Chapter 179
“Solid advice.”
+25 BONUS
He took to the saddle faster than I expected. Nervous at firs, but gaine gripping the reins like a little warrior. I let him set the pace, and we made our way through the forest trails in companionable silence, the rhythm of hooves and rustling leaves soothing in a way I hadn’t expected.
As we crested the final ridge, Alden gasped.
The campsite sat at the edge of a bluff, overlooking; a valley flooded with late–afternoon light. The sky was a watercolor of oranges and pinks. Below us, pine trees rolled like waves.
A canvas tent stood waiting, and the firepit was already ringed with stones. A pile of firewood sat beside it, and I’d made sure the sleeping bags were thick enough for the chill that would roll in after sundown.
“This is awesome,” Alden breathed.
We dismounted, tied up the horses where they could graze, and then headed down a narrow trail to where the river split through the valley floor, clear and fast–moving. I pulled out the rods I’d packed and handed one to Aiden
“Come on,” I said. “Time to catch our dinner.”
“Wait,” he said. “You mean we’re really fishing for dinner??
I raised a brow. “What did you think camping was?”
“I don’t know! Magic coolers full of pizza?”
“You want pizza, you gotta catch it.”
I
He laughed, shaking his head, but watched carefully as I showed him how to bait the hook, cast, and wait.
The first few tries were messy he nearly hooked my sleeve once–but eventually he got it. And then, just before I could tell him to reel in and try again, the tip of his pole jerked.
“I got something!” he yelled.
“Keep the line tight! Reel it in slow.”
He did, face red with effort, until finally, thrashing and glistening, a medium–sized trout flew out of the water.
“I did it!” he screamed.
I helped him unhook it and set it in the cooler.
“Think that’s enough for dinner?” I asked.
“We need at least one more,” he said with exaggerated solemnity. “I eat a lot,
you
know
“I’m learning”
We fished for another hour, sitting shoulder to shoulder on the rocks. I watched the current, but more than that, I watched him.
My son
Chapter 179.
+25 BONUS
Mine.
“I’ve never done this before,” he said suddenly. “Fishing”
“I figured. Did your grandfather ever take you?”
He shook his head. “He’s… not really the fishing type.”
I nodded, choosing not to comment further. Elena’s father was a whole other issue.
“I’m glad we’re doing this,” Aiden said. “It’s like… it’s something moms don’t do, you know? No offense. Mom’s amazing. But this feels different,”
I looked at him, and my chest ached.
“She did it all,” he added, quieter now. “Tried so hard. I could tell she was lonely sometimes, even when she smiled.”
I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.
“She did everything for me,” he continued. “And she never complained. But sometimes I’d hear her crying after she thought I went to bed. And I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to make her happy.”
My hand found his shoulder.
“She loves you more than anything, Aiden. You know that, right?”
He nodded. “I know. But I think maybe she was waiting for someone to love her that much, too.”
I didn’t speak for a long moment.
“She deserved better,” I said finally. “And I’m trying to become the kind of man who knows that. Who can show you both what love is supposed to look like.”
His hand found mine and squeezed.
The sun was dipping low behind the trees, the sky deepening into dusk. We packed up the gear, our fish secured in the cooler, and began the trek back toward the ridge.
That’s when I heard it.
A snap.
A twig breaking where no one should be.
I stopped walking. Aiden bumped into me.
“What?” he whispered.
I raised a finger to my lips and tilted my head, scenting the wind.
Nothing. Just pine and fresh air. No foreign wolves. No rot of rogue flesh. No metal or blood or fear.
Still.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
If I were alone, I’d shift. Let Erebus loose and tear through the woods until I found the source. But I couldn’t leave Aiden here. Not even for a second.
Chapter 179
“Just a deer,” I said quietly. “But let’s get the fire going, yeah?”
He nodded, his face serious.
But even as we walked, even as we lit the fire and sat there absorbing its warmth…
…I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t alone:
