Chapter 3: The Learning Phase

Camden pulled a chair to sit in front of the crackling fireplace, her damp hair slowly drying as she watched Clayton still skulking at the table.

"Do you maybe have something I can wear besides that hideous wedding dress?" she asked, her voice laced with disdain for the thing. Clayton nodded and headed over to a cupboard, retrieving a white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. He handed them over to her. Camden took them gratefully. “Thank you,” she said, then she twirled her finger, signalling for him to turn around. Clayton let out a sigh and complied, facing the opposite direction as she changed in the tiny cabin.

The borrowed clothes were far from a perfect fit, overwhelming her petite frame, but they were a welcome relief from the burdensome wedding dress. Camden settled back into the chair in front of the fireplace, squeezing her hair out with the towel. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Clayton sitting at the table again, his gaze fixed on her. "Hmmm?" she mused, tilting her head and looking over at him. His lips curved into a shy smile, and he spoke softly, "Nothing, I'm just looking at you." A blush crept onto Camden's cheeks as she flashed a broad smile in return. "That must be the ‘mate bond’ talking,” she teased.

After a few silent minutes of hair-towelling and hair-brushing with her fingers, Camden decided to let her hair dry naturally. She fetched the chair she had set up in front of the fireplace and dragged it back over to the table, facing Clayton. She leaned in, sizing him up, and contemplated where to begin.

"Where did you grow up?" she asked, breaking the silence. Clayton took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "I was abandoned as a baby and was found by the Blood Moon Pack. They raised me as their own. But I always felt like I didn't belong, like I was an outsider looking in. That's why I eventually went rogue, searching for a place where I could find my own sense of belonging." Camden listened attentively, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the table. "How old are you?" she inquired, looking up with a raised eyebrow. Clayton let out a sigh, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I'm not entirely sure. The Blood Moon Pack celebrated my birthday on the day they found me. They estimated I was around one at the time. So, I guess I'm around 29 now. But I've never had any certainty about my origins or when I was truly born. I still don't know if I was abandoned there or if I wandered off as a baby and was lost in the woods. But nobody ever came looking for me."

A mix of empathy and sadness filled Camden's heart as she reached across the table, taking Clayton's hand in hers. "I'm sorry, that couldn't be easy" she whispered, her frown reflecting her genuine concern. Clayton offered a small smile, squeezing her hand gently. "It's alright. The Blood Moon Pack took care of me. I had everything I needed, even if I didn't have any parents in the traditional sense. I'm grateful to them, but I always felt like something was missing." Then he let out a sigh, looking down at their entwined fingers.

"What about you?" Clayton asked "How old are you?" he questioned. "I'm 24. I'm from the Silver Pine Pack, but I'm sure you figured that out already based on where I literally bumped into you." she smiled shyly. "Tell me about your fiancé," he said with a smirk. "Ugh!" Camden exclaimed. "Well, shame. I guess he was a nice enough guy, younger than me, 21 years old. But I couldn't marry him. I felt nothing for him. I can't bring myself to hate him because in all likelihood he probably felt the same way I did. We didn't love each other. There was no mate bond. It was something our families were forcing on us to strengthen our pack ties. He was probably relieved when I ran away." Camden recounted. "I doubt that," Clayton replied, "as I said before, you're the daughter of an Alpha. And you're beautiful. He would have been lucky to have you." Camden blushed, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease at Clayton's words.

She shifted the conversation away from herself, eager to learn more about him. "Where are we?" she asked, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "This is neutral land, not owned by any specific pack. It's actually part of the national forest and rarely frequented because it's off the beaten trails," Clayton explained. "And, of course, I have the freedom to roam here in my wolf form with reasonable safety." he said with a sly smile. "Smart," Camden remarked with a nod. "And the cabin? How did the cabin get here?" She looked around, confusion on her face. Clayton chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice. "I made it, obviously," he replied, rolling his eyes playfully. "It's not like I could get a helicopter to airlift it in for me." he said with a chuckle. "You made this?!" Camden exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe. "That's amazing!" She beamed at him, genuinely impressed by his craftsmanship.

"I'm sure you have your own fair share of hidden talents and engaging hobbies. What do you like to do, Camden?" Clayton asked, his curiosity piqued. Camden chuckled, feeling a newfound ease in sharing her interests. "Well, I like to bake. I also enjoy gardening. And, I have to admit, I'm a major fan of true crime series. I can binge-watch them for hours. I thought you might be a serial killer when we met" she confessed, a glimmer of nervous humour in her eyes. "Oh, and I do sword fighting too." Clayton arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a playful grin. "Just some casual sword fighting then?" he quipped, a hint of admiration in his voice. "That’s pretty badass," he added, his eyes shining with genuine interest. "So, you can take care of yourself then?" Camden nodded, a confident smile spreading across her face. "Of course! I'm the daughter of an Alpha. I have to be able to protect myself. Not that I'd likely ever end up in an actual sword fight, but I enjoy it, and it keeps me fit," she explained, her voice filled with a mix of determination and light heartedness.

They sat looking at one another smiling in silence for a moment, then Clayton piped up, "Hang on, did you say you thought I was a serial killer when we first met?!" A look of shocked bemusement on his face. Camden let out a nervous laugh. "The thought crossed my mind," she admitted as a deep blush spread across her cheeks. She felt silly saying it out loud now, and also, was concerned he might take offence. She looked at his face, searching for some kind of emotion, but he betrayed none. Suddenly he laughed out loud, clearly amused by the absurdity of it. Camden laughed at him laughing, glad he hadn't taken offence. "I'm not a serial killer, Camden", Clayton stated with a sincere smile, though it was obvious he was trying to stifle his laughter. "Glad to hear that. It might have put a bit of a dampener on our relationship," Camden replied sarcastically, but smiling none the less.

As the day unfolded, they continued to delve into each other's lives, sharing stories, hopes, and dreams. Camden learned about Clayton's affinity for nature, his love for exploring the wilderness, his talent for woodworking, and his love of drawing. Clayton, in turn, discovered Camden's passion for animals, and was sad to hear that her father had never let her have a pet of her own. With each exchange, their connection deepened, slowly weaving the intricate threads of understanding and familiarity.