Page 195 of Kingdoms of Night

However, she seemed to respond positively to it.

Maybe this is the way to the little hellion’s heart.

If it made her obedient, I’d purr for her every damn day.

I’d just chalk it up as a protection requirement.

We ran for several miles, our pace a quick trot that took us deeper and deeper into the woods.

Riley didn’t fight me. She didn’t growl. She didn’t even try to slow down or alter our journey.

She just followed.

So you can obey commands,I mused.You just need a little affection to do so.

Or maybe this was why she’d denied my offers to go for a run in the past—she knew her wolf would submit to mine.

Fascinating.

I possessed the ability to force her to shift. Maybe I’d use that the next time she acted out.

I nearly snorted at the notion. Purring was a kinder alternative. I’d try that approach first. But I would definitely be noting her animal’s easy acquiescence for future reference.

We continued our trek for a few hours, only stopping every now and then to sniff the wind and glance upward to check the sun.

I’d spent a lot of time outdoors, not only as a wolf but also as a man. I enjoyed losing myself in the wilderness and finding my way home. There was just something freeing about it. I’d never been much of a pack creature, preferring to roam on my own.

Maybe because I’d been raised with V-Clan wolves in Blood Sector. I’d always been an outcast as an X-Clan Alpha. But my Omega mother had fallen for a V-Clan Alpha, and as my biological father was dead, it made sense for us to live in Iceland with her mate’s pack.

They were certainly different from most X-Clan packs that I knew. And not just because of their magical traits, but in the way they treated the members of their clans.

That could just be Blood Sector, though. As much as I didn’t care for Kieran, he was a good leader. And he’d certainly won over the pack, despite his unique circumstances.

He’d won over Riley, too.

But that was another topic entirely, one my wolf didn’t want to acknowledge right now. Because it was clear the two doctors wereclose.

I just didn’t want to think about howclosethey were.

Or how she was always sweet to him. How she smiled for him. How she laughed for him.

And that’s why I’m not going to think about it, I decided, picking up my pace a little.

Riley made a sound of protest, causing me to slow again and glance at her. It was her first outward sign of disobedience since we’d begun this trot, and looking at her now, I realized it wasn’t her acting out. It was her saying she couldn’t keep going.

Fuck.

I’d been so focused on our direction and surroundings that I hadn’t noticed her exhausted state.

When was the last time you ate?I wondered, observing her frail form and pained eyes.And why didn’t you say something?

Stubborn female.

She appeared ready to pass out.

Blaming her wasn’t entirely fair, though. I should have been paying better attention to her.

Right.I sniffed the air, searching for signs of life anywhere around us. Or food. Maybe even water.

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