Because I’ve been looking for you for hours, his voice sounds in my head.

Oh, is my only reply.

You covered almost every inch of our property, and I never thought to look up in the trees, he adds flabbergasted.

Well you have to get creative when you don’t have a four thousand acre refuge to play in. I couldn’t let just anyone find me, I say defensively.

You scared me, he says sadly.

I didn’t mean to. I was just taking a break and must have fallen asleep. I was coming back, Masen, I reply with conviction.

Will you come down from there, please? I hop down to the next branch until I’m low enough to jump to the ground.

His muzzle roughly pushes my side, turning me so he can inspect me. I stand still and let him rub his scent all over me. Are you ready to go home yet, Little One, he asks when he’s finished.

Sure.

The walk back is quiet. When we reach the clearing, he asks, where’d you put your clothes?

Ah, I’m wearing them, I say confused. I tell my wolf thank you and pull her back, shaking out my limbs to relive the tingle.

Masen stands from his crouched position. “Where are your clothes?” I question, looking at his naked body.

“I can’t shift with my clothes they shred, no one can,” he says, looking at my clothes that are perfectly intact.

“Ah well, I can.” I motion down my body.

“I can see that, baby. Have you always been able to?”

I nod. “Yeah, I never knew any different. I thought everyone could.”

He comes closer and wraps his hand around the back of my neck. “No, definitely not. It’s just one more thing that makes you extraordinary. Can I kiss you?” he whispers. I give a slight jerk of my neck, and his soft lips cover mine. He takes his time tasting every inch of my mouth, never pushing deeper into my mouth, content to explore my lips with his teeth, lips and tongue. It’s tender and consuming. His long fingers tunnel into my hair as he tilts my jaw with his thumbs, angling me for his attention. I move my body closer to him, seeking his warmth and the comfort his big body gives me. One of my hands twines through the hair at his nape while the other arm laces beneath his arm then up his back hugging him to me. The kiss slowly ends, and he just holds me. “I’m sorry for everything, Little One, all of it. None of that should have happened. I should have transferred her the day you came home to me. I should have called her or had someone else tell her, especially after this weekend.” He nuzzles my head. “You deserve much better from me.” He’s ashamed of himself. I know none of it was done to hurt me, he thought he was handling everything well.

“I get it, Masen. You were trying to spare her feelings. You’ve known her for a long time. She cares for you very deeply. I still think you’ve let yourself be blinded by her, but I want us to stop letting her affect our lives so profoundly. She shouldn’t have a place between us. It’s hard to forget when your past is always in my face.”