What a compliment. “Thank him for me. He was tolerant of me acting like a ninny. I should know him by now, but I have never been close enough to be prepared for just how big he is. He’s a good-looking wolf.”
Bosse sat for a moment staring at nothing, then broke up laughing. He had to catch his breath.
“What?” Alifair demanded.
“Titan said if not for him, I would be alone for the rest of my life. I think he has a point. He called you our mate before me.” Standing, Bosse walked away almost out of sight, returning with his clothes on.
“Why didn’t you change here?” she asked.
“It’s not easy to watch a human turn into an animal the first time. We’re trying to give you a chance to get used to us. Besides, I pulled the saddle off the horse, made sure he was set for the night, and grabbed a gourd of water from the saddle bags.” Dressed again but still barefoot, Bosse quickly cleaned the rabbit twenty feet away. When he finished, he carried the skin and other unused parts into the woods.
Upon returning, he said, “Take the small, dried twigs I told you not to use on the lean-to and stack them for a fire.”
She wasted no time in getting that done. “Want me to rub sticks together to start the fire?” She had no idea how that really worked.
“No. I’ve got matches. We don’t have to live like we did in the castle.”
“So glad,” she muttered.
Bosse started the fire, keeping it small, and skewered the two rabbits on a stick. Where had he gotten the sticks shaped like a Y for making a rotisserie? Clever man.
Satisfied with that, he studied her handiwork. “That’s a fine job of making a cover for our shelter tonight, Alifair.”
She hadn’t heard him say her name often. Add that to his kind words and she felt genuinely appreciated. She’d never been the outdoor type, but she might get the hang of it with Bosse. “Thank you. I’m not trained in this type of thing, but I figured I understood enough about weaving to make something.”
He reached over and hugged her to him. “I’m so proud of you.”
Her mind floated around in a cloud of happiness. Is this what life would be like if she had more time to be with him? Working together for a common goal? Her appreciating his abilities and him complimenting hers?
She pushed back against the hurt dousing her happiness. Anger raised its head again, making her question things she’d accepted without question. Far back in time, someone had designated roles, and everyone accepted their jobs to support her community. That made sense.
To expect her to forsake any chance of a life to do a duty that she was hardly qualified to perform did not make sense. Didn’t they think she deserved a relationship with a man and maybe even a family of her own?
Maybe the fault lay with her not speaking up.
They were all safe back in the community, content to have her out here alone.
Because Bosse had made her a priority, he’d gotten her to rethink how she’d allowed others to treat her poorly, even good people.
Had her mother been just as angry at leaving her only child alone to go save children belonging to others? What had she been thinking in her last minutes?
Alifair sidestepped that mental path for the moment, which led into a bottomless void.
If she didn’t, she’d waste precious time with Bosse.
They ate quickly so he could smother the fire before dark. Then he set the gourd of water near the blanket.
She’d watched the smoke and didn’t think a significant amount had lifted above the trees. Now that it was gone, black shadows began closing in on them.
She’d be a frightened ninny out here without Bosse.
He seemed at peace, unworried about any critter showing up.
Then again, no critter would want to face Titan.
Bosse touched her arm. “Take my hand so you don’t fall. My eyes can see better than yours out here.”
She reached up and grabbed his hand. He must have noticed her trembling because he squeezed her hand carefully.
