Page 23 of Lion Conquers All
“Thank you, I feel the same, but let’s not talk about her while she’s only a dozen yards up the trail.” Hismatewas also very observant.
“Of course.”
“We should be coming up on a stream soon. The blind is set up just on the other side.” Gaven’s voice carried loudly from the middle of the group.
“I can hear the water. It’s not far.” Ava called over her shoulder.
“You can hear it?” Gavin called out, disbelief thick in his voice.
“I have really good hearing,” Ava hollered back, pulling off nonchalance with skill.
Aarav’s heart beat faster in his chest, but Gavin didn’t respond again. It was fine. It would be fine.
Worrying about people’s suspicions wasn’t at the top of his list right now. Right now he just hoped the children were within reach. He wanted to be able to give Sam back to his parents. He wanted to yell at them both for being so thoughtless.
They knew better.
They grew up in the shadow of Denali.
They knew how dangerous it was to be alone in the wilderness.
Alaska was wild, like home. This area was nothing like Anchorage, where buildings stretched for miles. When he’d first seen the enormous city, it’d been overwhelming. He couldn’t imagine living with so many people surrounding him.
Mystery was a tiny dot on the map. Denali was a giant. And the wild swallowed everything that couldn’t fight back. It was much more his pace. Few people. Lots of wildlife. Lots of space.
“Gretchen.” Gaven shouted into the whispering trees.
The forest thinned a little. A rock bed lay before them and a beach of river stones. Aarav’s feet crunched on the pebbles. In the center of the bed was a small stream, maybe ten feet across, maybe a few feet deep right in the center.
“We’re getting wet if we cross here.” Connie’s tone was laced with annoyance. “I didn’t plan on taking a bath.” She walked closer to the water and looked upstream and down.
“I can carry you across,” Aarav said, stepping closer to her, but not touching. How he wanted to touch her. Feel the softness of her skin. Have her scent linger on his clothes. Anything.
Her hand flexed at her side and the muscles in her face tensed like she’d been shocked with electricity. “Oh, I—” Her words drifted away on the light breeze. She didn’t have a good argument against him carrying her. At least not one she was likely to divulge to the group.
Aarav didn’t like using her circumstances against her, but the last thing he intended was to allow Ryder the opportunity to touch her. Or the human male.
“Just a quick few steps and you’re right on the opposite bank. Promise. Not sure we’ll find anything very close to walk on as a bridge.” He glanced to his left and right. Up the stream and then down. It was all wide open rippling water. She was either going to accept his help, or decide him not touching her was worth getting wet and being wet for the rest of the hike.
His heart ached in his chest.
Each beat seemed to drag forever.
She looked at the stream again. Looked up and then down. Then down at her shoes and pants.
You can do it, sweet woman. Just let me help you.His lion paced, tense and nervous at the possibility of actually being permitted to touch theirshuarra.
“You’ll put me right back down?” The fear lacing the edges of her words ripped his heart to shreds.
Someone not carrying so much fear would never have asked that questions.
Everyone in the group was silent.
Almost like they knew if they spoke or move, she’d startle like a deer caught in the open.
“Yes, just a few seconds and you’ll be on your feet again.”
She bit and chewed on her bottom lip. Then nodded.
