Chapter 14

Sorin started packing up early, long before Colette was ready to rise. She had enjoyed sleeping next to him. He’d stroked her hair in her sleep and traced a finger over her furrowed brow. She felt warm and secure. Everything just felt...right.

It was still dark, the sun just starting to peek over the tree line. Colette wrapped the blanket around herself, trying to hold onto the warmth Sorin had left behind. She squinted up at him, watching as he tidied up their small campsite.

“Tired?” Sorin asked softly.

She nodded. “But I slept well,” she quickly added.

Sorin gave her a crooked smile. “Do you want to walk? Or should I keep carrying you?” he asked, expecting her to choose to walk after yesterday’s betrayal.

But Colette didn’t want to walk. She was cold, her limbs stiff and numb.

She was still sleepy, unbearably so, and the idea of hiking up into the mountains was unthinkable.

She nodded her head, which made his eyes widen in surprise.

“So walk...or carry?” he asked again.

She reached her arms up and made a grabbing motion.

Surprised, Sorin slung both backpacks over his shoulders and moved to pick her up. This time, he lifted her up bridal style, like she was a baby. It was much more comfortable than being slung over his shoulder and much easier to fall back asleep.

She snuggled into his chest and quickly fell back asleep. Sorin walked for a few more hours in silence, trying not to wake her.

He tried to focus on his surroundings, sniffing for foreign wolves or any type of predator. Usually, dangerous animals kept their distance. They could sense he was a threat and didn’t want to cross him.

Sorin knew they were only a few hours away from the compound, which worried him. He had expected Colette to be walking, which would’ve added at least a day to their journey.

He wasn’t sure how his alpha would react to her or the fact that he’d killed a rival wolf. He’d convinced himself earlier that his alpha would welcome her with open arms.

She was his mate, but how would anyone know she was his mate? He, too, before meeting Colette had only ever heard of mates and didn’t know how wolves knew who their mate was. It wasn’t something he could explain, and Colette smelled like a human.

The closer he got to his compound, the less sure he was about bringing Colette there. She was delicate and small.

Being that she would be one of the few females, he was sure the wolves would fight to claim her. He had to claim her soon. She seemed to be warming up to him from what he could tell.

“How much longer?” Her soft voice finally broke the silence, raspy from sleep.

“A few hours at most,” he replied tersely, not meaning to direct it at her. “Do you want to walk now?” he asked hopefully. Maybe her slow little steps would add on a few more hours, maybe even force them to make camp once more.

Colette stretched her arms above her head, leaning her back against his arm. “Nope,” she retorted. “You’re forcing me to go. The least you can do is carry me,” she said in what seemed to be a teasing voice, playfulness in her eyes.

Colette wrapped her arms around his neck, crossing her ankles. “Are you mad at me?” she finally asked.

He shook his head, offering nothing else.

Colette found herself pouting at his curt behavior but returned his silence for as long as she could.

Sorin had already started making plans. The border patrol on duty was Nelu, who could easily be bribed for his silence with money or future favors.

Once inside, he needed to get her to his house before any man saw her. She was currently unmated and, according to pack law, fair game.

After hiding her in his home, he would then be able to ask for an audience with his alpha, where he’d have to confess to killing the white wolf and revealing ~his~ wolf to Colette, who may look and smell human, but she’s got to have at least a little wolf in her.

“Sorin,” Colette interrupted his racing thoughts, “you haven’t told me much about where we’re going.”

“We’re going to my pack,” he answered.

“Which means…” she prompted him.

“There are at least half a dozen packs in these mountains alone,” he began. “Mine isn’t in the mountains but in the valley between three of them, just over this mountain.”

She waited silently for him to continue, her head nodding to encourage him.

He sighed. He really wasn’t supposed to be telling an outsider about this.

“I’m not sure about the other packs since I was raised in this one, but our pack lives within a compound. It’s gated with a big, thick, concrete barrier, impenetrable even for wolves. Inside are many different homes and buildings. I live on the far edge of the border on the other side,” he explained. “My pack is called the Vale pack.”

“Vale…” she echoed.

He nodded. “When we get there, I need you to stay quiet. Don’t say anything, and keep your blanket around you.”

“Why?” she asked.

Sorin ran his tongue over his teeth. “A few hundred years ago, the female population began to drop. Fewer she-wolves are born. It’s been difficult to conceive at all in the last hundred years. Just the sound of your voice will have them running. Your smell,” he finished angrily.

She wanted to be rude, to point out that if he wasn’t forcing her to go, this wouldn’t be a problem. But she said nothing.

Soon Sorin came upon the large concrete wall. “Stay quiet,” he ordered.

She nodded obediently.

Sorin moved along the wall until he came to a large brass gate. He kicked it lightly until a figure moved into view within a guard tower. He squinted down at Sorin. At first, he looked annoyed. Until he spotted Colette in his arms.

The man leaned against the railing and grinned widely. “What’s up, Sor? I see you’ve got a prize piece of meat.”

Sorin tensed, clearly irritated. “I need to enter but without anyone knowing,” he said, his words heavy with meaning.

The man gave a nod of understanding, his mouth shaping into a perfect ~o~. “So, what’s in it for me?” he asked, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

Sorin hesitated. “I’ll owe you one,” he said, his voice measured.

The man pondered for a moment, a finger resting on his chin. “This is unexpected, Sorin. You’re usually not one to ask for favors.”

A muscle twitched beneath Sorin’s eye. “So, is that a yes?” He fought to keep the irritation from his voice.

The man’s grin returned, but he remained silent. He vanished from sight for a few moments before the large brass gate creaked open just a bit, just enough for Sorin to slip through.

“Welcome back, brother.” The man smirked, stepping aside to let them in.