River's POV:
I shifted on my paws in a panic. Marisol's heat was back. Based on her scent, it was bad. I could practically feel the forest shift as the animals smelled her. She didn't seem to feel my nudging her or hear me whimpering either. She had curled up into a ball clearly in pain. Why? Why was her heat so bad? Why was it making her suffer? What should I do?
I paced back and forth as I tried to think. Goddess help me. Tell me what I can do for my mate. I begged but I got no sign. I heard a shift in the forest and I perked my ears. Someone was here. Another wolf. Their scent hit me a moment later, and I jumped in front of my mate with a loud growl.
"Away! She is my mate! You do not belong here!" I barked into the treeline as I saw the eyes of the wolf reflecting the light softly. T
