ALRIK
My health was negatively impacted by this trip.
Every time I had to put some space between myself and the woman seated next to me, I was certain that the Moon Goddess was laughing at my suffering. It might be the mate link, but I had a hard time restraining myself from touching her. Every interaction we had only made her more alluring.
I like provoking her so that she would respond with a witty comment that would make my heart race. No matter how gorgeous she was on the outside, it was her intelligence that made me lose it.
I didn't require a woman who could do nothing but talk the talk and be the ideal arm candy. Jaslynn was all I wanted in a partner—and more—one who could walk the walk as well as talk it. She was a confident, stylish, and nimble leader who made the ideal ally for me.
Are you going to look at me or will you assist me in pushing this boat?
She was still fighting to propel the boat into the shore when I opened my eyes, and I was standing there acting like a lovesick fool while in my own world.
I snarled, "Step away," and pushed her to the side. She huffed as she observed how quickly and easily I was able to propel the boat onto the sand. I wiped my hands off and asked, "What?" as I noticed her frustrated expression. You ought to have used your wand like that fairy godmother from Cinderella if you intended to handle it yourself.
The Cinderella fairy godmother? Do I appear to be an elderly woman who can fy to you? Her hickory-colored eyes narrowed on my face as she questioned, daring me to respond.
You get offended when I refer to you as a fairy, but you may call me a dog, I muttered. There are terrible double standards in this relationship.
She said, evidently frustrated, "But I like dogs, they're cute and cuddly."
Both my wolf and I found her remarks to be offensive. He took offence at her calling him cute because it is something you would say to a puppy.
I was the alpha wolf, too.
I snarled, stopping between each word for emphasis, "I. Am. Not. Cute. Or. Cuddly.
"Did I hit a soft spot?" she asked, desperately attempting to cover up the smile on her face.
I growled and knelt down, encircling her knees with my arms as I lifted her over my shoulder. I tightly encircled her when she let out a loud squeal, putting a hand on her ass to keep her still as she wriggled.
"Alrik!"
With my free hand, I took our luggage and placed them on my other shoulder before beginning to go in the direction of the forest of trees.
: "This is-"
I surprised both her and myself when I raised the palm on her behind and paddled her before I realised what I was doing.
She did in fact reveal a different part of myself.
When I set her down, I was even more shocked to discover that she was fiercely flushing and avoiding my eyes.
"Have I found a weak spot?" I smirked and asked, taking advantage of her lack of response to attract her attention.
She growled, "You-you-ARGH!" at me.
As she took my luggage and went away, I muttered a chuckle in my heart.
Asking, "Do you know where we are?" As I climbed over another downed tree, I questioned.
In the middle of a vast forest, it seemed like all we were doing was scrambling over downed trees. There didn't seem to be any kind of civilisation on this island.
The map indicates that we are really on the opposite side of the island from the alleged residence of my mentor's mother. We'll reach her in the morning at this rate. We're moving slowly because of the stupid trees.
So, how do we know your mentor's mother still resides there or is even alive? I asked as I assisted her over one of the larger tree trunks. Your mentor actually passed away.
Uncle Amos didn't pass away from old age, Jaslynn hesitated, and she turned to frown at me. He passed away. Thanks, Malcolm.
The question "Uncle Amos?"
As we started to travel once more, she groaned, "Uncle Amos was more than just my mentor; he was also my guardian. When I was two years old, my parents passed away, leaving me with my grandmother. She cared for me for as long as she could before deciding that I would do better with Uncle Amos.
She just left you, right? I made a deadpan.
I wouldn't use the word abandon. My grandma is a rogue, as I've already mentioned, and as such she is frequently in danger of attack from other packs. I'm not sure what caused her to alter her mind, but I imagine that she believed that my surroundings weren't secure any longer and decided to leave me in capable hands. She did, and I'm thankful for it because otherwise I wouldn't have met Uncle Amos or received the instruction I do now.
And what role does Malcolm play in this? Why was your Uncle killed by him?
"Malcolm always seemed to have a screw loose, and I think Uncle Amos knew that," Jaslynn shook her head, her eyes looking as though she were remembering something. Malcolm was upset when he gave the coven to me because he felt he deserved it. But putting all of that aside, he was just interested in finding the Book of Demonic Magic, and since Uncle Amos was present when it was banned, he believed he knew where it was.
"The book was banned?" I scowled.
Years back. The more experienced wizards decided that hiding it would be better and assigned one person to do it. We are unable to ask the one individual who knows the precise location because they are deceased.
The question is, "How do you know that?"
"Before he passed away, Uncle Amos gave me a message and a map. The only person who might even remotely know where it is is his mother.
As we climbed over the next row of tree trunks, I mumbled, "But first we have to find her, and even that seems like a needle in the haystack. Or should I say tree stack."
As long as Malcolm doesn't find the book, we'll be fine, Jaslynn said, "Well, I never said this hunt was going to be simple. I'm afraid he has a lead though, given that he's out and about in the open after being expelled from the wizarding world.
"Does he not know about the mother?"
"Honestly, I don't believe so. Uncle Amos avoided bringing up his mother. But he might get some assistance from other forbidden wizards. They might be searching through old court documents or looking for any hints the delegated wizard may have left behind.
"And this is all for a book. What is opening a portal and allowing a swarm of demonic beings to enter the Middle World so crucial?
Wow, I dunno, global dominance? Jaslynn grinned, "It would be ironic if one of those demons ended up killing Malcolm instead."
"Malcolm will pass away anyhow. I make that promise. Reece will murder him if we don't kill him or if the demons don't kill him. She will seek retribution for her mate's passing.
In that regard, my Commander was more like to me. In virtually every circumstance, we demanded "eye for an eye." Someone was doomed if they injured a pack member or someone we cared about. In our world, second chances were uncommon.
"I still have no idea. How did she get together with that boy? He had a teenage appearance.
"The Moon Goddess wished for it to happen. Although everything takes a strange turn, she always has a purpose. Age differences are also common, though Reece and the youngster would have had a wider one than is usual.
We don't have such a significant age difference, bless the Moon Goddess, Jaslynn said with a loud exhalation. That would be unpleasant.
Yes, we should thank her, I said, "but not because of the age difference."
The question "What did you say?"
I breathed deeply and said, "Just that we ought to be grateful.
Before we knew it, night had fallen, and according to Jaslynn's pedometer, we had travelled three-fourths of the distance to our goal.
I don't suppose there are any more open spaces if we go any further, she murmured as we approached a tiny clearing, her tiredness audible in her voice.
I noticed how she was rubbing her eyes and nodded in agreement. Although I wasn't exhausted, it didn't feel proper to exhaust her. She wasn't as tall as other she-wolves, but if she joined my pack, we could improve on that.
Do you desire a second sandwich? I posed the question while removing one of the several sandwiches we had prepared.
Two sandwiches were sufficient for me, she said as she sat down and yawned quietly.
Jaslynn lay down with her head on her rucksack as I sat against a tree trunk and began eating silently. The little sphere of light on the tip of her wand and my night vision allowed me to see her face plainly in the gloom.
Her wand appeared to be holding her hair, which was a caramel brown colour, together in a bun all the time. The hair was soft to the touch and would cascade down her back in a mass of curls when she used her wand.
I immediately realised that, aside from kissing her soft skin, my favourite aspect of kissing her was running my hands through her hair.
Her long, thick lashes framed her warm, hickory brown eyes, which had the appearance of a glowing flame at night. Her lips were what initially confused me, despite the fact that she had a lovely tilted nose.
Between a set of lovely, sensuous lips was a sharp tongue, and it was intoxicating. I had no idea how any previous boyfriend she had been with could have managed to be gone for so long.
Her lips had a taste similar to a narcotic that was impossible to overdose on.
I realised I was looking at her for longer than was necessary, and my gaze dropped to the ground. I rolled up the Ziploc and stowed it away in my bag before settling down a considerable distance away from her.
I looked at her to see whether she was asleep, but I could tell she wasn't from the way she was shivering hysterically.
I yelled at grufy, "Jaslynn."
She blinked, "Yes?" with a grimace.
"Come on in. You're shivering.
Her eyes widened, but she fxed her homemade cushion next to mine without saying anything. I wrapped my arm around her waist as she reclined and pulled her body up against mine.
I pursed my lips and held her in between my arms so that I was virtually hugging her to me despite the intense heat that was erupting all over my body. Her face was buried in the crook of my neck, and I could feel the slightest tickle of her breath on my skin.
She began to shake slightly as if she were laughing to herself as I let my body heat to warm her up.
Not soft, my ass.
Saying "Shut up."