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Not a relationship, I mentally amended. Hugh and I weren’t in a relationship. We weren’t anything—except maybe captor and captive.

“I’m sorry,” Tanner said. “It’s none of my business.”

“No. No, it’s okay.” Except my face was a hot, sweaty mess now. “I guess the whole pack probably knows something is up between us, huh?”

“Yeah.” He flashed an apologetic smile. “The alpha lives under a microscope. It’s the same for his mate, I guess.”

“I… I’m not Hugh’s mate.”

Tanner waited a bit too long to respond. “All right.”

I sighed. “Is that what everyone thinks?”

“It’s pretty obvious. And now that his scent’s on you…” He shrugged.

The heat in my cheeks went supernova. “What do you mean? Wait, don’t answer that. God.” I turned away, only to swing back. “Is my scent on him?”

Tanner shook his head. “Only males can mark their mates.”

And I’d thought the human race was bad when it came to misogyny. I bit my lip, wondering if I should voice the other question dancing in my head.

Oh, what the hell. “Does the, um, mark ever go away?”

“It can, sure. It’ll fade with every shower.” He gestured ahead of us. “Any kind of contact with water helps.”

I walked quickly in the direction he pointed, and he chuckled. “That bad, huh?” he asked as he easily caught up.

“I don’t like the idea of anyone marking me as their territory.”

“I get it. You weren’t born a wolf. You’ll never really fit in with our culture.”

The casual pronouncement jolted me, but I tried not to show it as we continued walking. His tone had been as casual and friendly as always, so he probably hadn’t meant anything by it. Still, I couldn’t help recalling Julia’s comments about my weakness hurting the pack, and I stayed quiet as we moved deeper into the forest.

When we reached the creek, I hesitated on the bank. “Do I just walk in?” The water wasn’t deep, but it would easily come up to my ankles. “Maybe I should take my shoes off.”

“Weak,” he chided playfully. “Good trackers don’t worry about their shoes when they scent a trail. Come on. I want to show you something.” He beckoned me forward.

“Where?”

“On the other side of the creek!” He splashed forward.

I bit back a sigh and followed, cringing when water filled my shoes.

Halfway across the creek, Tanner stopped abruptly. He canted his head to the side like he was listening to something, and I watched in confusion as his brow furrowed and irritation flashed in his eyes. As quickly as it came, it vanished, making me wonder if I’d imagined it.

“Hugh wants to see you,” he said, tapping the side of his head.

My heart sped up. “Now?”

“Yes.” He left the water, mumbling, “Wish he would have said something before we got all the way out here.”

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“No, sorry.” He clearly picked up on my anxiety, because he bumped my shoulder with his. “Don’t worry. I’m sure it’s nothing bad.”

That makes one of us.

* * *