8

Ranger

I stared at the paler fur on the back of John's right shoulder as we trotted toward the bridge, wondering how I'd missed the slight curve of a mating mark. He didn't smell like a mated wolf so the bond must've not been completed.

The river continued to rush below us. Even in the daylight, it was too treacherous to cross. Jones and Foster arrived early this morning having found the hiking bridge.

"Tell me again what I'm missing." I mind-linked my pack as we crossed the rickety structure over the white-water rapids below.

John had taken a fist to the face before my guys showed up to lead us here and he still hadn't explained what happened. "I'm not one to kiss and tell," he'd said.

Someone had better start talking soon before I lost my mind. It was bad enough with the protective worry pummeling my beast and the aggression building from the coming rut. I didn't want to be more paranoid than I already was. I needed to know who I could trust.

Beau stepped into that role. "Jenna said something about Fallon asking how to break a mate bond."

"Why would she ask that?" My wolf finished crossing the bridge and stopped, waiting for Jones and Foster to make it safely across before the massive Alpha wolves came over all following like a line of scary baby ducks.

Jones and Foster shared a look. They were mates with their own mind connection I wasn't privy to. Normally it wouldn't bother me.

Today I growled, demanding they spit it out.

Foster broke first, pawing the ground with a friendly whine. "Come on, Alpha. We all know how Fallon is."

No. We didn't. I growled again. "Explain."

Jones' gray wolf padded forward. He was the larger of the two males and he put his mate behind his back, baring his neck in respect. "He meant Fallon wouldn't want to be tied down to a mate."

No, she wouldn't.

My beast's fur stood on end as a wave of fury passed through him. It was so intense, I was forced to pull him back with a stern command.

Stay in control.

If he hurt her…

She would have said something.

John's wolf continued forward as the last of the wolves crossed the bridge. The forest thinned out, surrounding an old human hiking trail we followed through the valley.

Even John looked bigger with the coming rut driving his beast. His tail was bushier as it swayed side to side. An undercurrent of tension rippled from him too. My pack stayed pressed close to me, offering comfort. But John's wolf remained just to the right and up ahead, all alone with no one else besides me watching his back.

"'Did Fallon chase him?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"We weren't there," Jones answered honestly.

"That's her bite. But I thought it'd be bigger," Foster teased, dodging my wolf's paw as he swiped half-heartedly at his massive skull.

Jones rolled his eyes at his mate's antics.

"Equal rights," Beau said proudly, like Jenna could hear him out here. "Fallon is allowed to choose."

Did she choose? If so, why was she so adamant on leaving the show?

I wasn't sure if I'd missed any signs or if she'd tried to tell me something. Guilt washed over me. I'd been so caught up with Aspen that I neglected my duty to my family. The pack was having to run this season without me…

John's wolf growled, snapping me from my thoughts. He glanced over his shoulder and my wolf followed his motion.

The Alphas behind us were getting bigger too. Spit frothed in their jaws as their muscles bunched and flexed with the run. The growing aggression from the group was licking at our heels like flames.

I couldn't blame them.

This was biology driving us all forward no matter our position or ranking. And I needed to focus to remain in control.

John's wolf caught my eye and we shared a look of pity laced with desperation before we both turned forward, picking up the pace again.

At least I didn't have two young nieces to worry about and a potential mate mark half-finished from a tornado like Fallon to contend with.

Whatever happened this season, I sure didn't envy him.