It seemed like the spot he'd chosen was familiar to him. Had there always been goblins there?
The spot was a long run from Silvercoast, about a good day. Since they were ready to go and in the woods by the afternoon, they would get there about the same time tomorrow after they stopped to rest somewhere.
Beth brought them all to the address where her and Ken's house had once been, as that was where she'd left from before, and she hoped the trees there would be familiar enough to guide her. She said their househad beenthere because the house was quite literally gone.
She noticed how Ken looked mournfully at the lot that had once been theirs, but she decided that was a story for later. They had work to do.
They shifted into wolves and headed north, leaving Silvercoast under Beth's lead. Memories of the run that had ruined her life assaulted her from all sides, but instead of slowing down, she ran faster, uncaring if the others were keeping up. Back then, she'd been worried sick about the life growing in her belly. How Ken would react to having a child so soon.
Worse, she hadn't known at the time if she was ready to be a mother, even if she knew she'd have wanted to be one day.
Beth set a relentless pace; she needed to find focus. It was the only way she wouldn't become distracted by either the past, or the present worries churning in her gut because of Ken and Lily. She hadn't had the chance to ask Ken what was up with the two of them, as Beth had immediately been pulled aside to talk to Ryel about the location she'd seen the goblin hive.
So whenever she smelled the rich spice of the trees, the earthiness of the damp ground beneath her feet, the cries of birds in the sky, she used those senses to draw her hammering thoughts away. But it didn't always work.
Her many questions about this woman she'd never met before began to fester and rot in her heart.
They raced through the trees, over bushes and rocks, and across streams, and Beth tried to reason herself against the tide of fear inside of her. If something had happened between Lily and Ken, he would have told her.
He'd made such a big deal about Beth not telling him about Joanna right away. He couldn't have a big secret like a crazy ex or a woman he'd brushed off the moment Beth came back into town, could he? That would make him a hypocrite, and it was too easy a lie, or an omission, to get caught in.
Every now and then, after they'd been running for hours, Beth had to slow down to catch her breath. She'd look back and see Lily staying close to Ken despite his clear attempt to put distance between them, and Beth's worry began to turn into anger. She slowed her pace explicitly to snap at Lily and get her to back the fuck away from her mate, but the pretty she-wolf just barked playfully and sprinted away. It was Beth, in turn, who received a warning glare from Ryel, even though Lily was the one stirring the pot by going anywhere near Beth's mate.
Finally, as the sky began to turn orange with the approaching sunset, Beth slowed her pace to check with Ryel when they wanted to rest. He agreed to carry on for a few more hours so they could limit their travel time tomorrow morning, as they would want to spend most of the day searching the area rather. By the time the sun had long since gone to sleep, and the moon took its place, they found a quiet place for the six of them to rest for the Night.
Ryel agreed to do the first watch, and Finn and Rick immediately settled down to get some rest. Lily tried to cozy up with Ken, and he snapped at her, making her back off to huddle with the other men instead. She watched Ken with clear lust in her eyes as he walked off toward Beth, nuzzling her jaw somewhat before walking off. He glanced at her again before disappearing into the trees, indicating for Beth to follow him off into a nearby clearing.
Beth's heart raced as she sprinted up next to him, fearful of what he might have to say about all of this. But when she saw his eyes fixed firmly on hers, she knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't be bad news.
At once, they both shifted from their wolf forms and back into humans. They were naked, and Beth stumbled into Ken's arms. His embrace was warm and welcoming after a long day of running, and all she wanted to do right now was sleep with him next to her.
However, it seemed Ken had other plans, because his hands immediately began to roam her body. His mouth connected with hers, his tongue hot with desire as he kissed her. She bit back a moan, her body sizzling to life even when she was so tired.
Ken just had that effect on her; he could bring her back from the brink of nothing.
But as much as she wanted him, her head wasn't in the right place to make love right now. They were on a hunt that could change everything in their lives, for better or worse, and Lily had been messing with her head.
"Lily is driving me fucking crazy," Beth said between kisses, trying to draw away from Ken, but putting up meek resistance when he wouldn't let her. "Why is she all over you? Do you two have history?"
"No!" he snapped, sounding like he was offended by the mere suggestion. Finally, he stopped kissing her, more out of frustration, it seemed, than anything else. "I don't really know her; I only met her a few days ago. There's nothing going on between us."
Beth sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Then what's her problem? Can't she see that you already have your mate?"
"I have a feeling she just likes stirring up trouble. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about her, I know we're not supposed to have secrets, but I really didn't think she would be a big deal. Apparently, she can't catch a fucking hint."
He took a deep breath and looked into Beth's eyes with such love and sincerity that she could feel her heart melting inside her chest. That look, paired with his sensual caresses and reassuring words, was more than enough to ease the disquiet in her heart. Lily might be a problem, but she didn't have to worry about Ken's role.
"Where did you meet her?" Beth asked.
"Before you came back, there was a get-together for singles in town. I didn't want to go, but Rick dragged me along. Lily insisted on talking to me even when I told her I wasn't interested." Ken blew out a breath that tickled Beth's neck. "She wants to fuck me, I guess, and she's upset that I've refused her. Then she had the gall to lie about it in front of a crowd and made everyone think I was a creep propositioning her for sex."
Beth snorted. "She sounds desperate."
"I don't know, I don't care. I don't want to talk about her anymore, okay? I only have eyes for you."
With all this behind them, Beth knew she could relax completely and put all her focus on saving their pack from the goblins once again. She sighed and leaned against him, just enjoying the sensation of being in his arms.
"I wish we could make love right now," she murmured. "But I'm too worried about the goblins."