I wasn’t searching for elk or coyotes though. Not for the kill I had in mind. “I’ve got what I’m looking for. Let’s head back down the mountain.”
Mattox mumbled something about “a waste of time” but I hadn’t asked him to follow me. Like tonight, I wanted tomorrow to go as smoothly as possible so I could be done with these games.
We raced through the woods, making good time with the downhill slope aiding our speed. Mattox lagged a bit behind, but I’d always outrun him. We were evenly matched in size and strength most of our lives, making us good sparing partners in the cages, but he hated cardio.
I slowed my pace, thinking of how different things would be between us in the coming days.
“We both may be mated this season.”
“And?” He panted behind me. “Think it will slow you down finally?
