Chapter 11 - Gina

Later that day, Bae and I head out towards Sawpit, the closest town to Mount Wilson. We drive some of the way, but as soon as we reach the hiking trails, we leave the car and load ourselves up with gear for the long trek.

We need to go in on foot and stay near the human camping grounds, at least initially. We don’t want to make it look like we’re here to make a challenge, and it’s important we get a good look at what’s going on out in the wilderness.

I know members of our pack are probably watching us, or are at least somewhere nearby within hearing distance in case we need backup. Bae spoke with some of the scouts not long before we left.

As I get out of Bailey’s pickup, the chill wind blowing down from the peak hits me straight in the face. I’ve always liked the cold, but there is a ferocity in the air today that whispers of snow and ice.

It’s going to be freezing up there, quite literally.

Even though the chill makes me shiver, I can feel the excitement of my wolf. She won’t get cold, and she’s craving the excitement of running across snowy plains in the dead of night, the perfect white of the landscape reflecting every single shining star.

“Looks like it’s going to be a nice hike,” Bailey says. “Very clear air. We should try and get up a fair way before it gets dark, though.”

I reach into the truck for my pack. I’m carrying my own stuff as well as some supplies, while Bae takes the tent and heavy stuff like blankets and cooking gear.

The silence between us feels as tight as a guitar string. Bae watches me adjust my boots and sling my pack across my shoulders as if he’s wondering if I heard him or not.

I turn towards the trail and look up at the mountains. I hear Bailey lock the car behind me and the soft crunch of his boots on the dirt as he walks up to me.

“Ready?” he asks.

I nod, not looking at him as I set off up the trail. I can’t believe this is happening—it was bad enough being stuck in the house with him. Now I’m going to be isolated, out in the wilderness, with absolutely no escape.

At least I could get away from him for a short while when I went to work.

Thinking back, though, being at work did very little to help me escape. All I did was watch him through the front windows, and it didn’t stop him from barging in on me whenever he felt like it.

The trail gets steep very quickly, and I have to put effort into every step. I lean into the incline, taking long, firm strides and feeling the muscles working in my legs and back. As we reach a level platform on a curve of the track, I move over to the side and stop, swinging my pack to the ground as I catch my breath.

Bae searches through his pack and pulls out some cookies and a water bottle, handing them to me. I chew through the cookies slowly, soaking in the incredible views around us. We haven’t come too far up, but the mountains are already rising around us in jagged, snow-dusted peaks. The thick, tall evergreens rustle in the light breeze, and the scent of pine and cedar graces the sweet, pure air.

Deep in the forest, I can hear—and smell—lots of small animals going about their daily routines. The forest is alive, full of wonders to explore.

A sound above us makes Bailey jump. A few rocks come tumbling down the trail, and then I hear people talking.

Bailey takes off his pack and goes to stand at the edge of the track, putting himself between me and the other hikers. He looks calm, but I notice him closing his fists just slightly. If he were in wolf form, he’d definitely be raising his hackles.

Three men appear around the bend a bit higher up than us. They are laughing and joking, shoving each other as they talk. Bae doesn’t move, but he tenses up all over.

“Hey, dude!” one of the guys says to Bae. “You heading up? You guys must be crazy.”

“Yes,” Bailey says softly. “We’re traveling up the mountain. Why would we be crazy, though?”

“Because it’s icy up there, man,” the guy replies. “You’ll be a popsicle.”

“We’re fine,” Bae answers.

The three guys mill around for a second, all of them looking at Bailey, then at me. They look younger than us, but they also look like experienced hikers.

“No place for a lady,” one of the others says, giving Bae a hard look. My husband clenches his fists, and a muscle jumps in his cheek.

“We’re really fine!” I say, getting up and pushing past Bae to stand in front of him. “Don’t worry about us, we’re used to the mountains.”

The guys shrug and start off down the trail. One of them looks back at me, and I hear Bae growl low in his throat.

“Will you calm down!” I turn to him, looking up into his eyes. “They are just kids hiking. They aren’t here to steal your territory—they’re just humans.”

“They looked at you,” the words come out softly as he grinds his teeth together.

“So, you’re going to run around our entire lives, beating the shit out of anyone who looks at me?”

For a moment, Bae looks like he’s about to agree. His body is still tense, his eyes fixed on the point down the trail where the guys disappeared. Finally, he looks at me, and some of the tension seems to leave him.

“I have to make sure you’re safe,” he says, shaking his head a little.

I’m trying to stay mad, but I can’t stop the arousal rising in me at the sight of him so worked up.

The sun sinking towards the horizon grazes the peaks with slanted, golden light. It dances across Bae’s hair and lights up his amber eyes. Intensity seems to crackle around him, a sense of power and strength that draws me like a magnet.

Suddenly, I realize he’s staring at me, really looking at me and starting to smile. I smile back for a moment before grabbing my pack.

“Let’s get going,” I say. “We should get a bit higher before dark.”

“Okay,” Bae agrees, grabbing his own pack.

I put all my attention on the track and the mountain, hoping to get to a decent campsite before nightfall. Bae walks behind me, occasionally sweeping back and forth to look around or slowing down to make sure we aren’t being followed.

What are you going to do next, run up to every tree and mark your damn territory?

Seeing him get jealous, seeing him wanting to possess me… it turns me on more than anything has my entire life. If I examine my anger closely, it’s not anger at all—it’s pure, white-hot lust.

Yeah, but what about Jill?

The memory of her falling all over him and Bae doing nothing to prevent it keeps me silent right up to the next level section of the trail. It curves off into a small glade, well-protected by thick trees. There are signs of campfires scattered around the clearing.

“Looks like a nice spot,” Bae says, looking around. “What do you think? We could set up the tent over there?”

He points at a well-sheltered area on the other side of the meadow. I just nod and start walking in that direction. My feelings of attraction for him are caught up now with my anger and jealousy, and I’ve just got nothing I want to say.

While Bae works on the tent and sleeping bags, I start a fire. There is plenty of wood around, so I get a small blaze crackling without any trouble. I watch the flames leap and dance, trying to calm myself down.

It’s getting dark, and the light of the fire throws dancing shadows around me, calming me. I know I can’t let this go on between me and Bae forever. I just don’t know how to solve it.

“Okay, all done,” Bailey says, sitting down across from me. “We should make something to eat.”

Pain lances through my chest, and I feel like I’m going to cry. I shake my head.

“No, you don’t want food?” Bae asks, his voice rough. “No, you don’t want me? No to what , Gina?”

All of my calm reasonings fly straight out the window as my emotions finally take over. “You and Jill were all over each other at the party. What’s been going on between the two of you?”

Bae looks confused. He shakes his head a little. “What are you talking about?”

“I saw you! As you were walking through the door, she practically launched herself at you, and you did absolutely nothing to stop her!”

“Gina,” he says firmly, “I did not reciprocate to her or any of the other women who greeted me when I got to the party. It made me pretty uncomfortable, actually, and I just wanted to get out of there and find you as quickly as possible.”

“She told me everything,” I counter. “I bet you got with her on prom night, right after I left.” My voice is starting to get caught in my throat as I try not to cry.

“I did not!” Bailey almost yells. The look of confusion on his face appears completely genuine. “I don’t understand this ‘everything’ because there’s nothing to tell! I’ve never even touched her!”

“She was touching you…” My voice has wound down to a very small squeak. “She was all over you. She’s gorgeous; that’s obvious to anyone with eyes. You can’t tell me you’re not interested in her.”

“Gina,” Bae says very softly. He gets up and comes around to sit closer to me. “I am not interested in her, and I never have been.”

I shake my head, trying to hold in my tears.

“I mean it.” He reaches out, like he wants to take my hand, then pulls away again. He turns away to look into the darkening forest for a second, and when he looks back at me, his eyes are deep and serious, almost grave.

“Gina, I want you. I have always wanted you. I wanted you back in high school. I know, I dated cheerleaders and other pretty girls. I drove you away and pretended I didn’t like you. I did these things because I thought we weren’t a good match. I was trying to deny my attraction to you and save face with my friends.”

Bae takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. He looks at the ground, his cheek twitching as he mines the deepest reaches of his heart.

“I’m so sorry,” he says, bringing his gaze back to mine. The sorrow on his face looks real—it can’t be fake. His eyes are wrought with emotion, and he’s so full of tension he’s almost trembling.

“I was immature and not able to be honest with myself about what I really wanted. I have regretted it every single day of my life since then. The next day, I tried to find you, but you were already gone. I thought I’d never see you again.”

My chest is tight as I watch his eyes change in the flickering light of the fire. The darkness has settled around us, making Bae shine with light against the deep shadows.

This is my biggest fantasy come true. I can’t believe I’m hearing these words.

“When I saw you in the forest at the ceremony… I thought it was a hallucination, a dream. I never imagined you could be my mate.”