The Wild Moon by Riley Storm

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I awoke with a start.

The tent was empty. I started to scramble out of it when I realized I was only wearing underwear.

Pause.

Forcing myself to slow down, I got fully dressed, then I exited the tent, standing up slowly, taking everything in.

The team was all around, doing their usual morning routines.

Fred was sitting off by himself, silent, contemplating, sipping a cup of coffee while he pondered life, the universe, and everything in between. As usual, Alexi was already packed and looked like he was eager to get started.

A quick glance at the sun told me why.

“How long was I out?” I asked, noting it had to be approaching noon already.

“All morning,” Aaron said with a smile. “You must have been tired yesterday. When you crawled into bed, you were out in seconds.”

He came into view as he spoke, keeping his back to the rest of his team. The look on his face implored me to go along with what he was saying.

“Yeah. I guess yesterday really tuckered me out,” I said awkwardly. “Sorry, guys, I’m sure you’re all bored out of your minds. Someone could have woken me.”

“I told them not to,” Aaron explained. “You’re paying the bills, so you set the pace.”

“Right,” I said slowly. “But I’m only paying the bills for a few more days, aren’t I?”

“Six, by my count,” Aaron said.

“Six. So, that’s another two days in and four for the way out, if my math checks out.”

I didn’t receive a response, which told me I was on the right track. Two days. Well, the Wild Moon was tonight, so if we didn’t find anything, I suspected I wasn’t going to care much past it.

“What happens if we find something?” I asked suddenly, curious. “If we do find the ancient city my father was looking for?”

“That depends,” Aaron said cagily. “If we find anything worthwhile that can pay the bills, my team will stay.”

I frowned. “Your team? What about you?”

“I’m not as concerned about the money as they are,” he said.

“So, you’ll stay for free?” I asked, surprised.

Aaron laughed. “I’m not a charity worker. But if there are interesting things to be learned, then I’ll stay.”

“Got it,” I said, mulling that over.

Interesting. Aaron wasn’t there just for the money. I wondered then why his fee had been so high. To pay for his team and gear, I supposed. But he was just as interested in the knowledge, it seemed. Which was fair. After years working for my father, who was probably rather limited in what he told Aaron, he would know that whatever was out here, there was probably something of value to it. And he wanted in. That seemed fair.

“Now that you’re up, if you’re feeling good, maybe we should get moving?” Aaron suggested a moment later.

There was no mention of the night before. No mention of his men running off either. All of them had returned, I could see, none looking the worse for wear. So, either they hadn’t encountered anything, or the other team had been on the losing end.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” I said slowly, still trying to regain my mental footing.

We worked in silence to break camp, and then, at a pointed direction from me, we set out again, heading almost due north, guided by nothing more than the pull from a part of me I couldn’t identify.

I made sure to fall in step next to Aaron.

“First things first,” I hissed. “Did you strip me down last night?”

He shrugged. “You were overheating. It was necessary. I did what any person charged with keeping you alive and in good health would do. I didn’t peek if that’s what you’re worried about. Not that you aren’t attractive enough to want to, but I’m a professional.”

“You’re such a creep, even while being a nice person,” I muttered.

Aaron chuckled. “You’re welcome, by the way. For taking care of you after you went out.”

I winced. “What did happen to me?”

He was silent for a moment as we walked. “I’m not sure. You were angry and talking to me all at once, and then suddenly your eyes rolled up into your head, and you collapsed. If it hadn’t been for the fact that I needed to catch you, I’d have said you were swooning over me the way you fell and started moaning.”

“Moaning?” I groaned. “What? You’re joking, aren’t you?”

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 that might have 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. Something was 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 am not going back to that asshole now just because you’re weak!” 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. She had to go back.

But I wouldn’t let her.

Growling, I pushed onward, legs churning as tunnel vision narrowed the world around me to the path ahead. Getting to the top of the ridge was all that mattered! I had to get there. I had to show myself that I could do it. That no sissy wannabe-Alpha from my hometown was stronger than me.

I could choose my own destiny. And it did not involve Johnathan.

The slope increased as I got nearer to the top, and I fell to all fours, moving in an ungainly climb that had my wolf cringing at its awkwardness. She could do so much better.

“No!” I cried as she surged forward unexpectedly, taking advantage of my mind being torn in half by the unknown call in front of me and the driving force of the Soulbond behind.

I reached the top of the ridge at the same moment she started to burst free. Resisting as hard as I could, I pushed forward. Another step.

“Dani!” Aaron called from behind me. “Dani, wait!”

I didn’t stop and went right over the top–and fell straight down the far side, the sheer face of it surprising me. Distracted as I fought off my wolf, there was no stopping us from going over.

We fell ten feet or more. My foot got caught on something as we went down, and I flipped over.

There was just enough time to scream before I smashed my face into a rock at the bottom.