Ride home

The forest darkened with each minute that passed. The air felt even colder now, cutting through my clothing.

I adjusted in my saddle, looking back over my shoulder. Mr. Wolfe sat behind me, his weight pressing against my back. Since I had found him hurt, he hadn’t said much, yet I could sense the tension emanating from him.

"We’ll find our way out soon," I stated, attempting to sound assured.

He offered no reply.

I tightened my hold on the reins. The faint glow of the lantern only lit a small area in front of us, and everything beyond was an endless maze of trees. Only the rustle of leaves and the sound of the horse's hoofs on the ground occasionally broke the eerie silence.

We felt as if the forest was swallowing us whole.

An hour passed. Maybe even more. The cold seeped into my bones, and I felt Mr. Wolfe shifting behind me, his breathing uneven.

He said bluntly, "We are lost," his voice piercing the silence.

I quickly said, "We are not lost," but I was not sure who I was attempting to convince.

"You have no idea where we are heading," he said.

I exhaled, my irritation starting to rise. "Would you rather I leave you here? Because I can’t exactly drop you off at a convenience store, Mr. Wolfe. "

He let out a huff, full of annoyance. "You shouldn’t have come after me in the first place. If you hadn't, we wouldn’t be in this situation. "

That remark stung more than I anticipated. I turned my head slightly, shooting him a glare over my shoulder. "I came because nobody else would. Your so-called friends didn’t even care that you were gone. "

"They knew I’d manage," he retorted curtly.

I laughed with bitterness. "Yeah, you’re really managing. Broken ankle and all. "

He remained silent. The quiet lingered, heavy and awkward.

Eventually, I spoke again, my tone softer. "I couldn’t just abandon you out here, Mr. Wolfe. What if something worse had occurred? "

His arms shifted a bit around my waist. I felt him lean in closer, his breath warm against my neck.

"You didn’t have to," he murmured softly.

"I know," I replied, my throat constricted. "But I wanted to. "

We continued riding in silence for a stretch afterward.

The forest appeared endless, the trees merging together in the faint light. My hands throbbed from gripping the reins, and my legs were sore from sitting too long.

Mr. Wolfe shifted again behind me, his weight pressing in closer.

"Thank you," he said unexpectedly, his voice so quiet I nearly overlooked it.

I blinked, slightly turning my head. "What? "

He paused, and I sensed him tense. "Thank you," he reiterated. "For coming after me. For not giving up. "

The sentiment was straightforward, yet it resonated deeper than it should have. I swallowed, feeling my chest tighten.

"You’re welcome," I replied softly.

“I’m not…accustomed to depending on anyone,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

I was at a loss for words in response. Tristan Wolfe, the unapproachable alpha, was not accustomed to requesting assistance. It was not unexpected, but listening to him voice it felt…distinct.

I looked at him once more, my heart racing at the exposed expression in his gaze.

“It’s alright,” I replied gently. “You can depend on me. ”

The horse slowed as the terrain became bumpier. I adjusted the reins, attempting to steer us around a fallen limb.

Mr. Wolfe’s arms tightened marginally around my waist, and I halted. His chin rested on my shoulder now, his breath warm against my skin.

“Boss,” I said, my voice slightly wavering.

“Hmm? ”

“You’re…very close. ”

“You instructed me to hang on,” he murmured, his tone playful.

I gulped hard, trying to concentrate on the path ahead. But his presence was consuming—his scent, his warmth, the pressure of his body against mine.

“I lack glands,” I blurted out, eager to alleviate the tension. “So, uh…don’t search for them. ”

He laughed softly, the sound deep and rich. “I know, Dylan. ”

His lips grazed against the back of my neck, so gentle I nearly thought I dreamed it. Then he did it again. And again. A sequence of soft kisses, warm and lingering, sending shivers along my spine.

He nipped at my skin, just beneath my ear, then pressed his lips to the spot tenderly.

“Boss,” I said, my voice rising higher than I meant, quivering with a blend of anticipation and confusion.

“Hmm? ” His breath brushed my skin, making it difficult to concentrate.

“What are you doing? ” I managed to inquire, even though I wasn’t entirely certain I desired the answer.

He didn’t respond immediately. Rather, his fingers moved beneath the material of my waist, caressing the skin at the margin, making circles as his touch moved up and down in a delicate yet dangerous movement.

I gripped the reins more tightly.Even though I was certain he could hear my heart pounding so loudly, his fingers kept playing with the material of my waist, drawing me in without saying a word.

Then, the horse jerked unexpectedly.

The next few moments passed quickly.

My sudden movement startled the horse, and it ran away.It raced wildly down the uneven path, and I was barely able to keep us steady.

“Boss, hold on! ” I yelled, panic swelling in my chest.

His arms held me firmly, his grip strong and secure.

“Stop moving! ” I snapped, wrenching hard on the reins.

After a few tense moments, the horse slowed, its breathing heavy as it finally came to a halt.

I released a shaky breath, my hands quaking as I readjusted my grip on the reins.

“Are you attempting to kill us? ” I muttered, my voice sharper than I had intended.

Mr. Wolfe chuckled softly behind me.

“I mean it,” I stated, facing him with a sharp look. “Cease doing…whatever that was. ”

His grin was maddening, yet there was an element in his gaze that caused my stomach to churn.

“My apologies,” he replied, though he didn’t sound apologetic in the slightest.

I exhaled, nodding my head. “Just…stay put, alright?”

“Okay,” he said, his voice softer now.

I turned back, guiding the horse forward again. My face burned, and my heart still hadn’t slowed.

I tried not to think about the way his lips had felt against my skin.

Or the way it had made me feel.