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Trying to slow my heartrate, I hoped he hadn’t heard what I’d said before that.
“Home. I have to get back before my family does.”
De’drik stared at me a moment before tipping his head towards the fire.
“You need to eat first, then we can go.”
As he turned to walk back down the hill, I bit my lip to keep from saying anything. My outburst the night before had been made in anger. While the forest close to Barcole didn’t hold many dangers, I knew the wisdom of traveling with a companion in case of an accident. It just hadn’t been an option.
I was sure De’drik would be able to get me home much faster than I could alone since he was more familiar with traveling in the forest, but I felt like I was taking advantage of him since he was probably putting himself at risk. If a hunter saw De’drik, they wouldn’t hesitate to try killing him.
But I didn’t want him thinking that I was weak. While I’d admit he was likely more woods-wise than me, I still knew enough not to need someone to hold my hand. It wasn’t my fault the storm had come, and then he’d carried me so far.
Huffing at my tangled feelings, I followed him back to our camp as I tried to get control of myself. He had only been trying to help.
De’drik gestured to a stick close to the small flames he’d stirred up. Whatever was on it was too small for me to identify. The fat was already crispy, so I pulled it out of the fire and waved the stick to help it cool faster as De’drik stowed everything away in his pack.
Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth to speak just as he did.
“I’m sorry about…”
“I didn’t mean…”
We both trailed off, my cheeks heating as De’drik rubbed a hand on the back of his neck.
“I know you’re not helpless, I just want to be sure you’re safe.”
My cheeks burned more, and I ducked my head before glancing back up at him.
“I know. Thank you. I didn’t mean to get upset with you.”
He nodded as I flashed him a small smile.
I ate as we started walking, using it as an excuse for the silence. I almost chuckled at how idyllic everything seemed, if you ignored the fact that the alpha at my side wasn’t human. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a perfect day to me, out walking in the forest as the sun rose, instead of locked inside, scrubbing a house that wasn’t mine.
Sighing, I tried to turn my thoughts away from that path and was grateful when De’drik spoke.
“Tell me about the town you live in.”
I had the feeling that he was more used to being alone than making conversation, so I was surprised he wanted to talk. According to William, men preferred their women silent.
Warmth bloomed in my chest, and I glanced up at him before going back to watching where I was stepping.
“Barcole used to be like the villages on the other side of the mountains until it was conquered many summers ago. A governor was put in place, and he started a school, and had more shops built, and more homes for the men who came with him.”
Launching into details about the town and how it had grown that I’d overheard when William was learning the history, I ended up talking about my family as well. De’drik was silent, and I didn’t notice the way he frowned until I realized I’d prattled on for a while.
“I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t talk so much.”
“Those people are who you call kin? The way you’ve described them treating you—”
We both stopped walking as he stared at me, his mouth in a grim line as mine hung open. His chest was heaving with angry breaths, his claws curled into fists, but I didn’t know what to say.
“Instead of taking you in and protecting a child of her blood, your aunt turned you into little more than a slave. She didn’t raise you, she used you for her own gain, with no thought to your welfare.”
I swallowed hard as tears pricked my eyes. I knew what he said was true, but it was still difficult to hear it from someone else. I hadn’t realized what I’d said gave away the way I’d felt my whole life.
That I was unwanted.
