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"You’re hurting, aren’t you?"
"I can keep going."
"No, let’s rest for now. We have been making good headway."
They shifted back into their human form and made camp for the night. Owen was definitely in more pain than he was used to and was hesitant to admit it. But Reika was his mate, and she was starting to know him better than he knew himself.
They sat around a small, discreet fire after Reika hunted a few hares for them to consume. They ate in silence, the fire crackling and the howls of the wind the only sounds penetrating the night air.
“I bet this isn’t what you imagined, is it?” Reika spoke through tearing her piece of rabbit apart, giving him a teasing elbow.
Owen had never imagined finding a mate in his life. He thought that all of that tradition was simple folklore, something people from the old days depended on and believed in. But when he met Reika, he knew it was real. Meeting her was like being punched in the gut.
He shook his head, smiling as he ate. “I never imagined it at all,” he said. “Especially not in a star-crossed lover’s way, that’s for sure.”
Reika giggled, then chowed down the rest of her food. It wasn’t a lot, especially for two full-grown shifters, but at least it would get them through the night.
They slept lightly, staying on alert for any family members on the prowl. They awoke to the sound of chirping birds, something pleasant and calming for once.
They moved along in their wolf forms, making good time toward the ferry they needed to take to the island. Eventually, they decided it would be prudent to hitch a ride over so as to not look too suspicious as wolves walking along a shoreline.
A kind man picked them up and inquired about their trip.
“We just eloped,” Reika said.
They were sitting in the backseat, squished together. The two of them were thicker and taller than the average human, so the sight of them in such a small car was comical.
Owen frowned at his mate but was delightfully amused.
“Is that so?” the man said. “I didn’t know people still did that these days.”
“It’s true!” Reika responded. “Our families don’t like each other, so we’re heading out to sea to make our own life together.”
The man gazed into the rearview mirror with that signature look older people gave the young. He simply shrugged and continued driving.
Once they arrived at the marina, they thanked him profusely, and they were on their way.
“Getting a bit friendly there, eh?” Owen quipped.
Reika slapped his arm lightly, playfully giggling along with him. “Sometimes it's fun to pretend, isn’t it?” She winked.
Even though they were both tired from travel, Owen’s desire continued to flame like the roars of a bonfire. He took her hand, soft and warm in his, as they walked toward a long line of people waiting for the transport.
Owen found out that the ferry was already full and that they had to wait until the next round in a few days. He huffed to himself slightly until he noticed Reika had taken her hand from his and walked away.
“Reika,” he called out.
She was walking toward a man in a small, unassuming boat just off the corner of the marina. It looked like a fishing boat, nothing too intrusive or obvious looking to Owen.
He hurried to Reika to find she was asking him for a ride. The man was older and gave Owen a blank stare as he approached. Owen knew that he was a big man and could intimidate others without even trying.
But the fisherman simply shrugged, like their kind driver, and offered them a seat in his boat. They climbed in happily, with Owen barely believing what luck they were having.
The fisherman went out to sea before the large ship had even loaded everyone up. The sun was slowly starting to set, which made Owen feel a bit safer. The blanket of darkness was warm and inviting.
“We’re going to make it, Owen,” Reika whispered in his arms. “This is really going to work out.”
Owen nodded, then kissed the top of her sweet head. He wanted to believe it was the beginning of their lives together and that everything would be smooth sailing from then on. But he knew his father, and he was a vengeful, pathetic man. No distance could stop him from seeking out what he truly wanted.
