Page 15 of Howl Me to the Moon (Moonlight Siren Supernatural Cruises #2)
CHAPTER 15
REX
I scared her off.
That thought echoed in my head after Piper ran away from me after I’d told her she was my mate and witnessed the wide-eyed shock in her eyes—exactly what I’d feared.
Today I had a few hours off in between practice and tonight’s show. The ship was anchored off its private island, one full of wilderness that whispered paradise to my wolf, and I disembarked. We needed this escape as we were both reeling from Piper’s reaction. While he insisted we go after our mate, I sensed she needed space, and we had to give it to her, despite how urgent the call was to return to her.
The setting sun cast shadows through the dense forest of the island, perfect for camouflaging my gray fur. The scent of damp soil, fragrant pine, and a variety of small animals hung heavy in the air—a refreshing welcome after days being surrounded by the sea and its salty aroma. Not that I didn’t appreciate my new life on the ocean, but the brief excursions on forest land reminded me of my old pack life. In many ways, that world had been simpler and easier to navigate since I hadn’t had the entanglement of a fated mate wrestling with my emotions.
And now that I did?
Well, that was an epic question, one that entirely depended on Piper.
Once I stepped behind a gigantic oak for some coverage, I removed my clothing and stashed it at the base of the trunk. I initiated the shift to wolf form, and muscles bulged while bones reshaped. Dark gray fur sprouted over my skin. Within seconds, I was on four legs and let my wolf take over. He ran through the woods, dashing through foliage as he traced various scents, igniting the instinct to hunt.
After a couple of hours exploring this forest, we burst out from under the lush canopy and prowled through the softer sand along the shore, relishing the cool feel of the water rushing around our paws. Running had helped clear my mind, even as fear of rejection still clawed at me. We ran into the ocean, splashing around to cool off, and then returned to the land where we shook the water off our fur.
The ship loomed still hundreds of yards ahead, calling me back. Piper was on board. At least I could return to be closer to her, even if she didn’t want to see me. Just sensing I was near her, knowing she was safe would have to balm my distress for now.
And then what?
If she didn’t want anything to do with me, what would I do? A wolf rejected by their fated mate could suffer a fate worse than death. Could I bear to live and work on the ship any longer? Tolerate being so close to her while knowing she didn’t want me?
Or would I be forced to start over somewhere else, again? Rejected and no longer whole…