Chapter 43: 43: The Red Canyon

MAX

Four days of non-stop lectures about desert plants and animals have me craving a break. I’m keen to learn, but my inner wolf is getting antsy, pacing inside my mind, longing for freedom.

We’ve been stuck indoors for way too long. Today is our day off, and I’m set on spending it outside, far from the classroom’s four walls.

I walk into the dining hall at six in the morning. It’s mostly deserted.

To my surprise, Ginger is there, having breakfast by herself. I decide to keep her company, grabbing a plate of food and a cup of coffee before sitting across from her.

“Hey,” I say, “Remember me?”

Ginger lifts her gaze from the book she’s engrossed in. She gives me a quick once-over, then goes back to her book.

“Of course, I bumped into you after all.” I chuckle quietly, taking a sip of my coffee.

“Do you mind if I sit with you?” I ask, not wanting to presume she’s okay with my company. I’m intrigued by this petite redhead and want to seize this chance to get to know her better.

Ginger shuts her book and looks at me, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Alpha,” she starts, “I don’t know why you’d want to sit with me when there are so many vacant tables. But please, sit wherever you like.”

I glance around the room, acknowledging the empty tables, then shrug. “I see them. But I’d rather sit here with you, get to know you. And please, call me Max. I’m not your alpha.”

Ginger laughs, her eyes meeting mine. “You are an alpha, and it’s respectful to address you as such. But if you insist, I’ll call you Max. I was actually about to leave, I’ve finished eating.”

I find myself captivated by the smattering of freckles across her nose, visible only up close. They add to her beauty, as do her vibrant green eyes and her deep auburn hair.

The contrast with her pale skin is striking. She clears her throat, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I’m sorry, Ginger, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just wondering if you’re free today. Maybe we could go for a walk? I’m not familiar with the area and I’d like to take my wolf for a run. He’s getting restless.”

I try to keep my hopes in check. I’ve never been rejected by a woman before, but Ginger might be different.

“Well, I was planning to study for my exams,” she says, tapping her book. “But I can take a break. I’d be happy to show you around.”

“Psychology?” I ask, noticing the title of her book.

Her face lights up. “Yes! I love it! It’s fascinating to learn about how the human mind works. I haven’t decided what to do with it yet, but there are so many possibilities.”

“Maybe you could tell me about it,” I suggest, hoping to engage her in conversation and learn more about her. It works.

Ginger enthusiastically discusses potential career paths, many of which involved working with humans, but that doesn’t seem to bother her. Her excitement is infectious, making me want to share her enthusiasm.

We stay in the dining hall until I finish my meal, Ginger answering all my questions about psychology. She’s clearly intelligent and passionate.

We agree to go for a walk together, and she promises to show me some safe places to run.

Ginger and I spend most of the day together. We even stop at a local diner for lunch.

We attract some curious glances, but no one says anything. The waitress is flustered as she takes my order, and Ginger just smiles sweetly at her.

After the waitress leaves, Ginger’s smile fades. “She used to be my best friend in high school,” she says.

“Really? What happened?”

“It’s a long story, but basically, she slept with my boyfriend and I caught them,” Ginger says, a pained look in her eyes.

“He said it was because I wasn’t sleeping with him, and she just stood there, wrapped in a sheet, not saying a word. She never apologized or tried to explain herself. I was so angry, I had to fight to keep my wolf from shifting.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you. You didn’t deserve that,” I say, reaching across the table to place my hand on hers.

She doesn’t pull away, which I take as a good sign. Ginger shrugs, then turns her hand over and intertwines her fingers with mine.

I look at our hands, then meet her gaze. She’s watching me, silent.

The waitress returns with our drinks and condiments for our burgers. Ginger pulls her hand away to thank her, calling her “Jenny”.

“You’re still polite to her?” I ask, surprised.

“What’s the point in being mean? She probably did me a favor. He was a jerk, and still is. I don’t care anymore. It was three years ago, and I’ve moved on.”

She takes a sip of her soda, waiting for my response. “You’re unique, Ginger. Most women wouldn’t move on like you have.”

“I’m not most women,” she says, her eyes sparkling as she smiles at me.

“No. You definitely are not.”

***

After lunch, we decide to go for a run. Ginger leads me to a beautiful red canyon with a creek running through it.

She shifts behind a large cypress tree, her wolf as stunning as her human form, her fur the same deep auburn as her hair. Her wolf is surprisingly large, as big as my sister Melanie’s.

I make a mental note to ask her about her lineage. My wolf, Bo, is eager to meet Ginger’s wolf, Fire.

I let Bo take over, and he chases after Fire, running up into the red canyon. They play and run for hours, even cooling off in the creek at the bottom of the canyon.

Despite it being winter, Arizona is hot. As the sun begins to set, I tell Bo we need to head back before it gets dark.

Fire seems to have the same idea, as she stares off into the setting sun before nipping at Bo and running back to our clothes. We make it back just as the sun disappears over the horizon, painting the sky with the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.

I stand there in my jeans, shirt in hand, mesmerized. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Ginger says, joining me.

I nod, unable to tear my gaze away from the sunset. When I finally look at her, I see the sunset’s red and golden glow reflected in her hair.

She looks like a goddess. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I blurt out, surprising even myself.

~Wow, that was cheesy~, I think, but to my astonishment, she just smiles at me, her hand reaching out to intertwine with mine. She doesn’t break eye contact, and I take that as my cue.

I pull her closer, my other arm wrapping around her as my shirt falls to the ground. I lean in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

Her lips are soft, warm, and they fit perfectly against mine. My hand naturally finds its way to the back of her head, my fingers getting lost in her hair as I deepen the kiss.

Bo’s growl reverberates in my mind, but I do my best to ignore it. She doesn’t pull away.

Instead, she reaches up, her arms encircling me and her lips parting to welcome my tongue. We stand there, completely absorbed in each other, the rest of the world fading into the background.

When we finally pull apart, I’m breathless, my eyes locked with hers. Her gaze holds mine, making my heart pound.

~What does this mean?~ I ask myself, my attraction to her so intense I can feel myself hardening. I think she feels it too, pressing against her, and she rewards me with a sweet smile before stepping back, our fingers still linked.

“We should probably head back now, Max,” she murmurs, her voice laced with uncertainty. I sigh, nodding in agreement, even though I wish this moment could stretch on forever.

We walk hand in hand back to the pack house for dinner, the silence between us comfortable and serene. For the first time in a long time, I feel complete. I feel whole.