Page 74 of The Wild Moon
Silence.
I looked up to see his mouth twitching violently.
“Asshole,” I growled, shaking my head.
“You made no sound at all,” Aaron continued. “Just like you’d fallen unconscious. Except you were growing very hot. I pulled you away from the fire, but that didn’t seem to do anything. So, I stripped you and laid you on the ground until I heard the team returning. Then, I put you in the tent.”
“Thank you,” I said. “That was voyeuristically kind of you.”
For whatever reason, knowing Aaron had seen my underwear-clad body didn’t seem to bother me much. Perhaps it had something to do with all the times I’d imagined him ripping my underwear off me. I wasn’t sure, but thatmighthave something to do with it. But I wasn’t telling.
“I’m still on payroll,” Aaron said. “I believe in earning my money, even if I was paid it upfront.”
“How noble,” I said, switching topics. “How come you didn’t listen to my orders last night then? You just sent your death squad out there to kill people.”
“Nobody died last night,” Aaron said. “But I had to ensure we were safe. That you were safe and without distraction.”
It had worked. Although I could feel it growing stronger as we walked, it was clear that Aaron’s men had driven Johnathan back, creating more distance between us. For now, hiking in Aaron’s shadow, I could remain mostly calm and focused on whatever it was drawing me north.
I was glad Johnathan was still in control of himself, choosing to retreat instead of taking on Aaron’s team. The last thing I wanted was to be responsible for bloodshed. Which was why I was going to go tonight. Away from the camp, luring Johnathan away from them. Keep them safe.
It was the least I could do.
We walked north through the afternoon sun. I was thankful for the forest in this part of the valley because the canopy blocked enough light to ensure we weren’t roasted. When we crossed a meadow, it beat down upon us, a brutally warm day for late May.
Fred and Dave weren’t so happy. Their gear had them sweating. Even Aaron seemed warm, despite the leafy cover.
“Do your men want to stop for a break?” I asked as the day wore on.
“We’re getting close to dinner,” Aaron said with a shrug. “We’re fine.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiled. “You’ve been driving a hard pace. Do you really want to stop now?”
No. I didn’t. Whatever was here, it was growing stronger. The longer we walked, the more I could feel it.Somethingwas here, and I wanted to get there. That wasn’t all, though. Behind us, I could feel Johnathan getting closer. The drums in my head were breaking through Aaron’s dead zone once more.
I knew if I didn’t keep going, that if we stopped and I sat, the pull to turn back could potentially prove too strong to ignore. Even now, I could feel my shoulder trying to pull me back.
“We continue,” I said, pointing ahead at the ridge we had been approaching. “Let’s climb this, then see where we’re at.”
Aaron nodded, and we set off again. The Soulbond pushed aside for the time being. It didn’t like that. With each foot I put forward, each step higher up the ridge, it pushed harder. My wolf whimpered inside me, and the call of whatever was in front of us wavered and faded.
No, I told her.We’re not giving up. Not now. Got it? That Soulbond is bad news. We’re ignoring it.
She shivered, and I could feel her being pulled back by a force stronger than herself.
“No,” I repeated, gritting my teeth and forcing my legs forward. “Not happening.”
“Dani?” Aaron asked, but I shouldered him aside, bulling my way up the side of this ridge.
“We’re so damn close. I amnotgoing back to that asshole now just because you’reweak!” I shouted, elbowing Dave out of my way.
Alexi took one look at me as I came and stepped aside before I made him move.
I continued my charge up the ridge while my wolf went berserk inside me. She could no longer handle being separated from her Soulmate. We had to go back.Shehad to go back.
But I wouldn’t let her.
