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His lips curved at his wolf’s earnest optimism. Yes, I think she will.

The stakes were high, but they had a chance. That’s all that mattered. That she would give them a chance to prove they were meant for each other.

Chapter 20

Van silently groaned when he woke the next morning. As he lay on the hard ground, he couldn’t fathom why he had ever considered it a cool idea. He was getting way too old for this shit, he decided, when he felt the ache in his back and hip as he rolled over.

Slipping his hand out, he felt for Jayden. Panic hit him, and he shot up with a low groan when he found the spot next to him empty and cold.

“Good morning, sleepy-head,” Peterson greeted.

He lifted both hands and rubbed them up and down his face, grimacing at the whiskers that were growing thicker by the hour. He wanted—no needed—a shave, hot shower, decent food, and a soft bed. He dropped his hands to his lap and scowled back at Peterson’s amused face.

“What’s so good about it? Where’s Jayden? What time is it?” he growled.

Peterson glanced at his watch. “It’s almost eight. Jayden is freshening up. We’ve already eaten, but we saved you some trout.”

His eyes narrowed when he caught a slight change in Peterson’s voice. Rolling off the pallet, he put a hand to his lower back as he stood. He scowled down at the lumpy moss and crinkled blankets.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he demanded.

Peterson reached for the blankets and began folding them. He frowned when he realized that his friend was doing more than cleaning up. He was packing up. Peterson shot him a wry smile.

“Jayden wants to head out this morning,” Peterson responded.

“Thank the Goddess,” he groaned, rubbing his lower back and stretching.

Peterson shook his head. “Not in that direction.”

He paused and stared in disbelief at Peterson. “What do you mean… not in that direction? We’re heading home… right? Please say we are heading home. I’ve had about all the living in nature that I can stand.”

Peterson shook his head. “Nope. She is on a mission.”

“What mission? What could be more important than a working bathroom, a soft bed, and a pizza?” he groaned with a weary shake of his head.

When he felt the pinch of a nerve in his neck, he grimaced and instinctively began rubbing at it. Hell, it sucked getting old. Okay, he wasn’t that old, but in that moment, every joint in his body seemed to ache.

He looked up when a shadow in the doorway caught his attention. Jayden stood bowed in the entrance. She turned away from him and walked to the edge of the small ledge where she had originally set up camp. Guilt filled him. They had been in the wilderness for a little over two weeks and he was acting like a whiny pup! Jayden had never known the luxury of a cushy house with a garden tub, central air and heat, a modern kitchen, and a thousand other conveniences.

Feeling like a heel, he pushed past Peterson, stepped out of the lean-to, and crossed to stand next to her. Peterson followed and came to stand on the other side of Jayden with his hands in his pockets. He released a weary growl of resignation and wound his arms around Jayden, turning her until she was nestled against his body.

“So, where are we heading this time?” he asked.

Her body trembled against his. He thought it was because of the chill in the air before he realized she was laughing… at him. He realized that there might have been a small pout in his voice when he asked his question.

“You know, you don’t have to go with me. I can do this on my own. Especially now that I know that the two shifters chasing me gave up and went home,” she said.

“Like hell!”

He bit off the rest of what he was going to say when he realized that she was teasing him. She snorted out a smothered laugh and shook her head. He leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead.

“Okay, seriously, what is more important than a working toilet, a shower, and pizza?”

He didn’t want to add a soft bed, but the dancing bed fairy was floating through his mind as he stared down into her amused eyes. A slight flush rose in his cheeks when she lifted an eyebrow and glanced down. She must have felt his reaction.

“My grandfather left something of value at the cave. I promised him I would retrieve it,” she said.

He looked over her head at Peterson who had turned to face them. Pride and love shone in his friend’s soft eyes. He understood both emotions. Their mate was fierce, loyal, hard-headed—which would be desperately needed with the two of them—and incredibly brave.