Page 82 of Stargazer

“No.”

Already frustrated, I scrunched my face. “What is it then?”

“Tree,” he deadpanned, crossing his arms. A ghost of a smirk appeared on his lips. He was having fun. The dickhead.

“You’re not really helping break the ice,” I accused.

He raised a brow at me. “What do we need to break the ice for, Supernova? We’re all friends here. Right, Riv?” His silver eyes found the Alpha’s amber ones.

“Friends,” he agreed with a nod and a charming smile. “I was under the impression we had been for a while. I mean, I have been feeding and looking after you guys. We’ve fought rogues together. Trained together. Makes me feel like we’re more than acquaintances at this point.”

Griffin didn’t respond, going deathly quiet. His head snapped in the opposite direction, eyes flashing with The Sight. I slowly pulled a sai from where it was tucked into my utility belt.

River had already positioned himself at the front. He held out a hand to signal us to stop as he slowly crept forward.

I hardly noticed Griffin move, his feet near silent as he angled himself around my back.

Ignoring Riv’s warning, we both advanced cautiously, our steps in sync as we readied ourselves for whatever was about to come our way. Slowly, Griffin’s hand slid down and around the side of my back. My body urged me to look at the spot where his touch branded me but my head thought better of it, keeping my senses on high alert as I scanned the forest. He found the small compartment on my belt that held my stash of Tranquiliser powder, and with nimble fingers he slipped it out and palmed it into my free hand, arming with me everything I needed.

Bright blue eyes glowed only feet away from us in the darkness of the trees.

“I think it’s one of Cara’s wolves,” River got out, his voice still hushed. “Her border is just up ahead.”

An instant later, River’s black wolf graced us, prowling forward with a low snarl.

The blue-eyed wolf approached, revealing a sable tri-coloured coat. The wolf seemed to communicate with River and then Riv’s large, dark-furred head snapped back to us, a dip of his chin the only sign that this wolf was on our side.

I felt a prickle at the back of my neck and looked further out to see another two wolves in the distance; one fawn-coloured and the other a reddish brindle. Their stances remained relaxed as they watched us from afar.

Running into Alpha Cara’s pack in the open forest was a pretty surreal moment, coming face to face with another pack of wolf shifters just out here on their own border patrol. I didn’t expect it—to see other wolves that weren’t part of our pack or belonging to the rogues. In all my time with the Saint Claire pack, I’d never met another wolf—likely another thing they’d shielded me from.

Griffin and I relaxed slightly as we observed the interaction. When River in wolf form headed back towards us, the others turned and trotted further into their territory.

The little canine nod they gave us upon their departure was an image I’d never forget.

River’s large majestic wolf turned to us and then pointed his snout in the direction of the Northern Post we’d come from before he made off in a sprint.

I knew what he was implying: he was going to go back to get some clothes, considering he shifted in such an instinctive rush that he didn’t get a chance to preserve his own. If he shifted back now, he’d be butt naked.

We weren’t too far from the post, so Griffin and I walked back in that general direction.

Pushing through the trees, I didn’t make eye contact with Griffin as I asked, “What time are Winter and Bleu taking over?”

Without missing a beat he said, “Winter texted not long ago. They’ll swap with us at two am.”

I bristled at his response. Not at the fact that we still had another good few hours of this, but because Bleu hadn’t been the one who texted.

I forced myself to sound normal. “Great. By the time we make it back to the post and then do a circuit in the other direction, that should almost cover it.”

He didn’t reply. But I could feel the way he was scrutinising me, trying to pick apart my words and tone.

When I paused to look back at him, he searched my face. His brow lifted and mouth kicked up on one side. The asshole smirked like he had read my thoughts. Knew exactly what the high-pitched change to my usually raspier voice meant. And he clearly liked it. Liked the jealously he picked up on.

“What?” I demanded. Annoyed at both myself and him.

“Nothing.” He grinned wickedly.

I stormed off, ignoring him as I stalked along the path.

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