A Squad Of Wolves

Chapter 5

5

A sigh of relief escaped my mouth as I could finally see some light shimmering through the trees. We made it. Our tactic of neurotically marking off every tree and drawing lines using the three of us as points for a straight line paid off.

I had never been happier that I could leave a forest. The open wasteland and the small trails familiar sights as the small town we were staying in unfolded before us.

"A-Ash and Aspen are waiting f-for us," JP spoke, his voice still a bit shaky. I reached for his hand and intertwined fingers. With two gentle squeezes, I let him know that I was here for him. Our own little way of saying "I love you". A faint smile appeared on his face as he squeezed back.

There was a hot stew waiting for us in the abandoned barn we had called home for the past three days and I hungrily attacked my bowl. It had little cubes of carrot and potato swimming in a thick gravy. It was utterly delicious and I couldn't get enough of it.

"Thanks, Ash," I smiled, thanking my raven-haired best friend. I really couldn't complain about my life that much. Apart from being chased by a mad woman and having started a war, things weren't that bad. I was on an endless road trip with my two lovers and was accompanied by my best friend Ashleigh and her twin brother, Aspen, who I got along with just fine.

A girl could do worse.

"How do you know I didn't make the food?" Aspen grumbled, shovelling the stew greedily in his face.

"B-Because it's delicious a-and also b-because it's Ash's day t-to cook," JP grinned, pushing his potatoes and carrot cubes around in his bowl. As much as we all tried to cut our vegetables in uniform sizes, JP needed to sort them by shape and size before he could eat them. Just one of his little quirks.

"Oi! I'm a damn fine cook," Aspen protested, hungrily eyeing the kettle in the hearth. If he had his way, he'd eat the whole damn thing. How he did it, I never understood, but he could devour massive amounts of food. Luckily, he always shared nicely with us. Not that he had much choice. Aspen was lanky and strong and his Alpha wasn't one to mess with, but I'd fight him for Ash's food. I'd poke him with a fork if need be.

I spooned out the last of my stew and happily leant against the wall. "Thanks for the food, Ash."

"You're welcome," Ash grinned, looking rather proud of herself. With good reason. There was only so much you could do with the basics and if it wasn't for her cooking, those watery potatoes and moldy carrots would come out of our ears.

"We're low on firewood," Regan mumbled, also leaning back with his hands resting on his stomach. The lazy grin on his face a telltale sign that he ate too much.

"I-I think it's m-my turn to g-get more," JP said, looking pleased with his array of cubes. He sighed happily when he took his first bite and shot a grateful glance at Ash.

"I can join you for firewood tomorrow," I proposed, not liking the idea of one of us going out there alone. Not with Chesca hanging around. Her threats to take my men still echoed through my head. I didn't want anything happening to my men. No way.

"S-Sounds good, thank you."

"I'll join too," Regan spoke, his stern look clear that he wasn't taking no for an answer. I could feel his wolf's concern in his chest and decided not to protest. I knew how worried he'd been when he couldn't get to me sooner. I had felt his anxiety and panic pulse through me with every passing second that he couldn’t find me. My poor mate. He loved me so much it almost scared me. But then again, I loved him the same way. Wholly and fully. Inexcusably much.

That night, I happily curled up between JP and Regan and with both their hands protectively resting on my hip, I fell in a dreamless sleep. One of the few not littered with nightmares. No surprise. There are no nightmares when reality was worse.