“Months and years, yeah, pretty much. Mating habits are pretty easy to track.”
“Huh. So Xander?”
“Is one of my best friends,” she replies softly, glancing towards the camp entrance where he and Claire are no longer visible. “Xander’s protective of me and Claire, but with Ryder officially being Alpha, he’s now the main beta, so work will keep him busy.”
Going off that two-minute interaction, Xander’s so much more than a friend to her—and she to him. Since none of this is my place, I let it go.
Two shifters start towards us only to suddenly change direction and skirt the edges of the fire. “They don’t like me around here.”
“They don’t know you. We’ve always been told witches should be avoided. The more you’re around, the more they’ll seeyou’re not bad.” She shrugs, acting as though I’ll have months when we’re almost halfway through the week Sloane gave Ryder.
“They haven’tseenwhat I’m capable of.”
“Come on.” She links her arm into mine and pulls me away from the fire pit. “Assuming you’re hungry, let’s see if we can scrounge up any food.”
And like that, someone in the pack accepts me. Becomes the girl friend I’ve never really had. As a kid, it was Harlow, but then she was believed to be dead, and I didn’t see her until recently. With Jasper being my cousin and neighbour, we grew up close because the other girls in the coven were harder to connect with.
So I accept Leah’s friendship with a smile and let her lead me away.
But not before scanning the camp one final time for the dark-furred wolf who slept with me last night.
Twenty-Three
RYDER
Two days passafter sleeping with Carina in my arms, and I’ve avoided her as much as possible.
Entering my cabin that night cursed me. When she was crying, I longed to back away and avoid, simply for the suspicion of what my body would drive me to do. But it wasn’t the bond behind the reason for me continuing inside.
I went to her because I wanted to help.
Carrying her to my nest was myfuck itmoment. For the forty-eight hours since meeting Carina, most of them were spent pretending she isn’t who fate handpicked for me, and I wastired. Tired of pretending, tired of fighting my wolf.
So I didn’t. I cared for her. I slept beside her.
Of course, my wolf wouldn’t shut up half the night. Repetitive thoughts ofmine, comfort, mate, breed,andkeepwere the running theme, to the point I could only grip her tighter and protect her from her emotions, being the safety net she needed.
When the earliest dredges of morning hit, I had to get the fuck away from her mystical bubble before acting in ways I’d regret in a few more days. It was like tearing off my own arm,but I managed. I unwound myself from her and stalked away, leaving my would-be mate in our—my—nest to go hunting.
In the two days since, I’ve avoided camp during the day, even spending the nights taking extra and longer patrols or resting for a few hours beneath the moon before continuing to work. Carina’s safe, which means that task is complete for now. My limited interactions with her involve a head nod from across the camp when stopping to check in with others.
Avoiding her can only work so well, especially since Xander’s always there with updates, claiming she’s spending most of her time with Leah.
It’s better this way. In a few days, she’ll be gone, doing what she must for her people. I’ll attempt to free her when the time comes, and she can return home to be the covenkamahkishe’s meant to be. Life will move on and we’ll never see one another again. All will be right.
“Ryder!” Claire’s joyful screech streaks through the woods as she charges through the underbrush with Xander on her heels. She lunges at me, her little arms wrapping around my neck until she’s dangling from my body, feet an inch from the ground. “Xander said he’s gonna run even faster than normal today because I hang on super well. Like this!” And then she not only tightens her arms but sinks her hands into my fur, digging painfully in.
Xander comes up behind her, dipping his head in submission before she detaches from me to climb onto his back. Once settled, she waves goodbye, and the two are a blur into the woods.
Claire never got the chance to know her father—not that he’s anything worth knowing. As a pup, she’s loved and cared for by us all, like the other children, but the bond between her and Xander isn’t one to be ignored.
Eyeing my kill, I drag it by the hind leg back to camp to be dried out and prepared for winter. We’re already pretty well stocked—mainly from my lack of rest this week. I’ll be damned if anyone goes hungry during the harshest months, when hunting becomes challenging.
By the edge of the camp, a pile has been set up, guarded from other wildlife by Graham. I drop the creature, acknowledge him, and then take off into the woods.
When returning with another, Graham stops me from leaving. “Alpha, don’t take this the wrong way, but you haven’t stopped moving in a day. Maybe you should head inside. See your father, have a nap.”
I’ve visited with Dad in my two days of avoidance, stopping in after everyone’s gone to bed. He’s taken the second pain potion since, but it hasn’t hindered the magick from keeping him down.
