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“You talk about your wolf like it’s a separate being - like it’s a real animal.”
Amara didn’t phrase it as a question, but I decided to answer anyway. “It’s a concept that can be a bit difficult to understand if you don’t have your own wolf, but the best way to explain it is he is his own being. He has his own mind, wants, needs, and opinions. He doesn’t mind sharing them with me at any time and place, either. However, he’s also a part of me. He’s a part of my soul and lives within me. I am the vessel that holds us both. We work together as a team and have each other’s backs. It can be a strange concept if you don’t have your own wolf, but it’s something shifters find completely normal. In fact, the idea of not having my wolf is absolutely insane and fills me with a sense of loss, panic, and grief that I would never be able to recover from.”
Amara’s face flashed with several emotions within the span of a few minutes. She went from intrigued to indignant, to curious, and finally, to empathetic. I watched the emotions fly across her face, wishing I could hear her thoughts and know what was going through her mind. She blinked suddenly, lowering her head again. “Why did your wolf force you to shift?”
I cleared my throat and started walking again, uncomfortable with the emotions that were rising within me. I needed to focus on the task at hand. We had already been gone for too long and now that Jack knew where the entrance to the tunnels were, things had gotten even more dangerous. I needed to get back so I could protect Lily and Jason. “He sensed danger. Jack’s scent was all over the place when we exited the tunnels. My wolf was worried and needed to be able to protect you so he forced the shift.”
“Oh,” Amara’s voice was breathy and light. Almost like a feather blowing in the wind. I glanced over my shoulder at her again, wondering what had caused the change in her. She looked up at me with stars in her eyes, looking like I was her savior. My wolf preened again, proud of earning that look from her. I turned back around, focusing on the task at hand. I frowned at myself, hating that I was letting her get under my skin.
Because there was no denying it now - she was absolutely under my skin.
I just didn’t know what to do about it.
We walked in silence for about an hour, making our way deeper into Alpha Luke’s lands. It wasn’t until we were closer to where I thought the main town was that I started to slow, looking around us. I could smell a ton of foreign scents, knowing they could smell ours as well, but not knowing where they were or what they were doing. My wolf was on edge, wanting to shift in case somebody jumped out at us. I gritted my teeth with the effort of holding him back. The basket handle in my hand creaked as I gripped it tighter than it could handle.
Small, cold hands touched my hand gripping the basket and I jumped, dropping the basket. Amara jumped as well, taking a few steps back. We both stared at each other and then dropped our gazes to the basket lying on the floor. I looked back up at her and she started to giggle. I cocked my head, listening to the best sound in the world. Amara’s giggle turned into a cackle and kept going until she was holding her stomach and bent over at the waist. My wolf was pleased we had made her laugh, but I schooled my face into a menacing scowl.
“Why are you laughing?” I finally bit out.
Amara took a few deep breaths, trying to get her laughing under control. I waited, somewhat impatiently, for her to get herself under control. She was still smiling widely when she finally spit out, “You jumped so high! You were so scared for a second there.”
I huffed out a breath, annoyed she was making fun of me. My wolf didn’t care, he was happy she was happy. I leaned over and picked up the basket, cringing slightly when I realized the handle was twisted and mangalled. I eyed Amara, who seemed relaxed and was watching the scenery around us. I cleared my throat, glancing down at the basket and suddenly unsure of myself.
“Why don’t we stop here for lunch? I think we’re close to the town, but I’m not sure what is going to happen when we get there and I’m sure we won’t get a lot of time to enjoy Miss Kitty’s cooking,” I suggested. Amara turned a bright, eager smile toward me.
“That sounds heavenly!” She clapped, giddy and moved closer to me. I set the basket back on the forest floor, pulling out a large blanket. Amara and I spread it out on the ground and she sat down gracefully, tucking the servant’s dress under her legs.
What are you doing?! You know Luke’s enforcers will be here soon. You’re stopping for lunch? Now?
There’s no point in going any further. We won’t find the town without Luke to get us through that barrier.
So you’re just going to risk the enforcers hurting our mate?
She’s not our mate.
She’s our mate! You’re putting her in danger! She’s going to get hurt.
Let me worry about that.
13
Amara
I pulled out several of the delicious looking dishes that Miss Kitty had packed us. I knew Dean was focused on talking with someone. He had that far away look in his eyes and he had tilted his head up just slightly. I didn’t know if it was Jason or his wolf. I hoped everything was alright back at the castle. We didn’t exactly leave them in the best position. I popped open a container and inhaled the delicious scents of garlic, tomato sauce, and herbs that accompanied one of Miss Kitty’s famous pasta dishes.
Dean finally focused back on me and the food around us. He shifted uncomfortably before settling down on the blanket a good two feet from me. I didn’t mind - I wasn’t sure I wanted him any closer. I couldn’t reconcile the man sitting in front of me with the one who threw me in the dungeon earlier today. I blinked, pausing before digging into my food, at that realization.
“What?” Dean asked, his voice gruff and demanding. I looked up at him, my eyes wide before I narrowed them on him.
“I was just thinking about how it’s been a really crazy day. First, I have to deal with listening to all of the wolves complain about how life is just so unfair. Then, my Queen and best friend asks me to look after the two new wolves in the pack. Then, the Beta of the Wolf Hollow Pack throws me in the dungeon. Then, he takes me out of the dungeon and drags me on this ridiculous and insane trip to another pack’s lands in order to figure out what I am,” I sighed and shook my head. As I listed everything that had happened throughout the day, I felt the exhaustion creep into my bones. I lowered the bowl in my hand and stared down at it, feeling hopeless.
Dean sighed. I glanced up at him and watched as he ran a hand through his hair, messing it up just slightly. He grimaced. “I won’t say I regret my actions. I was doing what I could to make sure the kingdom was safe. I do regret that all of this happened to quickly. We probably should have left in the morning in order to have the proper rest. I’m sure that cot wasn’t the most comfortable.”
I snorted. He looked at me, apparently appalled that I would make such a noise. I frowned at him. “The cot in the dark, cold dungeon that was next to several of the criminal shifters we house? Yeah, that was probably the least comfortable thing I’ve been on - and I’ve slept in the servant’s quarters for years.”
“When did you start serving the Huntington’s?” Dean asked, cocking his head at me. I sighed again, feeling the exhaustion take over every part of me. I didn’t even carry any of the packs and I felt like my body was so worn out that blinking was difficult. I was so tired of fighting with him that I wanted to give in just a little bit.
“I started-”
