Josh POV “Sorry, Tatiana, you can’t come with us,” I stated, taking a few steps closer to Allie. Tatiana pouted and started crying loudly, cuddling her head against my chest as she sobbed. She looked broken-hearted and I felt terrible. I didn’t want to be with her, but I couldn’t just leave her in a state like this. I stroked her back gently, trying to calm her, then noticed Allie.  Over the course of the day, I felt like I’d finally broken through to her. She’d forgiven me for my stuff ups, and she’d loosened up and had fun at the berry patch–I was sure she’d never done anything like that before. She was warming to me.  But now, her expression had changed, and her features had hardened. Her guard was back up, the one I’d worked so hard to get her to lower.

Allie POV Josh laughed, and we headed for the rocky path that led up and around the mountain. It didn’t take long for my legs to burn thanks to the constant incline. Even Josh had worked up a sweat. “As much as it pains me–physically–to say this, we need to move faster,” he said, looking at the sky. “It looks like there’s a storm coming, and these paths are slippery enough without rain and possibly wind to deal with.” I reluctantly realised he was right. We increased our speed, and I began to wonder whether we should just abandon the mission and take our chances making our own way out of the Jade Willow Forest. Surely I was only increasing my chances of dying by trekking up this mountain.  My heart thumped violently in my chest, my lungs burned, and my legs ache

Allie POV A familiar smell tickled my nose, and I jerked to attention. Smoke. Fire. I stood and followed my nose. The smell was coming from further up the mountain, and I could just spot the top of a chimney. Someone lived here! With a burst of adrenaline surging through me, I ushered Josh into a standing position and forged on. I burst into tears as a small hut appeared, hidden deep within the trees. Without the fire, it would have almost blended into the scenery.  I left Josh sitting against a large boulder and eyed the bear that had followed us the entire way. It hung back, not daring to come near us, and I just hoped it would stay that way. I ran and knocked several times on the door, praying to the Moon Goddess that someone friendly was home. I breathed a s

Josh POV The wind and rain had calmed a little, but the downpour was just enough to keep the access paths flooded.  Samson was still acting like he wasn’t happy we were there, but in truth, I think he was grateful for the company. Allie bugged him with a million questions about elves and the forest and the other fae, but despite his grumbling, I could tell he enjoyed answering her. She’d surprised me when she said she wanted to train. I guess our conversation the other day had set some thoughts in motion. She was already awake and had eaten breakfast with Samson before I rolled out of bed.  The sheets didn’t smell like her, so she must have spent another night on the bench seat near the window. Samson was kind

Allie POV The walls of the hut shook as I slammed the door, and all I could hope for was that Josh wouldn’t follow. I needed space. My hands were trembling, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the anger at being used as a toy, the embarrassment of him knowing what my body was doing, or the shock that I’d actually enjoyed his touch. He knew exactly what he was doing when he touched me, and he still did it anyway. I didn’t know why I had even thought for a second that he cared about me. He was just my guard, and he was only here because he felt obligated. He probably figured he may as well have some fun seeing as he was stuck with me. Was he even saving himself for his mate, or was that just another card to play so he didn’t sound like such a jerk? I’d felt him pressed up against me, he was just as turned on as