Camden pulled a chair to sit in front of the crackling fireplace, her damp hair slowly drying as she watched Clayton still skulking at the table.
"Do you maybe have something I can wear besides that hideous wedding dress?" she asked, her voice laced with disdain for the thing. Clayton nodded and headed over to a cupboard, retrieving a white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. He handed them over to her. Camden took them gratefully. “Thank you,” she said, then she twirled her finger, signalling for him to turn around. Clayton let out a sigh and complied, facing the opposite direction as she changed in the tiny cabin.
The borrowed clothes were far from a perfect fit, overwhelming her petite frame, but they were a welcome relief from the burdensome wedding dress. Camden settled back into the chair in front of the fireplace, squeezing her hair out with the towel. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Clayton sitting at the table again, his gaze fixed on her. "Hmmm?" she mused, tilting her head and looking over at him. His lips curved into a shy smile, and he spoke softly, "Nothing, I'm just looking at you." A blush crept onto Camden's cheeks as she flashed a broad smile in return. "That must be the ‘mate bond’ talking,” she teased.
After a few silent minutes of hair-towelling and hair-brushing with her fingers, Camden decided to let her hair dry naturally. She fetched the chair she had set up in front of the fireplace and dragged it back over to the table, facing Clayton. She leaned in, sizing him up, and contemplated where to begin.
"Where did you grow up?" she asked, breaking the silence. Clayton took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "I was abandoned as a baby and was found by the Blood Moon Pack. They raised me as their own. But I always felt like I didn't belong, like I was an outsider looking in. That's why I eventually went rogue, searching for a place where I could find my own sense of belonging." Camden listened attentively, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the table. "How old are you?" she inquired, looking up with a raised eyebrow. Clayton let out a sigh, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I'm not entirely sure. The Blood Moon Pack celebrated my birthday on the day they found me. They estimated I was around one at the time. So, I guess I'm around 29 now. But I've never had any certainty about my origins or when I was truly born. I still don't know if I was abandoned there or if I wandered off as a baby and was lost in the woods. But nobody ever came looking for me."
A mix of empathy and sadness filled Camden's heart as she reached across the table, taking Clayton's hand in hers. "I'm sorry, that couldn't be easy" she whispered, her frown reflecting her genuine concern. Clayton offered a small smile, squeezing her hand gently. "It's alright. The Blood Moon Pack took care of me. I had everything I needed, even if I didn't have any parents in the traditional sense. I'm grateful to them, but I always felt like something was missing." Then he let out a sigh, looking down at their entwined fingers.
"What about you?" Clayton asked "How old are you?" he questioned. "I'm 24. I'm from the Silver Pine Pack, but I'm sure you figured that out already based on where I literally bumped into you." she smiled shyly. "Tell me about your fiancé," he said with a smirk. "Ugh!" Camden exclaimed. "Well, shame. I guess he was a nice enough guy, younger than me, 21 years old. But I couldn't marry him. I felt nothing for him. I can't bring myself to hate him because in all likelihood he probably felt the same way I did. We didn't love each other. There was no mate bond. It was something our families were forcing on us to strengthen our pack ties. He was probably relieved when I ran away." Camden recounted. "I doubt that," Clayton replied, "as I said before, you're the daughter of an Alpha. And you're beautiful. He would have been lucky to have you." Camden blushed, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease at Clayton's words.
She shifted the conversation away from herself, eager to learn more about him. "Where are we?" she asked, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "This is neutral land, not owned by any specific pack. It's actually part of the national forest and rarely frequented because it's off the beaten trails," Clayton explained. "And, of course, I have the freedom to roam here in my wolf form with reasonable safety." he said with a sly smile. "Smart," Camden remarked with a nod. "And the cabin? How did the cabin get here?" She looked around, confusion on her face. Clayton chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice. "I made it, obviously," he replied, rolling his eyes playfully. "It's not like I could get a helicopter to airlift it in for me." he said with a chuckle. "You made this?!" Camden exclaimed, her eyes widening in awe. "That's amazing!" She beamed at him, genuinely impressed by his craftsmanship.
"I'm sure you have your own fair share of hidden talents and engaging hobbies. What do you like to do, Camden?" Clayton asked, his curiosity piqued. Camden chuckled, feeling a newfound ease in sharing her interests. "Well, I like to bake. I also enjoy gardening. And, I have to admit, I'm a major fan of true crime series. I can binge-watch them for hours. I thought you might be a serial killer when we met" she confessed, a glimmer of nervous humour in her eyes. "Oh, and I do sword fighting too." Clayton arched an eyebrow, his lips curling into a playful grin. "Just some casual sword fighting then?" he quipped, a hint of admiration in his voice. "That’s pretty badass," he added, his eyes shining with genuine interest. "So, you can take care of yourself then?" Camden nodded, a confident smile spreading across her face. "Of course! I'm the daughter of an Alpha. I have to be able to protect myself. Not that I'd likely ever end up in an actual sword fight, but I enjoy it, and it keeps me fit," she explained, her voice filled with a mix of determination and light heartedness.
They sat looking at one another smiling in silence for a moment, then Clayton piped up, "Hang on, did you say you thought I was a serial killer when we first met?!" A look of shocked bemusement on his face. Camden let out a nervous laugh. "The thought crossed my mind," she admitted as a deep blush spread across her cheeks. She felt silly saying it out loud now, and also, was concerned he might take offence. She looked at his face, searching for some kind of emotion, but he betrayed none. Suddenly he laughed out loud, clearly amused by the absurdity of it. Camden laughed at him laughing, glad he hadn't taken offence. "I'm not a serial killer, Camden", Clayton stated with a sincere smile, though it was obvious he was trying to stifle his laughter. "Glad to hear that. It might have put a bit of a dampener on our relationship," Camden replied sarcastically, but smiling none the less.
As the day unfolded, they continued to delve into each other's lives, sharing stories, hopes, and dreams. Camden learned about Clayton's affinity for nature, his love for exploring the wilderness, his talent for woodworking, and his love of drawing. Clayton, in turn, discovered Camden's passion for animals, and was sad to hear that her father had never let her have a pet of her own. With each exchange, their connection deepened, slowly weaving the intricate threads of understanding and familiarity.
As the day began to draw to a close, the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting a warm, dusky glow over the landscape. Camden's curiosity sparked, and she turned to Clayton with anticipation in her eyes. "Hey, can I meet your wolf?" she asked, a playful smile gracing her lips. Clayton returned her smile, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sure," he replied, "I’d love to go for a run if you’re interested? You're good to shift now? The wolfsbane has worn off completely, right?" Camden nodded, her voice filled with certainty. "Yes, I feel good and I’d love to go for a run with you." They headed outside, Camden taking in the view of the cabin in a different light now that she was aware that Clayton had made it himself. She headed to the side of the cabin, seeking privacy to strip off her clothes and shift. Clayton, seemingly less reserved, had no qualms about stripping down and shifting right in front of the cabin. Moments later, Camden emerged as a wolf, her sleek form standing tall and
As morning approached, Clayton woke up first, carefully trying to extract his arm from under Camden without disturbing her. However, as soon as he moved, she instinctively grabbed his hand, her eyes still closed. "Don't go," she murmured, snuggling closer to his chest. He kissed the top of her head and held her tightly, a smile playing on his lips. It had been so long since he had felt this kind of warmth and connection. Perhaps he had never truly experienced it before.Camden breathed in the scent of Clayton, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She let out a contented sigh, her voice filled with happiness. "And that?" Clayton asked softly. "I'm just... happy," she replied, a smile warming the features of her face. They remained wrapped in each other's arms, savouring the intimacy a little while longer before Clayton finally sat up, pressing a tender kiss on Camden's forehead. "Okay, supplies first, and then the waterfall. Does that sound good to you?" he asked. Her face lit up
They arrived back at the cabin, their backpacks filled with supplies. Camden was eager to learn the layout of the cabin and began organizing their newly acquired items with Clayton's assistance. Together, they worked harmoniously, finding a place for everything and ensuring that their living space felt comfortable and welcoming and that all the necessities were easy to find. Once they finished their tasks, Clayton declared that it was time to head to the waterfall. Camden's eyes lit up with excitement as she grabbed the new backpack, quickly stuffing her pink frilly bikini inside, along with some dry clothes just in case and some snacks. She couldn't wait to experience the cool, refreshing water. She was outside in a flash and had shifted into her wolf form before Clayton had even managed to walk out the door. She was bounding up and down around him, filled with excitement. “Okay, we’re going, we’re going,” he confirmed with a chuckle. H
The pair wandered back to the cabin aimlessly, enjoying the surroundings and the riches that nature had to offer. Once they arrived back, they shifted into their human forms, feeling the exhaustion from the day's excitement starting to catch up with them. As they were heading inside, Clayton noticed some dark clouds looming overhead in the distance. "Shit... That's not good" he mumbled to himself. "What's wrong?" Camden asked, turning her gaze in the same direction as his. "It looks like there's a storm coming, and the storms here can be vicious. At least we got supplies today" he replied, concern evident in his voice. Camden's unease grew, her senses heightened by the impending danger. They moved inside where Camden flopped onto the bed wearing the pair of leggings and t-shirt that she had packed in her backpack earlier and had taken with to the waterfall. "We need to get you a couch," she mused with a playful smile. "I've thought about it, but getting the mattress here was hard eno
After about an hour of talking and getting to know one another a little better, Clayton decided it was time to tell her something that was weighing heavily on him. The potential deal breaker. He walked over to the kitchen, his mind consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. In the back of a cupboard, he found what he was looking for, a bottle of whiskey. "Oooh!" Camden exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement and curiosity. "What's the occasion?" she asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips. Clayton's gaze met hers, a mix of apprehension and sadness in his eyes. "I don't think you'll be smiling after I tell you.” he replied, taking a long swig from the bottle. Camden's face fell, and her playful demeanour shifted. "Oh, shit..." Her expression turned somber. "Give me that," she requested, reaching up for the bottle as she remained seated on the floor in front of the fireplace. "Something tells me I'm going to need this too," she added with a frown. "You might," Clayton replied, ha
"Any other surprising revelations you'd like to share?" Camden asked with a mischievous smirk, her eyes sparkling with playful curiosity. "I don't think so," Clayton replied, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "How about you?" he asked. "Well, besides the fact that I was previously engaged and I’m not a virgin, nothing else comes to mind," Camden replied with a teasing grin. "You were engaged?!" Clayton gasped dramatically, clutching at his chest as if in shock. He imitated Camden's earlier gesture, pretending to faint. Camden burst into laughter, enjoying their playful banter. "Sorry, I thought the wedding dress you found me in made that pretty obvious," she confessed, still chuckling. Clayton stifled a fake sob, exaggerating his distress. "Camden, I just don't see how we can move past this. And not a virgin? This is a travesty. How could the goddess expect me to love someone like you?" he teased, his voice laced with mock indignation. Camden playfully elbowed him in the ribs, her
Their lips remained locked in a passionate kiss, their connection growing deeper with every passing moment. Camden's fingertips traced the contours of Clayton's chest, eliciting a shiver of pleasure from him. As her arms wrapped around his neck, his hands explored her curves, their bodies melting together in a dance of desire. With a playful twinkle in his eyes, Clayton grabbed her butt again and lifted her up, their laughter mingling with the sound of the storm raging outside. Camden couldn't resist the urge to kiss his neck, nibbling at his earlobe, causing him to sigh and moan in response. The intensity of their connection heightened, their breath mingling in the air. However, their passionate moment was interrupted by an enormous crack of lightning, followed by thunder that shook the cabin.Camden's heart raced, her body jolting with surprise. "Fuck!" Clayton exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the window. "There's a tree on fire out there," he said, concern etched on his face. "But we'l
"What do you want to do today?" Clayton asked, breaking the silence that enveloped the cabin. Camden let out a whiny groan and covered her face with a pillow. "Well, at this point, I'm uncertain as to whether I'm actually going to survive the day," she complained, her voice muffled. Clayton chuckled at her dramatic response. "For real though, was there anything you wanted to do today?" he persisted, genuinely interested. "You're kidding, right?" Camden replied, peeking out from behind the pillow. "Like what? You wanna go for a hike or something? At this rate, the only thing we can legitimately do is go fucking white river rafting - we can take off from your front door! The weather is horrific! If we aren't struck by lightning we'll drown out there."Clayton burst into laughter, finding amusement in her exasperation. "We'll have to get creative then, won't we? I'm sure you can think of SOMETHING to do indoors," he suggested, raising an eyebrow playfully. Camden sighed, considering his