“How about we go for a nice trot?” I asked, keeping my tone casual. Maybe it was reckless or selfish, but I wasn’t ready for this to be over yet.
Mylo glanced at me, holding my gaze for a second, searching for something—but I wasn’t sure what. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah, sure. Sounds good.”
I released the breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding at his agreement and led Mylo toward the stable, where the horses were grazing lazily in the corral, the familiar scent of hay and pine filling the air. “Do you want to stay on Snowdrop while I get my horse ready?” I asked, keeping my tone light.
Mylo nodded, holding my gaze for a second, like I was a puzzle he was trying to piece together.What, I wasn’t sure.I gave him a brief smile and turned away to get my own horse ready, but I couldn’t help glancing back at him every few moments. He was still there, sitting tall on Snowdrop, looking like he was starting to get comfortable in the saddle.
I grabbed the reins for Titan, my trusted stallion, who stood tall and muscular, a perfect match for my size. His sleek black coat gleamed in the afternoon light, muscles rippling under his skin as I ran a hand down his flank. Titan let out a soft huff, and I smiled, giving him a firm but affectionate pat. “You ready, boy?” I murmured under my breath. “We’ve got company today.”
Titan had been with me for years—strong, steady, and loyal. I trusted him with everything. He was more than just a horse; he was a partner. I leaned in closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear. “You see him over there?” I asked softly, glancing toward Mylo. “That’s my mate.”
Titan’s ears flicked back, as if he were listening, and I chuckled under my breath. “Yeah, I know. It’s a mess. But we’ll figure it out, right?”
For a second, I regretted telling the stable hands to give us space today. It wasn’t practical; I knew that. But selfishly, I wanted this time alone with Mylo, even if it made things harder for me. Titan snorted as if in agreement, and I gave him another pat, feeling a little more grounded. “Let’s do this,” I said quietly, guiding him over to where Mylo was waiting.
As I saddled up, I kept my eyes on him, watching how easily he was handling Snowdrop now. He’d picked things up faster than I expected. Despite the nerves buzzing under my skin, a small swell of pride bubbled up. He was catching on quickly, and I couldn’t help but admire that.
Once I was settled, I led Titan toward him, the powerful horse moving beneath me like an extension of myself. “Ready?”
He nodded, and we rode out at a slow pace, the rhythmic sound of hooves against the earth filling the air between us. The land stretched out in front of us, the rolling hills framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, their peaks looming in the distance.
“See that over there?” I pointed toward a dense forested area. “That’s one of the trails we use for the more experienced riders. It’s beautiful but tricky—lots of steep climbs and sharp turns.”
Mylo nodded, his eyes wide with interest. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t believe this is where you get to work.”
I shrugged, keeping my voice even. “Perks of the job.” I pointed toward a meadow in the distance, where wildflowers dotted the landscape. “That’s a great spot in the spring. It’s covered in blooms—looks like something right out of a postcard.”
He smiled, and I had to look away. It was too much. Too bright. Too... everything. I forced myself to focus back on the task at hand.
“How about we try going a little faster?” I suggested after a while. My bear was restless; the instinct to keep him safe was warring with the need to let him enjoy himself. “You’re doing great so far.”
Mylo smiled and nodded, and I nudged Snowdrop into a trot, making sure to keep pace with him. I followed suit, watching as he started to relax into it, a smile creeping across his face as he grew more confident.
“See?” I said, my voice lighter than it had been all day. “You’re getting the hang of it.”
“Yeah, I think I am,” Mylo laughed, his voice filled with something close to joy. I hadn’t heard him laugh like that before, and a part of me softened. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
But then, in a split second, everything shifted.
Without warning, Mylo gave his horse a little too much rein and took off in a direction I hadn’t expected—toward the Piedmont Mountains.
My stomach dropped. My heart leapt into my throat as I watched him ride toward the wolves’ territory.Shit. He has no idea what he’s doing. He has no idea where he’s going.
“Mylo!” I shouted, panic clawing at my chest as I kicked Titan into gear and chased after him.
He was laughing—laughing—like this was all a game, like he wasn’t heading straight for danger. My pulse pounded in my ears as the landscape shifted beneath us, and I pushed Titan harder, trying to close the distance.
He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know what’s out there.My bear growled inside me, a mix of terror and fury as I watched Mylo riding ahead, carefree. My mind raced with every terrible possibility.The wolves won’t hesitate if they find him.And I wasn’t about to let that happen.What if he goes over a cliff or something?
Fuck. I shouldn’t have brought him out here.
When I finally caught up to him, adrenaline surging through me, I reached out and grabbed his reins, yanking them hard enough to bring his horse to an abrupt stop.
Mylo’s laughter faded instantly, confusion replacing it as he looked up at me. His face dropped when he saw my expression.
“What the hell are you doing?” I barked, louder than I intended, my voice rough and raw. “You’re a novice! You can’t just take off like that! What if you lost control of the horse? You don’t know the terrain, Mylo!”
His eyes widened in shock, the color draining from his face. I could feel the panic in my voice, the fear boiling under the surface. I wasn’t just angry—I was terrified.
