Chapter 34

Everlee

Inever imagined I would miss the tree hut. The whole time I was stuck there, all I thought about was a way to get free, and that I never wanted to see it again. Standing here now, looking at the dead firepit, the log Wild Man would sit on with me on his lap as we fed each other, and the area we slept in, it makes me sad that we won't be living here any longer. I'll miss this place more than I probably should. This is where we started. It's where we fought, laughed, and got to know each other. It's the place where I fell in love with Wild Man. Part of me never wants to leave again.

Wild Man piddles around the area, gathering the things he wants to take with him. My brows go up when he lifts a section of the ground. It's a door made out of logs that's covered in leaves and in an area that a person wouldn't walk. He reaches in and pulls out the pack he stole from me all those weeks ago, along with my gun and taser. My stuff was literally right below us the whole time.

I laugh, because the thought is funny. I had the means to escape within feet of me and I never knew. When I think back to that time, I realize that I didn't truly try to escape. I mean, I did, but I could have tried harder, fought more. Someone else would have. Maybe my heart was telling me something. I tried following the reasoning in my head telling me I had to leave this place and Wild Man, but my heart wouldn't allow me to.

None of that matters now though. I'm where I'm supposed to be and with the man who makes me happy.

It doesn't seem right for Wild Man to be in the tree hut with his clothes on. My own clothes feel itchy against my skin. Today he's wearing a pair of black cargo pants, a hunter green t-shirt, and a pair of black boots. His hair is braided down his back, but some of the strands have come loose. When I first taught him how to braid, he really liked it because it kept his hair out of his face. He now prefers a braid over a ponytail. Now, more often than not, he has his hair twisted and pulled back instead of loose. I have to admit, the look is damn hot.

"I'm going to miss this place," I tell him. I sit on the log and start going through my pack he handed me, refamiliarizing myself with its contents.

"We come back," he replies, stuffing some stuff into the black duffle bag we brought with us.

"I hope no one finds it and destroys it."

"Teeja keep people away."

That's another thing I'm going to miss. Teeja and his beautiful family.

A strangled laugh escapes my throat when I come across the handy dandy little silver bullet in my pack. I forgot I brought it with me, which is stupid because I always take it with me when I go on trips. Jamie—aptly named after Jamie Dornan because that man is fire—and I have had a lot of sweaty nights together.

Wild Man walks over and stares down at the bullet. "What that?"

I tip my head back slowly and regard his expression when I press the button on the bottom. It comes to life in my hand, the vibration strong and the hum low. My lips curl into a little smile as his eyes narrow. It takes him a moment to understand, and when he does, the black in his eyes flares. For a moment, I think he might toss me to the ground like he has so many times before and mount me from behind. And honestly, I would be more than okay with it.

His gaze moves to me. "Show me home how use it."

Anticipation ripples through me, making the area between my legs tingle.

"Okay." I can't keep the huskiness out of my voice.

With another heated look, he goes back to packing the duffle. I drop the bullet in my bag, looking forward to getting home and introducing Wild Man to something new, especially something so pleasurable.

I love teaching him new things. I love watching the awe on his face. He's adapted really well to life in civilization so far. I'm actually really impressed with how well he's doing.

Something rustles near the doorway and we both look over just in time to see Teeja trot into the tree hut. Right behind him is Vena and their litter of pups.

"Teeja! Vena!" I call, scrambling up from the log. I drop to my knees in front of them. "I'm so glad you came."

I hold out my hand to Vena and she butts her head against it. I laugh as I slowly stroke the top of her head. Teeja nudges my other hand for some scratches. I rub between his ears.

Drefan bounds up, his tail wagging, and props his front paws on my thigh, just like he did that first day. His tongue hangs out the side of his mouth.

I laugh. "Hey, Drefan." He yips and starts running in circles.

Nemu and Khelan come up to me next, more sedate than their brother, but still appearing happy to see me. Khelan licks my hand and plops down, rolling to his back for some belly rubs. I oblige him and pet Nemu with my other hand. After I've lavished the pair with my attention, I look at Devika, who's standing beside her mother.

"Devika," I call softly and hold out my hand. She's always been the shyest of the bunch.

She walks over, slower than her brothers, and sits on her haunches once she's in front of me.

"Hey, girl. I missed you." I rub my hand along her head and down until I reach her tail. She stares up at me, her head tilted back, her eyes curious. She lets out a little sigh of contentment.

I love every member of this wolf family, but Devika has always held a special place in my heart. I hate knowing we're leaving them behind, and we very well could never see them again.

Teeja and his family stay while we finish packing up Wild Man's things. Tears prick my eyes as I take a long look at the tree hut before we walk out. Wild Man says we'll come back, but who knows if the place will be the same when we do.

As if sensing my sad thoughts, a solid warmth hits my back and an arm comes around my waist. Wild Man presses his lips against the side of my neck, over the same spot he always marks, even still.

"We come back," he tells me again, his voice a deep rumble.

I nod, too choked up to form a verbal response. I force my lips into a smile before I turn to face him. He kisses my lips before reaching for my hand. Together, we leave the tree hut, knowing that I'm leaving a small part of me behind.

* * *

After we saygoodbye to Teeja and his family—a tearful goodbye on my part—Wild Man leads me in a direction away from where we need to go to leave the forest.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Need do something," is his only reply. He's tense and his lips are a flat line.

I don't ask him to elaborate. I just stay silent beside him, something telling me he needs this quiet time. Walking with him now is a lot easier than it was when we were out here before. Having shoes and not worrying about shredding my feet makes a big difference.

I start to recognize the way we're going and my heart lurches in my chest. I've only been this way once, when he showed me where he buried his parents. The field of wildflowers is just as vibrant as it was the first time, despite the temperatures dropping lower.

My throat closes as we step under the low hanging branches of the tree and stop at the two piles of rocks. By leaving these woods, Wild Man is not only giving up the only home he's ever known, but also the resting place of his parents. We will come back to this forest, if for no other reason than to visit them.

Wild Man sets the duffle down and pulls out a small retractable shovel. He gouges the dirt and begins digging a hole at the bottom of the graves, directly center between the two. When the hole is about a foot deep and a foot in width, he drops the shovel to the ground. He reaches inside the duffle and pulls out one of the skulls. I blink back tears as he looks at it a moment before he carefully sets it in the hole. He does the same with the second skull.

I can't hold back the tears when I look inside the hole and notice he's placed the two skulls so they face each other. He carefully begins shoveling the dirt back in the hole. As he does this, I look around, swiping at the tears sliding down my face. Once I find what I'm looking for, I pick up two rocks about the same size as the ones on his parents' graves and place them down beside where Wild Man is. I go back for more.

By the time I've gathered enough rocks, Wild Man is already placing them on the grave. Once he's done, he gets to his feet. I immediately move into his arms. He wraps me up tight, as if needing me in his arms as much as I need to be there.

I tip my head back. "Are you okay?"

He clears his throat before he speaks. "Yes."

"We can come back anytime you want."

He nods.

"I love you."

Some of the torment leaves his eyes. "I love you, momor."

I pull back from him and grab his hand. "Come on. There's something I want to do." When he reaches for the duffle, I tell him, "Leave it. We aren't going far."

I lead him back to the wild flowers and bend to pick a bright blue one. I hold it up between us. "Help me pick some flowers."

We pick several of each color until we have two bundles of beautiful flowers. I grab his hand again and take him back to the graves. I set my bundle on top of his father's grave. Wild Man sets his on top of his mother's.

I let Wild Man decide when we leave. After we stand there for several moments, his arms around my waist as we stare down at his parents' resting place, he lets me go and grabs the duffle bag. Together, we leave the beautiful but sad place.

We come across the waterfall and pool of water, and I tug on his hand to stop.

"How about one more bath before we leave?"

His gaze immediately fills with desire, just the reaction I was hoping for. Sex is the perfect distraction. Anything to replace the somber look in his eyes.

I shiver when my hair is suddenly grabbed and I'm pulled against his chest with his eyes boring down at me. "No bath. Fucking."

I lick my lips and give him a lascivious smile. "Fuck your pussy, Wild Man."

I squeal with laughter and delight when he growls and tosses me over his shoulder.