Revolting

Michael stabbed at the last mushroom reluctantly and stuck it in his mouth. Okay, so the mushrooms weren't that bad, especially once Sarah had fried them up with some spring onions and rabbit meat that Boyd had brought back to camp. But he still didn't see why anyone would pay so much money for a fungus. If he hadn't been on a mission to return Hannah to her brother, he would have packed up the mushrooms and taken them to a farmers market to sell. Instead, they had cooked up all of them, and eaten the first big, filling meal they had eaten in days.

There was still daylight left, and the rational Alpha in him knew that they should pick up and move on.

Instead, he relaxed back in the leaf-litter next to his little mate. Her little stomach was distended with the heavy meal, and her face was relaxed and satisfied. She lay back and rested her hands on her tummy. Michael had a momentary mental image of what she would look like when her stomach was protruding with a pup, his pup. He boldly reached out and stroked a hand over her stomach. The idea and the image in his head made his heart pound.

She turned her head and gave him a suspicious look, but she didn't remove his hand.

She was so tiny. Could she even carry a pregnancy safely? Michael's thick brows knitted together in worry. She was the smallest adult female wolf he had ever met. Small, but so strong, and fierce. And so completely unafraid of Michael, despite his superior size and strength.

He estimated that they were about two, maybe three days out from the remote location of the Rebel Moon pack. Which was, incidentally, only a few miles from his own former pack. A feeling of dread was settling into his gut as they drew closer. He knew this was what she needed to recover herself, but when she was whole again, would she still want him? Or would she reject him all over again?

The great Alpha Michael Bishop who feared nothing, was suddenly terrified. He was desperately afraid of losing the only thing that mattered to him now. This tiny female, with warm golden-brown eyes. If he lost her now? What would be left for him? Physically he could survive, but would he want to? Even if he could reclaim his former position as Alpha, what would be the point if he didn't have the other half of his soul at his side?

There was also the whole complication of the fact that he was a fugitive. In the confusion that followed the moment Michael had met his mate, he had fought with a human. Michael had been in a furious rage, and the small man had come between himself and Hannah. Although Michael had realized the man was only human, he had fought with great strength and courage. It wasn't until later, when Michael was already running rogue, that he had learned the young man had died. Yet another strike against the Alpha. He initiated an act of aggression and caused the death of one of their pack members.

What kind of pack allows humans to fight as warriors? That was just dumb! Of course, a human was going to get hurt, if not killed in battle. They were weaker, slower, their senses were dull. They couldn't shift and they healed slowly. Shouldn't the Rebel Moon take some responsibility for the fallen man?

Not to mention Hannah's brother was mated to the beta of the Rebel Moon pack. In fact, Michael rubbed the back of his neck pensively; the beta of the Rebel Moon pack had once been Michael's lover. For that reason alone, he would not be warmly welcomed into the family.

Michael was having second thoughts about bringing Hannah back to Rebel Moon. That's why he allowed them to relax there in the woods for the whole afternoon. He used the excuse that they were healing from the poison ivy rashes and resting after an all-night march, but the truth was, he was stalling.

Speaking of healing, the herbal mash Hannah had put on his leg had dried and was flaking off, and the itch was starting to return. There was still a pile of wilting plants near the fire. He wondered if he could get Hannah to prepare the concoction again, or if maybe he should try mashing them up himself? Before he could figure out how to ask her, he saw Frankie take up a pile of the weeds and a rock. Michael wasn't the only one who was starting to itch again. He wriggled himself closer to Hannah. She didn't protest. Her eyes had closed, and her long lashes were resting like fans against her cheeks. He sat up and examined her leg. The wound was healing well. Probably after a good night's rest she would be fit to walk by herself. He wouldn't have an excuse to carry her any more. Instead of feeling relieved, he felt a sense of loss. Having her slight body against his back wasn't a burden. Carrying her had been a sweet and pleasurable responsibility. What would he do now that he didn't have a reason to have her skin pressed against his all day long?

He stretched out next to her and pulled her closer so that he could wrap his arms around her. Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at him for a long, quiet moment, studying his face and his eyes. "I wish you could tell me what you are thinking," Michael murmured to her. She said nothing, but her expression was relaxed as she made herself more comfortable, using his bicep as a pillow for her head and snuggling deeper into his body for warmth.

"We could stay like this," he spoke softly. "We don't have to go back to Rebel Moon." But even as he spoke the words, he knew what he was proposing was too selfish. He would be risking her humanity if he stayed with her. She deserved a chance to find herself again, she deserved to be reunited with her family. Only when she was really in her right mind could he know if she would accept him as her mate. He swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut. He had bullied his way through life until he met this woman. He saw what he wanted and he took it. Who would have thought one tiny little Rogue would turn his whole world upside down?