Chapter 16. Don’t Come Closer

The much-longed-for voice in my head, smothering me with calmness like thick honey, and I exhale with both relief and something else. That joy at being close to him again, but I wonder why I haven’t picked up on his scent or his proximity yet. We’re supposed to feel our mates when they’re close.

Where are you?

I mutter awkwardly as I crawl back out, peeking cautiously, picking the dried moss from my hair, and straighten up to scan the woods around me.

“Keeping my distance, downwind of you, over here.” He calls back verbally, drawing me to him by voice alone. That explains why I didn’t feel or smell him approaching. He’s close enough to make me jump, and I spin in the direction his voice came from. I catch sight of him, jumping down from a rock overhanging the clearing to one lower as he pulls on a T-shirt over those sculpted, tanned abs and throws a backpack to the side of him. He must have carried clothes with him, and I have to admit, I’m a little disapp