“No. I think it’s a lot. Coming here and realizing I’ve done the entire pack.”
He huffs a laugh and peers down at me. “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, my wolf wants to come out, but I’m trying to behave.”
“You need a distraction?”
“Yeah. Show me around. Get my mind off it.”
So I do. I lead him forward, down the dirt path away from the compound, through the forest where the wolves shift and run. It’s a beautiful day out, slightly cool under the towering trees, but warm enough that I don’t need a sweater.
“Have you seen them shift?” Glenn asks, his fingers brushing mine as we walk.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Not something I want to be in the middle of, but you know, to each their own. Your brother really seems to like it.”
“Yeah, he does. Keeps coming back here.”
I peer at him. “Do you ever feel it, that bone-deep urge?”
“Sometimes. Not that I can shift, but I wonder what it must be like.”
“Me too. Jex says it’s painful at first.”
“Yeah, I’d think so.”
We turn down a path leading to the right, and we pass a lake, stopping to look at the rippling water before moving on.
“Well, this is fucking pretty,” Glenn says, and I nod.
“It is. Kind of magical, too. Some days, it turns into a kaleidoscope of colors. Oh, but even better is this cave. Kind of like a sacred place. You wanna see?”
“Yeah.”
“We’re not really supposed to go in there, but I know a different way in. Attie showed me one day.”
“Didn’t know you were such a rule breaker,” Glenn teases, and I grin up at him.
“I can be when it’s warranted.”
“Careful, Arbor. I may have to write you up for that.”
My eyes roll as we continue to walk, but I feel a flutter in my chest, my stomach, my heart. I’ve never let anyone become familiar with me, have always kept everyone at arm’s length, but it seems Glenn is starting to get to know me.
And I like that more than I should.
In the distance, I hear a low grunt, and my eyes focus on a set of trees to our right. Between them, I can just make out Forest with two Howler alphas. They’re doing things I’m sure Glenn doesn’t want to see.
“Um, Glenn. You may want to plug your ears and close your eyes.”
“Why?” He glances to his right and makes a face. “Fuck.”
With a weary sigh, he turns his gaze forward and does as I suggested. My arm links through his, and I lead him forward. A few minutes later, we’re past the worst of it, and soon the moans are nothing more than a whisper on the breeze.
“You’re safe now,” I say and gently pull his hands away from his ears.
“Thanks. Should have known I’d see something on this trip. But, fuck, he moved fast, didn’t he?”
“Well, he probably wanted to try out the slick serum my brother made him.”
Glenn cringes slightly, and then his eyes meet mine. “Are you going to try out your serum?”
