.

Someone wanted him punished for it.

Or perhaps they had intended the frightened mare to strike Anna.

My power flooded the stable.

Every wolf dropped to one knee.

Anna remained standing.

So did Carlos.

I looked at the bowed workers.

“If I discover that anyone in Dios del Sol endangered my mate to express their opinion of her, there will not be a corner of Texas far enough to hide them from me.”

Fear moved through the bond.

Good.

My father would have asked questions. He would have investigated quietly and weighed every possibility before speaking.

I wanted the guilty wolf terrified before I found them.

My hand settled on the Fang of the Sun.

“I will learn who opened that stall.”

No one moved.

“And when I do, they will pray Tomás was the intended target.”

Anna touched my arm.

The darkness inside me eased instantly.

“Enrique.”

I looked down at her.

She did not correct me when I said, “Anna.”

Not this time.

“Tomás needs the healer,” she said.

Carlos stepped forward. “I will take him.”

Tomás looked offended. “I can walk.”

Carlos threw one of his arms around the injured man’s shoulders.

Tomás groaned in pain.

“Carlos,” Anna snapped.

“I forgot which shoulder.”

“You did not forget,” I said.

“An unfortunate mistake.”

Tomás attempted to push him away. Carlos tightened his hold.

“You know,” Carlos said conversationally as he guided him toward the door, “Enrique and I have discussed expanding the southern pasture.”

Tomás frowned. “What does that have to do with me?”

“We would need someone to inspect the boundary at night.”

“The southern boundary has coyotes.”

“Yes.”

“And rogues have crossed there twice this month.”

Carlos smiled. “Have they?”

Tomás looked back at me.

I allowed my eyes to flash amber.

His face lost what little color remained.

Anna slapped my chest.

“Stop it.”

I caught her wrist before she could do it again.

“You struck your Alpha.”

“You deserve worse.”

“You defended Tomás.”

“He was innocent.”

“He touched you.”

“You followed me after promising not to.”

“I promised to try.”

“You did not try very hard.”

“I waited nearly ten minutes.”

“That is not something to be proud of.”

“I disagree.”

Carlos and Tomás disappeared through the stable doors. I heard Carlos describe, in unnecessary detail, the size of the coyotes near the southern boundary.

Anna tried to pull her wrist free.

I released her immediately.

“You frightened him on purpose.”

“He was not sufficiently frightened before.”

“He respected the bond.”

“He challenged my tone.”

“Because you accused him of doing something wrong when he had not.”

“I did not like the way he looked at you.”

Sadness softened her expression.

“He looked at me as if he were saying goodbye.”

“He did not need to look so deeply.”

“You cannot command every man in the world to stop noticing me.”

“I can attempt it.”

She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth lifted.

“You are impossible.”

“You like me.”

“I am beginning to reconsider.”

“Anna.”

Her smile vanished, though not from anger.

The air changed between us.

I stepped closer.

“Tell me to stop calling you that.”

She looked at the open stable doors.

No one was close enough to hear.

“My grandmother called me Carmen,” she said. “She said Anna was too small a name for a girl with so much spirit.”

“She was wrong.”

Her eyes returned to mine.

“Anna does not sound small when you say it.”

“No.”

“How does it sound?”

“Mine.”

The word left me before I considered whether I had the right to speak it.

Anna’s breath caught.

I waited for her to object.

She did not.

Her fingers touched the embroidered sun over my chest.

“You are very certain of yourself.”

“Usually.”

“And when you are wrong?”

“I have Carlos blame someone else.”

She laughed softly.

I placed one hand against her cheek. Her skin was warm beneath my palm.

“I am sorry I followed you.”

“No, you are not.”

“I am sorry that it angered you.”

“That is not the same thing.”

“It is the closest truth I possess.”

Her eyes searched mine.

“Tomás did nothing wrong.”

“I know.”

“You will not send him to the southern boundary.”

“No.”

“Or the northern boundary.”

“I had not considered the northern boundary.”

“Enrique.”

“I will leave him where he is.”

“And you will not allow Carlos to torment him.”

“I cannot control Carlos.”

“You are his Alpha.”

“He rarely remembers.”

She shook her head.

I brushed my thumb over her cheek.

“Did you end it?”

“Yes.”

Relief spread through every part of me.

Anna felt it through the bond.

“You could attempt to hide your happiness,” she said.

“I could.”

“But you will not.”

“No.”

She lowered her gaze to my mouth.

My wolf pressed forward.

I bent slowly, giving her every opportunity to move away.

She remained still until our breaths mingled.

Then she placed two fingers against my lips.

“You said you would court me.”

“I am.”

“You have not taken me anywhere.”

“I brought you to the stables.”

“You followed me to the stables.”

“It was still time spent together.”

“That does not count.”

“What would count?”

Anna pretended to consider the question.

“A meal.”

“You serve meals every day.”

“A meal I do not cook or carry.”

“Tonight.”

“I have work.”

“I will speak with the housekeeper.”

“No.”

“You refuse everything I offer.”

“Because everything you offer sounds like an order.”

The words settled between us.

I thought of the way every wolf bowed when I entered a room. The way my voice could push against their will. The way Anna had stood in front of Tomás and refused to move.

No one had prepared me for wanting a woman I could command but needing her to choose me freely.

I lowered my hand.

“Will you have supper with me tonight?”

Anna smiled.

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“The creek.”

“There are insects near the creek.”

“You are a werewolf.”

“Werewolves can dislike insects.”

“You survived enchanted wine.”

“Barely.”

“And bring your own food.”

“I have never prepared food.”

“You said we would discover your favorite together.”

“I assumed someone else would prepare it.”

“Then you assumed incorrectly.”

She stepped away from me.

“Sunset,” she said. “Do not be late.”

“I am the Alpha. I cannot be late.”

“You were late to your own coronation.”

“That was Carlos’s fault.”

“Of course it was.”

She walked toward the pack house.

“Anna.”

She stopped and glanced over her shoulder.

“Yes, Enrique?”

It was the first time she answered to the name.

The satisfaction that filled me was far too powerful for something so small.

“Do not wear your servant’s dress tonight.”

Her expression cooled.

“I did not mean—”

“What should I wear?”

“Whatever makes you feel beautiful.”

“I feel beautiful in this.”

My gaze moved over her simple brown dress and white apron.

“So do I.”

The coldness disappeared.

Anna smiled at me, radiant and sweet enough to make the entire stable fade around her.

Then she left.

I remained where I was until Carlos returned alone.

“How badly did Doña Isolde say Tomás was injured?” I asked.

“Bruised shoulder. Several stitches. He will survive.”

“Unfortunate.”

Carlos laughed.

Then his expression became more serious as he examined the open stall.

“Do you truly believe someone released the mare because of Anna?”

Hearing him use the name pleased me more than it should have.

“I do not know.”

“But you felt something.”

“Fear. Guilt. Too much of both.”

Carlos leaned against the post.

“Your father has been Alpha for forty years. There are wolves on that council who believed Lorenzo would choose your mate from one of their families.”

“The Goddess chose for me.”

“Men rarely surrender their plans simply because a goddess disagrees.”

I looked toward the doorway where Anna had disappeared.

My mate was sweet enough to apologize to the man whose heart she broke. Kind enough to stand between him and two wolves who frightened her far less than they should have. Naïve enough to believe hard work and goodness would eventually make Dios del Sol accept her.

I already knew better.

“They will accept her,” I said.

Carlos studied me.

“And if they do not?”

My hand closed around the Fang of the Sun.

“Then I will teach them how.”

At eighteen, I still believed fear and respect were different roads leading to the same destination.

It would take me years to understand that one of them ended in loyalty.

The other ended in blood.