Boundaries

Chapter 29

Dylan settles in the small grassy patch next to the river's edge.

He had come the first time, purely to see what the tricks of time had done to the place. But now, he isn't quite sure why he comes. He supposes he feels the need to pay homage to the boy that was left here, frozen in time, all those years ago. Part of him has stayed here all this time, in the one spot that he finds the most beautiful.

But there's also no where else on his territory that makes him as sad.

He finds solace in this sadness though, and perhaps that's why he seeks this place out so often now.

The funeral for his mother was a week ago, and Dylan has found finding a moment's privacy increasingly difficult. When Sam isn't coddling, Orion seems to be everywhere, and he just can't make out what is going on.

Orion's...tentative now. Withdrawn all of a sudden.

He probably regrets getting so close during the funeral, Dylan thinks to himself. He remembers how his mate had held him, how he had grasped his hand as night fell on the ashes of his mother's body. How warm he had been beside him. How he had laid beside him that night and just held him...

He shivers.

And then nothing. All of a sudden, he had retreated again.

The weak sunshine bursts through the spring leaves overhead and Dylan's eyes close as he allows the rays to warm his fur. The breeze plays through his light grey coat, brushing through it and preventing him from ever overheating.

The stream trickles slowly in front of him, soothing him as he listens idly to the birds in the canopy.

A twig suddenly snaps, causing the birds to cease their song.

Dylan's ear twitches, turning toward the sound as his body tenses instinctually, but he doesn't bother to open his eyes.

The birds soon resume their song and he settles down, relaxing.

But leaves are crunching systematically on the other side of the river and he listens closely, cataloguing it. Whatever it is, it's big.

Dylan opens his eyes, watching the tree line.

He's at a disadvantage, the river and the wind not playing in his favour as he tries and fails to sniff the air.

He remains where he is, his head laid against his feet, lying low as he continues to watch the other side of the riverbank.

The tall, stocky silhouette of a wolf emerges seamlessly from the woods and Dylan recognises him immediately. His coat is darker than he remembers, his fur entirely dark brown, so dark it's near black, his eyes a deep hazel.

He stands still, his eyes locked on Dylan's as he sizes him up.

Dylan can feel his instincts pushing him towards this wolf, the feeling so much more obvious in his primal form. The urge is almost uncomfortable and he hates it. Hadn't he come here to be away from this? To immerse himself in the memories of the little good that he remembers from his life.

Dylan stands gracefully, his eyes casting over his mate's wolf once more before turning away.

"Dylan, wait. Please." Orion's voice calls out.

He doesn't want to turn around, and by all accounts he won't. But he does.

Orion is stood just metres from him, his toned body bare for all to see and Dylan takes advantage. He's only a man, for god's sake, and he figures that this is compensation for all he's missing out on.

Dylan shamelessly stares at his mate, taking in his thick, muscular thighs, his taught abdomen, the bulges of his arms, merging seamlessly into a strong, rich, coffee coloured chest. Dylan's eyes wander back to his mate's thighs, appreciating the length that lays between them. It could definitely be worse.