Page 105 of Campfires & Canines
"Cassia, Lazuli, Elm, I want you on the north border and hang towards Granite Ridge. Slate, take Hazel west. Teach her how to recognize our borders and how to identify other packs."
He turns, not waiting for confirmation. Everyone else moves towards the exits. I'm surprised he is sending Hazel out so soon.
"Sir, is it wise to take her so far from town?" I blurt.
Everyone pauses. I know I've spoken out of turn, but I can't seem to keep my head straight where Hazel is concerned.
"You're safe near Cashel's territory," Hawthorne reassures us.
Heath's eyes narrow. "Do you have concerns, Slate?"
"No, Alpha." I lower my gaze. I’m far more respectful than in our last conflict, and he seems satisfied.
Everyone's attention lingers on me for a moment before they obey Heath's silent dismissal and head to their assignments. Thankfully, Heath lets it go and leaves us.
"That was awkward," Hazel says, sidling up to me. The distance she leaves between us stings. My instincts demand I reach out and touch her, draw her close.
"Yeah, we're not exactly supposed to question our Alpha. Especially not in front of everybody," I mumble.
"Why did you?" she asks.
"I’m not exactly reasonable when it comes to you," I answer simply. I don't feel like explaining, so I pull off my clothes and shift.
I lead her west, along the road and out towards Valley Pack. We slow, and she lowers her nose to the ground. The pack scent fades aswe reach the unclaimed land that creates a wide ring between us and our neighbors. Their scent wafts across and I can spot when she catches it because she pauses and cocks her head.
I can feel her curiosity through the pack bond. Her ears relax and her tail sways.
Time for some education. I rub the side of my face against her neck and shoulder. She repeats my motion, the sway of her tail speeding up.
Turning back to the edge of our territory, I approach the tree trunk closest to us, rubbing against it to transfer our scent. I scratch at the base, further marking the landscape with my scent.
Hazel looks at the tree and back at me, and then she leans in and sniffs it. She's so intelligent. After a moment of hesitation, she copies my motions.
We wander the border, heading generally northwards towards the creek. I won't take her past it. I don't want to bring her anywhere near Ferris and Sienna’s territory, even though there is a huge stretch of Valley Pack between our current position and our enemy's border.
On this western edge, the creek cuts deep into the land, leaving us on the precipice of an outcropping. Late morning light paints the treetops along the opposite rise. It's one of my favorite views.
I locate our clothing stash. She pads behind me and shifts seconds after I do. Unzipping the knapsack, I pull out some shirts and sweats for us. She raises an eyebrow at me but accepts them.
I give her privacy. When I turn, she's dressed with her hands gripping the hem of her shirt. Her gaze rakes over the mountainsideand the creek fifty feet below us. It's fast and deep at this point, resulting in white foam swirling around the rocks.
"It's gorgeous." She stares for a while and then reaches for my hand. "I'm sad I didn't grow up here with you."
I shrug. "What if we wouldn't have gotten together in that case? Maybe you’d be with someone like Onyx."
She wrinkles her nose at my suggestion and I can’t help but smile. "Or we would have been childhood sweethearts and hooked up as teenagers."
"I would have wanted that, for sure," I admit. She admires the landscape, but I admire her. I'm entranced with the slope of her nose and the curve of her cupid's bow. The way her eyelashes frame those captivating eyes. "But you would have had so many other options, being the heir of an alpha.”
She lets out a small frustrated noise. "Why are you still doubting what I want?"
"I don't want you to feel obligated, because of everything that happened. You are entirely free now to stay with our pack or leave entirely. You don’t need me. No one will mess with you now that you have your own fangs," I say, tipping her chin toward me.
"I want you." She levels her full attention on me, her golden-brown eyes grasping my very soul. For once we aren't drunk on lust or exhaustion. "Do you want to be my mate?" she asks quietly. My blood heats.
"You were forbidden," I finally say. "You were my dream, and then suddenly you were mine. It felt too good to be true. But the next day, it all crashed down around me.” I wantto pull her against me, but I keep myself still. "I would do anything for you. Give up anything if it makes you happy."
"Slate," she says, taking a step closer, "you make me happy."
