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My head swung right and I trotted forward, my nose to the ground to pick up the weak scent trail. After a while, I could see where a faint path had formed and my strides lengthened, instinct driving me forward.
The forest ended abruptly, golden light almost blinding me after the dim woods. She sat cross legged on a large flat rock, looking out over a deep valley, her hair shining in the morning sun. She shook her head, calling over her shoulder, “How did I know you’d take the wrong path?”
I shifted, walking forward to find a pair of loose sweatpants folded neatly on the ground. I quickly dragged them on, scratching my belly as I studied her. She was more relaxed than I’d seen her and I had a feeling she came here often. “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference,” I quoted and a chuckle escaped her.
“Frost.”
“You know your poets,” I commented.
“I know that one line,” she corrected. “And only because my father read it to me as a child.”
“I met your grandmother,” I mentioned and her eyes closed as she shook her head ruefully.
“And yet, you still followed me.”
“I admit, she didn’t seem to like me, but I feel like I could get her to warm up to me eventually.” A choking sound filled the air and I stepped forward in concern, but then a peal of laughter rang over the valley and I realized she was laughing at me. I stopped, stunned by the sight of her smile and the fact that I had put it there.
“You truly are a fool,” she cried in the midst of her laughter. “Trust fate to give me an insane mate.”
“I prefer confident,” I retorted, padding forward as her head swung toward me. “I can be very charming. Some even say diplomatic.” She propped her head on her palm, her hair swinging forward to cover her blue eye, and I took a chance, hopping up to sit next to her. “You’re not going to push me off, are you?” I cast a wary glance down, just now noticing the sheer drop off.
“I guess that’s a chance you’ll have to take,” she replied, wiggling over to give me more room. “It would solve a problem,” she added contemplatively, eyeing me. “Since you seem reluctant to leave.”
“What can I say? The hospitality is hard to resist and the people are so welcoming.” She snorted and I waved my arm. “Can’t get views like this where I’m from either.”
“And where’s that?” Her question surprised me but when I glanced over she was studiously avoiding my gaze.
“South, directly south. Our pack lands border yours to the south.”
“You’re a Hanley?” She sneered in disbelief, both those mismatched eyes pinning me. I hurriedly shook my head.
“No, no. I’m from the Navarre Pack. The Hanleys were defeated and my Alpha took over. Dominic Navarre.” She still gazed at me suspiciously so I kept talking. “I swear it’s true.” I looked over the sun kissed valley, calculating rapidly. “I mean, it’s been ten years now since the Hanley Alpha was killed.” I glanced back at her. “You haven’t had any trouble with them have you?”
She yanked her gaze away, not answering, but her fingers trembled.
“Dru,” I said quietly, grateful Paige had let her name slip.
Her lips twisted. “And here I was starting to warm up to Princess.” I grinned, scooting a tad closer and her eyes cut toward me. “That wasn’t an invitation, Cap’n.”
“Caleb,” I repeated, knowing she hadn’t forgotten but trying to see if she’d use it.
“I’m not senile, thank you very much.”
“I didn’t think you were,” I rushed to reassure her and she plucked at the hem of her jeans. “I’m just eager to hear my name on your lips.”
“That is a terrible pickup line.”
“It’s not a line,” I protested, laying back on the rock. She hunched forward, not seeming concerned that her back was exposed. “We’re mates.”
“Thanks to you,” she snarled, gesturing to her lip. “It’s puffy.”
“In all fairness, you started it,” I pointed out gently and she twisted, staring at me in disbelief. I shaded my eyes, trying to decide if she really didn’t know. “You bit me first.”
“No, I didn’t!”
I cocked my head, wondering how she didn’t know. “You did. When you lunged at me.”
“I didn’t break skin,” she contended and I sat up on my forearms as she turned toward me.
“You don’t have to break skin,” I explained. “You just have to have intent.”
“I didn’t intend to take you as a mate,” she snapped, crossing her arms as she glared at me mutinously. “You read it wrong.” That startled a laugh out of me that quickly faded when I realized she was serious.
“I didn’t read anything into it. You claimed my wolf as your own. I just finished it so we’d have a chance.” I opened the gateway in my mind, the path that lead straight to her and only her, the one she’d created, albeit unintentionally I was discovering.
