Page 79 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“If you cannot see how high you are, you can trick yourself into believing you’re still on the ground.”

“So you do plan for me to trip and plummet to my death!”

He wrapped the fabric and tied it in a knot. Snug and secure.

And dark.

“Not if I’m out there with you.”

She almost stumbled, but Eidan steadied her easily. “You’ll sleep outside?” she asked, not quite believing his words. “With me?”

Of course she couldn’t see his face, couldn’t see if he was serious or not. He simply took her hand and started moving up again.

“I’ve spent many nights outside, and heights don’t frighten me. This is no great hardship.”

“But—”

“But nothing, Fern. It is the least I can do.”

The door at the top creaked open, and she was instantly hit with a gust of cool wind, the shock stealing her breath until Eidan pulled her forward.

She had to admit, his plan wasn’t as horrible as she’d first thought. While she knew exactly where she was, it was easy to pretend she was merely in an open square. That one wrong move wouldn’t kill her.

“Sit here,” he commanded, and she slowly lowered into a crouch, feeling around and gasping when her hand brushed against something soft.

“A bedroll?”

He grunted. “Just because I’ve slept outside doesn’t mean I enjoy sleeping on stone. Lie down, there’s enough room for the both of us.”

She did as instructed, suddenly too excited by the prospect of proper bedding to even want to sleep. Turning her face into the fabric, she breathed in deeply and let out a happy sigh.

“It smells like you.”

The sound of his boots thudded before he lay down beside her, bringing her into the warmth of his body. “My apologies, I must not have aired it out enough since my last journey.”

“No, I mean that’s a good thing,” she replied, comfort already seeping into her voice.

His hand rested on her abdomen, his breath in her hair. “It will smell even better after a few days of you lying with me.”

Her wolf very much agreed on that, the thought of their scents mingling wagging her tail.

But instead it made Fern confused, thinking back to earlier. “Harland said something to me today.”

His hand tensed. “I saw him bothering you, and reminded him that you are not to be approached. If he tries again, let me know.”

“Well, that’s just it. He said he’s never known the Ashpaw to attract such… interest from the Clan before.”

Eidan didn’t answer, and Fern worried she may have pushed him too far. Alphas weren’t to be questioned, after all.

“I’m sorry, forget I said anything…”

“No, Fern, I’m just thinking.” He paused for a moment, his breath warm in her hair. “He’s right, unfortunately. I don’t think I’ve ever spared any of the Ashpaws as much as a second glance for most of my life.”

He gave his next exhale some weight, and then continued. “You’d already caught my eye before all of this, if it doesn’t bother you to hear it. But then Darion… the way he fixates on correcting your so-called poor behavior seems to have drawn a similar fixation from me. Although I feel only the need to protect, not punish. To counteract his harsh reprimands with softness.”

It was difficult to hear such words when she could not see his face—her back was to his chest anyway, but even if she turned around, the eye cover was still in place. And she needed it, or her fear would take over, and she would forget what they’d been talking about.

“Is that all you feel the need to do?” she asked, addressing the arousal pressed into her back. But there was no flirtation or seduction in the question, and Eidan answered respectfully.