Scarlett
My mind was racing a million miles a minute as I moved my feet over the rocky earth, wearing a path into the ground with the number of times I had already traversed it waiting for Reese so I could finally shift into my wolf de novo.
I hated not being free to do as I wished, but I was used to the limitations after living under Zeke for so long. That wasn’t to say I was a stranger to breaking the rules, but I understood the importance of them this time, so I restrained myself from sneaking off for a sprint on my own.
We had been here for a few days, but I hadn’t seen much of my mate. He crept into my room each night and slept near me as his wolf, but I made a concerted effort to avoid him at all costs each morning after.
I knew it wasn’t the mature thing to do, but I was still struggling to come to terms with the idea of having another male in my life for any period of time, let alone another true mate.
R
Scarlett Communication was hard while I was on four legs rather than two without mind link to connect Reese and I as we ran in sync after the scout. It was near impossible with us stealthily tailing the wolf who had been spying on us, and it made interacting with one another difficult, to say the least. I wasn’t sure if Reese had seen the same thing as me, but he followed after me without a second thought, regardless. Nonetheless, I didn’t need his deep voice constantly cautioning me in my head through mind link to know I needed to fall back as I began to comprehend the magnitude of what our sleuth led us to sometime later. Reese stayed shoulder to shoulder with me as I dashed back to the vehicle, but I didn’t bother shifting shapes when we got there. My mind was still reeling with the unmistakable indicators of the impending battle heading our way that Reese and I had uncovered. I registered him speaking
Reese My mind had been a muddled mess ever since the first second I’d laid eyes on the fiery vixen soaking in the hot springs before me in Jax’s lodge about a month ago, but I had felt more myself over the last several days as I used my analytical side to give the others the best chance to fend off the incoming attack. I hadn’t originally been sure if the infiltrators would follow the same pattern as they had been, but my beta had kept me updated about their movements on the fringe, so it was music to my ears when Oliver informed me the bears had funneled in through the North as we intended when they launched their assault. I had been consumed with dealing with all the information filtering in from elsewhere since the evacuation went off without a hitch. Consequently, Scarlett had been able to successfully avoid the topic of how she was so familiar with the bear shifters up until now. I slipped into the temperate water beside her, wad
Reese I awoke in the morning feeling better than I had any other day of my life, the difference being Scarlett had allowed me to ensconce her in my arms for the remainder of the night as we found the land of dreams together. The pleasant feeling coursing through my blood put an extra pep in my step as Scarlett and I set off for the bears’ territory. I had rigged up a bag I would be able to carry on my shoulders as we traversed the country, but I needed my mate to secure it in place before she shifted. I didn’t let myself admire her mile-long legs or other desirable assets, knowing we would never make it to the bears before the elder if I started down that path. I was thrilled with the progress I made in getting my other half to fully accept me, but my wolf was antsy to advance to the claiming stage. I couldn’t say I blamed him, it had been over a month at this point, and there were times when I thought I would go mad with the
Scarlett My limbs grew heavier as we ran onward in the direction of Jace’s hideaway, but the exhilaration from hurtling through the forest as my wolf served as a balm for my exhaustion. Reese’s huge gray wolf kept stride with me as I took the lead position. The glimpse I caught of him out of the corner of my eye had my mind flying back to our conversation from last night. His reluctance then and now to seek out Jace again was palpable, but I saw the effort he put into trying to set aside his differences after my entreaty. I refocused on my environs then, knowing we were getting closer to Jace, but my mind never strayed far from my mate. I slowed by a fraction, letting my senses roam out further, but I suddenly crashed into Reese’s massive beast as the following events ensued. My ears picked up on the sounds of something heading in our direction. I instinctively hesitated with the clear signs we were no longer alone, but the di
Reese I felt more secure here in Jace’s den than I ever thought I would, and I could grant this was the first time I had the chance to let my shield slip a little since we had departed the Western Province. My tired state had me feeling worn out down to my very bones, and our relative safety had my eyes drooping as my mind analyzed Jace’s behavior from prior in the forest where he found us and afterwards here in his concealed cave. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he’d had designs on making Scarlett his before I came into the picture, and who could blame him? Pairings molded by Luna had been extremely rare up until now, so it was reasonable to believe Scarlett would remain unattached, especially knowing she had already rejected her true mate. Anger trickled through my system as I was reminded about the trauma my mate had endured at his hands, not to mention the fact that he might still be alive. I forced myself to focus on Jace
Scarlett I wanted Reese; there was no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I had been hanging on by a thread before we began this trip, but I didn’t think I would be able to part with him at this point, even if that was something I was remotely considering. He was worming his way into my mind and heart against my better judgment, and I needed him to satisfy the ache that had existed since I first laid eyes on him. I had no doubt Jace had fled due to what he knew was about to transpire. He had been the one to teach me to seize what I wanted, after all, and I wasn’t hiding that Reese was it. Reese slammed his lips over mine without hesitation and hauled me up his powerful body after I navigated the speedily shrinking distance between us. I had waited for far too long for this moment, and I was giving in to our mating bond tonight, the consequences be damned in the morning. He wasn’t gentle as he claimed my lips in equal
Scarlett We sprinted through the trees for an hour or two. I wasn’t paying attention to the distance travelled. Instead, I was busy relishing the fresh morning air and the chirping of birds waking up as it began to brighten around us. The brilliant orb of light was still climbing higher in the sky when we halted right before exiting the tree line. Reese blocked my path, but I didn’t need his explanation to know we had arrived. I could hear Theo waiting with the radio playing from the work truck he’d brought to disguise our movements throughout the territory. Reese didn’t wait before shifting shapes, untangling himself from the bag and digging his clothes out. He passed mine over to me before shrugging his pants on, and he briefly met my gaze as he hoisted the strap of the bag onto his shoulder after. He didn’t say anything, but I was left feeling confused when he rotated on his heel and left me alone to get dres
Reese I could tell Scarlett was getting tired, but I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt she wouldn’t let me know if she needed to rest. She would keep pushing herself on at the same breakneck speed, killing herself in an effort to prove something that didn’t need proving. I knew this because I had watched her do it on the numerous trips we had already made together throughout the provinces recently. I couldn’t wait for the day she finally comprehended that I was here for the long haul. I didn’t care how many times she shoved me away, I would keep showing her through my actions that I was nothing like her ex. The anger began to fester with the mere thought of the bastard, but rather than let my mind wander down that path I urged my wolf faster, nipping at the long fur on her tail to get her attention. She understood the ensuing gestures I attempted in lupine form somehow, and she found a good place to stop near the river. She di