She lets me have her neck a little while longer. I slide my hand along it again, so smooth and soft. She lets me touch her freely, unaware of what she’s telling me by exposing her neck like this, like a submissive wolf.
Sometimes I can’t believe she’s mine. Not that I don’t think she wants to get away. I know she does. But if she stays long enough, I can help her come to love it here. And she’ll see I can be a good mate to her. She’ll see that I’ll protect her, that I’ll do anything to make her happy.
Except let her go.
All night on the island, I watched her sleep, dozing only now and then. I enjoyed the feeling of watching over her. I didn’t want it to stop. I didn’t want to miss any of it.
I would watch over the pups now and then, but it’s nothing like watching over Ann. Pups have teeth and claws for fighting, and fur to keep them warm. Left alone, they could find food and fight off most predators. But not Ann. She needs me out here.
I let her go and resume paddling. There’s a stretch of land ahead. “We’ll walk soon.”
I can feel her come to attention with this. Will she really try to run?
I land us on shore and pull the canoe up. I pull out the pack and sling it over my shoulders, then I hoist the canoe. “I’ll walk in front of you. You’ll step where I do.”
Her attention is elsewhere. She’s looking around, weighing her options. My heart sinks. It shouldn’t be a surprise, that she wants to run—I knew she would.
It makes me feel sad, though.
Telling her my story made me feel close to her. I want her to feel the same way about me.
I put down the canoe and shake off the huge pack and unzip it and dig around. I pull out the rope.
“What the fuck? What are you doing?”
“You want to run.” I advance on her.
“What are you doing?” She takes a few steps back, but I lunge and grab her, quickly binding her wrists. Trying to be gentle. I hate that I have to tie her. Maybe if I’d been less pushy with her…less savage with her.
She tries to pull and twist. I grasp her hands in mine. “Don’t. It just makes the knots tighter.”
She stills, eyes glowing with shock and anger.
Please, I think.
I loop the other end of the rope around my wrist and put the pack back on, then hoist the canoe on my back. “The rope will tighten the more you pull.”
I begin to walk.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Like I’m a pet now?” She grabs the rope and pulls back, but she’s not strong enough to do much.
I pull and let her stumble along. I’m trying not to be too hard on her, but we need to make a certain spot by nightfall.
I cross a stream, balancing precariously on a rock.
“Fuck this!” She digs in and jerks back, putting me off balance, nearly putting me in the water.
I stop and turn.
Her eyes widen, but she stands her ground.
I put down the canoe and go to her, stalking slowly. She backs up, but I have her leash. I reel her in as I approach. “I should let you get away just so you see how dangerous it is. But I’m not that kind of man.”
“No? Call the neighbors and wake the kids.”
I don’t know what she means by that, but I know it’s not the time to ask. I wish I understood her better.
I kneel and tie her ankles with the length of rope I’d hoped not to have to use.